Short Answer: Yes
But it is not quite so simple as that. We are advertised items that tell us that this particular item is made only from plant-based ingredients, that wipe is biodegradable and flushable, all screaming in their near identical colours that make our brains think clean and environmentally friendly. But are these items what they seem?
Laundry detergents
Most people want nice smelling clothes to put on. It makes us feel clean and fresh and gives us a confidence that other people will find us inviting to talk to. We all want a good first impression, right?
For a long time, some people believed that if you used an eco-friendly cleaning product it wouldn’t clean your clothes properly (“why doesn’t it foam?”) or that it would not have any nice fragrance or conditioner so your clothes would be stale and hard. These thought processes were not fact, simply fear of the unknown. What many of us did not realise is the foaming that we see inside our washing machine is in fact completely unnecessary. The foamy bubbles that can be fun to watch and give you the sense of reassurance that somehow, the more bubbles, the cleaner the laundry will be (!) are in fact the result of a chemical called sodium lauryl sulphate (“SLS”). SLS is not added for cleaning reasons, just for the pretty bubbles.
These days you can quickly search on the internet for SLS free products and be hit with a list of products that have paid to be listed as high as possible. It does not make them the best or the greenest, it is simply a company that could afford the advertising space every month to ensure that when certain words are searched their company and product will show up at the very top, which really is just a marketing ploy. Such companies are not all bad but nor are they as innovative as they claim to be. They use statistics and flashy imagery to create this idea that their product is the only product you should even consider, anything else would be bad for the environment and cannot compare to their highest standards…however this is simply not true.
What matters is searching out the best option for you and your laundry needs and your machine. Some washing machines for example advise in their user guides to not use powder at all or a frequent issue could be that those little plastic (or plastic free) coated pods just clog up the filter. We should look for detergents that are eco friendly but also human and animal friendly. Do you prefer a subscription that can be difficult to pause or do you prefer to buy a larger amount of liquid and pour it into fancy bottles so doing the laundry doesn’t seem too drab?
Cleaning Products
We all enjoy a nice smelling home. We like to know that the product we have purchased can be used on as many surfaces as possible (money and time saving), and has not been tested on animals. Now you have the option of bringing aromatherapy oils and fragrances into these cleaning products. Fantastic! Or maybe not. Always check what oils have been added to your cleaning products. It might not be tested on animals but this does not mean that it is not poisonous! Cats and dogs are nosey creatures and often smell, or rub against anything you are attempting to clean. This isn’t them being annoying (not always anyway!), but it could be them trying to place their scent back on ‘their’ home. What some people do not realise is that these cleaning products that smell great often have oils in that could be harmful to our little furry friends. (If you are ever in doubt, always contact a vet if you think your pet may be in trouble.)
There can sometimes be a catch too. Although there are many great eco-friendly cleaning products that have been available for years, there are some products which place information that you would want to know in the instructions for using. How many of us read the how to use part of the label of a multi-purpose cleaning spray? Seems straight forward from the name, and often has a claim that it kills a certain % of germs every time. But if you look closely, even on the big brands, this can be related to leaving such spray in contact with surfaces for 30 seconds. With some well-known brands that have come up in recent years in the greener cleaning industry they specify that the germ killing only works effectively if it is sprayed and left for at least 1 minute. Yes, this is because of the ingredients used. Certain chemicals will not be used when creating eco-friendly products, this does not mean that they do not clean. You just need to check the instructions first!
So, yes, it is very easy to be green when you clean. We do not need these massive amounts of chemicals clogging up our water tables and going into the environment, you just need to read the small print on big claims and find something that suits your needs and surroundings. The choice is out there, don’t be fooled by companies that can afford massive advertising campaigns. Try looking at the companies that have been offering these products for years, do they have something more suitable or can you find a cheaper alternative? Share your ideas with friends and family, sometimes buying items in bulk such as laundry liquid and splitting it between several people can be an easy and cheaper way to save money and the environment!