We're all looking for ways to cut down on single-use plastic and be more sustainable at home, but did you know your regular cleaning routine could be affecting the environment?
Luckily, say professional cleaners, there's one super simple, sustainable way to reduce plastic in your cleaning routine – by buying and using refillable products.
Here, they share their top cleaning tips for overhauling your supplies with the environment in mind.
This is the best way to reduce plastic in your cleaning routine
As Scott Schrader, professional cleaner at CottageCare, says, 'Cutting plastic out of your everyday cleaning methods is not just better for the planet – it's often healthier and more streamlined on your wallet!'
The easiest way to do this is to swap your cleaning supplies to refillable options, which is also a great way to stop unnecessary trash and reduce your impact on the environment.
Samantha Shpeen from Clean Cult recommends, 'The average kitchen is a hotbed of plastic, from dish soap to sprays. Swapping these for refillable aluminium bottles makes a big impact, fast.'
The aluminium here, she explains, is important. 'Many "eco" cleaners still come in plastic,' she says. 'Look for paper-based cartons or refillable aluminium bottles, to adopt cleaning systems designed to eliminate single-use waste entirely.'
For example, the Cleancult Dish Soap Liquid Refills available at Amazon use 90% less plastic, and the Cleancult Wild Lavender All Purpose Cleaner, also available at Amazon, comes in a refillable aluminium bottle.
And, while recycling is good, refilling is better, she adds, particularly if you want to avoid greenwashing.
Scott agrees, saying, 'Opting for refillable bottles, rather than recycling and replacing, is better for the planet oftentimes, since it minimises the waste of manufacturing and shipping. Reuse is always a more sustainable option than recycling.
'Brands like Cleancult and Grove Collaborative available at Amazon, sell systems of refills for household cleaning products which are durable, effective, and environmentally friendly!'
We like the amber glass spray bottles from Amazon for making DIY glass sprays using essential oils. It's a versatile cleaning spray that can be used across many surfaces and the amber bottle is sturdy, refillable, and protects the solution from UV damage or breakdown.
Additionally, advises Armando Calderon, owner at Joy's Cleaning Services, using refillable products also means you can buy in bulk, helping you to save money at home in the long run.
'We've been a professional cleaning company for over 12 years in the Chicago area,' he says. 'To keep costs down, we often buy in bulk, and get gallons of cleaners at a time, then refill the smaller spray bottles.
'We made the decision to do that based on economics of better price points for volume purchases, but it does actually save a decent amount.
'For example, something like a glass cleaner or degreaser we can often get in one to five gallon jugs. It saves on plastics by recycling a single five gallon jug versus dozens of 32 oz spray bottles with their squirter heads.'
This cleaning trick to reduce plastic at home is particularly effective when paired with replacing disposable wipes for microfiber cloths, adds Taylor Riley, partner at AMR US Commercial Cleaning, so long as you know how to wash a microfiber cloth.
'I use microfiber every day because they trap dust, dirt, and bacteria better than your standard paper towels, and you can wash and reuse them hundreds of times,' he explains.
'Not only does this reduce plastic packaging waste, but it also saves money in the long run. Personally, I like to get multiple colors so I can coordinate which cloths are used in which areas. That way, you're not using the same microfiber to scrub your toilets and your countertops.'
Color-coded cleaning is also our top tip for a more hygienic routine.
What to shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This sustainable scrubbing brush is suitable for cleaning dishes, non-stick cookware, cast iron pots, vegetables and sinks, and is easy to clean and care for with simple warm soapy water.
These super soft, absorbent and lint-free microfiber cleaning cloths are ideal for pairing with your refillable cleaning products, for dusting, cleaning and shining up surfaces.
These biodegradable, compostable non-scratch scrubbing sponges are made from long-lasting and odor-free coconut and cellulose fibers.
Meet our experts
'You don’t need to overhaul your routine,' says Samantha. 'Just one high-use product swap can save dozens of plastic bottles a year.'
If you're interested in reducing plastic use, it's also a good idea to invest in non-toxic cleaning supplies to make your home less toxic.
