Eco Friendly Cleaning Products for Your Electric Vehicle

The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Your Home

Deep-cleaning my house tends to leave me with a lot of plastic bags, paper, and plastic containers to throw away. It got me wondering how I could make my cleaning routines less wasteful. Scientists are developing new ways to recycle plastic, but it's not an Earth-friendly material, and cleaning supplies use a lot of it.

Common solutions like disinfecting sprays and soaps are largely composed of water, which makes those products heavy and hard to ship efficiently. Excessive packaging is another factor in cleaning-product waste, as are harmful chemicals that can end up in the water supply (or in you). Add in the risk of microplastic shedding and a gazillion greenwashed Instagram ads, and it can be difficult to know how to make things clean and greener.

Below are some of my favorite cleaning products that try to be environmentally conscious. They won't feel too different from what you already use and are relatively affordable. For the ultimate cheap minimalist cleaning solution, baking soda and vinegar paired with elbow grease will do the trick for many tasks (though baking soda can harm certain materials like aluminum, so do your research). Don't see anything you like? Be sure to check out our other eco-friendly guides, like the Best Reusable Products and the Best Recycled Products.

Updated April 2023: We've added new products and removed old ones.

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Eco-Friendly Cleaners for the Whole House

Some makers of cleaning supplies offer general-use products you'd typically buy in spray bottles. All of the brands mentioned here also take additional steps, like offering refills, using simpler ingredients, or shipping without plastic. The products below all work fine, so go with whichever fits your cleaning style, budget, and aesthetic goalsbecause, yes, they're all nice to look at.

Supernatural's kit is pricey, but it goes on sale a few times a year. The glass spray bottles are hefty (in a good way), and the silicone bottoms keep them in place. The nozzles don't clog or get jammed, though the bottles can leak if you don't twist the lid closed carefully. The glass concentrate vials contain blends of essential oils designed for windows and mirrors, counters and granite, bath and tile, or wood and floors. The products smell amazinglike fresh botanicals, not artificial or chemical like most cleaning solutions. This set is the only one I've continued to purchase refills for.

Blueland's cheap refills come in the form of dissolvable tablets. You'll get a few reusable Tritan Forever Bottles by purchasing a $39 starter kit. Starter kit refills include hand soap, bathroom cleaner, glass and mirror cleaner, and multipurpose cleaner. Blueland also offers laundry soap, dishwashing essentials, and various accessories. You can mix and match products to suit your needs. Everything I tried smelled great and worked well. The tablets can take a little while to dissolve, so mix the solutions up an hour or two before you plan to tackle your chores.

The starter kit gets you a 34-ounce bottle of sustainable concentrated cleaning solution, spray bottles with fill lines for easy dilution, and a tub of Oxygen Boost powder. You'll get enough concentrate for three bottles each of all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and foaming wash, plus a 64-load laundry bottle. The unscented concentrate is powerful and made from simple ingredients. You can also buy it separately and supply your own bottles. Fans of nice-smelling cleaners might find this set lacking, but a few drops of essential oils would liven things up in the olfactory department.

Grove's cleaning concentrates are available in a three-pack. You'll get all-purpose, glass, and tub-and-tile cleaners. Dump the contents into 16-ounce bottles (also on Grove's site) and fill them up with water. I especially like the glass cleaner, which works better than Windexand smells nicer.

This bio-based product isn't sold in concentrates, but I'm including it here because I didn't try anything else like it. It has no fragrance and no color. It almost feels like you're cleaning with water. If you're really sensitive to fragrances, to the point where "lightly scented" still gives you a headache, this is what you're looking for.

For the Kitchen

After my testing, I permanently converted to this dish soap. It's made of plant-based ingredients, and the biodegradable formula gets the job done. It doesn't dry out my hands as much as the stuff I used to use. It's available in multipacks online.

This bar is technically meant for cleaning tough stains on your clothes before you toss them into the laundry. Dampen the end of the bar and the stain, scrub away, and then toss the garment into the laundry. However, the bar effectively doubles as dish soap. I also like No Tox Life's ($12) dishwashing block. Pair it with a brush ($8) for more suds.

These fast-drying biodegradable cloths are made of cellulose and cotton. Unlike typical washcloths, these don't get smelly or mildewy. You can wash them up to 200 times in your washing machine or the top rack of your dishwasher. The eye-catching designs are a bonus. Mine started degrading after a couple of months of use but lasted longer than similar products I tried.

I didn't want to love this extremely popular, cheery sponge, but it lives up to the hype. The shape and texture make it weirdly effective for scrubbing, wiping, and suds. I use it for everything from doing my dishes to cleaning my floors. It's also more durable than other similarly priced sponges. While the sponge itself isn't especially sustainable, Scrub Daddy products are recyclable, making them a better option than sponges you'd throw away.

These bright cotton flannel towels are durable and really absorbent. They get even more absorbent after a few washes. They also cling together, so you can roll them up on a cardboard tube just like the paper alternatives.

If you prefer more traditional paper towels, these strike a good balance between familiarity and sustainability. They're made of bamboono trees. The towels aren't the softest, but they are absorbent and don't fall apart or shed easily. For gross or quick tasks like cleaning up cat hairballs or cooking residue, I feel less guilty throwing these out than a tree-based paper towel.

