Living more sustainably means looking at all aspects of your life to see what changes can be made. And one big area is eco-friendly cleaning, where changes can have a big impact.
Cleaning is one of those necessities of life. Whether you like doing it or not, it still needs to be done. But have you ever wondered what impact your cleaning routine has on our environment?
You might know that many of the traditional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals. Given the labels on the bottles, most are not good for us, let alone for the environment.
So in this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about eco-friendly cleaning. We first look at the problems, then we focus on the solutions.
Why Are Traditional Cleaning Products Bad For The Environment?
Let’s start at the beginning and look at why the household cleaners we use negatively impact our environment. This will help us to understand why it is necessary to adopt an eco-friendly cleaning routine.
The main issue with common cleaning products is the chemicals they use. Not only are most of them petroleum-based, which means they use a non-renewable source, they can also cause havoc in our environment.
These chemicals get into our waterways through our drains. Although the water goes through water treatment plants before it gets released back into the environment, not all chemicals will be filtered out.
Small amounts of those chemicals make it into our waterways. Even small amounts can have a negative impact. But these small amounts also add up, and the accumulative effect is what is so harmful. In our waterways, they can cause harm to plants and marine animals. Some can even kill marine life.
Some of the worst chemicals are found in toilet cleaners and drain unblockers, just those kinds of products that will go down the drains. The most toxic chemicals include:
- Chlorine Bleach
- Ammonia
- Triclosan
- Formaldehyde
- Parabens
But it’s not just the chemicals: plastic is also a problem. Some household cleaners contain microbeads, tiny plastic particles, as fillers or emulsifiers. These aren’t caught during water treatment processes, so will all get into our waterways.
There they are eaten by marine life. Although it is not yet known what harm this can cause, scientists worry about the fact that these microplastics are found in so many aquatic animals.
Some of the cleaning tools we use, such as sponges or wet wipes, are also made of plastic. The amount of waste they cause is enormous. Especially because wipes are single-use and sponges are replaced on a regular basis.
Sponges are also often soaked in toxic chemicals such as triclosan or bleach. Given that sponges are rinsed in kitchen or bathroom sinks when used, these nasty chemicals then get into wastewater.
But cleaning sponges do also give up microplastics every time they are used, so more plastic that gets into our waterways and harms the environment.
Then there is the packaging. One glance into your under-sink cupboard will tell you that the majority of cleaning products come in plastic bottles. Admittedly, most of these plastic bottles can be recycled.
However, plastic can’t be recycled indefinitely, because its quality worsens. In fact, most recycled plastic is made into lower quality products. Most bottles that are made from recycled plastic also contain new plastic, so-called virgin plastic.
This means more and more plastic has to be produced. And because 90% of all plastic is made from fossil fuels, it’s not sustainable.
Find out more about this topic in our guide about how bad cleaning products are for the environment.
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Is Also Better For Our Health
Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products is not just good for the planet, but also for your own health. Because the chemicals used in traditional household cleaners are also toxic for humans.
The numerous warning labels you find on household cleaners make it very clear that they are not harmless. And there have been many studies that show that various chemicals used in common household cleaners are toxic for humans.
There are three ways these cleaning substances can cause problems for us and our loved ones:
- By inhaling or breathing them in
- By getting them on our skin
- By swallowing them
Breathing in cleaning products is something that happens every time you use them. Especially with ones that come in a spray bottle. And while the manufacturers state that this will not harm us, they only talk about their own product.
But the problem is the accumulative effect. Imagine you clean the bathroom: you use a bathroom cleaner for the sink and bath. Then a window cleaner for the mirrors and shower. For the toilet you use a toilet cleaner. Finally, you mop the floor.
So rather than just using one product, you use several, thereby multiplying the amount of chemicals you breathe in. And that’s where it can become harmful.
Unfortunately, this is not an exceptional scenario. When we clean our home, we use a wide range of different products for different tasks.
Skin irritation is another common way harsh chemicals in cleaning products can be harmful for our health. Many household cleaners recommend wearing rubber gloves when cleaning. But let’s be honest, most of us don’t use them.
They get hot and sweaty, and they make it more difficult to do the job at hand. At least that is my experience. But that means that these harsh chemicals come in contact with our skin.
Swallowing cleaning products is not something we tend to do. But children and pets might. And even though it is not recommended to swallow eco-friendly cleaning products either, at least you know that they don’t contain toxic chemicals.
