What makes a cleaning product eco-friendly?
First thing’s first, differentiating whether a product is truly eco-friendly.
Eco-friendly means product formulas must be plant-based and non-toxic in order to prevent air, water and land pollution. Coupled with this is the use of eco-friendly packaging, this can be in the form of biodegradable, recycled or reusable packaging to reduce waste going into landfill.
If you’re looking at brushes and cleaning utensils, look for ones that are biodegradable or made from recycled materials at its minimum - some cleaning tools can be completely natural too which is even better.
What are the best eco-friendly cleaning products to buy in Australia?
Now that we’ve sussed out what to look for when searching for eco-friendly alternatives, it’s time to familiarise ourselves with the best eco-friendly cleaning products that make you think twice as to why you didn’t make these (oh, so easy) eco-friendly swaps earlier.
1. Home cleaning bundle, $79 (usually $97), Tirtyl
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Keep your kitchen benchtops and dishes sparkling clean with this ultimate home cleaning bundle by Tirtyl. Climate and ocean friendly, this kit includes laundry sheets (say goodbye to laundry detergent), ultra-concentrated and biodegradable dishwasher tablets and the brand’s new universal cleaner kit filled to keep surfaces free from grease and grime. Plus, for every laundry sheet and dishwashing tablet sold, in partnership with Plastic Bank, Tirtyl collects one ocean-bound plastic bottle.
2. Stain remover combo, $12.99 (usually $13.99), Zero Co
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In a fresh lemon myrtle and Australian grey gum scent, this stain remover combo by Zero Co features a reusable refill pouch made from recycled materials diverted from landfill and a “forever” bottle made from ocean, beach and landfill plastic.
If reducing single-use plastic is high on your agenda (it should be), once you’ve emptied the refill pouch, simply return it back to the team at Zero Co and they’ll refill it again for you. Being eco-friendly while keeping your clothes stain-free is a win-win in our books.
3. Urthly Organics No Planet B stainless steel dish swisher, $34.95, Biome
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Make your dishwashing routine plastic-free with this stainless steel dish swasher. Simply place a bar of dish soap into the cage and hold it under running water or swish it around in the basin before you start - a plastic-free swap has seriously never been easier.
4. Natural glass cleaner, $12.95, Koala Eco
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Nothing is more satisfying than a spotless mirror and glass door. In a refreshing peppermint scent, the natural glass cleaner by Koala Eco effortlessly cuts through film and polishes glass and mirrored surfaces - sans the toxic chemicals. Contained in a post-consumer recycled bottle, you can be rest assured no new plastic can be found in Koala Eco’s cleaning range.
5. Full Circle reach bottle brush, $17.50, Nourished Life
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After bringing your reusable bottle out for a day trip, you’re back home and it’s time to clean that baby up. This ergonomic bottle brush by Nourished Life is designed to clean both the inside and outside of bottles at the same time. Made from recycled plastic and stainless steel, it’s perfect for water bottles, travel mugs, baby bottles and more.
6. Single Use Ain’t Sexy triple pack hand soap, $59.95, The Iconic
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Australian-owned and doing wonders for those who want an easy eco-friendly swap. Introducing the last soap bottles you’ll ever need to buy, Single Use Ain’t Sexy’s triple pack features three glass soap bottles (not plastic), and ten dissolvable hand soap tablets. Simply fill up the bottle with water, drop a tablet in and you’ll have sweetly-scented foaming hand wash in seconds.
7. Little Pepino Compostable kitchen dishcloth, $19.95, Banish
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Quick drying, super absorbent and 100 per cent compostable. These dishcloths (also known as Swedish sponges) are made from sustainably sourced wool pulp and have been used in kitchens all over the world for over 60 years. In a cute line-art pattern, just pop in your worm farm or compost bin when you’re finished and watch it disappear.
8. Universal cleaner, $29.95, Koh
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From stovetops to benchtops, floors to bathrooms, this mighty universal cleaner by Koh is the all-in-one cleaning solution you need in your home. With no harsh chemicals in sight and a no-brainer refillable system, it’s eco-certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) and Cruelty-Free International. Plus, it’s allergy and asthma friendly - recommended by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program.
9. Dishwasher starter set, $29, Blueland
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A consciously clean formula free of petroleum, parabens, ammonia, phthalates and artificial dyes and fragrances - this dishwasher starter set by Blueland will leave your dishes squeaky clean. The set includes an adorable tin case (that you’ll probably want on display) to store your packaging-free dishwasher tablets.
10. Safix coconut fibre scrub pad, $6.50, Biome
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Made from natural coconut fibres that are bound together by a non-toxic adhesive, this unique scrub will remove baked on food and greasy deposits with ease. Due to its natural properties, it's completely biodegradable and compostable after use, how good?
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Lead pic: Getty
