Need to know
- Cleaning products that claim to be green don't always perform well, but our recent tests have revealed some good options
- Appliances that don't rely on store-bought cleaning products to clean might be an option, but be mindful of e-waste
- Rethink your approach to unwanted items to reduce your impact on the environment
There's something incredibly satisfying about undertaking a good clean and clear out of your home. Research shows that ridding your home of dust, dirt and clutter can boost your mood, improve your focus and help you feel more in control of your surroundings.
With a growing desire in many to protect our environment by using non-polluting products, coupled with the urge to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, we wanted to know if an environmentally friendly spring clean was possible. To find out, we looked at the best-performing eco-friendly products in our tests and spoke with experts about what to consider before you tackle the task.
Do environmentally friendly cleaning products work?
If you want to be a lean, green, cleaning machine the first thing you can do is reduce the amount of products you purchase. Our lab tests have found that multipurpose cleaners and kitchen sprays do essentially the same thing, so you really only need to pick one.
Deciding which surface cleaner to pick is another challenge. With so many options available, how do you choose one that performs well without polluting the planet?
In our most recent multipurpose cleaner test, four of the 11 products that are recommended with a CHOICE Expert Rating of 85% or over, claim to be either plant-based or made without things like ammonia, chlorine or phosphates. These are:
- Earth Choice Antibacterial All Purpose (95%)
- Earth Choice Undo This Mess with Grease Blaster Multipurpose (95%)
- Koh Universal Cleaner Ultimate Multi Purpose (90%)
- Bosisto's Multipurpose (85%)
All of these products make their claims regarding their environmental credentials in different ways. The Earth Choice products are "plant-based and biodegradable", Bosisto's is also "plant-based" but Koh is the only one to boast eco-certification to the GECA cleaning standard.
Unfortunately, not all the 'green' products in our test performed so well. Of the 30 products that earned a CHOICE Expert Rating of 50% or less, 15 made green claims.
You need to carefully assess any claims regarding green credentials and seek evidence to support them when you can.
Watch out for greenwashing
Apart from their performance as a cleaning product, knowing how eco-friendly a product really is can be tricky. A 2023 report from the ACCC based on a sweep of 247 businesses found that 57% were making concerning claims about their environmental credentials.
They identified these eight issues that could be signs of greenwashing:
- vague and unqualified claims
- lack of substantiating information
- absolute claims
- use of comparisons
- exaggerated benefits
- use of aspirational claims
- misleading use of third-party certifications
- using images that appear to be trustmarks.
All of this means you need to carefully assess any claims regarding green credentials and seek evidence to support them when you can.
Our testing doesn't include assessment of environmental claims. The type of chemical analysis that would be necessary is extremely costly and doing so would mean we could not conduct the wide range of tests that provide help to our members and all Australian consumers.
Bathroom cleaners
While a multipurpose spray can be used in the bathroom, cleaners that are specially formulated to handle the particular challenges this part of your home presents often do a better job. This is because they will contain active ingredients that can tackle mould, soap scum and other issues you might encounter when tackling your shower or bath.
Seven of the 15 bathroom cleaners with a CHOICE Expert Rating over 85% that we recommend in our most recent bathroom cleaner test make green claims, including the top scorer:
- Ecostore Antibacterial Bathroom & Shower Cleaner refill concentrate (90%)
- Aldi Green Action Plant Based Formula Bath & Shower Cleaner (89%)
- Earth Choice Antibacterials Bath & Shower Cleaner (89%)
- Ecostore Antibacterial Bathroom and Shower Cleaner (89%)
- OzKleen Shower Power (87%)
- OzKleen Shower Power Gel (87%)
- Simply Clean Simply No Mould (86%)
As is the case with other cleaners, there were also some poor performers making green claims. Watch out for Re.stor Concentrated Cleaning Tablets Bathroom (40%), Bosisto's Bathroom & Shower Cleaner (54%), Saba Organic Bathroom Cleaner (55%), Cleanery Bathroom Antibacterial Cleaner (55%) and Resolv Bathroom Cleaner (57%). All scored less than 60%, so it pays to read all the results in our Bathroom cleaner reviews before you buy.
Very little plastic waste is recycled. Using refillable products can reduce consumption.
Reducing plastic packaging
Of course, it isn't just the product in the package you need to consider. The packaging itself is something many of us think about when choosing what we buy.
According to the Australia Institute, on a per capita basis each Australian was responsible for 148kg of plastic use in 2020–21. Very little is recycled and if plastic waste is to be reduced, consumption will need to decline – and many of us are trying to do just that.
