Eco-friendly cleaning that actually works
Plenty of greener cleaning works as well as what it replaces. Some of it does not, and the difference is worth knowing before you swap out a cupboard of products on the strength of the label.
Mechanical action does most of the work
The single most effective change in most homes is not a product at all. A good microfibre cloth and clean water lift soil from a smooth surface by mechanical action, with no residue to attract the next layer of dust. Reserve chemistry for the jobs that need it: grease, limescale and disinfection.
Where the simple options hold up
- Acid for limescale: white vinegar or citric acid on taps, kettles and shower screens
- Alkali for grease: a dilute soda solution on hobs and extractor filters
- Abrasive for baked-on soil: bicarbonate of soda as a gentle scouring paste
- Plain hot water and microfibre for glass, mirrors and everyday surfaces
Where they do not
Vinegar is not a disinfectant in any meaningful sense, so it is the wrong choice for a toilet, a nappy change area or a kitchen board that has held raw meat. Use a registered disinfectant there and use it as directed. Vinegar also etches natural stone, so keep it away from marble, travertine and unsealed granite.
Never mix
Do not combine vinegar with bleach, or bleach with ammonia. Both combinations release harmful gas. If you switch products on the same surface, rinse in between.
Reading a green label
- Look for a stated concentration or dilution rather than a claim about the whole bottle
- Prefer refill formats, which cut packaging more than any ingredient change does
- Check whether the product is certified by a body that publishes its criteria
- Ignore the word natural on its own: it describes an origin, not a safety profile
