Time for a cleaning haul that won't damage the environment?

Confession time, I love a good scroll through Instagram and having a nosy at other peoples lives!  Whilst cleaning and decluttering seems to be very much in fashion at the moment, I can't tell you how much it annoys me to see so many Instagram accounts promoting harmful cleaning materials.  When they show glimpses into there organised little cleaning cupboards, a little ball of rage burns inside me at the site of all those barely used plastic bottles they've accumulated through their experimenting!

Now here's a few revelations for you, you don't need a product jammed full of chemicals and plastic to effectively clean your houses.  Natural ingredients and materials will do a better job 10 times over.  Plastic is often not the best material for the job, its just the cheapest but it causes irreversible damage to our environment.  A lot of plastic materials contain microbeads that are that small they wash down your plug hole without you even knowing and then end up in our waterways and oceans.  These tiny plastics persist in the environment and have a damaging effect on marine life, the environment and human health. This is due to their composition, ability to adsorb toxins and potential to transfer up the marine food chain. 1.1 million marine animals die EVERY YEAR due to plastic pollution.

It is horrible to think that just by cleaning our homes we are causing this damage and death but it is possible to clean your home without having a negative impact on our environment.  Here's a few ingredients and materials to look out for when you are next buying cleaning products that are completely zero waste.

🌍 Coconut husk is naturally antibacterial, durable and tough making it the perfect cleaning tool.  Ecococonut have come up with a great range of eco-friendly products that use coconut husk at the core of what they do.  Coconut oil is also a great cleaning ingredient as it contains lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid, all of which are proven effective against common bacteria. . Mix it with baking soda to form a paste, then wipe it across any mildew or soap scum spots.

🌍 White distilled vinegar is a a great and low cost cheaper that's not packed full of chemicals.  It is acidic, which means it'll cut through the toughest grime and limescale with ease.  it is also a great stain remover as it naturally anti-bacterial and a great natural deodoriser so it’s perfect for glass cleaning, for removing stubborn and smelly food stained dishes.  Vinegar is a collective word for products containing acetic acid as active substance. Acetic acid is obtained in various ways. The acetic acid in natural vinegar is always obtained from an organic source. 

🌍 If (like me!) you struggle to get past the smell it leaves behind then try a plant based cleaning drop such as the ones from Ocean Saver.  Most commercial multi-purpose surface cleaners use toxic chemicals such as ammonia to help shift stains and disinfect surfaces. Thankfully, these eco-friendly and plastic-free alternatives are plant based and non toxic so won't cause allergies, asthma and skin irritation.  To use, just simply reuse an old cleaning bottle or you can use one of our glass spray bottles, fill it with warm water, drop the sachet it and give it a shake and watch the solution dissolve into the water.  Hey presto, natural and plastic-free cleaning that's better for you, your family and your home!





🌍 These days there is no excuse for using disposable wipes when there are so many different options out there!  From washable cotton wipes to cellulose sponges.  Cellulose are is the perfect material for wiping up spills or cleaning down a bathroom/kitchen area as it absorbs and holds liquid very well and can last through some fairly tough cleaning jobs.  Cotton is one of the most popular, widely used cleaning fibres as it is readily available, cost-effective, and its high absorbency makes it ideal for wiping up spills.

This set of cloths are actually made up of both! They are 70% cellulose and 30% cotton and made with water based inks, which means they are vegan, 100% plastic-free and compostable once use is exhausted.    The cloths are tough, absorbent and washable meaning you can use them over and over again.  They are also safer to use in your home as unlike traditional sponge clothes they will not emit micro plastics.

 🌍 Lemon, like vinegar, is also a brilliant natural cleaning agent. You often find bottled cleaning solutions with added lemon and its no surprise if you look at the natural qualities of lemons.  The acid in lemons is antibacterial and antiseptic, and it acts as a natural bleach. The citrus smell of lemon is refreshing and invigorating. Oils in the rinds can also help to clean and shine. I've just come across this great guide into making your own Citrus All Purpose Cleaner here so I'll be giving this a go in the near future! >> Homemade Citrus All-Purpose Cleaner | Wholefully

 Visit our full eco-friendly cleaning product selection here>> Cleaning products – TheEcoFriendlyLivingCo