They aren't as durable as traditional trash bags, but they're made of 90 percent post-consumer plastic. (The other 10 percent is renewable sugarcane.) I think the eco-friendly composition makes these a worthy trade-off.

These sweeper pads are a sturdier, less wasteful alternative to disposable mop pads. They work with Swiffer mops and similar systems, and they can be used wet or dry. The thick, absorbent texture makes cleaning the floor easy. Toss the pads in the washing machine to reuse them.

For the Laundry Room

These pods smell fantastic, work with high-efficiency machines, get your clothes squeaky clean, and are made of plant-derived ingredients. There are no dyes, and shipping is free and carbon-neutral. I also like the company's wool dryer balls ($29) as an alternative to fabric softener sheets. If you don't like pods, try MyKieri's Easy-Spray Laundry Detergent ($28).

I tested this plant-based spray on blood, coffee, red sauce, and makeup. It removed them all. It doesn't contain chlorine, dyes, or other common irritants typically found in stain removers. It does sell out occasionally, but you can sign up for email alerts to know when it's back.

This baking soda booster is free of bleach, ammonia, dyes, and fragrances. It's also septic-safe. I especially like it for linens and towelsit leaves them really fresh and banishes any lingering smells.

What Makes a Cleaning Product Sustainable?

Eco-friendly is an extremely vague term that can be misleading, especially when it comes to marketing. No product is perfect, but the Environmental Protection Agency has a list of some things to look out for when searching for more environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.

When it comes to product composition, the smaller the list, the better. A concentrated product produces fewer carbon emissions and creates less waste to ship than a heavier, more diluted version, and a powder or tablet is even smaller. The EPA Safer Choice program vets products and certifies them if they meet the agency's standards for safer, more environmentally friendly products. Certified products feature the Safer Choice label on their packaging.

You can also take a look at the ingredients. For example, we look for products that are biodegradable and have less fragrance and other unnecessary additives.

Unboxed: 10 Best Car Cleaning Kits for 2024

How often should I wash my car?

Cleaning-chemical manufacturers recommend washing your car every two weeks or so, depending on how often you use it and the weather conditions in your geographical location. However, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and where you drive.

If you drive on dirt roads in the summer or salty streets in the winter, you'll likely want to wash much more frequently than if you're only making casual commutes on clean, paved highways. But even on the cleanest roads, bugs, dirt, and other debris can be kicked up onto and underneath your vehicle. Evaluate your vehicle every time you drive.

Can I use a pressure washer to wash my car?

Yes, you can use a pressure washer to wash your car. However, using the correct nozzle and pressure setting is important to avoid damaging your car's paint and any external features.

Where should I wash my car?

It's recommended that you wash your vehicle out of direct sunlight and in an area where water and chemicals can properly drain away as needed.

Do I need to dry my car after washing it?

It's important to dry your car after washing it to avoid water spots and prevent rust from forming on your car's metal surfaces. It'll also prevent other dirt and debris from immediately sticking to the vehicle after a wash.

Why Trust Us

Our evaluations were conducted in an environment that provided equal testing procedures for each product: the Car and Driver garage. We evaluated the build quality of the included components, assessed the value of the kits, and took notes throughout our hands-on analysis to come to our conclusions.

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Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here.

21 Eco-Friendly Ideas For A Sustainable Home

According to Energy.gov, you can save up to 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by changing the temperature of your home 7 10 degrees from its normal setting for 8 hours of the day. Programmable thermostats andsmart technologycan ensure you dont miss the perfect times to reset your thermostat usually when youre sleeping or not at home. It can be hard to remember to change the temperature in the morning, change it again when you get home and then change it before you go to bed. With a programmable thermostat, you can program the thermostat to set to specific temperatures at different times of the day.

4. Upgrade Your Toilet

Older toilets use significantly more water, about 7 gallons on average. Energy-efficient toilets use about 1.6 gallons on average. Even an energy-efficient toilet with a bidet uses less water than the average older toilet. Spending money on an energy-efficient toilet now will save you money and precious water in the future.

To ensure youre getting the most energy efficiency from your new toilet, look for the ENERGY STARproduct label, which certifies a product is energy-efficient. You may also want to consider a dual-flush system that conserves water by using less water to flush liquid waste than solid.

5. Install A Bidet

According to National Geographic, every day, the equivalent of 270,000 trees is flushed down the toilet or tossed into landfills. Trees filter harmful toxins from our air and water. And lets not forget that they provide the oxygen we need to survive. Unfortunately, the softer and fluffier toilet paper is, the more trees are used to make it.

While a bidet might sound like a last resort for many Americans, its a much better option for the environment. Bidets came in handy during the toilet paper shortage in 2020 when widespread panic during COVID-19 lockdowns caused many people to hoard toilet paper. In fact, many bidet manufacturers saw sales skyrocket in 2020 some even ran out of stock. The bidet is also a much more sanitary option. With a bidet, your hands dont have to get involved, reducing the spread of germs.

6. Use Green Toilet Paper

If you simply cant see yourself getting sprinkled on the bottom every time you go, consider sustainable toilet paper. Its a better option than the thick, fluffy toilet paper most Americans prefer. The more recycled materials that have gone into the toilet paper, the better. The Natural Resources Defense Council researched how toilet paper companies are destroying Canadas boreal forest. They even released areport featuring a Toilet Paper Sustainability Scorecard. Make it a point to choose toilet paper options in the A column, which is the most sustainable group of TP available in todays market.