We believe that the most environmentally friendly cleaning products are zero waste, naturally derived products that are non-toxic to people and the planet.
The sad fact is that many of the cleaning products available today are made with highly toxic ingredients that are not only harmful to us if we inhale them or get them on our skin, but do untold damage to our ecosystems. Choosing natural products allows you to dramatically reduce your environmental impact by reducing the harmful substances you are pumping into the air or down your drains.
Choosing naturally derived plant-based cleaning products is kinder to the planet. And it doesn’t mean they have to be any less effective. Good quality natural cleaning products are just as effective as their counterparts, they just choose ingredients that are less harmful to you, your family and the environment. Bleach for example is great for getting rid of mould but so is vinegar.
Most cleaning products whether they are natural or not rely on the same basic ingredients. They use acids and alkalis, abrasive materials and surfactants. All of which can be naturally derived.
Zero Waste Cleaning Products
One of the other ways to determine how environmentally friendly your cleaning products are is to look at how much waste they create. Unfortunately, even if we put our plastic bottles in the recycling that doesn’t necessarily mean they are recycled. There are lots of reasons that waste gets contaminated and it becomes too expensive to recycle.
And of course we know that it is always more environmentally friendly to reuse something than to recycle it.
Many eco-friendly brands offer the option of refilling your bottles to reduce waste. There are now lots of stores that offer refills of everything from shampoo to window cleaner. Or you can purchase large containers that reduce the overall packaging required.
One better than that is to opt for brands such as ocean saver that have decided not to sell you and transport the 90% water that most cleaning products are made of. Their concentrated drops come in cardboard packaging that can be composted or recycled. To use you simply place the drop in any 750ml (or bigger if that’s all you have) bottle and add water. This means you can replace all your old sprays as you go and reuse the bottles rather than throwing them away.
Other great zero waste options include solid bars of dish soap instead of washing up liquid, and the amazing Tru Earth Laundry Strips.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Accessories
Of course it’s not just the cleaning products themselves that have an environmental impact but the accessories we use to clean. There are now numerous eco-friendly options to replace plastic sponges and scourers, cleaning cloths, rubber gloves and even your toilet brush.
Next Up: Why Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
