how i'm strategically boycotting target
a rundown of every single item i purchased from target in 2025 and my ethical replacement(s) of choice
Two years ago, I made it a goal to stop shopping from Amazon. It was a resounding success, as I have not made a purchase from that money-hungry conglomerate in two whole years. However, all the items used to buy from Amazon were then purchased from Target, and my Target spend increased dramatically. The instigator of my goal to boycott Target occurred some time in 2025, when the company rolled back their DEI initiatives (the main instigator). Now, Target has become a smorgasbord of random resellers with odd names selling overly niche items that you think you need but don’t…sound familiar? cough cough Amazon cough cough. I purposely boycotted Amazon to get away from this online marketplace teeming with plastic junk, managed by power-hungry men who couldn't care less about their workers’ well-being. I wanted to support a better company (perhaps not the best, but still better), but the reality is, Target is like an Amazon wrapped up in heavyweight gift wrapping paper — a disguise to make you feel like you are supporting real, small businesses, touting convenience among aestheticized aisles of perfectly placed products.
I’m over it. My 2026 goal is to boycott Target, and while my specific monetary goal is to not spend over $500, my competitive nature is aiming for a resolute $0. But of course, going cold turkey requires discipline and a strategic plan, so I’ve decided to go through every single receipt in 2025 and identify an ethical alternative. See here for qualities I’m avoiding:
I’ve seen many guides on “how to avoid Amazon” on Reddit and Substack, but they feel too generic for my liking. If I can’t buy from one place, what’s the solution? To not buy that item at all anymore? What is considered ethical? Where can I actually buy from? I’ve listed, item by item, what I’m going to do when that product is emptied — where I’m repurchasing from or if I’m switching to a different, more ethical brand — and hopefully, this inspires you figure out your own strategies if you also are boycotting Target this year.
P.S. If there is a sub-bullet with a date and a note, it is a revision or addition to the item category.
Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap - I no longer want to purchase from Dawn since they’re owned by Procter & Gamble (main Zionist company who has profited from the apartheid and theft of Palestinian Land), so I will be switching to Koala Eco’s dishwashing liquid.
Raid Ant & Roach Killer - Raid is owned by S. C. Johnson (strong political affiliations with Trump). Once emptied, I will switch to the brand, BugMD, that’s sold at Costco.
Bar Keepers Friend - Switch to Bon Ami, which is a very similar product (I’ve used both before and don’t see a difference). Will purchase from Thrive Market.
2/19/25 — For clarity, Bar Keeper’s friend is owned by Forward Consumer Partners, who doesn’t seem to have any past or existing controversies/associations. However, they are only sold at retailers that I am boycotting (e.g., Target, Amazon). Therefore, I’m making the switch to Bar Keepers, that’s sold at Grove Collaborative or Thrive (mentioned above).
Scrub Daddy PowerPaste - Terrible product, will not repurchase.
White Distilled Vinegar - Costco has this in bulk.
Baking Soda - Costco has this in bulk.
Scrub Daddy Dual-Sided Scrubber Sponge - Safe brand to keep purchasing from as it is still owned by the original founder, Aaron Krause. Costco sells these in an 8-pack.
Clorox Ultra Comfort Gloves -
Clorox is now owned by Procter & Gamble, so I will be making the switch to the If You Care brand that I can find from Thrive. They don’t last as long, but that’s okay.2/8/26: I was informed that The Clorox Company ended their joint venture with P&G and since January ‘26, no longer have ties to them. Therefore, this brand is safe to purchase from; however, I have yet to find ethical retailers near me who sell Clorox products.)
Disposable Transparent Gloves - I know Costco sells these! I only use them when handling raw meat, and I don’t expect to need a restock any time soon since I purchased a bulk amount last year.
E-Cloth General Purpose Microfiber Cleaning Cloth - Love these cloths for glass cleaning. However, microfiber is a synthetic material made with ultra-fine polyester and nylon, I won’t be purchasing any more. Instead, if I need to top up on cleaning cloths, I’ll add to my Marley Monster’s UNPaper towel collection.
Isopropyl 70% Alcohol Wipes - This was hard for me to figure out since I’ve always used wipes. However, I will give the DIY method a try, and mix 70% isopropyl alcohol with water in a spray bottle. Planning on spraying it on either paper (not sustainable) or a piece of cloth. Which makes me think — Marley’s Monsters Toilet UNpaper Rolls might be a good size for these wipes. Either that or the Facial Rounds.
2/8/2026 — Grove Collaborative sells Hand Sanitizing Wipes that cost $0.18/wipe.
Clorox Scentiva Grapefruit & Orange Blossom Disinfecting Wipes - This was a fun purchase, and while I love the scent, I don’t need it.
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes - I got this in a mini size for travel purposes, but have yet to use it. I won’t be replacing.
Clorox Fresh Disinfecting Bleach Wipes - Because these are strictly used for the bathroom, I can’t, in my right germaphobic mind, use a “natural” option. I just can’t. The toilet is the most gnarly, disgusting part of any home and it needs to be cleaned with bleach weekly. I will be repurchasing these, but at Costco now.
