Greener Washing Up (tools, soap and dishwasher powder)
Eco washing up tips
- Use unscented products for pregnancy/nursing, baby and pet bowls. Citrus oils are toxic to pets (even if rinsed/dried, residue could be licked from paws).
- Use with plastic-free cleaning cloths and sponges (they also make fair trade rubber gloves in eco packs).
- Replace chlorine bleach with natural oxygen bleach to remove tea/coffee cup stains. never mix any kind of bleach with acid (lemon or cleaning vinegar) as it causes toxic gas.
- Don’t pour plant-based liqueurs down the drain. They should be treated like oil (wrap and bin small amounts or use an oil recycling bin for larger amounts. Or better yet, just drink them up!
This bamboo washing-up brush has bristles made from sisal (a type of cactus) to tackle grease and grime, without scratching dishes. At end of use, just pop in the compost bin (or bin) to naturally break down, with no harm to the planet.
Why Choose a Bamboo Washing-Up Brush?
Making small changes in your kitchen can make a real difference. A bamboo washing-up brush offers several benefits:
- Made from renewable bamboo.
- Strong natural sisal bristles remove grease and food easily.
- Safe for most dishes without scratching surfaces.
- Plastic-free alternative to traditional dish brushes.
- More environmentally friendly at the end of its life.
It’s a simple swap that helps reduce plastic waste without changing your daily routine.
Pair Your Brush with Plastic-Free Cleaning Cloths
Your dish brush isn’t the only place where plastic can hide.
Many kitchen sponges and cleaning cloths contain synthetic fibres that release tiny plastic particles over time. Instead, choose plastic-free cloths and natural sponges made from plant-based materials.
You can also find natural rubber washing-up gloves packaged without plastic. Some are produced under fair trade standards, making them a more sustainable choice for both people and the planet.
Remove Tea and Coffee Stains Naturally
Tea and coffee can leave stubborn brown stains inside mugs and cups.
Instead of using chlorine bleach, try natural oxygen bleach. It helps lift stains without using chlorine-based chemicals and is a popular alternative for everyday cleaning.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any cleaning product.
Important safety tip: Never mix any type of bleach with acidic cleaners such as lemon juice or cleaning vinegar. Mixing bleach with acids can release dangerous toxic gases. Always use cleaning products separately and rinse thoroughly between products.
Dispose of Plant-Based Cooking Oils Correctly
Even plant-based cooking oils should never be poured down the sink.
Although they come from plants, oils can cool and harden inside pipes, causing blockages and contributing to sewer problems.
Instead:
- Wipe small amounts from pans with compostable kitchen paper and place it in the bin if appropriate.
- Collect larger amounts in a container and take them to a local cooking oil recycling point if one is available.
The easiest solution is simply to use only the amount of oil you need, helping reduce waste altogether.
Tackle Tough Cleaning Jobs
Some pans and baking trays need a little extra scrubbing.
For tough jobs, use with the natural copper scourer. Unlike most brands, this is also sold in plastic-free packaging.
Copper scourers are excellent for removing burnt-on food while remaining gentle enough for many pots and pans. They are long-lasting, reusable, and naturally resistant to rust when allowed to dry properly after use.
Seep Fair Trade Rubber Cleaning Gloves (plastic-free)
Seep rubber cleaning gloves are are designed with comfort in mind. Each glove has a soft cotton lining that makes them easy to put on and comfortable to wear, even during longer cleaning sessions.
The textured fingertips provide extra grip, making it easier to hold wet dishes, glassware, cleaning cloths and other household items without slipping.
Each pack contains three pairs of gloves, giving you plenty of replacements when one pair eventually wears out. With proper care, the gloves should last a long time, making them both economical and environmentally friendly.
They are available in small, medium and large sizes.
If using with cleaners, choose biodegradable cleaning brands (unscented for pregnancy/breastfeeding/babies and affected medical conditions). Avoid essential oils near pets (citrus oils are unsafe, so don’t use to clean floors/counters).
Not Suitable for Latex Allergies
Because these gloves are made from natural rubber latex, they should not be used by anyone with a latex allergy. If you or a member of your household has a known latex sensitivity, choose gloves made from an alternative material instead.
Pair Them with Plastic-Free Cleaning Products
To reduce plastic waste even further, use your gloves alongside plastic-free cleaning cloths. These simple swaps can significantly reduce the amount of disposable plastic used in everyday cleaning.
Reusable cloths can be washed and used again and again, while natural cellulose or plant-based sponges eventually biodegrade when they’ve reached the end of their life.
Use Different Gloves for Different Jobs
One simple habit that helps maintain hygiene is keeping separate gloves for different household tasks.
For example:
- Use one pair only for washing dishes.
- Keep another pair for bathroom cleaning.
- Use a third pair for heavier cleaning jobs around the home or garden.