Still, no matter what cleaning products you use, it is best to prevent your children and pets from getting hold of them. Better be safe than sorry.
If you want to find out more about the health risks of household cleaners, read our guide about how toxic cleaning products are for us and the environment.
Why Cleaning Sponges Are So Bad For The Environment
When we think of eco-friendly cleaning, we mostly focus on cleaning products. And while they are a big part of our cleaning routine, we shouldn’t forget about the humble cleaning sponge.
But these cheap little sponges have a massive impact on our environment for several reasons:
- Most common cleaning sponges are made of plastic
- These plastic sponges can’t be recycled
- They are often soaked in toxic chemicals such as bleach or triclosan
- Plastic sponges release microplastics every time they are used
- Traditional sponges aren’t made to last and will deteriorate quickly, producing huge amounts of waste
- Being made of plastic, they can take hundreds of years to break down
Now let’s think about the vast variety of different sponges there are. We use them to clean our dishes, our kitchen tops, bathrooms, toilets, cars, bikes, outdoor furniture and so much more.
As a result, there must be millions and millions of sponges in the world. And because they are so cheap, we don’t bat an eyelid when it comes to throwing them away. So we shouldn’t forget the humble sponge when we swap to an eco-friendly cleaning routine.
If you want to know more, read our guide about how bad sponges are for our environment.
Wet Wipes Cause Huge Harm To Our Planet
Another enemy to an eco-friendly cleaning routine are wet wipes. I know, they are super convenient and that’s why so many people love them.
But did you know that they are made of plastic? Yep! They might feel like wet tissues, but they are definitely made of plastic.
This is already bad news, because the vast majority of plastic is made from fossil fuels, takes ages to break down and distributes tiny plastic particles in our environment.
But there is more. Cleaning wipes are single use, so you use them and bin them, making them single-use plastic. This creates a huge amount of waste. Especially, because there are wet wipes for pretty much every cleaning job. But it also means that a vast amount of wet wipes are produced worldwide every year to satisfy the demand.
One big issue is people flushing wet wipes down the toilet. Many people think they are just wet tissues, but because they are made of plastic they don’t break down like toilet paper does.
Flushing them can block drains, which is a problem for everyone. Have you ever heard of these fatbergs that clog up our drains? Wet wipes are a big contributor to that.
And a good number of cleaning wipes make it in our waterways too. There they take hundreds of years to break down completely. During that time, they break down into smaller pieces, which are eaten by marine life, chocking some animals.
Another problem is that wet wipes are soaked in cleaning agents. We have already heard how these nasty chemicals are bad for the environment. So cleaning wipes just add to that, whether the wipes end up in our waterways or landfill.
Learn more about the harm they can cause in our guide about the environmental impact of wet wipes.
Most Cleaning Accessories Are Made Of Plastic
Before we get to the solutions, let’s talk about cleaning accessories other than sponges and wipes. Toilet brushes, dish brushes, bottle brushes, tea towels are all very useful for cleaning.
But they are also mostly made of plastic. And that means the use of petroleum-based plastic, which means fossil fuels.
You might be surprised to hear that tea towels contain plastic. But most fabrics, like our clothes, nowadays contain plastics, such as polyesters or nylon. Of course, you can also buy pure cotton ones, but it’s amazing how difficult they are to find.
The various brushes you can buy to help you clean are all very useful, but they also add to the plastic waste we produce. They can’t be recycled, so will end up in landfill.
It’s true that some brushes, like toilet brushes, might last a good while. But they eventually get grimy and need replacing and end up in landfill. Dish brushes tend to be replaced fairly often as well, because the bristles wear down.
So it’s important not to forget the cleaning accessories when swapping to eco-friendly cleaning products.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products – Natural Cleaning Products
Now that we know what the problem is with traditional household cleaning products, let’s look at what we can do. One way to get an eco-friendly cleaning routine is to switch to natural cleaning products.
These are household cleaners that don’t contain any harmful chemicals. Instead, they use natural ingredients that won’t harm us or the planet. The ingredients used in such cleaners include bicarbonate of soda, citric acid and white vinegar.
Because these ingredients are natural, they won’t harm your health or our environment. What’s more, natural household cleaners tend to come in eco-friendly packaging. Rather than plastic bottles, they come in reusable glass bottles.
And you can buy refills, which some businesses will take back for free to either recycle or refill. That way, there is no waste at all. Now that’s what I call eco-friendly cleaning products.
