Want to reduce your impact on the planet while doing your household chores? We reveal seven of the best ways.
We're a nation of cleaning-lovers! But how can you stop your love of clean from damaging the environment?
1. Cut the chemicals
It's a common misconception that cleaning products have to contain harsh chemicals to be effective. Not true. Some of the most effective cleaners occur in nature! Products like lemon, vinegar and baking soda are well-known for their cleaning properties.
If you're searching for household cleaning products which are eco-friendly but tough on grime look no further than these revolutionary Water-Soluble Cleaning Sachets. Not only are they antibacterial, but they're made from plant-based, sustainably-sourced ingredients.
2. Switch to sustainable
Ditch those traditional cleaning cloths and sponges for more sustainable, biodegradable options. Traditional cleaning sponges are often made from petrochemical plastics, meaning they'll only ever break down into microplastics (in a few hundred years!).
Eco-friendly cleaning sponges like these EcoVibe Compostable Sponges are a great alternative. They're hygienic, durable and best of all, completely biodegradable.
If you prefer to use a cleaning cloth instead, these Compostable Sponge Cloths are 100% plastic-free.
3. Ditch the bleach
Bleach is one of the harshest ingredients in commercial cleaning products. Bleach's active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is extremely corrosive. Contact with it can damage your skin, causing burns, allergies and eye irritations. If that's what it does to you, imagine the damage all that bleach causes to our aquatic life.
Ditch the bleach and swap for an eco-friendly bleach alternative. Hydrogen peroxide is a milder eco alternative that isn’t toxic to use around the home but still keeps things hygienic and white.
If you usually use bleach in your toilet, this powerful Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner is an environmentally-sound alternative. It kills germs and removes stains, but is completely non-toxic and bleach-free.
4. Watch those carpets
Pets, babies and small children can spend a lot of time on the floor. This makes it particularly important that your carpet cleaner is non-toxic. Unfortunately, commercial brands use some of the most toxic chemicals found in the home, like propylene glycol methyl ether, propane, and synthetic fragrances. Definitely not child or pet friendly.
As a green-alternative, look for products featuring natural and deodorising ingredients. This Non-Toxic Carpet Freshener removes odours trapped in fabric and fibres, leaving just a light lavender scent behind. The eco-friendly carpet cleaner is completely plastic-free, vegan and handmade in the UK!
5. Use natural materials
Instead of reaching for the scourer next time you need to tackle baked-on grease, check out the natural options available. Plant-based cleaning tools are some of the best scrubbing utensils on the market! Look out for Natural Washing Up Loofahs, Coconut Fibre Scourers, and Wooden Dish Brushes (made from cactus!).
All of these plastic-free cleaning alternatives are natural, sustainable and biodegradable.
6. Reduce your plastic
Cleaning products are a big contributor of unnecessary plastic waste. The average person uses and discards several bottles a year. Instead of adding to the growing plastic problem look for a more zero-waste alternative.
By switching to Reusable Glass Bottles instead, you'll cut down on cleaning plastic and save money in the process! Simply create your own eco-cleaning solution (or add Water-Soluble Cleaning Sachets) and you'll always have a handy supply of eco-friendly cleaning product.
7. Reduce the washing detergent wastage
By the time they reach you, traditional washing detergents may have generated a huge carbon footprint. By switching to Laundry Strips instead of liquid washing detergent you'll save truck fuel and CO2 equivalent to taking 27 million cars off the road for a day. That's the same as planting nine million trees!
Dissolvable Laundry Strips such as these are pre-measured and mess-free, reducing the detergent wasted by overpouring. The laundry strips are ultra-concentrated, convenient and suitable for sensitive skin.