2/8/26: I was informed that The Clorox Company ended their joint venture with P&G and since January ‘26, no longer have ties to them. Therefore, this brand is safe to purchase from; however, I have yet to find ethical retailers near me who sell Clorox products.)
OdoBan Original Eucalyptus - I will be switching to hypochlorous acid sprays. I currently use Force of Nature, and it’s been good so far. The only issue is that each batch lasts 30-days. Once I’ve used up all my HoCl solutions, I’m considering getting a stronger concentration hypochlorous acid solution. I’m thinking Briotech.
Sprayway Glass Cleaner - Costco has this in a multipack. For a less toxic option, I could consider Koala Eco’s glass cleaner.
Method All Purpose Cleaner - I dislike Method scents, and prefer Koala Eco’s cleaning spray.
Clorox Lemon Scent Disinfecting Spray - Smells too strong and will not be repurchasing.
Downy Cool Cotton HE Compatible Rinse & Refresh - Good product, but owned by Procter & Gamble so I will not be repurchasing.
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer - Good product, but I no longer want to purchase from the brand. Problematic in 1949, and I’d rather save my money. This isn’t a one-to-one replacement, but I will be using vinegar in place of this. They do different things in the wash cycle, but I can live without this extra sanitizer product.
Downy Ocean Mist Scent Beads - Owned by Procter & Gamble. Going off of this Reddit thread and other sources I’ve seen over the past year, I’ve decided to ditch scent beads as a whole for good.
Tide Free & Gentle Unscented Detergent - I will be testing out the Koala Eco Laundry Wash next (I have my eyes on their Christy Dawn collaboration).
Dial Clean and Refresh White Bar Soap - Unfortunately this soap line is only available at Walmart/Target/CVS (boo), so I’ll be experimenting with Dr. Bronner’s peppermint bar soap from Costco once I run out.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap - I prefer Koala Eco hand soaps over any other soap brand, so I won’t be replacing this one.
Eva NYC Therapy Session Deep Conditioning Hair Mask - The brand is under a private equity form along with sister brand amika, but truthfully, I’ve tried products from both brands and have been terribly disappointed. I’d like to give Odele a try, as the brand founder is anti-ICE. I’ve seen this brand at Target, but of course I will be purchasing directly from their website.
Colgate Optic Whitening Toothpaste - Made my already sensitive teeth more sensitive, so will not be repurchasing.
Crest Pro-Health Advanced Mouthwash - Tastes like cinnamon, a bit gross. Will not repurchase.
Sensodyne Sensitivity Toothpaste - Sensodyne is owned by Haleon, who has donated to the Republican cause in the 2023-2024 election cycle. I’d like to switch to Cocolab, founded by two Asian sisters — a dentist and an artist. They have a toothpaste formula that uses nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) instead of fluoride. I’m pro-fluoride, so I’ve been hesitant to go fully nHA with my dental care. At this moment, I’m doing a mix of both — fluoride in the morning, nHA at night. TBD on whether full nHA is good for my dental health.
TheraBreath Anticavity Fluoride - Owned by Church & Dwight, which I feel like has relatively good standing for a consumer company. I will keep repurchasing through Costco.
up&up Panty Liners - Will not repurchase. Replace with Cora.
Always Infinity Super Absorbency Avec Flex Foam Pads - Owned by Procter & Gamble, so will not be repurchasing. Sadly, I love the flex foam technology and don’t think any other brand has made a pad this comfortable. Oh well.
Always Infinity Overnight FlexForm Pads - Same as above.
Cora Invisi-feel Organic Cotton Topsheet - Love love love this brand, and was so surprised that Costco sells this?!
Cora Organic Cotton Ultra Thin Overnight Pads - Will be purchasing directly from their website moving forward.
Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash - Naturium is owned by Elf Beauty, an independent company that has had a few controversies in the past. The most recent one was when they featured Matt Rife in an advertisement. Also, the original founder, Susan Yara, promoted Naturium on her channel without disclosing that she owned it until later. I will be replacing this with one of the following brands: Plaine Products, Koala Eco, Bathing Culture (not the Meadow Vision scent though—that one smelled terrible).
Venus 2-in-1 Cleanser + Shave Gel - I really like this product, but Venus is owned by Procter & Gamble. I have a Leaf razor, so I’m interested in trying out their Shave Oil.
Dove Advanced Care Deodorant - Dove is owned by Unilever, so will not be repurchasing. The next deodorant I’d like to try is a Meow Meow Tweet one (maybe the Rose Germanium scent). I’ve also learned that I get an allergic reaction whenever I use antiperspirants with aluminum. Therefore, I am forced to stick to regular deodorants. The Meow Meow tweet one doesn’t have baking soda in it, so it may be less abrasive!
Dove Beauty Garden Tea Party Body Wash - Dove is owned by Unilever, so will not be repurchasing.
Cremo Palo Santo Body Wash - Cremo is owned by Edgewell Personal Care, who have been in headlines regarding their other subsidiaries for having perfluorooctanoic acid in panty liners and benzene in sunscreen. Alpine Provisions seems like a good replacement brand for men’s body wash.
