Eco Cleaning Products That Actually Work
After two years of side-by-side trials with plant-based alternatives, here's what's earned a permanent spot in our kit.
We've used plant-based products as our default since day one — but it took two years of real-world trials to land on a kit we actually trust. The first generation of "eco" sprays smelled like salad dressing and left streaks on glass. The shortlist below 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.