And if you want to make absolutely sure that you only clean with natural and non-toxic cleaners, then you can make your own. You read this right, you can make homemade household cleaners.
All you need is some basics, which you might already have in your cupboards:
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Citric Acid
With these simple ingredients, which you can get easily, you can make your own eco-friendly cleaning products that will keep your house clean without nasty chemicals.
Top-Rated Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
| Cleaning Products | Value For Money | Effectiveness | Ease Of Use | My Rating | Full Review | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Outstanding | Excellent | Great | 4.90/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
 | Outstanding | Excellent | Great | 4.90/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
 | Great | Outstanding | Excellent | 4.87/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
Probiotic Cleaning – Use The Power Of Good Bacteria
Another way to clean your home without dangerous chemicals is to use a probiotic cleaner. If you have never heard of this, let me explain.
You might know probiotic yoghurts or drinks that help your digestion and gut health by introducing beneficial bacteria. Well, it’s the same in terms of cleaning. The cleaner contains good bacteria that will help you to clean your home.
They do this in two ways: firstly, these bacteria will eat the dirt. Secondly, they will outcompete the bad bacteria, making your home safer.
And the great thing is that these little helpers will continue to clean when you have already finished.
Because probiotic cleaners don’t use any harsh chemicals, they are safe to use around children and pets and won’t cause any harm to you or the environment.
I love probiotic cleaners because you work with nature rather than against it. And that is after all the best way to ensure our planet is still there for generations to come.
If you are curious about this new way to clean your home, read our guide about probiotic cleaning.
Plastic-Free Alternatives To Traditional Cleaning Sponges
We have already heard that commonly used cleaning sponges are made of plastic, which is bad news for the environment. The good news is, there are plastic-free alternatives, which are all compostable too:
- Natural sea sponge
- Loofah sponge
- Cellulose sponge
First there is the natural sea sponge. This is actually a marine animal that lives in the sea. To harvest natural sea sponges, the top of these animals are removed. That’s like us having a hair cut.
Sea sponges are highly absorbent and are said to clean just as well as synthetic sponges. After all, they have been used by humans since Roman times. They are really soft, which is why they are often used for personal care as well.
However, they are not vegan, as they come from an animal. So there is an ethical consideration to make. It is also wise to ensure that any sea sponge you buy has been harvested sustainably to ensure you are not contributing to overharvesting of sea sponges.
If maintained properly, a natural sea sponge can last you for months, easily outliving a plastic sponge.
Another alternative are loofah sponges. These are the dried fruit from the luffa plant, which is part of the same family as cucumbers.
A loofah sponge is great for scrubbing but without damaging surfaces or non-stick pans. That’s why it’s often used in personal care as a skin exfoliator.
But it’s also a great tool for cleaning. You can even grow your own luffa plant, so you don’t have to buy any sponges any more. What I love about loofah sponges is that you can pop them in the dishwasher or washing machine to clean them.
This will prolong their lives considerably. They are much more robust than plastic sponges anyway, so won’t deteriorate as quickly. But by cleaning a loofah sponge in the dishwasher you also get rid of any bacteria build-up.
This means you can use it for much longer.
Finally, there are cellulose sponges. These are made from plant fibres, such as wood pulp, and resemble a synthetic sponge the most. This is because it goes through manufacturing processes that will turn the plant fibres into a sponge.
You can spot a cellulose sponge by the bigger and non-uniform holes. It’s also less soft when dry than a plastic one.
Because it goes through manufacturing processes, which can use quite a bit of energy, they can be seen as less eco-friendly than a loofah sponge.
However, cellulose sponges are plastic free, they work well, and they last much longer. Like loofah sponges, they can be cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine, prolonging their lives.
What all these three types of plastic-free sponges have in common is that they are compostable. This means when they eventually reach the end of their lives, you can cut them up and throw them on your compost heap at home.
Although I would only do this if you have not used them with any harsh or harmful chemicals. It is also advisable to clean them in a dishwasher or washing machine to get rid of any unwanted residues you don’t want in your compost.
Find out if compostable sponges work in our handy guide.
Plastic-Free Wipes
If you cannot live without wet wipes but want to have an eco-friendly cleaning routine, then be joyful, because you can get plastic-free wet wipes. These are made from plant fibres only rather than plastic fibres or a mixture of both.
