The Dream Clean is the ultimate guide to home cleaning hacks, in this easy-to-use book, cleverly organised by room type and cleaning level. Accessible for all types of households and lifestyles, no matter how much you have (or don’t).
Use unscented cleaners for pregnancy/nursing, affected medical conditions around babies and pets (same for diffusers, candles etc). It’s not true that plants ‘clean the air’ (from outdated NASA research 30) and some plants are toxic to pets).
This book is jam-packed with budget-friendly and eco-friendly ways to clean, style and organise each room, with routines and checklists to help. Treating yourself to a beautiful home is the ultimate form of self-care, and this book can help you do just that. Chantel Mila began posting recipes and simple home hacks in 2020, and now has a loyal community of over 2.9 million people worldwide. Based in Australia, she is known for her innovative and well-designed content and relatable style.
Bio-d furniture polish is plant-based and sold in a zero waste tin. Much safer than chemical sprays.
Seep is a wonderful company that offers a large range of plastic-free cleaning tools for your kitchen (or bathroom). Made from quality materials and sold in plastic-free packaging, all these items are designed to last – and then can be cut up and composted at end of life. Also read how to clean flooring and sustainable carpets.
Choose unscented biodegradable cleaners for pregnancy/nursing/medical conditions, and also for baby/pet bowls (citrus oils are pet-toxic, even on kitchen counters/floors).
Sold in packs or on subscription, the range includes:
Sponge cloths are also made from wood pulp, perfect for wiping spills and large surfaces. They make good alternatives to disposable paper towels (we don’t recommend the washing-up cloths as they are made from non-biodegradable polyester, so use these sponge cloths instead).
Eco pop-up sponges are sold flat. Just run under the tap to watch them transform into a compostable cellulose sponges.
Dogbone sponges are the eco alternative to those big curved yellow sponges for big jobs, made from cellulose (wood pulp). You can use these to clean the kitchen or bathroom (if using to clean your car, use a waterless car wash to avoid oily water going down storm drains.
Fair trade Latex gloves aresold in plastic-free packaging. Avoid for latex allergies or irritation (also keep away from children, pets and people with dementia – one patient recently died from swallowing one).
the best biodegradable bathroom cleaners
Use with plastic-free silicone toilet brushes. Learn how your tummy works, to avoid toilet deposits! Avoid toxic indoor plants (including lilies, sago palm and cheese plants) near pets. Indoor plants don’t ‘clean the air’ (an outdated NASA myth). Even rushing a tail against them can harm animal friends. Use alternative methods to freshen the air.
These toilet refresher bombs offer a good alternative to toxic toilet cleaners made with bleach, chemicals and artificial fragrances (take them to the toxic waste department, or you can recycle empty containers – getting them out of the house is safer for all the family). Do not mix these toilet bombs (or any ‘natural cleaner) with other cleaners, this could still cause toxic gas. Choose unscented for pregnancy/nursing or affected medical conditions, or near children or pets.
Sold in compostable packs, these toilet refresher bombs are a simple mix of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), citric acid and white vinegar. Available unscented or in a wide range of natural scents (made with essential oils).
To use, just pop one in the pan and the water in the bowl will make it fizz. Leave to do its work, then if needed, scrub the pan with a silicone toilet brush. These should not be used for allergies and avoid near eyes (remove contact lenses). Wear protective gloves. Know that essential oils may be natural but can harm aquatic life if in contact, so ideally use unscented. Use the unscented version as although natural, essential oils are toxic to aquatic life if poured down the drain (wrap and bin leftovers if you don’t use them up).
