Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips for a Greener Home

A greener clean is not about buying a shelf of special products. It is about using less, choosing safer ingredients and cutting waste. These eco-friendly swaps are cheap, easy and just as effective as your usual routine, and most will save you money across a year. Better still, they cut the amount of harsh chemistry that ends up in London's drains and rivers. Here is how to build a greener routine one step at a time.

Cut single-use plastic

Cleaning is full of throwaway plastic, from spray bottles to wet wipes that never break down. A few swaps make a real difference to how much you bin each month.

• Buy concentrated refills or refill pouches and reuse one good trigger bottle
• Choose bars, tablets or powders that you mix with water at home
• Swap disposable wipes for washable microfibre cloths
• Pick a refillable washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets without plastic wrap
• Keep one sturdy bucket and caddy for years rather than replacing cheap ones

Choose safer ingredients

Many everyday jobs need nothing more than a mild acid, a mild alkali and warm water. Simple ingredients are kinder to your skin, your air and anyone in the home with allergies.

• White vinegar cuts limescale on taps and glass
• Bicarbonate of soda lifts grease and neutralises smells
• Lemon freshens chopping boards and the microwave
• For ready-made products, look for a recognised eco label and a short ingredient list

Avoid anything with a long list of unpronounceable ingredients where a simple option does the same job. Strong air fresheners and antibacterial sprays are rarely needed for routine cleaning.

Use less water and energy

The greenest clean also lowers your bills, because heating water is where most of the energy goes.

• Wash laundry at 30 degrees and only run full loads
• Skip the tumble dryer and air dry on a rack or line
• Turn off the tap while scrubbing, then rinse once at the end
• Fill a bowl for washing up rather than letting the tap run

Reduce waste and buy to last

Durable tools cost less over time and create far less rubbish.

• Choose a wooden brush with a replaceable head instead of all-plastic
• Keep microfibre cloths going for years by washing them without fabric softener, which clogs the fibres
• Repurpose old cotton t-shirts and towels as dusters and rags
• Compost food scraps to cut kitchen bin odours and waste

Build the habit slowly

You do not need to change everything at once. Replace each product as it runs out with a greener version, and the switch will feel painless. Within a few months your cupboard will be simpler, cheaper to restock and far less wasteful.

Small, steady changes add up to a home that is cleaner for you and gentler on the planet. If you would like a hand keeping it that way, GlowSpark cleaners are vetted, and happy to use your own eco products. Book a GlowSpark cleaner from £19/hour pay-as-you-go, or from £16/hour as a member.