6 Planet-Friendly Products for Home Cleaning

As we become more aware of our impact upon the environment, more of us are looking for planet-friendly products to place in our shopping carts. One key area in which shoppers are making changes is with home cleaning products.

Recent research conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and commissioned by the Worldwide Fund for Nature shows that there is increasing demand for sustainable goods, especially in high-income countries.

In the UK, Google searches for sustainable products have increased eightfold over the past five years. And Neilson IQ Research indicates that 48% of U.S. consumers are ready to change their consumption habits to save the environment.

Emerging economies are also demonstrating a trend toward planet-friendly products, with 41% of Chinese consumers looking for eco-friendly products. Globally, there has been a staggering 71% rise in online searches for sustainable goods over the past five years.

In response, more companies are offering products that don’t harm the earth. There are many eco-friendly home cleaning options on the market today.

So, with so many green and planet-friendly products available, what are the must-have items for your shopping cart?

In this article, we will look at six sustainable choices for planet-friendly home cleaning products that won’t blow your budget. These nature-based, eco-friendly products will leave your home spotless and your conscience squeaky clean.

1. Castile Soap

Castile soap originates from the Castile region of Spain and is produced from plant-based oils blended with caustic soda. It is sold in both liquid form and solid bar form. Because it is multi-functional, Castile soap can be used for a cleaning a range of areas in your household, including windows, toilets, and floors.

Castile soap is vegan and fully biodegradable. Its natural credentials mean it also works as a personal care product—it can be used as body wash and even as pet shampoo. The result? No need to purchase dozens of different products, so you’ll cut down on packaging waste.

There are many different brands of Castile soap. The most iconic and top-selling soap in the U.S. natural marketplace is Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. Made from organic and fair-trade ingredients without synthetic preservatives, detergents, or foaming agents, it is a smart all-around planet-friendly home cleaning product.

2. Soap Nuts

Soap nuts are another eco-friendly option. Sometimes known as Indian soap berries, soap nuts are the natural husk from the berries of the Sapindus mukorossi tree.

Soap nuts contain saponin, which produces a soaping and natural detergent effect, making them a fantastic compostable and plastic-free laundry cleaner. You simply place five or six soap nuts into your washer and they work their cleaning magic on your clothes and linens.

Because they are a mild, natural cleaner, soap nuts are also an ideal laundry option for babies and those with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and allergies to other detergents.

What’s more, you can reuse them for three to four loads before you add them to your compost.

Soap nuts are a planet-friendly choice for home cleaning from the start to the end of their life cycle.

3. Solid Soaps for Dishes and Hands

Consider packaging when you are looking for planet-friendly home cleaning products. Even the most virtuous of products loses significant eco–brownie points when it comes wrapped in plastic. Solid dish soap means no need for the squeezy plastic bottle.

You can also consider solid block and plastic packaging-free products for personal hygiene. Local markets are a great place to source artisan soap bar products for your hands, body, and hair. There are also plenty of online companies now selling soap bar alternatives to liquid soaps.

4. Plastic-Free Dishwashing Brush

While we are talking dishes, it’s also worth considering the items you use alongside your dishwashing detergent. Using a plastic-free, compostable, and sustainable dishwashing brush with your solid bar detergent makes for a planet-friendly duo.

Avoid polyester and nylon sponges, and instead opt for a dishwashing brush that is made from wood and sisal, with replaceable heads that should last between four to eight weeks, depending on use.

Because these brushes are compostable, you don’t create unnecessary waste when changing out the old brush for a new one.

5. Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths allow you to clean your home without the need for excessive chemicals.

Designed to be used with or without water, microfiber cloths attract dirt and grime via static. Particles are then trapped into the small voids within the fibers, making for a stress-free and chemical-free clean. Microfiber uses 95% less chemicals and water than cotton cloths.

What’s more, microfiber cloths are reusable and can be laundered with your usual washing, offering a viable alternative to single-use and plastic-laden cleaning wipes. They can be washed and reused thousands of times.

6. Vinegar: Your Secret Home Cleaning Ingredient

For a home that is sparkly and shiny, you might like to consider cleaning products that are good enough to eat. There are a range of homemade cleaner recipes made from natural ingredients you already have in your kitchen, such as lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda.

White vinegar quickly cuts through grease, rust, and limescale and has disinfectant properties. You can use a squirt of distilled white vinegar around the rim of the toilet to tackle limescale deposits, or you can dampen a cloth with it to polish backsplash surfaces or tiles.

White vinegar can also be added to laundry rinses to soften fabrics, whiten whites, and keep your washing machine clean and odor-free.

Vinegar can be combined with baking soda, triggering a natural chemical reaction that results in a fizzing cleaner for sinks and drains.

You can even soak cloudy glasses in white vinegar and then wash them normally to regain their sparkle.

As you can see, for planet-friendly cleaning products, you don’t need to spend a fortune or accumulate dozens of bottles. The six natural cleaning products covered here can be used in many different ways, and they will leave your home fresh and clean—without causing damage to the planet.