The Best Biodegradable Cleaning Brands

• Use with plastic-free cleaning cloths and sponges
• Use unscented products for pregnancy/nursing, baby and pet bowls. Citrus oils in particular are toxic to pets (even if rinsed and dried, residue could be licked from paws). Alternatively clean, rinse and dry with unscented cleanin
• g vinegar and baking soda). 
• Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). 
• Replace chlorine bleach with natural oxygen bleach to remove tea/coffee cup stains. never mix any kind of bleach with acid (lemon or cleaning vinegar) as it causes toxic gas.
• You can recycle empty toxic cleaning bottles at kerbside (for bottles with product, dispose of at your council’s hazardous waste department).

Miniml Natural Cleaners (in refillable bottles)

Miniml Eco Friendly Surface Cleaners are the ideal swap to keep on hand, to lift dirt and grime from surfaces. Available in:

• French lavender (with refills)
• Anti-Bac Pink grapefruit (with refills)
• Blood orange (with refills)

To use, spray surface and wipe clean with a cloth or sponge. Rinse and dry. Also good for door handles and handrails.

Greenscents (eco cleaning including unscented)

Greenscents is a nice range of eco-friendly cleaning and laundry products, all sold in glass bottles that you can send back for washing and refilling (including bulk orders). It does also offer scented items, but the unscented range is ideal for babies, pets, pregnancy/nursing and allergies.

Don’t handle glass with wet hands.

They are sold in 500ml bottles with aluminium lids (and a one-time purchase of a head). Then buy 5 litre and 20 litre refill containers (you can decant into bottles, and send empty containers off for refilling).

• Use with plastic-free cleaning cloths & sponges/scourers.
• Use unscented products for pregnancy/nursing, baby and pet bowls. Citrus oils in particular are toxic to pets (even if rinsed and dried, residue could be licked from paws). Alternatively clean, rinse and dry with unscented cleaning vinegar and baking soda). 
• Never mix vinegar or lemon juice with any bleach (causes toxic gas). 
• Replace chlorine bleach with natural oxygen bleach to remove tea/coffee cup stains. never mix any kind of bleach with acid (lemon or cleaning vinegar) as it causes toxic gas.
• You can recycle empty toxic cleaning bottles at kerbside (for bottles with product, dispose of at your council’s hazardous waste department).

Glass Cleaner delivers a sparkling shine to windows, mirrors, splashbacks, picture frames and shower screens, to lift away dust, grease and finger marks. Read how to help stop birds flying into windows.

Bio-D Biodegradable Unscented Cleaners (sold in shops)

Bio-D Fragrance-Free Cleaners are another choice, sold in health and farm shops, where you can take back bulk containers for refilling. It’s best to use their fragrance-free versions, as some of the scented versions contain artificial fragrance. There are over 700 refill points across the UK.

Eco-Friendly Window & Glass Cleaner

Miniml Eco Friendly Window & Glass Cleaner can remove fingerprints, dust and marks. The refill bottles lasts ages. Just spray surface and wipe clean with a cloth or sponge in circular motions, until marks are gone.

Read how to help stop birds flying into windows.

Anti-Bac Eco Bathroom Cleaner

Miniml Anti-Bac Bathroom Cleaner again is sold with refill bottles will last you ages! This tackles 99.9% of bacteria, to banish limescale and grim with ease, leaving a cucumber mint scent.

Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner

Miniml Eco-Friendly Toilet Cleaner is sold in a 1 litre bottle with refill bottle. To use, pour around the top of the bowl and allow to run down sides. Let stand for at least 5 to 10 minutes, before flushing. For tough stains, use a sponge or cloth.

Eco-friendly Oven & Hob Cleaner

Miniml Eco Oven & Hob Cleaner has a clementine scent, just spray and let sit for 5 minutes to dissolve grease, then wipe with a plastic-free sponge or cloth, and repeat if needed. The refill bottle lasts ages.

Spruce (refillable natural cleaning products)

Spruce uses natural ingredients, sold in starter kits to ‘create your own cleaner’ with tap water. Then just rinse and use the bottles again.

We don’t recommend the laundry sheets, as most are PLA-based (polyvinyl alcohol) so are not really plastic-free – use Allavare Laundry Powder). 

ou then just buy refill sachets to make up new batches. To avoid overwhelm, there are just few choices:

• Multipurpose Cleaner (geranium) for countertops, tiles, stone, wood and sealed surfaces.
• Bathroom Cleaner (eucalyptus) for tubs, tiles, ceramic, stainless steel & porcelain)
• Floor Cleaner (bergamot, patchouli, geranium).
• Eco sponges (add to your order to avoid plastic sponges)
• Glass & Mirror Set (peppermint) for windows and mirrors.

You can order each item separately or mix-and-match. For instance, you may only wish to buy the multi-purpose and glass cleaner (using the former to clean the bathroom). Each order includes aluminium eternity bottles and paper refill sachets, which you can compost when empty.

Most users say they use up one bottle’s worth of product in around 2 months, with regular cleaning. Obviously this may be more for big houses, housekeepers or professional use (offices, restaurants, hotels etc).

Delphis Eco (commercial cleaning products)

Delphis Eco is the main brand of commercial eco-friendly cleaning products for offices, hotels, restaurants, schools, doctor/dental surgeries, hospitals etc. The entire range is biodegradable, sold in recycled plastic bottles and has super reviews!

Use floor cleaners with a plastic-free mop or use a bucket filter if using a microfiber mop, to stop leaching microplastics (collect and securely bin them, to avoid them washing away at landfill).

The range includes:

• Foaming & Combi Oven Cleaners
• Heavy Duty Toilet & Limescale Remover
• Washroom Cleaner & Urinal Blocks
• Metal Polish
• Chewing Gum Remover
• Natural Salad Wash
• Commercial Hand Soap
• Floor Maintainer (for mops or floor machines)
• Heavy Duty Degreaser
• Scented Air Freshener
• Cabinet Glass Wash
• Masonry & Stone Cleaner
• Waterless Hand Rub
• Low Foam Degreaser
• X-Factor Stain Remover Spray (for sticky marks, spills & pen marks).

This brand was founded by a city banker, who also created the ‘recycled plastic rating’ code on bottles. Despite being the main brand used by most supermarkets for their warehouses, they rarely sell them to consumers – why not?