Reasons to Choose Biodegradable Cleaning Brands

Whatever you’ve used in the kitchen, bathroom, or washing machine has to travel through pipes, treatment works, and finally into rivers or coastal waters. Water treatment removes a lot, but can’t catch everything. So biodegradable cleaning products use plant-based surfactants, citric acid and bicarbonate of soda.

Never use essential oils for cleaning for pregnancy/nursing and near babies/pets. Citrus oils are toxic to pets (even if rinsed and dried, residue could be licked from paws). For these homes, choose unscented cleaners (or use unscented cleaning vinegar and baking soda). 

Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). Also read how to clean floors and carpets, naturally.

For toxic cleaning/laundry products, you can recycle empty bottles with kerbside collections. For bottles with product, dispose of them at your council’s hazardous waste department.

Use with plastic-free cloths and sponges

Seep eco sponge scourers are sold online (a pack of 12 should last a year). Everything from this wonderful company is plastic-free and stop microplastics being rinsed down sinks, and going into the sea. Perfect for cleaning or washing dishes, these can safely laundered (or put in the top rack of your dishwasher). Over 1 million already sold!

Made from wood pulp cellulose (sewed with cotton to bind the loofah side), at end of use, just cut up and compost or pop them in the bin, to naturally break down (just ensure they dry out between uses. 

Seep eco pop-up sponges are not just good for cleaning your home, they are plastic-free and can be sent through the letterbox, so it’s no issue if you’re not home! Buy one pack, or register for a regular subscription (each one should last around four weeks).

Perfect for wiping up spills, these look like a flat paper sponge, but just run it under the tap, to watch it transform into a full-size sponge. After use, you can simply pop it in the washing machine, to use again.

Seep all-purpose cleaning cloths are made from biodegradable cellulose wood pulp, and ideal for all your cleaning jobs. You can use these wet or dry (as polishing cloths) and each cloth is a different colour, so you don’t accidentally clean your bedside table with one used in the bathroom!

After use, reshape the damp cloth and allow to dry naturally (don’t tumble dry not use fabric conditioner, this will reduce absorbency). Sold in packs of 3.

Each cloth is very absorbent can take 15 times its own weight in water, so it won’t fall apart (don’t use fabric conditioner if you tumble dry, as it will reduce absorbency).

Seep Rubber Cleaning Gloves (in cardboard packs)

Seep rubber cleaning gloves are good quality, but different from you-know-who, because not only are they are made with natural rubber, but unlike most brands, these are sold in cardboard packs (no plastic). They also have textured fingers, to help you grip things, while washing-up.

Avoid for latex allergies. Use a separate pair for dishwashing, than cleaning. At end of use, cut them up (to speed up biodegradation) and pop in your bin!

Designed with soft lining for extra comfort, each pack includes 3 packs of gloves which should last you a long time. Made ethically in Sri Lanka, choose from small, medium or large sizes (rinse with water after use, dry out between uses, and store away from sunlight (to prevent mould).

The natural rubber is sourced from trees by tapping (like maple syrup, this does not require trees to be chopped down). So does not contribute to deforestation. And this company also donates to reforestation project, to offset the carbon from shipping the rubber from abroad.

Greenscents (scented and unscented cleaners)

Greenscents is a nice range of eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products, all sold in glass bottles that you can send back for washing and refilling (including bulk orders). It does also offer scented items, but the unscented range is ideal for babies, pets, pregnancy/nursing and allergies.

Don’t handle glass with wet hands.

They are sold in 500ml bottles with aluminium lids (and a one-time purchase of a head). Then buy 5 litre and 20 litre refill containers (you can decant into bottles, and send empty containers off for refilling).

Glass Cleaner delivers a sparkling shine to windows, mirrors, splashbacks, picture frames and shower screens, to lift away dust, grease and finger marks. Read how to help stop birds flying into windows.

Fruit and Veg Wash is ideal to remove pesticides, bacteria, dirt and wax (did you know that most non-organic apples are covered in shellac insects, to make them shiny?) This gentle formula helps reduce exposure to listeria, E.coli and salmonella.

Perfect for fruits, leafy greens, berries and salad veg (cantaloupe melon is high salmonella risk, so use separate tools and store separately from other foods).

