You can make two small changes in your cleaning habits to have a big effect on both your household bills and your environmental impact.

In this day and age, sustainability is becoming ever more prevalent. From thinking twice about using a plastic bag once to reducing our energy and water consumption throughout the home and office, the environment is beginning to be at the forefront of more and more people’s minds. The production of chemicals and their often polluting effect on the environment can leave us feeling like it’s a guilty necessity, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Here are two examples of cleaners that don’t use chemicals and are of great benefit to both your pocket and Mother Nature.

Laundry Egg

The ecoegg Laundry Egg is designed to replace your laundry detergent. It cleans your clothes using only water and can be used with temperatures up to 60°C. The casing of the Laundry Egg is made from recyclable plastic and is full of two kinds of pellets that work together to change the pH of the water. This pH alteration lifts away dirt from the fibres of your clothes, while also acting as a softener. No chemicals and no microplastics involved, leaving you worry-free. For just over £20, you can have 720 washes under your belt, and refills are available for around £5.00, so you’re not going to break the bank.

As there are no chemicals, it’s an environmentally friendly way of doing the laundry, while catering for sensitive skin. This helps you reduce the temperature of your washes, which reduces the power consumption and thus the amount of energy used, while also reducing the pollution to water sources and bulky plastic packaging from detergent suppliers. ecoegg has estimated that the average consumer will save about 40 bottles of plastic a year by using the Laundry Egg, depending on your washing machine usage.

The Laundry Egg comes in a variety of colours and fragrances, depending on your personal taste. The pellets leave a delicate fragrance on your clothes, but you can use detergent if you wish to leave a lasting smell. With a 10 year guarantee, and refill pellets available, what’s not to like?

Koh

Likewise, if you’re conscious about the amount of cleaning chemicals you’re using in the home, why not try and go without? Koh is a company that’s taken this mantra to heart and has dedicated its time to reducing chemicals within household cleaning products through its Universal Cleaner. A breakthrough ionic formula that uses potassium mineral salts and purified water cleans your home with ease. It has been independently tested and is proven to kill 99.9% of foodborne pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella. When it is used, the formula converts to a near pH neutral carbonate mineral water that’s perfectly safe to the touch.

The Koh Universal Cleaner can be used on multiple surfaces, not only as a cleaner, but a deodoriser as well. Once the solution hits the surface, it lifts and binds any dirt and grease, and can neutralise organic stains and odours. The average bottle lasts for 3 months (typical of a 2-3 bedroom home) and the ionic charge is held for 18 months. A 4 litre solution goes for £15.00, which equates to £5.00 a month for a house full of clean surfaces.

Koh is also part of the ‘1% for the Planet’ global network of businesses, meaning they give 1% of all their sales to non-profit groups working on the front line of environmental preservation around the world. From all of the businesses within this scheme, over 225 million dollars has been donated to environmental causes. By purchasing goods like the Koh Universal Cleaner, you can be content in the knowledge that you’re helping the planet and the environment in more ways than one.

There are so many innovations emerging on the market nowadays that have a focus on sustainability and the environment, which makes it easier as a consumer to know that you can make a difference. It’s also reassuring to see that there are non-profit organisations in existence that are doing their best to try to help in ways that are impossible on an individual level. By making some small changes, you can help in ways never before thought possible.

Author:  Classic Folios and photo by Kelly Sikkema