St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Wash - Owned by Unilever, so will not be repurchasing.
Cremo Solid Deodorant Palo Santo - This is for Mr. Beans and he’s picky with his deo, so I’ll leave this one up to him. Not sure what he’s going to want next.
Charmin Ultra Soft Toilet Paper - I reverted back to Charmin because I wanted that “luxe” feel for a not so steep price, but in good conscience, I will be back to trusty Who Gives a Crap. I’ve tried their recycled toilet paper a few times, and it’s fine. Not as plushy as Charmin, but that’s okay.
La Roche Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Body Moisturizing Cream - Sadly, I will be boycotting this brand as LRP is owned by L’Oreal. Their products “cured” my rosacea years ago. A potential contender is Dieux — they’ve been vocal about being Anti-ICE and Anti-Trump, and have also donated to the Immigrant Law Center and MN Together.
Maybelline Super Lock Brow Glue - Maybelline is owned by L’Oreal. I will be replacing this with 100% Pure’s brow gel (small business, two out of the three founders are Asian).
Aquaphor - I purchased a huge tub in 2024 but I’m including this here to provide an alternative. Sadly this will be my last tub, because I will be opting for a cruelty-free option. There’s a misinformed crunchy community fear-mongering petrolatum, but the ones used in these products are always fully refined and non-comedogenic. Plus, every dermatologist I see has always gifted me travel Cerave healing balm or Aquaphor (both contain petrolatum), and I trust that they would only give away science-backed, safe testers for their patients. With that being said, cruelty free and petrolatum don’t tend to intersect, and cruelty free options I’ve found are petrolatum-free. I’m interested in Waxelene’s Aerated Balm (uses beeswax instead of petrolatum as its base) or C.O. Bigelow.
Nature Made - I’ve learned that Nature Made has had a horrifying number of recalls/lawsuits made against them, all regarding safety issues. I’m not entirely sure what my next supplement brand will be, but here are a few potential contenders: Life Extension (I’ve purchased from them before and they’re surprisingly very affordable), Nordic Naturals.
2/8/26 — Megafood, Needed, and Gaia are safe supplement brands to support!
Aquaphor Baby 3-in-1 Diaper Rash Cream - Aquaphor is not cruelty-free, so I will replace with Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm.
Nexcare Sensitive Skin Tape - Not sticky enough, so will not repurchase.
Natrol Melatonin 5mg - Will not repurchase, as I’ve retrained my body to sleep without it. (It’s unfortunately more addicting than I thought it would be and found myself needing it every night. A nightmare!)
Beekeepers Naturals Propolis Throat Drops - I dislike the taste of these, but I’ve been curious about their other products, especially the Propolis Immune Support. I will only be purchasing directly from their website moving forward.
Ricola Throat Drops - Unclear if they still have suppliers from Israel, but I don’t mind trying other brands. Beekeeper’s Naturals Propolis Throat Soother seems like a good replacement.
Cepacol Extra Strength Sore Throat Drops - Will continue purchasing for times when the natural stuff isn’t working any more. Will investigate options at my local Palestinian-founded pharmacy.
Claritin Allergy Relief - Same as above.
pH-D Feminine Health Boric Acid Suppositories - Will purchase directly from their website, as this is a must-have for my persistent down there issues.
Lithium Coin Batteries - Will purchase at Ace Hardware.
Energizer MAX AAA Batteries - Will purchase at Ace Hardware.
Wrap-It 12pk Cable Labels - No need to repurchase these.
Oatly Oatmilk - After learning that Oatly isn’t just a simple little oat milk brand that went viral, I will be considering Minor Figures. I currently use Koatji for my matcha, but because that brand of milk is more expensive ($44 for 6 cartons) than Minor Figures ($27 for 6), I’ll use the latter for my chia pudding and baked goods.
Bonne Maman Guava Preserves - Too sweet, wasn’t a fan, so won’t be repurchasing.
Satin Bow Hair Barrette - Got this for the Laufey concert, and won’t be repurchasing.
Sharpie 2pk Permanent Markers - Sharpie is on the blacklist, so once the ink runs out, I’m interested in trying out these food-safe markers from Webstaurant Store.
2/8/26 — Staedtler Pigment Liners are an ethical alternative option to Sharpies, and I can get them from Blick’s Art Supplies, whose founder, Rick Blick, who is involved in a lot of arts and schools-based philanthropic work.
All in all, even though this was a pain to do, I’m glad I have my back-up option once the products I currently own run out. I am a bit nervous about straying from certain products I’ve really enjoyed using, but we vote with our dollars, and I’d much rather vote for small businesses attempting to good for the world than one who could care less.
If you shop at Trader Joe’s at all, you might wanna try their honey and oatmeal soap. I find it very mild and yet adequately cleansing for the body.
I haven’t shopped at target since they did the DEI thing. It hasn’t been a big effort at all. It’s mostly full of stuff I do not need.
Now THIS is what I’m talking about, 10/10 post