We all wash the dishes, so try some of these biodegradable and eco-friendly brands instead. Swedish dishcloths have been around for 30 years or so. Unlike microfiber cloths that leach plastics, these are made from cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton so biodegrade after use. Designed to last for months, then just cut up and compost or bin to naturally break down.
Choose unscented dishwash brands for pregnancy/nursing, affected medical conditions, babies and pets (citrus oils are pet-toxic).
an eco-friendly washing-up kit
This eco-friendly washing-up kit includes a bar of solid dish-wash soap (vegan and free from palm) to wash your dishes and a beechwood pot brush, add a soap rack to drain the bar in-between uses. Designed to replace plastic bottles of of dishwash liquid, this is made with organic coconut oil (for bubbles), UK-mined white clay (scrubbiness), sodium lactate (naturally fermenting sugars in corn and beets) and essential oils of lemon and eucalyptus.
To use, fill the sink with water, and rub a brush or dishcloth over the bar to coat, clean dishes and rinse. You can also use the bar to remove stains (rub with the bar and add to laundry) and to clean surfaces (rub a warm wet sponge over the bar and wipe surfaces, before rinsing with water).
organic dishwash powder in a brown paper bag
Greenscents Dishwasher Powder is made with natural ingredients, sold in a brown paper bag with a plastic seal that is easily separated and recycled. The unique formulation is powered with natural botanicals and probiotics, and scented with eucalyptus oil. Free from bleach and chemicals, just one heaped teaspoon is enough for a full wash.
Certified organic, it’s also vegan and free from palm oil. One pouch (for 30 dishwasher cycles) costs £.850. To use, scrape all food waste first and stack your dishwasher, then place one teaspoon in the soap dispenser, close and run as normal. For hard water, fill the rinse aid dispenser with vinegar, and add extra salt to prevent limescale build-up.
a set of 4 coconut husk dish scrubbers
This set of 4 coconut husk dish scrubbers are ideal to replace plastic-based scourers (those yellow pads with the green top, which leach microplastics down sinks and into the sea. These Indian-made coconut husk scourers are made from the husks leftover from the trade, and naturally biodegrade at end of use. The coconut husk is shredded into fibres, then twisted into ropes and left for a few months, then sprayed with rubber latex and stitched with cotton thread.
switch to rubber gloves (in cardboard packaging)
Seep natural rubber gloves are the ideal zero-waste swap for all your cleaning and washing-up jobs. Obviously not suitable for latex allergies, but for everyone else these are an ideal alternative to plastic gloves sold in stores, mostly sold in plastic packaging. Sold online in sets of 5, these are sold in cardboard packaging, and care is taken to ensure that the natural rubber is fairly-traded and sustainably-sourced. And you’re supporting an ethical zero waste company to boot.
Keep gloves away from young children and pets (also from dementia patients, one person recently died trying to eat a glove).
Sold in 3 sizes, these green gloves (unlike most) are fully biodegradable and contain cotton lining for comfort, and you can easily recycle the packaging in your compost bin (rather than having to find a Terracycle outlet for plastic packaging for brand-name gloves). These gloves also have a textured pattern on the finger tips, for better grip. The company carbon offsets each sale, with nearly all reviewers say they work as well or better than the leading brand.
an eco-washing-up bowl & drainer
ReBorn is a fabulous homegrown company. Not only does it offer high quality kitchen accessories made from recycled plastic (sourced in the UK), but everything is made in a factory in Wiltshire. Some items are more expensive than what you’d find in supermarkets. But they are designed to last years and create real jobs in local towns, and also keep carbon footprint low. They make good investments for business too (cafes, restaurants, hotels etc). Use with plastic-free sponges and eco dishwash.
The washing up bowl has a generous 9-litre capacity with large carry handles, and legs to elevate the bowl for easy draining. The integrated plug can be set to strain water, and the bowl is easily disassembled for easy cleaning. It even has an integrated rail to hang damp dishcloths, and a sloping non-slip base to collect water out of sight (for draining later).
The mini draining rack is ideal for small kitchens. It holds up to 6 dinner plates (with extra space for cups and bowls). It also has a removable cutlery basket (with draining holes) and again has a non-slip base and can be easily cleaned. The cutlery holder has two sections, to keep utensils upright and organised.
a quality stainless steel washing-up bowl
This stainless steel washing-up bowl is a bit more expensive than a plastic one from the supermarket, but it’s designed to last a lifetime, does not support the oil industry (plastic is made from oil) and won’t go gunky and mouldy!
Made from quality 18/8 stainless steel, this bowl carries a 15-year guarantee and won’t stain or attract grease, nor rust. It fits modern, butler or farmhouse-style sinks and is responsibly made in China. With a capacity of 10 litres, a portion of sales benefit environmental nonprofits.
how to dry your dishes, naturally
You can of course just leave them to dry in the sun (or use an organic cotton or linen tea towel). However, a better idea from Finland is a dish-drying cabinet. Around since the 40s, this is made of wire and dowels, and lets dishes drip-dry into the sink.