While the Ecostore Antibacterial Bathroom & Shower Cleaner refill concentrate topped our bathroom cleaner tests, a number of concentrated cleaning products in the form of dissolvable tablets didn't fare so well. We included a number of these in our tests from brands such as Cleanery, Resolv and Re-stor and most of them delivered mediocre results.
Can you clean without store-bought products?
Many of those seeking a more environmentally friendly cleaning option will forego store-bought products altogether and opt instead for homemade solutions.
Planet Ark's head of communications, Liam Taylor, says homemade options can be a great alternative.
"Making your own cleaning products through DIY methods reduces reliance on plastic-packaged commercial cleaners and minimises the use of harsh chemicals. Ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils (optional) can often be found in your pantry," he says.
Other popular homemade cleaning concoctions can include borax, lemon juice and pure soap.
It will likely be more effort to clean with these homemade ones ... In particular, oil and grease will be very challenging without some kind of emulsifier
CHOICE director of reviews and testing Matthew Steen
"These homemade solutions probably are better for the environment because a lot of the manufactured cleaning products will use petrochemical feedstocks to get the components. Manufacturing, packaging and transport will also have environmental costs associated," says CHOICE director of reviews and testing Matthew Steen.
"It will likely be more effort to clean with these homemade ones, rather than chemicals which are engineered to clean stains. In particular, oil and grease will be very challenging without some kind of emulsifier."
Household staples like vinegar and baking soda can be used in home-made cleaning recipes.
Can an appliance help you clean without chemicals?
Appliances that promise to clean your home without the need for extra polluting chemicals are also being spruiked to eco-conscious consumers. These include steam mops and robot vacuums with mopping functions.
While appliances such as these may help reduce the need for chemical-based cleaners, it's important to consider that they will ultimately contribute to the problem of e-waste.
A simple mop made from natural materials can be a more sustainable choice.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water reports that Australia generated 511,000 tonnes of e-waste in 2019 and that figure is projected to rise by nearly 30% by the year 2030.
For that reason, choosing a more traditional, simple mop made from natural, renewable materials may be more sustainable. If you have your heart set on a steam mop or a robot vacuum look for one that scores well in our expert reviews. Also, look out for the Shop Ethical rating we include with our reviews if you want to know how the manufacturer scores for their environmental and social record.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Part of the joy of a good spring clean is getting rid of unwanted stuff, but before you fill your rubbish bin, consider how you might extend the life of something you no longer need or want. When it comes to thinking about what to do with stuff you no longer want, you should make landfill the last choice.
When choosing what to do with unwanted stuff make landfill the last resort.
Liam suggests we rethink our relationship with waste based on what is best for the environment.
"If you have a bunch of old clothes, furniture or electronics you no longer want but are still in good condition (this is important!), consider holding a swap with friends and family or donating them to charity before sending it all to the dump," he says.
"If you have electronics that no longer work they can be recycled so that the valuable materials in them, such as gold, silver and copper, aren't wasted in landfill."
Planet Ark's Recycling Near You provides recycling options for a range of materials and you can search for services in your local area.
Liam suggests that staying informed about recycling options rather than sending stuff to landfill is one of the best ways to make your clean-and-declutter session more environmentally friendly.
Old clothes you no longer want that are still in good condition can be donated.
"There are loads of product stewardship schemes in Australia that offer greater access to recycling and safe disposal services for products once they have reached their end of life," he says.
"Just a few of the items that you can't recycle through kerbside services, but you can recycle through schemes like this, include mattresses, light bulbs, batteries, paint, blister packs and coffee pods."
If you can't recycle, donate or sell unwanted items, you may need to dispose of them through your local council's hard rubbish collection. Some councils run these at specific times of the year while others give you the option to book a clean-up at a time that suits you. Bear in mind that most of this (as much as three quarters or more) will end up in landfill, so try to find a new home for whatever you can.
Other tips to help make your cleaning more sustainable
- Reuse scraps of clothing as rags instead of buying new cleaning cloths.
- If you are purchasing new supplies, opt for reusable cleaning cloths instead of things like single-use wipes or paper towels.
- Repurpose items around the home like old toothbrushes for cleaning.
- Think about the amount of water and energy your cleaning routine requires and reduce your use of these resources if you can.
- Dispose of chemicals responsibly. Your local council will be able to provide details of where, when and how to do this.
- Extend the life of products whenever you can. You may be able to tackle some repairs yourself and if not, look for community repair groups in your local area who can help.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
