Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products We Actually Use (And Why)

Let's have an honest conversation about eco-friendly cleaning products. As professional cleaners serving New Market, Aurora, and York Region, we've tested dozens of "green" products. Some are incredible. Others are expensive marketing hype. Here's what actually works.

Why We Switched to Eco-Friendly Products

We didn't switch because it was trendy. We switched because we spend 40+ hours a week with our hands in cleaning products. After years of harsh chemicals, we started asking: is there a better way?

The answer? Yes—but only if you know which products actually clean effectively. "Eco-friendly" means nothing if it doesn't get the job done. Our clients aren't paying for us to spray essential oils around their house. They're paying for results.

The Products That Earned Their Spot in Our Kits

1. Castile Soap (The MVP)

If we could only keep one eco-friendly product, it would be pure castile soap. This stuff is unbelievably versatile.

What we use it for: General surface cleaning, mopping floors, bathroom surfaces, even hand soap in a pinch.

Why it works: Plant-based oils create a natural surfactant that lifts dirt and grime. It's gentle enough for daily use but effective enough for real cleaning. Plus, it's safe around kids and pets.

The catch: It can leave a slight residue if you use too much. Less is more with castile soap—we typically dilute it significantly (about 1 tablespoon per quart of water for most jobs).

2. White Vinegar (The Classic for a Reason)

Yes, it smells like a salad. Yes, it's cheap. And yes, it actually works for a surprising number of cleaning tasks.

What we use it for: Windows and mirrors, descaling faucets and showerheads, removing hard water stains, refreshing garbage disposals.

Why it works: The acidity cuts through mineral deposits, soap scum, and water stains. It's also a natural deodorizer.

What it WON'T do: Kill all bacteria (it's not a disinfectant), work on grease (acid doesn't cut grease well), or clean natural stone surfaces (the acid can etch marble and granite).

3. Baking Soda (The Gentle Scrubber)

Baking soda gets recommended for everything from whitening teeth to absorbing refrigerator odors. We use it for what it's actually good at: gentle abrasive scrubbing.

What we use it for: Scrubbing sinks and tubs, removing baked-on food, deodorizing carpets, boosting laundry detergent.

Why it works: It's mildly abrasive enough to scrub without scratching most surfaces. It also neutralizes odors chemically (not just masking them).

Pro tip: Make a paste with just enough water to create a thick consistency. This stays where you put it instead of running down the drain immediately.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide (The Actual Disinfectant)

This is where eco-friendly cleaning gets real. If you want to actually kill bacteria and viruses without using bleach, hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) is your answer.

What we use it for: Disinfecting bathroom surfaces, sanitizing cutting boards, removing organic stains, whitening grout.

Why it works: It oxidizes bacteria, viruses, and mold. Unlike bleach, it breaks down into water and oxygen—literally nothing harmful left behind.

Important: It needs contact time to work (at least 5-10 minutes). Don't spray and immediately wipe. Also, keep it in a dark bottle—light degrades it.

5. Plant-Based All-Purpose Cleaner

There are dozens of brands, but we look for ones with minimal ingredients and no synthetic fragrances. Our current favorite uses plant-derived surfactants and essential oils.

What we use it for: Daily kitchen cleaning, bathroom counters, general household surfaces.

Why it works: Quality plant-based surfactants actually clean as well as synthetic ones. The key is finding a reputable brand that doesn't skimp on active ingredients.

What to avoid: Products that list "fragrance" or "parfum" without specifying what's in it. This often means synthetic chemicals. If they're proud of their ingredients, they'll list them specifically.

The Eco-Friendly Products We Tested and Rejected

Not everything "green" makes the cut. Here's what didn't work for professional cleaning:

Lemon Juice

Everyone recommends lemon juice for natural cleaning. In reality? It's weak, expensive, and attracts ants. Vinegar does everything lemon juice does, but better and cheaper. We use actual lemons for making water taste good, not for cleaning.

Essential Oil "Cleaning Sprays"

Unless there's an actual surfactant in there, you're just making your house smell nice—not cleaning it. We have nothing against essential oils, but calling them "cleaners" is misleading. They're fragrances and sometimes mild antimicrobials, not dirt removers.

DIY Laundry Detergent

The Pinterest recipes that combine castile soap, washing soda, and borax? They don't work well in modern high-efficiency washers and can actually damage machines over time. Just buy a quality eco-friendly detergent from a reputable brand.

What About Disinfecting?

This is where eco-friendly cleaning gets tricky. Most natural products clean effectively but don't disinfect (kill bacteria and viruses). There's a difference:

• Cleaning: Removes dirt, dust, and most germs through physical removal
• Disinfecting: Kills specific bacteria and viruses that remain after cleaning

For most household cleaning, regular cleaning is sufficient. Your kitchen counter doesn't need to be sterile—it just needs to be clean. But there are times when disinfecting matters:

• After handling raw meat
• When someone in the house is sick
• High-touch surfaces during cold and flu season
• Bathroom toilet areas

For these situations, hydrogen peroxide (3%) or a certified eco-friendly disinfectant is appropriate. Just remember: you need to clean first, then disinfect. Disinfectants don't work well on dirty surfaces.

The Microfiber Game-Changer

Want to know the secret to truly eco-friendly cleaning? It's not a product at all—it's microfiber cloths.

Quality microfiber physically removes 99% of bacteria from surfaces with just water. No chemicals needed for most cleaning tasks. We go through dozens of microfiber cloths per day, and they've dramatically reduced our product usage.

The catch: You need quality microfiber (not the cheap stuff from discount stores), and you need to wash and maintain them properly. Never use fabric softener—it clogs the fibers and ruins their effectiveness.

What We Use for Really Tough Jobs

Honesty time: there are jobs where eco-friendly products struggle. Extreme mold, serious grease buildup, or deeply neglected bathrooms sometimes require stronger solutions.

In these cases, we might use commercial-grade products, but we:

• Inform the client first
• Use the minimum amount necessary
• Ventilate well during and after
• Switch back to eco-friendly products for maintenance

Being eco-friendly doesn't mean being ineffective. It means choosing the gentlest option that actually works.

Can You Request Eco-Friendly Cleaning?

Absolutely. We use eco-friendly products as our default throughout New Market, Aurora, and Bradford homes unless a client requests otherwise. If you have specific sensitivities or preferences, just let us know when booking.

We can also avoid certain ingredients or use completely fragrance-free products if needed. Your home, your rules.

The Bottom Line on Green Cleaning

Eco-friendly cleaning products work—but only if you choose the right ones and use them correctly. Castile soap, vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide handle 90% of household cleaning when used properly.

The environmental impact matters, but so does effectiveness. We're not interested in products that are "green" but don't actually clean. We want products that do the job safely, effectively, and responsibly.

And here's something most cleaning companies won't tell you: eco-friendly products are often cheaper than conventional ones. A bottle of castile soap, vinegar, and baking soda costs less than most commercial cleaning products and lasts longer.

Better for your health, better for your home, better for your wallet, and better for the environment. That's a win on every level.