Greener Cleaning

I have had this Ecover bottle for about two years now.  The same bottle, but refilled many times. 

We originally switched from Fairy as we found it really aggravated eczema. So again, another switch that was not originally driven by being green, more a lucky mistake.  Our local Booths store has a refill point.  Once you have emptied the original bottle, you just take it back and refill at the filling point in store.  It can be a bit messy filing up and takes some time, but if you ask for some paper towels or even take your own cloth with you, that makes it a bit easier.  In the worst case, it may even need washing down in the bathroom sink before you head home with it.  Ecover cleans dishes well; the main differences is it doesn't lather up and bubble like fairy but it seems to do the job. It takes a while to get used to the change, but now I can honestly say I don't miss Fairy.    

  

Our laundry powder is just that: a powder in a large cardboard box, the largest cardboard box possible.  We used the liquid tablets for a while but they always come in a plastic box so I gave up on them.   I still have a plastic bottle of liquid for woolen washes.  Once I have finished the bottle I am going to look into some alternatives: soap nuts (post to follow shortly) and Splosh. 

Splosh provides refills in mini plastic pouches that are posted through your door within the UK.  You pour them into your existing bottle and add water.  As they arrive in such concentrated amounts the plastic is about 90% less than would otherwise be needed.  You can then return (freepost) the pouches and they say they can then reuse this in another one of their products.  I guess saving them up and returning as one bulk delivery would save on fuel for the post man.

Once I have used up all my cleaning products I am going to look into making my own.  I tend not to use to many products anyway, but feel hopeful at using white wine vinegar which you can buy in a glass bottle and also bicarbonate of soda which I have bought in a larger, cardboard box (non-food grade bicarb from Wilko).  I feel confident with this; some essential oils, lemon juice and water, and I will be able to make something up.  Separate post to follow to let you know how I get on.