Bio-D Biodegradable Unscented Cleaners (sold in shops)

Bio-D Fragrance-Free Cleaners are another choice, sold in health and farm shops, where you can take back bulk containers for refilling. It’s best to use their fragrance-free versions, as some of the scented versions contain artificial fragrance. There are over 700 refill points across the UK.

Miniml Natural Cleaners (in refillable bottles)

Miniml Eco Friendly Surface Cleaners are the ideal swap to keep on hand, to lift dirt and grime from surfaces. Available in:

• French lavender (with refills)
• Anti-Bac Pink grapefruit (with refills)
• Blood orange (with refills)

To use, spray surface and wipe clean with a cloth or sponge. Rinse and dry. Also good for door handles and handrails.

Miniml Eco-Friendly Window & Glass Cleaner

Miniml Eco Friendly Window & Glass Cleaner can remove fingerprints, dust and marks. The refill bottles lasts ages. Just spray surface and wipe clean with a cloth or sponge in circular motions, until marks are gone.

Miniml Anti-Bac Eco Bathroom Cleaner

Miniml Anti-Bac Bathroom Cleaner again is sold with refill bottles will last you ages! This tackles 99.9% of bacteria, to banish limescale and grim with ease, leaving a cucumber mint scent.

Miniml Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner

Miniml Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner is sold in a 1 litre bottle with refill bottle. To use, pour around the top of the bowl and allow to run down sides. Let stand for at least 5 to 10 minutes, before flushing. For tough stains, use a sponge or cloth.

Miniml Eco-friendly Oven & Hob Cleaner

Miniml Eco Oven & Hob Cleaner has a clementine scent, just spray and let sit for 5 minutes to dissolve grease, then wipe with a plastic-free sponge or cloth, and repeat if needed. The refill bottle lasts ages.

Spruce (refillable natural cleaners)

Spruce uses natural ingredients, sold in starter kits to ‘create your own cleaner’ with tap water. Then just rinse and use the bottles again.

We don’t recommend the laundry sheets, as most are PLA-based (polyvinyl alcohol) so are not really plastic-free – use Allavare Laundry Powder). 

You then just buy refill sachets to make up new batches. To avoid overwhelm, there are just few choices:

• Multipurpose Cleaner (geranium) for countertops, tiles, stone, wood and sealed surfaces.
• Bathroom Cleaner (eucalyptus) for tubs, tiles, ceramic, stainless steel & porcelain)
• Floor Cleaner (bergamot, patchouli, geranium).
• Eco sponges (add to your order to avoid plastic sponges)
• Glass & Mirror Set (peppermint) for windows and mirrors.

You can order each item separately or mix-and-match. For instance, you may only wish to buy the multi-purpose and glass cleaner (using the former to clean the bathroom). Each order includes aluminium eternity bottles and paper refill sachets, which you can compost when empty.

Most users say they use up one bottle’s worth of product in around 2 months, with regular cleaning. Obviously this may be more for big houses, housekeepers or professional use (offices, restaurants, hotels etc).

Delphis Eco (commercial cleaning products)

Delphis Eco is the main brand of commercial eco-friendly cleaning products for offices, hotels, restaurants, schools, doctor/dental surgeries, hospitals etc. The entire range is biodegradable, sold in recycled plastic bottles and has super reviews!

Use floor cleaners with a plastic-free mop or use a bucket filter if using a microfiber mop, to stop leaching microplastics (collect and securely bin them, to avoid them washing away at landfill).

The range includes:

• Foaming & Combi Oven Cleaners
• Heavy Duty Toilet & Limescale Remover
• Washroom Cleaner & Urinal Blocks
• Metal Polish
• Chewing Gum Remover
• Natural Salad Wash
• Commercial Hand Soap
• Floor Maintainer (for mops or floor machines)
• Heavy Duty Degreaser
• Scented Air Freshener
• Cabinet Glass Wash
• Masonry & Stone Cleaner
• Waterless Hand Rub
• Low Foam Degreaser
• X-Factor Stain Remover Spray (for sticky marks, spills & pen marks).

This brand was founded by a city banker, who also created the ‘recycled plastic rating’ code on bottles. Despite being the main brand used by most supermarkets for their warehouses, they rarely sell them to consumers – why not?