March 2020

To protect ourselves from germs and pathogens, we regularly clean our homes. But not all cleaning agents we use are harmless to our health and not even to the waters where dirty water from our buckets ends up.
We have therefore put together a few tips for you on what to look out for when buying cleaning products, how to handle your cleaning products carefully and how to dispose of them properly.

BEFORE PURCHASING CLEANING SUPPLIES

Before purchasing, it’s worth remembering that:

🧹Basic home supplies like soda, vinegar or soft soap can replace most chemical cleaning products. Generally speaking, special cleaners and disinfectants are not necessary for cleaning a household.

🧹A neutral, all-purpose cleaner can serve all rooms, cleaning floors, surfaces and windows alike.

🧹 It’s best to use reusable cloths over disposable wipes. Also, hang on to your old toothbrushes, as these are great for scrubbing, especially in tighter spots.

WHICH CLEANING PRODUCTS & CLEANING EQUIPMENT DO WE NEED?

🧹 In the kitchen, you can use vinegar or baking soda against grease and scouring milk for more stubborn stains. Dish brushes and sponges will do as tools for scrubbing and wiping.

🧹 In the bathroom, all you need is scouring milk, limescale remover, disinfectant and reusable cloths.

🧹 In the living/bedroom, you can use a neutral all-purpose cleaner with some reusable cloths or rags.

WHAT TO OPT FOR?

Buy as locally as possible to minimise CO2 emissions from transportation. Likewise, when buying online, they can be reduced by buying from a site shipping within your country or area – also, be sure to buy everything you need at once, in bulk and with minimal or recyclable/biodegradable packaging. Keep an eye out for refillable products too.

CERTIFIED CLEANING PRODUCTS

Choose sustainable, eco-cleaning products. These are based on fats and sugars (renewable resources) and are free from synthetic dyes, fragrances and preservatives. They also avoid animal testing.

Labels are the best way to spot sustainable products. International labels include:

Certified B Corporation
Cradle to Cradle
Eco-cert
EU Eco Label

Many countries also have their national labels.
The Vegan Flower seal will also appear on cruelty-free cleaning products.

Sustainable ceaning product brands

Sustainable brands can be found in regular supermarkets, pharmacies, speciality shops, natural shops and online shops. They cover a wide range of cleaning products. Examples of readily available ones include:

Auro
EcoClean Nordic
Ecover
Frosch
Ecozone

Honest
Klar
Soap Nutz
Sodasan
Sonett

DIY CLEANING PRODUCTS

There are also lots of sustainable DIY recipes for making your cleaning products at home.

The main advantage is that natural ingredients are used, and plastic packaging is avoided – it’s easier than you think; plus, you can also save money doing so!

BASIC CLEANING INGREDIENTS & THEIR USAGE

Here is a list of essential cleaning ingredients and some of their features:

Baking soda - removes odours.
Beeswax - polishes wood.
Cornstarch – clean windows, polish furniture and clean carpets.
Essential oils - clean, disinfect, and deodorise.
Hydrogen peroxide - easy swap for anything to bleach.
Lemon Juice - cuts through grease and disinfects.
Newspaper - for cleaning glass and mirrors.
Oil - vegetable & olive oil clean wood.
Oxygen-bleach -gently removes stains and whitens fabrics.
Salt - multi-talent. For example, stain, rust, limescale removal, and toilet cleaning.
Soap – (unscented) will clean just about anything. Some people prefer castile soap.
Sodium bicarbonate - mild abrasive, scouring agent, deodoriser that dissolves dirt, tackles odours, and cuts through grime.
Washing soda/ sodium carbonate - removes grease, blood, tea, and coffee stains, removes soap scrum and unclogs drains.
White vinegar - loosens dirt and grime.

HOUSEHOLD REMEDIES

Household concoctions are environmentally friendly and better for your health. The following are just some of the recipes that can replace your concentrated chemical cleaning products:

Dilute vinegar (or vinegar essence), lemon juice or baking soda with warm water for an effective all-purpose cleaner that can clean almost anything.
Mixing warm water with vinegar essence or citric acid will make your bathroom shine. It will eliminate limescale and polish stainless steel. This mixture is also suitable for window cleaning.
Mixing baking soda 1:1 with water makes a strong oven cleaner. Let it sit on stains for a few hours, then scrub them immediately.
To unblock a drain, pour two tablespoons of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar into it. Let it stand for a while before rinsing.
To make an all-purpose cleaning spray, you only need citrus peels (take leftovers!), vinegar, and water!

SUSTAINABLE CLEANING SUPPLIES

Things to bear in mind when using cloths:

🧹 Use reusable cloths when cleaning and go the extra mile by ensuring they’re made from sustainable fibres. Reuse your old sheets, towels or shirts – tear them into rags.

🧹 Copper cloths are great for tougher stains on hard surfaces. They’re durable, can be machine-washed and are entirely recyclable.

🧹 Many sponges are made of plastic; avoid these by opting for natural materials, such as loofah sponges, which decompose quickly when thrown away.

🧹 Toothbrushes - reuse your old toothbrush for cleaning small gaps and corners (of furniture).

🧹 Newspaper or packaging paper is great for cleaning glass and mirrors.

APPLICATION & DISPOSAL OF CLEANING PRODUCTS & SUPPLIES

Apply and care for your cleaning products considerately. If you dispose of them, do the least environmentally harmful option.
Here are some tips:

🧹 Avoid spreading germs by using the same cloths in every part of the house. Change them weekly, wash them at least 60°C, and let them air dry completely.

🧹 Follow dosages precisely; avoiding over-use of a product helps protect groundwater. Also, store your products as instructed to prolong their lifespans. Closed cabinets without direct sunlight always help.

🧹 Daily shock ventilation can prevent mould from growing in rooms where humidity builds up. You can reduce or even avoid mould removers by wiping down the walls or tiles in your shower after use.

🧹 Be aware of the longevity of the ingredients in your DIY products, and store them in closed, leak-proof containers.

🧹 Always recycle empty containers where possible, but consider refilling them with cleaning products or using them for something else.

🧹 Dispose of containers as stated on their packaging.

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS - LITERATURE TIPS

For guides on making more sophisticated DIY cleaners and extra zero-waste cleaning tips, check out …

… websites like Clean Mama, Going Zero Waste, The Green Parent, The Spruce, Trash Is For Tossers and Wellness Mama.
… books like
- Sustainable Home and Zero Waste Home for detailed how-tos.
- The Organically Clean Home for 150 easy-to-make recipes for natural cleaning products.
- Clean & Green for 101 sustainable, natural cleaning tips and hacks for recipes and cleaning methods.
- Green Clean, a step-by-step guide to cleaning using natural, safe products.
- The Art of Natural Cleaning for traditional cleaning techniques and instructions for DIY cleaning products.

Plus, you can learn about recipes that use leftover cleaning products or even food scraps at 1 Million Women, Herworld, Bottega, Kitchn, or Banish.