As you know, most common cleaning wipes are soaked in chemicals. That’s why they are wet and are so good at cleaning. With plastic-free wipes, the substances tend to come from natural ingredients. This makes them doubly eco-friendly.
Non-plastic wet wipes tend to be biodegradable, given that they are made from plant-based materials. However, this does not mean they are compostable, because compostable and biodegradable aren’t the same thing.
This means they still have to be disposed of in the general waste bin and will end up in landfill. However, they will break down much quicker than plastic ones and won’t release harmful chemicals or microplastics in the process.
Some eco-friendly cleaning wipes are compostable. However, it is worth considering what you have used them for before throwing them on your compost heap.
Never be tempted to flush any wipe down the toilet though, as even plastic-free ones won’t biodegrade quickly enough not to cause problems.
So while plastic-free wipes are a great alternative, you should consider that they are still single-use. This means there will be a lot of waste and new ones have to be produced all the time.
Why not swap the wet wipes you absolutely can’t live with for plastic-free ones, such as baby wipes, and for the others, replace them with a reusable eco-friendly cloth and cleaning product?
That way you don’t have to give up the convenience, I know how much of a life-safer baby wipes are when you are out and about with your kids, but still get a sustainable cleaning routine.
Plastic-Free Cleaning Accessories
Other cleaning accessories that mostly contain or consist of plastic can also be replaced with plastic-free alternatives.
There are many UK-based brands out there who believe that cleaning can be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Plastic-free sponges, cleaning cloths, kitchen towels, various brushes, it’s all available for you.
Together with eco-friendly cleaning products they will help you to have a clean, safe home while also living a more sustainable life. Doesn’t that sound brilliant?
Sponges, cloths and towels that are eco-friendly are made from plant fibres, such as cotton or linen. As such, these are plastic-free. This means no microplastics and when they are at the end of their life, they will break down into harmless compounds.
Eco-friendly cleaning brushes will replace plastic with wood, metal and, ideally, plant-based bristles. So you can get plastic-free cleaning tools too, which is great.
Do Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products Work?
This is all well and good, but you might wonder if green cleaning products work. After all, if they don’t clean your home, why swap?
The good news is, that the answer to that question is yes. The natural ingredients have similar properties as the synthetic chemicals used in traditional cleaning products. This means they do the same good job.
We tend to believe that only harsh chemicals will get us a clean home, but that’s a misconception. However, because the natural ingredients are milder, it might take a bit more effort and elbow grease when you clean with natural cleaning products.
But I don’t think that is a drawback compared to the benefits you get: a clean home without harming your family or the planet.
Sometimes you also need to leave the product a bit longer, like eco-friendly toilet bowl cleaner. But again, that’s not really an issue.
If you want to know more about this topic, read our article about how effective eco-friendly cleaning products are.
Are Eco Cleaning Products Safe For Septic Tanks?
If, like us, you have a septic tank, then this is certainly a question you’d like to have answered. Because we only moved into our new house fairly recently, and it’s the first time we had a private sewage treatment plant, I wanted to know.
It’s very difficult to find out if cleaning products are safe to use with a septic tank. Antibacterial chemicals such as bleach shouldn’t be used. So this rules out most traditional toilet bowl cleaners.
The good news is that most eco-friendly cleaning products are safe for septic tanks, because they use milder natural ingredients, rather than harsh chemicals.
Conclusion
The products we buy in the supermarket to clean our home are neither good for us nor for the environment. The chemicals they use are harsh and toxic. Plastic is another big problem, either in the products themselves, such as sponges, or the packaging.
Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products means you can cut out the nasty chemicals and clean your home in a more sustainable way.
Whether you go for natural cleaning products, homemade cleaners or probiotic cleaning products, you don’t have to compromise on results either, even if you might have to put a bit more effort into cleaning.
You can even ditch plastic sponges, wet wipes and cleaning accessories and reduce the plastic waste your household produces. This is a great feeling.
Now that you know all about eco-friendly cleaning products, you are ready to make the switch.
If you are unsure about what to look out for and where to find your eco-friendly cleaners, our complete guide about swapping to eco-friendly natural cleaning products will help.
3 Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products In The UK
| Cleaning Products | Value For Money | Effectiveness | Ease Of Use | My Rating | Full Review | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outstanding | Excellent | Great | 4.90/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
| Outstanding | Excellent | Great | 4.90/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
| Great | Outstanding | Excellent | 4.87/5 | Read Review | Visit Website |