This helps prevent bacteria or cleaning chemicals from being transferred between different areas of your home.
Looking After Your Gloves
With a little care, natural rubber gloves can last much longer.
After each use:
- Rinse the gloves thoroughly with clean water.
- Leave them to dry completely inside and out.
- Store them somewhere cool and dry.
- Keep them away from direct sunlight, which can cause natural rubber to deteriorate more quickly.
- Avoid leaving damp gloves folded up, as moisture can encourage mould growth.
Taking just a minute or two to care for your gloves after cleaning will help them stay comfortable and durable for much longer.
Made Ethically in Sri Lanka
Seep’s natural rubber gloves are ethically manufactured in Sri Lanka, where natural rubber has been produced for generations.
The rubber is harvested by tapping rubber trees, a process similar to collecting maple syrup. Small cuts are made in the bark, allowing the tree to release latex without being cut down. Because the trees remain standing, natural rubber production can continue for many years without requiring forests to be cleared.
This makes responsibly sourced natural rubber a renewable resource when managed well.
Supporting Reforestation
Transporting products around the world creates carbon emissions, and Seep recognises this. To help offset emissions from shipping the natural rubber, the company contributes to reforestation projects.
While planting trees doesn’t eliminate transport emissions, supporting forest restoration can help compensate for part of the environmental impact while also encouraging biodiversity and healthier ecosystems.
What to Do When the Gloves Wear Out
Eventually, even the best cleaning gloves reach the end of their useful life.
Because these gloves are made from natural rubber, they will biodegrade much more readily than synthetic alternatives. Before throwing them away, cut them into smaller pieces. This increases the surface area, allowing the material to break down more quickly once disposed of.
After cutting them up, place them in your household waste bin unless your local authority offers another suitable disposal option.
How to Dispose of Old Cleaning Products Safely
If you’re replacing conventional cleaning products with more environmentally friendly alternatives, you may have old bottles of stronger chemical cleaners left in your cupboards.
It’s important not to pour unwanted cleaning products down the sink or toilet. Many chemicals can pass through wastewater systems and may eventually enter rivers and waterways, where they can harm wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.
If a bottle is completely empty, it can usually be recycled with your normal household recycling, provided your local authority accepts that type of packaging.
If the container still contains cleaning product, contact your local council’s hazardous household waste service. Most councils provide collection schemes or designated drop-off points for unwanted chemicals, including cleaning products, paints and other hazardous household items.
Taking old products to the correct disposal facility helps protect the environment and keeps potentially harmful substances out of water systems.
Small Changes Add Up
Choosing reusable natural rubber gloves, biodegradable cleaning products and plastic-free cleaning accessories may seem like small changes, but together they can make a meaningful difference. You’ll reduce plastic waste, avoid unnecessary chemicals and create a safer home for your family and pets.
With durable construction, comfortable design, responsible sourcing and recyclable cardboard packaging, Seep natural rubber cleaning gloves are a simple swap that supports a more sustainable cleaning routine while helping to reduce your household’s environmental impact.
A Quality Stainless Steel Washing Up Bowl
This stainless steel washing up bowl is designed to last for years, an end to soggy and mouldy plastic washing up bowls. In neutral or bright orange. Sold with a 15-year warranty!
Wash with hot soapy water by hand (you can brighten the steel with cleaning vinegar). Avoid bleach (avoid bleach anyway, it’s toxic).
Avoid for ceramic or butler sinks, as they scratch. This bowl is a bit bigger so not for smaller sinks, measure according to instructions before ordering.
Battle Green Organic Cotton Swedish Dishcloths
Swedish dishcloths were indeed first used in Sweden (over 30 years ago). They basically are quality dish cloths (which can also be used for cleaning). Unlike microfiber cloths, these are free from microplastics so at end of use, you can cut them up and compost, or just bin to naturally break down.
Battle Green Swedish dishcloths are made from cellulose (wood pulp) and cotton. They are in various pretty designs, all highlighting ocean species (whales, sea turtles and gulls) that are mostly affected by plastic pollution. You can wash these in the top rack of your dishwasher.
These reusable Swedish dishcloths from Dundee are sold in packs of 4 (so you don’t end up doing your washing-up with the cloth used for toilets!) Each cloth can hold up to 15 times its weight in liquid.
Greenscents Organic Refillable Dishwash Liquids
Greenscents Organic Washing Up Liquid is a plant-powered powerhouse to clean away grease, grime and baked-on food from dishes, while being kind to the planet and your skin. Avoid handling glass with wet hands. Choose from non-scents (ideal for baby and pet bowls), minty, lavender or citrus.
Use code GSENGLANDNATURALLY (15% off order, minimum purchase £20) for greenscents
Also in bulk form, ther Nonscents range is ideal for pregnancy/nursing, cleaning near babies/pets (or for their bedding and bowls) and for allergies. All scents are naturally derived and certified organic.
