The Ultimate Eco-Friendly and Zero Waste Cleaning Guide

This post first appeared in our weekly Make Waves Mondays email series on June 16, 2025.

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Hello hello friend!

Before we dive into this week’s blog, I just have to say WOW. 

This weekend, more than 5 MILLION people joined together at over 2,100 No Kings Protests across the country to stand up to authoritarianism and federal abuses of power.

I know that there’s so much happening in the world right now and it can be so easy to lose hope. But 5 million people… Just…wow.

And when the LA protests began, I came across a post on Threads that gave me so much dang hope.

You can read the whole Thread here, but I’ll quote part of it here:

“Yes, there’s fear. 
But there’s also volume.
America isn’t going quiet.

And that matters.
Because martial law requires submission.
It relies on people staying home.
It needs us to believe we’re outnumbered.
But in every major US city right now, people are standing up.
Not just resisting.
Refusing to disappear.

They want us to believe there’s no choice.
But that’s a lie authoritarianism always tells.
And America — messy, loud, imperfect America — still hasn’t bought into that lie.

[…]

Hope isn’t a mood.
It’s a decision.
And if you’re struggling to find it — borrow mine.
I’ve lived through a coup.
I’ve lived under martial law.
And I’m telling you right now:
This moment isn’t over.
We’re still writing the ending.”

So if you protested this weekend and are looking for some next steps to carry that momentum forward, or if you didn’t protest this weekend and are looking for alternative ways to make your voice heard, don’t forget that we have a whole guide on our blog all about how to find, build, and support community and activism efforts, especially now.

We got this.
You got this 💙

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Now…shifting gears to today’s regularly-scheduled blog post.

Today I wanna talk about some of my favorite zero waste cleaning tips.

There are a lot of cleaning products out there, and they’re basically all tailored to cleaning one specific thing.

You’ve got bathroom cleaner.
Toilet cleaner.
Shower cleaner.
Mirror cleaner.
Floor cleaner.
Stove cleaner.
Fridge cleaner.
Dish cleaner.
Laundry cleaner.

I’m sure I’m missing some but holy moly why do we need so many products??

And not only that, most of these products are made with ingredients that aren’t great for our bodies, our families, or our environment.

Like…maybe the products we’re using to clean our kitchen counters shouldn’t also come with a warning in bolded all caps that the product is hazardous to humans and animals…??? Just a thought…

So let’s simplify and eco-fy that list, shall we?

Let’s dive in 👇

My Favorite Zero Waste Cleaning Supplies

I’ve simplified my cleaning supplies by A LOT since I started going zero waste, and it’s honestly made things sooo much easier.

And in the process, I’ve eliminated basically all artificial fragrances and harsh chemicals that can irritate noses and sensitive skin, and I honestly didn’t realize it for a while, but now when I have to use “conventional’ cleaning products — or when I’m just around them — I hate it.

So between the benefits of being plastic-free, safe for our waterways and natural environments, and gentler on my skin and sinuses, plus working just as well as the “conventional” alternatives…what’s not to love?

Reusable Cleaning Tools

• Loofah Sponges. Loofahs are probably the most-used zero waste cleaning tool in my home. They’re scrubby like a sponge, but they’re actually a plant (related to the cucumber!), so they’re fully compostable at the end of their life. And you can even toss it in your dishwasher!
  
  
  • Loofah Protip: If you’re a fan of those Scrub Daddy sponges, cut a loofah into 3 pieces and you’ve got 3 Scrub Daddies for less than half the cost!
    
    

• Swedish Dishcloths. Next to loofahs, Swedish dishcloths are the next green cleaning MVP. I like to describe Swedish dishcloths as “what you would get if a sponge and a paper towel had a baby.” They’re super absorbent, easy to clean (just toss ‘em in the dishwasher!), quick-drying, and totally plastic-free.

• Old Towels and Rags. I’ve got some cleaning cloths that are probably two decades old at this point and still going strong. Remember: the most sustainable product is the one you already own!
  
  
• Reusable Unpaper Towels. I made my first set of unpaper towels 13 years ago and I still use them to this day. Those babies hold up!
  
  
• Old Toothbrushes. I love to save my old toothbrushes and use them for deep cleaning or hard-to-clean smaller things. Worn-out toothbrushes might not be the best for my teeth anymore, but they’re dang good for scrubbin’!

💡 A note on cleaning tools: Like I said with old towels and rags, the most sustainable product is the one you already own. I intentionally didn’t include any tools like brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets, toilet brushes, etc. because these are most likely things you already have in your home! I don’t even know where I got all of these tools in my home or what brands they are because I’ve just had them for so long. Don’t run out to buy a brand new bamboo broom if the plastic one you already have is working well. 

