The Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products In The UK That Actually Work

Avoid trial and error. Here are my favourite environmentally and eco-friendly cleaning products from sustainable brands that actually work.

The world of eco-friendly cleaning products can feel overwhelming. You’ve got to figure out which brands are genuinely sustainable versus those leaning on greenwashing, and then you have to find products that actually get your home clean.

To make life easier, let me share the eco-friendly cleaning products I rely on regularly. All of these have independent sustainability certifications, and they perform as well – if not better – than conventional cleaning products.

I’ve also included top tips on making the switch to greener cleaning products, some greenwashing to look out for, and some pitfalls I’ve come across, so that you can make informed decisions without the trial-and-error.

The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products That Actually Work

Here are my favourite cleaning brands and products that are the real thing when it comes to their eco-friendly credentials and effectiveness.

Eco-Friendly Dishwashing Products

Here are my top eco-friendly detergents for washing dishes by hand-wash or in the dishwasher:

For The Dishwasher

I make a lot of my own cleaning products. However, when it comes to the dishwasher, I’ve struggled. I have experimented with A LOT of different DIY detergent recipes over the years, but nothing has hit the mark – they all leave a greasy film on my dishes.

Instead, I use Ecoleaf Dishwasher Tablets to tackle my dirty dishes. You can pick up a pack of 25 at Ethical Superstore for £5.69, or for better value, a bulk buy box of 70 for £14.15.

These dishwasher tablets are packed with power – they’ve got built-in rinse-aid, tough degreasers, and a cleaning action that’s second to none. I’ve found they tackle stubborn stains and leave my glassware sparkling.

When it comes to the ingredients, it’s 99% good stuff! Crafted from plant-derived ingredients, these tablets avoid nasties like phosphates, SLS, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Plus, they’re certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

What about that 1%? These tablets are just shy of perfection, as they do contain palm oil. If you are looking for other options, check out my guide to plastic-free dishwasher detergent for more suggestions.

For Hand-Washing Dishes

Much like dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid is another homemade recipe that I’ve always struggled to get just right. That’s Bio-D washing-up liquid has been a staple in my kitchen for years. My favourite scent is the pink grapefruit one – it’s so lovely and fresh smelling!

You can find it at Ethical Superstore from £2.24 for 750 ml. And if you’d rather bulk buy, you can pick up a 5-litre container for just £12.08 at Ethical Superstore. That lasts me at least a year, saving some money in the long run.

At first, I was a bit sceptical about its watery consistency compared to other eco-friendly brands. But once I tried it, I was pleasantly surprised by its cleaning power.

Bio-D is all about being kind to the environment. Its cleaning products are plant-based, vegan-friendly, and certified cruelty-free, and all made in the UK. Plus, they’re free from a long list of nasty ingredients like triclosan, phthalates, and petroleum derivatives.

Sustainable Laundry Products

I mostly make my own laundry powder – the recipe is in Fresh Clean Home, my book on how to make your own cleaning products. I’m happy to say that I have got this one right, and I love it.

However, when life gets just too busy, I do admit I sometimes use laundry powder from an eco-friendly brand. One staple I always have on hand is Bio-D laundry powder, available at Ethical Superstore for just £4.08 per kilogram bag.

I can vouch for its cleaning prowess, even at cooler temperatures. In fact, I put it to the ultimate test by using it on my daughter’s washable nappies for over two years. It passed with flying colours, keeping them fresh and clean, so I figure if it can tackle those, then it can tackle anything.

The one thing I don’t like about Bio-D is the fact that the paper bag is lined with plastic. However, it’s not a deal-breaker for me. I prefer laundry powder to liquid, and very few brands make eco laundry powder, so I compromise with this tiny bit of plastic.

Wondering about fabric conditioner? I tend to use vinegar as a fabric conditioner, but I’ve also got my top recommendations for the best eco-friendly fabric conditioner brands if vinegar isn’t for you.

Laundry Bleach

I’m a big fan of using laundry bleach in my clothes-washing routine. But don’t let the name scare you. Instead of chlorine, laundry bleach is an oxygen-based antibacterial and sanitising in-wash whitener, odour and stain remover that keeps whites bright and colours vibrant. You can learn more about it in my guide to eco-friendly bleach.

The product I reach for on a daily basis is Bio-D’s laundry bleach, priced at just £2.04 for a 400g cardboard box at Ethical Superstore. When my daughter was in reusable nappies, I started using this for its sanitising properties.

