Zero waste cleaning swaps

There's nothing like a clean home, but commercial cleaning products can be made with harmful chemical ingredients, and also generate quite a bit of plastic waste. Though it's easy to throw away things without much of a thought, these chemicals and plastics pose a threat to overall water quality in our local communities.

The following are a few zero waste swaps to help you lighten your footprint when cleaning. Check out the video to the left, as well as a summary and links to the products below. There are plenty of great ways to use common household ingredients to clean your home, but also some innovative ones on the market if you're looking for something a bit more convenient.

This video is also sponsored by Tru Earth, an innovative laundry company that has created laundry strips that help reduce transportation emissions compared to conventional liquid detergent. Be sure to check the bottom of this post for more information and a coupon code for your next order.

 
reed diffuser simply by christine
 
 
laundry strips tru earth simply by christine

8 zero waste cleaning swaps

Cleaning can still be done effectively with the following products or swaps you might already have in your home. Consider reducing, reusing, and repurposing what you already have to keep your home clean and dust free.

Laundry strips

If you don't have a local zero waste store to refill your laundry detergent, Tru Earth's laundry strips come without single-use plastic packaging

These strips come without water and dissolve once wet, which keeps them lightweight to help reduce transportation emissions

Wool dryer balls

Swap out single-use laundry sheets for wool dryer balls - add a few drops of your preferred essential oil, allow it to dry, and place 2-3 dryer balls in your next load

They help reduce static and decrease dryer time and work great if you want to freshen up your dresser drawers

Laundry stain stick

This stain stick helps tackles stains before you put them into the laundry for washing - simply rub on wet fabric before putting into your hamper

Baking soda and vinegar

Use vinegar and water for a simple all-purpose spray, and baking soda to scrub surfaces

Add additional ingredients and explore other recipes for different cleaning solutions throughout your home

 
 
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Essential oils

Essential oils are lovely alternatives to freshen a space, whether adding them to a cleaning solution or diffuser

Make sure to use pet-safe oils if you have pets in the home, and always use a carrier solution as they are quite concentrated

Essential oils of eucalyptus, lavender, tea tree, and any citrus fruit are also great for cleaning/killing bacteria

Compostable brushes and sponges

Replace old plastic sponges and scrubbers with compostable ones, such as this bottle brush or scrubber brush - repurpose any bamboo toothbrush as well to help clean corners and tough to reach areas

Instead of rubbing off tiny plastic particles from plastic cleaning tools, these compostable scrubbers are all-natural and compostable at the end of life

Dish soap block

Similar to bar soaps for your body, dish soap blocks eliminate the need for any plastic packaging like liquid dish soaps

Add some water to your sponge or brush, scrub onto your dish soap block, and create lather to wash your dishes

Dishcloths

Use old t-shirts as rags, or a reusable Swedish dishcloth as an alternative to single-use paper towels

Make your own reusable swiffer alternative, or try out a quick loop mop head to keep things plastic free

 
compostable bottle brush simply by christine
zero waste cleaning simply by christine
 
 

About Tru Earth

While most laundry products come packaged in single-use plastic jugs and containers, Tru Earth has created an innovative laundry strip that eliminates the need for plastic packaging. Because they're significantly lighter and smaller, they reduce overall transportation costs and emissions by up to 94% compared to leading liquid detergents. They're also made without parabens, phosphates, added dyes, or bleach, and are greywater safe. Be sure to use the code SIMPLYCHRISTINE10 for 10% off your next order.