As far as biodegradable soap goes, look no further: use Dr. Bronners Sal suds. Ingredients: Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Lauryl Glucoside, Fir Needle Oil, and Spruce Oil .
I use this to mop the floors, clean the dishes, do my laundry, and pretty much any around-the-house cleaning. This seems kind of expensive, but it isn't at all when you factor in the dilution rate. This stuff is *super* concentrated. 1.5 tsp dissolves to 1 gallon of water (!) for a general all-house cleaner (I use a little more for dish soap, and the laundry sucks it down pretty fast). Except local health-food sales, the cheapest place I've found to get this soap is VitaGlo.com.
For skin:
Dr. Bronner's Organic Peppermint Soap
For house/dishes/laundry:
Dr Bronner's Sal Suds
There's really on 4 things I'll ever use to clean around the house:
1. Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
2. Vinegar
3. Baking Soda
4. Citrus-based degreaser
Everything I can confidently dump in my own backyard, without mindlessly pumping chemicals into our water.
