Eco Cleaning Products That Actually Work
After three years of swapping chemicals for plant-based alternatives, here's what's earned a permanent spot in our kit.
When we started phasing out conventional chemical cleaners in 2022, our crews were sceptical. The first generation of "eco" sprays smelled like salad dressing and left streaks on glass. Three years and a lot of trials later, we've landed on a kit that performs as well as the chemical equivalents — sometimes better.
What we measure
For every product trial, our supervisors score on five axes:
- Cleaning performance — does it actually shift the dirt?
- Surface safety — stone, timber, stainless steel.
- Time to clean — eco that takes twice as long isn't eco.
- Indoor air quality — measured with VOC meters.
- Cost per litre at concentrate dilution.
If a product loses on any axis vs. the chemical baseline, it doesn't make the kit.
What's in the van
Surface spray — A biodegradable surfactant blend. Cuts kitchen grease, safe on stone, neutral pH for everyday surfaces. Two passes match what one pass of a chemical cleaner does — but on most surfaces one pass is enough.
Bathroom & lime scale — Citric acid concentrate. Adelaide's hard water leaves scale on glass and chrome; citric acid eats it without etching tile or stone. Avoid on natural marble.
Floor concentrate — Plant-based coconut surfactant, no rinsing required. Mixes 1:200 — works out cheaper than the chemical brand we used to buy.
Glass & mirrors — Distilled water + a microscopic dose of alcohol-free detergent in a refillable bottle. Streak-free with a microfibre, no fumes.
Disinfectant — Hydrogen peroxide based, hospital-grade efficacy, breaks down into water and oxygen. Used only where we need clinical-level kill.
Microfibre cloths — Often overlooked. The right cloth removes 99% of bacteria with water alone. We launder ours at 60°C between jobs.
What we ditched
- Bleach for general cleaning (kept for very specific mould jobs).
- Ammonia-based glass cleaners (replaced with the alcohol-free spec above).
- Single-use disinfectant wipes (massive waste, low efficacy on porous surfaces).
A simple swap for home
If you're replacing one product, replace the kitchen spray. It's the one you use most, in the room where indoor air quality matters most. A good plant-based surface spray costs $10–14 a litre at concentrate dilution and lasts a household 3–4 months.
Want our exact kit?
Our regular home cleaning service uses this full eco kit as standard — at no extra charge. Browse plans or book a one-off trial to see the difference.