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

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Let me share with you my favourite environmentally and eco-friendly cleaning products from eco-conscious brands, that actually work, updated for 2024.

The eco-friendly cleaning products market can be mind-boggling. First, you’ve got to distinguish which products are actually sustainable and environmentally friendly from the cleaning products that are simply greenwashing. Then you’ve got to find the products that actually work.

To help cut through the noise, I want to share my favourite eco-friendly cleaning products I use frequently in my house. All of these products have been independently verified through sustainability certification schemes. I also find that these products either match or exceed the cleaning performance of their harsher counterparts.

The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products That Actually Work

Flat lay of cleaning products, eucalyptus leaves and lemons with a blue text box that says the best environmentally and eco friendly cleaning products that actually work

Here are my favourite cleaning brands and products that are the real deal when it comes to their eco-friendly credentials and effectiveness. Use the quick links to jump to a specific section or keep scrolling to read the full post:

Eco-Friendly Dish Washing Products

Here are my top eco-friendly cleaning products when it comes to hand-washing dishes, and the dishwasher.

For The Dishwasher

When it comes to the dishwasher, I’ve experimented with many different DIY detergent recipes over the years, but nothing quite hits the mark. That’s why I’ve turned to Ecoleaf Dishwasher Tablets to tackle my dirty dishes. You can grab 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, all with minimal effort.

Now, let’s talk about ingredients. It’s 99% good stuff! Crafted from plant-derived goodness, these tablets steer clear of nasties like phosphates, SLS, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Plus, they’re certified cruelty-free and vegan-friendly, so you can feel good about what’s going into your dishwasher.

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

I make a lot of my own cleaning products, but when it comes to washing up liquid, I’ve always struggled to get it just right. That’s why I’ve been loyal to Bio-D washing-up liquid, a staple in my kitchen for years. You can find it at Ethical Superstore.

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. In fact, it’s become the only washing-up liquid we use.

What makes Bio-D stand out is its commitment to being eco-friendly. Its cleaning products are plant-based, vegan-friendly, and certified cruelty-free – all proudly made in the UK. Plus, they’re free from a laundry list of nasty ingredients like triclosan, phthalates, and petroleum derivatives. And if you’re worried about palm oil, many of its products are palm oil-free too.

Priced at around £2.58 for a generous 750ml bottle, it’s a good bargain buy. But if you’re a savvy bulk buyer, you can pick up a 5-litre container for just £14.82 at Ethical Superstore. That lasts me at least a year, saving some money in the long run. My favourite scent is the pink grapefruit one – it’s so lovely and fresh smelling!

Sustainable Laundry Products

I mostly make my own laundry powder. 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 £5.01 per kilogram.

I can vouch for its cleaning prowess, even at cooler temperatures like 30°C. In fact, I put it to the ultimate test by using it on my daughter’s washable nappies for over two years – and it passed with flying colors, keeping them fresh and clean as can be!

The one thing I don’t like about Bio-D is that pesky plastic lining in the supposedly paper bag packaging. It’s a bit of a letdown. That’s why I’ve been exploring zero-waste alternatives like Fill’s Laundry Detergent from Forrist, priced at £7 for a 1kg pack. You can get 25% off with the exclusive discount code FORXWENDY20 on full-priced orders.

What sets Fill apart is its commitment to plastic-free packaging, housed in a fully recyclable paper bag. Plus, it doesn’t skimp on cleaning power, making it a win-win in my book!

For more eco-friendly laundry detergent options, be sure to check out my guide. And if you’re curious about fabric conditioners, I’ve got you covered there too. 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. Unlike traditional chlorine bleach, eco-friendly laundry bleach works wonders without the harmful chemicals. 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 this sustainable wonder in my guide to eco-friendly bleach.

The product I turn to time and time again is Bio-D’s laundry bleach, priced at just £2.48 for a 400g pack at Ethical Superstore. When my daughter was in reusable nappies, I started using this for its fantastic sanitizsng power. It kept the nappies looking and smelling fresh and clean, passing the ultimate test with flying colours!

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 Clothes Doctor range of eco-friendly cleaning products to keep my favorite pieces looking and feeling their best. Yes, its wool and cashmere laundry liquid might be a tad pricey at £14.50. However, this stuff really takes care of your best knitwear.

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 ages. 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 a sustainable miracle worker. It’s made right here in the UK with plant-derived ingredients that are both cruelty-free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Plus, it comes in a plastic-free and recyclable metal bottle, so you’re not contributing to plastic waste.

What I also love is that it’s lightly scented with heavenly sandalwood and patchouli. Not only does it leave your clothes smelling divine, but these natural scents also act as moth deterrents, helping to stop pesky moths from nibbling on your best knitwear.

If silk clothing is more your style, then Clothes Doctor’s silk wash (£14) also does a top job of looking after your silk garments the eco-friendly way.

Sustainable Surface Cleansing

Glass bottle of Miniml eco-friendly surface cleaner.

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 trusty backup is Miniml, a true sustainable hero when it comes to cleaning surfaces the eco-friendly way.

Miniml isn’t just your average cleaning brand. With refillable glass bottles and eco-friendly refill stations scattered across the UK, they’re leading the way in reducing plastic waste. Plus, if you’re an online shopper like me, you’ll love that its bulk delivery containers can be returned and reused, cutting down on waste even further.

Plastic isn’t the only issue that Miniml are 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 1L refill). 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!

💷Get 10% off all cleaning and laundry products at Miniml by using the code CLEAN10 at the checkout.

The ‘Eco’ Brands I Avoid

There are many supposedly environmentally and eco-friendly cleaning products 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. A clean sweep it is not.

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 of my washing machine, so I avoided them for a long time. Recently, I’ve tried out a couple of different brands. So far I’ve had good results with Good Clean Stuff but if I find more I like I’ll be sure to add them here.

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?

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