Hey earth muffins! When I started my eco journey, I made it a goal that once I used up all my cleaners I would slowly replace them with eco-friendly alternatives. This goal has been stretched out after moving in with my boyfriend because he also came with a lot of plastic bottled cleaners…. BUT, I have finally been able to start using zero waste cleaners! If you are interested in how to zero waste your cleaning supplies, this is the full list of everything you could ever need for zero waste cleaning. Let’s jump right into it!
The Essentials
You can’t do sustainable cleaning without vinegar and baking soda. I buy a huge container of vinegar and keep it under my sink. It is multi-purpose and can be used as a cleanser, deodorizer, and even to cut grease. My favorite easy-to-make all-purpose cleaner is also made with vinegar. Baking soda is another great thing to have in bulk. It is an abrasive (and also a deodorizer)… It makes my sinks/shower shine and can even be used to unclog drains too.
Borax is a great cleaner that a lot of people use regardless if they are on an eco journey or not. It is a natural mineral disinfectant that is great for cleaning things in the bathroom. You can typically find it in a recyclable cardboard box or aluminum tube in the cleaning aisle.
Another essential for zero waste cleaning is castile soap. This soap can be used for literally anything (even as shampoo or face wash!) as long as you dilute it down. It is also biodegradable which makes it awesome for van life and camping too. You can even get scented castile soap if you want a nice smell to remain after cleaning.
Don’t forget about essential oils! These are great additions to DIY cleaners to make sure your house smells fresh once it is clean. I personally like to have peppermint and lemon oils in my cleaning supplies.
Other Ingredients for Zero Waste Cleaning
Along with the essentials, there are other things that you must have in your cleaning supplies also. First up, hydrogen peroxide. While (unfortunately) peroxide is often sold in plastic bottles, it is a great disinfectant AND non-chlorine bleach. You can even use it in your washing machine instead of traditional bleach.
Salt is another kitchen staple that can be used for cleaning. It is a disinfectant, astringent, and abrasive. An additional common ingredient you might already have in your fridge is lemon juice. This is awesome for grease cutting and is a great cleanser/deodorizer too. Lastly, cornstarch is something that can absorb oil if you need that.
Cleaning doesn’t have to mean using cleaners full of chemicals and nasty smells. Keep it natural and use these essentials instead! Most of these ingredients are affordable and you might already have them in your kitchen. And they do an excellent job keeping your house clean! 😊 What cleaners do you currently use? Comment below and let me know what your go-to natural cleaners are!
Love,
Jenna ♥