This concentrated formula contains organic soap nuts (don’t compost soap pods as they contain natural insecticides) and shikakai pods for natural foaming and effecting cleaning. Just a few drops go a long way, ideal for busy family kitchens.
How does the refill scheme work?
You can buy 500ml glass amber bottles (don’t handle with wet hands) for everyday use (and retail sale). Then you can buy refillable items in 5 litre and 20 litre containers.
Just return empties for sanitising and reuse, as simple as that! You can buy bundle sets to save money, with the refills included with your first order.
Use with one-time purchase pumps for easy use and refilling.
Where to recycle cleaning products
If you have some toxic products that you no longer wish to use, don’t pour them down the sink, as this can harm waterways. You can recycle empty containers with household waste.
With bottles still containing product, your council should be able to collect via the hazardous waste department. The fact that this is where they should be taken, is good reason to switch to a more natural brand!
Greenscents Organic Dishwasher Powder (in paper packs)
Greenscents Organic Dishwasher Powder is a first! It’s a unique brand of natural botanicals and probiotics to deliver powerful cleaning in dishwashers using organic ingredients, and even sold in a paper bag that’s easy to recycle.
Use code GSENGLANDNATURALLY (15% off order, minimum purchase £20) for greenscents
A caveat here: if you live somewhere with very hard water (London, Norfolk and south-east we’re talking to you!), performance may vary. Most customers enjoy excellent results, but this powder may not suit all dishwashers or eco settings. It’s a case of trial and error.
One compostable pouch lasts around 30 cycles, so it’s great value too. You can pair with cleaning vinegar if wished as a rinse aid (or use the brand below).
Never mix any kind of vinegar with bleach, as it causes toxic gases.
To use, just add one heaped teaspoon (no greenwash ‘biodegradable wrappers’, which are usually made from PLA plastic).
Authentic customer reviews
As mentioned above, the few reviews where this powder hasn’t worked are usually for areas with very hard water, so you are likely best using hand-washing liquid.
You could have a go at softening the water, with a monthly cycle of cleaning vinegar (fill a dishwasher-safe bowl or mug with 1 to 2 cups on the top rack, and run on an empty cycle. Don’t pour directly into the dispenser, this could damage rubber seals.
Here are some excellent reviews from genuine users (like any dishwasher product, soak baked-on goods beforehand for best results). Also be sure to thoroughly clean and rinse leftover plastic tabs, as some may leave a blue residue:
I’m delighted with this product. We have medium water and all my items came out, just as clean as branded pods, but without the horrible chemical residue. And genuinely only needed a teaspoon of powder.
The dishes are fresh and clean without any feeling of residue, which is fantastic for just one teaspoon! I’m never going back to the horrible chemical ones. Thank you!
I have tried ALL other eco-friendly alternatives and none have been effective, even with vinegar rinse. So when I got this dishwasher powder, I did not expect it to work at all.
I was really surprised when the dishes came out clean, especially the glasses (no sign of limescale, I did use vinegar rinse). For dried food stains, I make to rinse the dishes to remove larger particles, which also prevents clogging my machine.
Miniml Refillable Washing Up Liquids
Miniml Washing Up Liquids are made with natural ingredients and Yorkshire, sold in bottles that can be refilled at stores, or sent back using the QR code, to be washed, refilled and sent back to you.
Miniml Refillable Rinse Aid (natural ingredients)
Miniml Eco Dishwasher Rinse Aid is the ideal swap to keep on hand, to leave your dishes squeaky-clean and streak-free ((including for restaurants and hotels). Made with biodegradable ingredients (including Yorkshire water – even scents are naturally derived), these are vegan-friendly and not tested on animals, and sold in bottles that you can send back to be refilled.
This Rinse Aid is concentrated, so a little goes a long way. At end of use, you can get the bottles refilled at stores that sell them, or use the QR code to send off empty bottles for refilling, and return.
The starter bottle is 500ml, and the refill bottles will last you ages! To use, fill the rinse aid reservoir of your dishwasher, and follow the machine manufacturer’s guidelines. Check the level of rinse aid regularly. Also suitable for cabinet washers and combi ovens.
A Collapsible Stainless Steel Dish Rack
This collapsible stainless steel dish rack is ideal to let your pots and pans air-dry, even in small spaces. Made from smart brushed stainless steel finish, with fingerprint-resistant coating on both ends.
The removable cutlery holder is in addition to the design with extra space for larger bowls. And the extendable feet create a slight incline, and the water spout allows water to drain directly into the sink.
Clean with hot soapy water. And wipe dry before placing back on the drainer. Designed to last years, this costs less than a pack of designer tea towels!
Use these discount codes on orders:
- SAVING5 (£5 off for orders of £20 to £80)
- SAVING10 (£10 off for orders of £80 to £150)
- SAVING10 (£15 off for orders of £150+)
