If you’re looking to make your cleaning routine more environmentally friendly, there’s never been a better time. The abundance of fully natural, eco-friendly cleaners available on today’s market mean that getting a clean conscience and clean sideboard has never been cheaper, quicker or easier.
Switching to natural cleaners doesn’t mean just stocking up on lemon, vinegar and bicarb, and hoping for the best – there’s a load of eco-minded companies out there, bringing out products that harness the hidden power of nature (which is quite a lot, in case you wondered) to deliver the full extent of cleanliness we’ve come to expect from traditional, non-eco cleaners.
To help you make the all-important swap, we’ve brought together some essential eco-cleaning products that are sure to please. Much like making any other eco-swap in your life, these alternatives are hugely satisfying and incredibly easy, much like switching to a reusable coffee cup or bamboo product.
Many of these products aren’t just great for the Earth, but they’re gentle on the bank account, especially if you’re buying in bulk – the reduction in packaging and shipping lowers the unit cost, while also cutting down the environmental impact of individually wrapped products and their solo shipping. To help you get the most out of the bulk buying process, we’ve also included a couple of reusable glass bottles.
We’ve made sure that our recommended products are ethical, as well as eco-friendly. All of the manufactures we’ve recommended have demonstrated an active and highly ethical practice towards the environment, sustainability, and worker and animal welfare.
Eco-Cleaners
Award Winner
Ecozone's limescale remover will cut through stubborn limescale and accumulated soap scum without damaging the environment or your conscience. The secret ingredients that make this cleaner work aren't so secret – it's a concoction of water, citric acid, alcohol and formic acid (which is naturally occurring). It's vegan, cruelty-free and the bottle can be recycled.
Award Winner
This versatile sanitising spray kill 99.9% of bacteria using a non-toxic blend of natural, plant-derived ingredients, making it hard on dirt but soft on the environment. It's so efficient that one or two sprays can do the trick, meaning that one bottle is going to last you much longer than one of Bio-D's non-eco competitors. Cruelty-free and Vegan Society certified. If you're looking to get even greener, you can get hold of a bulk batch of some Bio-D sanitiser and decant into a reusable bottle and wipe surfaces using bamboo cloths.
Best Value
Bio-D's grime-removing grease-destroying hand wash is made up of entirely raw and natural materials, hypoallergenic, gentle on skin, and contains no petrochemicals, phosphates, preservatives, enzymes or synthetic perfumes. We wouldn't expect you to have this 5-litre bottle on the side of your sink – it's great for topping up reusable pump bottles that you've already got kicking around.
Recommended
Finding an eco-friendly toilet cleaner is tough – bleach, for all its ills, is after all very efficient for this job. Ecozone's answer to this issue is to combine plant derivatives, including gums and citric acid, to create a thick, limescale removing, non-toxic cleaner that is cruelty-free, Vegan Society approved and leaves your loo smelling like the ocean breeze.
Recommended
Faith In Nature's laundry liquid is made of only plant-based ingredients of sustainable origin, and is therefore non-toxic enzyme, paraben, phosphate and bleach free. Despite its gentle touch the liquid cleans excellently, even at lower temperatures, and can be directly applied to a clothing for enhanced stain removal. 5L of the super concentrated formula lasts for 150 washes. Suitable for woollens, fine fabrics, colours and reusable nappies.
Recommended
The sustainable and naturally derived materials used to put together this fabric softener are really quite brilliant. It's hypoallergenic, thanks to its lack of petrochemicals, phosphates, preservatives, enzymes and synthetic perfumes. Typically, 5L of Bio-D fabric conditioner will last for 110 washes.
Top Pick
This is a truly all-natural alternative for clothes washing. The nut's shell contains saponins which release mild but powerful cleaning suds when in contact with water – they've been used in Nepal and India for hundreds of years. Simply pop the suitable dosage into the provided clock bag, and away you go - each dose can be reused four times. Soap nuts are allergy-friendly, suitable for sensitive skin, and work at low temperatures. Inside the material sack, the nuts are packaged in a large plastic bag - though this isn't ideal, it's required to prevent the nuts drying out and can be recycled. Soap nuts are incredibly versatile and have a range of other cleaning applications that are worth looking into.
Recommended
This powerful floor cleaner removes accumulated dirt, sticky residue and all other sorts of bits and mess without any trouble. It's quick drying, streak and smear free and leaves your room with a lovely, subtle pomegranate scent. Suitable for use on hard floors, laminate, polished floors, ceramic tiles, stone, slate and vinyl.
Shortlisted
These multi-purpose spray bottles will certainly help you reduce your plastic consumption. The amber colouring to the glass container isn't just for style, but to protect the contents from damaging sunlight, allowing you to keep your cleaners active and working their best for longer.
Recommended
While we should all be using natural eco-sprays and reusable cloths wherever possible, there are some messes that call for a disposable situation. These wipes from Ecozone include all the naturally derived ingredients you'll find in their other super nature friendly products to kill 99.9% of bacteria, but on a 100% biodegradable wipe.
Shortlisted
This reusable dispenser is ideal for those bulk buying their hand soaps and washing liquids. The pump and lid are stainless steel, and the mason jar-styled body is glass. It's time to start refilling, rather then recycling!
neatclean.com
Reusable is definitely the way forward when it comes to sustainability, and it's especially pleasing when the bottle looks this good. Neat's 30ml concentrate provides a 500ml multi-surface cleaner when mixed with tap water and once you've ran out, you just refill it all over again. This means less CO2 emissions and no single use plastic. It's suitable for most surfaces, except unsealed stone, granite and marble. This set includes the refillable aluminium bottle plus three refills, so it's brilliant value for money - and the grapefruit concentrate smells wonderful.
www.biggreensmile.com
Attitude's cleaner will cut through all the soap scum and stubborn grime that your bathroom can accrue, whether it be on tiles, shower curtains, countertops, mirrors, glass or toilet bowls. The cleaner is made from all-natural materials, is carcinogenic free, CO2 neutral, cruelty-free and vegan.
www.biggreensmile.com
Using a dishwasher is far more efficient than washing by hand, so going eco-friendly on dishwasher products is a sure-fire way to double down on your green credentials. This concentrated powder is made from natural plant-based materials and is Vegan and cruelty-free. Using powder eliminates the need for individual plastic tablet wrappings, and this tub will last for 72 cycles. Don't forget to pick up a Bio-D rinse aid, too!
www.wilko.com
Wilko has gone all in with this kit, which is environmentally and economically friendly. The set includes Wilko's own eco-brand washing-up liquid, toilet cleaner, multi surface cleaner, dishwasher tablets, sensitive fabric conditioner and skin kind non-bio laundry liquid. All of the products are derived from plants, friendly to aquatic life, vegan and cruelty-free. The bottles are both recycled and recyclable, and we all wish we'd come up with the tag "doesn't cost the earth".