Keep your home smelling fresh in the best way possible – the eco-friendly way.
With eco-friendly cleaning products being more readily available (finally), finding ones to incorporate into your cleaning routine is now easier than ever.
These products are made from natural ingredients, encased in eco-friendly packaging, or even better, handmade with common household ingredients. With the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable cleaning products soaring, we see housekeeping coming full circle – begging us to dig out housekeeping books and recipes of yesteryear.
Tips for environmentally friendly cleaning in your home
- Vinegar is your best friend- use it with old newspaper to get a crystal-clear finish on mirrors and glass surfaces
- Add old citrus peels to vinegar, baking soda and water for a natural cleaner for bench tops that are safe for your family and eschew harsh chemicals. NB: Avoid using lemon and vinegar on marble benchtops, however, as the natural acids will corrode the stone, leaving permanent marks
- Olive or coconut oil and lemon on an old cloth for polishing wooden furniture is a great natural option and easily accessible from the pantry
- A few drops of essential oils in the toilet give it a fresh aroma – try orange or eucalyptus
Five ways a lemon can cut through your cleaning jobs
- Clean a cutting board by cutting a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the board, rub it in with the lemon half, then allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Wipe clean.
- Brighten clothes by adding stained items to a pot of water with a few lemon slices and allow to boil for three to five minutes.
- Clean stained food containers by squeezing lemon juice onto stained plastic, rub with the cut side of the lemon, let dry, and then rinse off.
- Refresh your bathtub with a paste made from baking soda, cream of tartar and a little lemon juice. Wipe paste all over the bathtub and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse clean with water and a soft cloth.
- Clean brass and copper with the cut edge of half a lemon dipped into salt and rubbed onto the surface.
The best eco-friendly cleaning products
Looking for eco-friendly cleaning products to buy? Below are our top picks:
Starter collection, $50.87 (usually $59.85), Koala Eco
We are loving Koala Eco cleaning products that are more than just beautiful packaging in the bathroom. They’re made from natural ingredients for a more environmentally friendly approach to cleaning your home. The brand’s Starter Collection features a 500ml multi-purpose kitchen cleaner, a 500ml dish soap, and a one-litre laundry wash. Plus, all bottles are made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled bottled, and 100 per cent recyclable.
Bondi Wash wool & cashmere wash, $28, THE ICONIC
Developed specifically for your most prized winter garments – namely, knits – this wool and cashmere wash is made from 100 per cent plant-derived ingredients and is gentle and effective. It’s a concentrated formula that is suitable for washing by hand or machine.
Surface and spray mop starter kit, $118.70 (usually $169.70), Koh
Effortlessly clean your home with this easy starter kit from Koh. Featuring the brand’s popular Universal Cleaner that won Canstar Blue’s #1 multi-purpose cleaner in 2022 and 2023, it’s safe to say it’s a crowd favourite. Plus, it’s eco-certified to the GECA cleaning standard and recommended by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program.
Planet Luxe bergamot blend glass cleaner, $18, Myer
Using a natural botanical blend of organic herbs, plant extracts and pure essential oils, this glass cleaner from Planet Luxe will leave your windows, shower screens and glass surfaces sparkling clean.
Urthly Organics toilet bomb carton of 12, $25.95, Biome
Free from SLS, parabens, fluoride, titanium dioxide, fragrance and petrochemicals. This eco-friendly toilet cleaner is simple and effective – simply drop one toilet bomb into the bowl, let it fizz and dissolve, and clean with a toilet brush.
Eco Store laundry bundle, $44.99, Amazon
Founded in New Zealand in 1993, Eco Store has everything from body wash to surface cleaners that are made for sustainable homes. This laundry bundle features two bottles of laundry liquid, a bottle of fabric softener and a laundry soaker and stain remover to make laundry day a breeze.