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

Sustainable Cleaning Products

• Refillable All-Purpose Cleaning Concentrate. When I say all-purpose, I mean it. I use this stuff for my countertops, my dining room table, my fridge, my toilet, my mirrors, and even my floors. 

• Toilet Cleaner Bombs. I don’t even remember what I used before I had these, they’re that good.
  
  
• The DIY Ingredients. I don’t do a lot of DIYs these days (who’s got the time for that??), but there are a few DIY ingredients that I always have to have on-hand. They might not always be completely zero waste or plastic-free, but for the cleaning punch they give it’s so dang worth it.
  
  • Baking Soda
  • White Vinegar
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • Castile Soap (or liquid dish soap)
    
    
• Dish Soap Bar. I don’t just use my solid dish soap bar for dishes, no siree. This baby is always my first go-to when something needs cleaning. (Literally last week my partner and I were looking at a spot on his car and I said, “I bet a dish soap bar and an old toothbrush would do the trick.”)

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips for Every Room in the House

Okay so now that we’ve zero waste-ified and minimalized our cleaning tools and supplies, I wanna share the tips and tricks I use around my home to keep things clean and tidy.

Kitchen

On most days, the only cleaning tools I use in the kitchen are my Swedish dishcloths, a loofah, and my solid dish soap bar. 

(I’m excluding my dishwasher and dishwasher pods from this post because I don’t really count those as “cleaning,” though I do use them nearly every day.)

Dishes + Countertops

• General clean-up: After cooking, I’ll wash my non-dishwasher safe pots, pans, cutting boards, and utensils with my loofah and dish soap bar, and use a dampened Swedish dishcloth to give the counters a quick wipe-down. 
  
  
• Cleaning cast iron: I adore my cast iron skillet and use it any chance I get. And I know that there are many sponges out there specifically marketed for cleaning cast iron, but I’ve found that as long as my cast iron is properly seasoned, the natural loofah sponge with a bit of warm water works like a charm. No need for anything special!
  
  
• Baked-on messes: If I’m cleaning something like a casserole dish that has lots of baked-on residue, I’ll sprinkle a little baking soda on it before scrubbing. The abrasiveness of the baking soda when paired with the loofah that’s sudsed up from the dish soap bar, all that baked on mess comes right off.
  
  
• Dirty countertops: If there was a big mess on the counters, I’ll spritz the countertop with a bit of all-purpose cleaner and wipe it down with a Swedish dishcloth or unpaper towel.
  
  
• Sparkling clean sink: Once the dishes are done and drying, I’ll use the loofah and dish soap bar to wipe down my sink, then compost any food scraps in my drain filter.

Stovetop

When my stovetop needs some extra love, there are a couple of ways I’ll tackle it:

• When I had a glass-top electric stove, I lathered up my loofah with dish soap bar suds and gave it a good scrub, then wiped off the suds with a Swedish dishcloth.
  
  
• I now have a gas stove that is [very unfortunately] white, and tends to stain easily. For cleanings in-between deep cleanings, I’ll still use the dish soap bar and loofah method that I used on my previous glass-top stove. But sometimes the white stove just needs extra TLC to get back to its shiny self, and in those instances I actually use this DIY Tub Scrub from Going Zero Waste. Yeah, it’s meant to be for bathtubs and showers, but I always save a little bit to use on my stovetop and white kitchen sink, too, and it’s ~magical~. Since the last time I ran out of castile soap, I’ve just been using our liquid dish soap in this recipe instead, and it works like a charm!

Refrigerator

• Inside the fridge: On fridge cleanout days, it’s still all the same things! I’ll pull out the shelves and wash them in the sink with the loofah and dish bar, and any surfaces that can’t be removed I’ll spray with all-purpose cleaner and wipe down with a Swedish dishcloth.
  
  
• Outside the fridge (and other appliances): If the outside of any of my kitchen appliances are looking a little rough, I’ll just spritz them with some all-purpose cleaner and wipe them down with a reusable unpaper towel. 

Floors (all floors, not just kitchen floors)

• For small spills: I’ll just use a Swedish dishcloth (and maybe a little all-purpose cleaner spritz) to wipe up any small spills or messes on the kitchen floor. Then I’ll immediately rinse the Swedish dishcloth and pop it on the top rack of my dishwasher to be washed with the next load.
  
  
• For full-floor cleaning: When I’m in deep-clean mode, I’ll fill up my mop bucket with just enough water to cover the mop head, and pour a little bit of all-purpose cleaning concentrate into it. I never actually measure how much water and cleaner I use…it’s all just ✨vibes✨
  
  
• For sweeping: I haven't tried this one personally, only because I don't own a Swiffer, but one of our EcoWarriors, Christina, uses our reusable unpaper towels as reusable Swiffer pads! I mean, just look at how much those unpaper towels pick up!

