Microfiber Cloths by eCloth
I LOVE using microfiber cloths to clean with but there are so really bad quality ones out there. eCloth has the best microfiber cloths around and they are also on Amazon so it’s easy to order.
eCloth also makes awesome dish scrubbers; I love all three different versions. There are many sustainable dish brushes, but those seems to be a lot more messy than I like. The dish scrubbers use plastic on the scouring side, but they can be washed and used a lot longer than other dish pads. I throw mine in the washing machine with towels about every other week to keep it super clean.
JAWS Cleaners
JAWS stands for Just Add Water System because their cleaning supplies are concentrated. You start with a bottle and 2 concentrated pods, and you only need to order the pods to refill the bottle in the future. It is very easy to use.
I have used the disinfectant cleaner and the glass cleaner. I am really impressed with the disinfectant cleaner because it is on List N with the EPA for effectiveness against COVID-19. It doesn’t smell too strong like other disinfectants and they have it in stock!
The glass cleaner worked perfectly as expected. I also purchased their microfiber cloths which work great and are a great price.
Laundry Detergent Strips
These detergent strips are so genius! You just select 1 or 2 strips depending on the size of the laundry load and that’s all it is. So much less plastic being used and less mess. I found it works great for everyday use. I will still use a stain/spot treatment on any spots, but I would do that with Tide anyways.
Wool Dryer Balls
I haven’t used dryer sheets in years, and I don’t understand why anyone does anymore. Dryer balls are so easy to use and make your dryer more efficient. The dryer balls help move your clothes around the dryer so they dry faster which means you use less energy overall. I don’t feel like they absorb as much static as a dryer sheet does, but there are other solutions for that.
DIY Cleaners
Sometimes the best way to clean sustainably, is to just use less products. I have found that baking soda and vinegar is a great degreaser and works better than some of the commercial products I’ve tried. If you buy vinegar in bulk you can reduce plastic and baking soda normally comes in a recyclable cardboard box.
To use these, you just make a paste and apply it to wherever you want to clean. I sometimes use an old toothbrush to scrub it in. You can also sprinkle baking soda over an area and then use a spray bottle to spray vinegar over and let the chemical reaction clean for you.
Many people also mix in dish soap, castile soap, essential oils and Borax powder into their DIY cleaners. Depending on where you are cleaning adding a bit of soap or Borax could give you the extra power you need. Essential oils will mostly just add scent, but lemon essential oil can help with sticky messes.
All of these changes seem like small steps, but small steps still get you to the finish line eventually. What other small changes should I try out? I am trying to be more eco-friendly with how I live life and would love more ideas!