A growing number of cleaning products, many made of microfiber, are designed to clean surfaces including kitchen counters and bathroom sinks with only water.
Blogger Becky Rapinchuk, also known as the "Clean Mama," is a fan. She's been using natural cleaning products in her home for quite some time.
"For just every day wiping down the counters, cleaning surfaces, water and a microfiber cloth is sufficient," Rapinchuk said.
Research shows 37 percent of adults would be interested in using microfiber and water to clean dirt, grease and bacteria. About 12 percent already use microfiber on a daily basis, said John Owen, a senior household analyst for Mintel.
"People are increasingly equating a clean home with a healthy home and a healthy family. But at the same time there's also concern about the cleaning product ingredients. For these consumers, they still want their homes clean, but they're looking for alternatives," Owen said.
But are alternatives designed to work without chemicals effective?
Microbiologist Dr. Michael Schmidt said microfiber, which is smaller than a human hair, is good at trapping dust, bacteria and viruses.
"It's this frizzy end at the end of this very small fiber that facilitates the pickup of bacteria and viruses from surfaces," Schmidt said.
However, for situations when a family member is ill or when it comes to cleaning up the kitchen after handling raw food, Schmidt still advises consumers to scrub with a disinfectant.
While microfiber can trap germs, it doesn't kill the bugs. So, it's important to clean any cloths that will be reused to eliminate bacteria and viruses, Schmidt said.
Schmidt also suggests using different color cloths for different areas in your home to avoid using a cloth in the kitchen after it's been used in the bathroom.