Ah, the household chore we all love… Cleaning the toilet! A dirty toilet can be pretty unpleasant, so it’s no surprise lots of have been reaching for the bleach to get rid of all the nasty bacteria and, (eek!) stains. But we all know, while conventional bathroom cleaning ingredients like bleach might be effective cleaners, they are packed full of toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health, our waterways and wildlife. On top of that, bleach takes centuries to degrade in nature too, having long-lasting effects on the environment.
But don’t worry, there’s a new, natural alternative to toilet cleaner! Find out more about our sustainable toilet cleaning bombs here as we run over five reasons why we love them so much.
They’re such an easy eco swap
No one likes a dirty bathroom or the thought of the toxic slew of cleaning chemicals found in most mainstream household cleaners. As sustainable products become more popular, there’s more and more bathroom cleaning options popping up onto the market – which we at EcoVibe are super excited about!
Of all the DIY natural cleaning guides (like this one) and supermarket-sold products available right now, these handmade toilet bombs are the easiest swap we’ve found. All you need to do is drop the toilet cleaning bomb down the loo, wait as it fizzes, then clean away with your toilet brush as usual.
They actually work
Time for a quick chemistry lesson. As you pop the cleaning bomb into the toilet bowl, you’ll see a gentle bubble. That fizzing sensation is from the reaction of the bicarbonate of soda and citric acid with water. They react to form sodium citrate, as well as water and carbon dioxide. That sodium citrate is a great, well-known ingredient that is great for disinfecting and cleaning, without being as harsh as mainstream alternatives like bleach. These natural toilet cleaners are especially great if you have limescale problems since the citric acid helps to lift and bicarbonate of soda helps exfoliate the limescale away.
Top tip! These toilet bombs are also great for cleaning drains in your skinks, shower and bath which is especially good if you use natural soap bars as these will help clean away any leftover suds and residue.
They’re fully natural
These toilet cleaning bombs are made with simple ingredients, using only natural minerals and oils. The ingredients are fully biodegradable and non-toxic, making them safe for you, your family and the planet.
The packaging is totally natural too. They come packed in a simple brown paper bag that’s obviously plastic-free, fully recyclable and compostable too.
They’re made by a small independent business
These toilet cleaning bombs are handmade by a fab company called Herbal Homes that’s run by April with the support of her family and a fellow mum from the school gates in Essex, UK. The company started just over a year ago by accident really, when April posted her fab toilet bombs on her Instagram page, a refill shop happened to see her post and asked if they could sell them. A year later, Herbal Homes have a wonderful and supportive network of eco shops they work with, including us at EcoVibe. April hopes with more and more people making eco-friendly choices like swapping to these toilet bombs, Herbal Homes will be add new products to their range.
For many independent brands, the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact following the national lockdown. By spending your buying power on small companies like Herbal Homes, you can help support them in more challenging times like this.
P.S. A quick note, if you don’t have the spare cash right now or don’t need their products and services, there’s lots of other ways you can help independent brands too, including leaving good reviews on their social media pages, buying gift cards for friends and family or taking part in any online classes they might be holding.
They’re made in the UK
As mentioned in the point above, these natural toilet cleaning bombs are made in the UK. Herbal Homes also try, where possible, to use local or UK-made ingredients to keep their carbon footprint to a minimum.
Not only will choosing Herbal Homes products help support British business, but by choosing UK made products, there is a lower impact on the environment. This is because the vehicles used to transport goods emit nasty greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Being close to the makers reduces the emissions created from transportation.
Looking for more UK-made products? Check out our UK-made collection here.