Bathroom

Mirrors

I haven’t used a dedicated glass cleaner in so many years. Most days, I’ll just get about half an old rag a little wet, wipe down the mirror, then use the other half to dry it. If something got splashed on the mirror and it needs a little more help to get clean, I’ll use a bit of all-purpose cleaner instead of just water.

Glass cleaning protip: It’s all about the drying! If you thoroughly dry your mirrors after wiping them down, you won’t get any streaks! It’s not about the cleaner — it’s about the drying.

Countertops + Sinks

• Countertop: In the bathroom, I definitely like to use a bit of cleaner on the countertops, even if I’m not doing a full bathroom clean. I like to spray down the countertop and sink with a bit of all-purpose cleaner, let it sit for a minute, then wipe it down with a rag or reusable unpaper towel. I’ll spend a little extra attention on the faucet, just to make sure it’s nice and shiny 🤩
  
  

• Sink: I like to give the inside of my sink a bit more care and attention than the countertops, just because things tend to build up a bit easier there! So on full-clean days, I’ll use a bit of the DIY Tub Scrub from Going Zero Waste to clean my sink, rather than just the all-purpose cleaner.
  
  Or, if I’m in a rush, I’ll just sprinkle a little baking soda in the sink then scrub with a loofah sponge and dish soap bar.

Bathtub

If you’ve been reading this blog in the order it’s written, it’ll come as no surprise to you that I like to use Going Zero Waste’s DIY Tub Scrub with a loofah sponge to clean my bathtub/shower. I’ve been using our liquid refillable dish soap rather than castile soap recently and it works splendidly. The whole thing takes maybe 10 minutes start to finish and literally nothing else I’ve EVER used has worked as well as this does.

I mean…just look at this before and after.

Toilet

• Outside the toilet: Yes, I use reusable cloths to clean my toilet! No, it’s not gross 😅 I just spray the all-purpose cleaner on the surfaces and wipe it down with an old cloth towel. I have a few that I only really use for this purpose, and just wash them with the rest of my towels.
  
  
• Inside the toilet: Our zero waste and plastic-free toilet cleaner bombs have made this part of cleaning the toilet…not necessarily enjoyable, per se…but WAY better than it used to be. When I start the process of cleaning the bathroom, I’ll drop one toilet cleaner bomb into the toilet bowl and let it sizzle and fizz while I clean the rest of the bathroom. By the time I get to the bowl, the toilet cleaner bomb has fully dissolved and is ready for a quick little scrub-a-dub-dub with my toilet brush. Easy peasy.

Miscellaneous

• Dusting: Honestly, my current favorite way to dust is just with a dampened Swedish dishcloth. It works like a charm and I can just toss it in the dishwasher when I’m done.
  
  Side note: I’m thinking about adding reusable Swiffer dusters to the shop around the holidays. If this is something you’d be interested in, please let me know!
  
  
• Lightswitch and electrical outlet covers: These things can get GROSS. But the easiest way that I’ve found to clean them is to simply dip a cotton swab into a little rubbing alcohol and wipe them down that way. You can also use a towel instead of a cotton swab for bigger areas, but I like the cotton swap for the smaller areas around the switches.
  
  
• Reusable cotton rounds and makeup remover wipes: I have some reusable makeup remover wipes that I’ve been using for about 10 years now, and even though I wash them regularly, the oils and sunscreen and makeup still tend to build up! So a few months ago I decided to try to deep clean them and WOW! They look and feel completely brand new. There’s essentially zero stains left on them, and the fabric is so dang soft again!
  
  I also tried this with my period undies last week because they were smelling a bit…um…ripe…and it also worked for them! I’m excited to see if it also renewed some of the absorbency that had been lost in the last couple of years, but that’ll have to wait until next month.
  
  

1. Toss the cloths into a large pot on the stove with enough water to cover them and a sprinkle of baking soda.
   
   
2. Bring to a boil on the stove and let boil for a little bit.
   
   
3. Strain and rinse in cold water.
   
   
4. Toss the cloths back into the pot with water, but this time add some white vinegar (like ½ cup — you don’t need much!).
   
   
5. Bring to a boil again and let boil for a little bit.
   
   
6. Strain and rinse in cold water.
   
   
7. Wash with the rest of your towels like normal.

So in summary…

Well, friend, you can clearly tell that like I said up top, I really only use a couple of cleaning products around my house — and I like it that way! I’m saving so much money (and time and energy!) by simplifying my cleaning routine. Plus it frees up a ton of storage space!

I think I covered just about everything, but if I missed something, let me know! Just comment below and lemme know what household thing I missed in this list and I’ll let you know how I clean it.

And with that… I’m out! I hope you have a fabulous week and I’ll “see” you again after I’m back from my birthday break 🥳🎉