Impressed with how well it worked on nappies, I started adding it to my regular laundry, and I’ve kept using it ever since. It helps ensure my clothes come out looking and feeling their best every time.

Washing Wool and Delicates

When it comes to washing wool and delicate fabrics, I trust the Lab Co. range of specialist laundry liquid – available at Ethical Superstore to keep my favourite pieces at their best. I’ve found this stuff really takes care of your best knitwear. There’s also a delicates detergent for washing silk.

Yes, its a tad pricey at £13.99 for a 500 ml bottle. But I don’t wash my wool clothing too often – I have tons of tips to take bad smells out of clothes without washing them – so a bottle of this liquid lasts me. And when it’s time to give my woollens a little TLC, I want nothing but the best to help ensure my wool clothes last as long as possible.

This specialist laundry liquid is made in the UK from ingredients that are both cruelty-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

What I also love is that it’s lightly scented with cinnamon, myrrh and cedarwood. Not only does it leave your knitwear smelling amazing, but these natural scents also act as moth deterrents.

Sustainable Surface Cleansing

I make my own surface cleansing products because it’s so quick, cheap, and easy. However, again, when life gets busy, and I’ve run out of ingredients, I keep a bottle of surface cleanser under my sink just in case. My backup is Miniml, a British eco cleaning brand that I trust.

With eco-friendly refill stations across the UK, they’re helping to reduce plastic waste. And if, like me, you don’t have a local refill shop near you, then you can order bulk 5L containers that can be returned and reused.

Plastic isn’t the only issue that Miniml is tackling. All Miniml products are vegan, cruelty-free, and completely biodegradable.

I particularly love its French Lavender eco anti-bac surface cleaner (£15.45 for a 5L refill carton or £3.99 for a 500 ml refillable glass botte). Not only does it smell amazing, but it also tackles grime with ease, leaving my surfaces sparkling clean.

I use it all around the house, from my worktops to my floors – simply dilute it in water for an eco-friendly floor cleaner that gets the job done. Lavender isn’t just a pretty scent – it’s naturally antibacterial and antifungal, meeting all my cleaning needs without any harsh chemicals. Basically, if I’m not using my own homemade cleaning products, then I’m using this!

My Top Tips For Making The Switch To Sustainable Cleaning Products

It’s important to add that you shouldn’t discard all of your existing cleaning products, and swap them out for eco ones. The goal is to be more sustainable, and creating extra waste doesn’t really fit into that.

Instead, start with one swap as each product runs out. That way, you can gradually build your cleaning collection without waste.

The ‘Eco’ Brands I Avoid

There are a few supposedly environmentally and eco-friendly cleaning product brands that I avoid. Ecover and Method, for example, were bought by consumer goods giant SC Johnson in December 2017.

SC Johnson owns household cleaning brands such as Duck, Shout, Glade, Pledge, and Windex – none of which use environmentally friendly ingredients or take action on single-use plastic. What’s more, Ethical Consumer Magazine says SC Johnson has been linked to animal testing, tax avoidance strategies, unethical palm oil sourcing, and more.

It just goes to show that even if products feel “green”, ownership and sourcing do matter. If you’re looking to avoid being greenwashed, look for certifications, plant-derived ingredients, cruelty-free logos, and independent sustainability audits. It’s also always best to look into who owns the company, to help avoid brands with parent companies tied to unsustainable practices.

What About Zero-Waste Cleaning Product Brands?

In the past few years, a proliferation of zero-waste and plastic-free dissolvable eco-friendly cleaning product brands have popped up – from dissolvable sachets to laundry sheets that promise sparkling results without the plastic.

Not all products are perfect. Here’s my review of five different just-add-water cleaning products, in case you are looking to make a switch and need some help.

In terms of dissolvable laundry sheets, it can also be a bit hit or miss. One dissolvable laundry sheet product made a terrible sticky mess in my washing machine, so I avoided them for a long time. I’m aiming to put together a post on laundry sheets at some point, so watch this space.

If you decide to opt for zero-waste products, my top tip is to start small and test one product at a time so you don’t end up with a messy machine or out of pocket.

Your Thoughts

So there you go, a round-up of some of my favourite environmentally and eco-friendly cleaning products, and my not-so-favourite ‘eco’ products. Any favourites you want to add? And any products you’ve tried and have been disappointed with? Do share in the comments below.