No Waste, No Tox, Spring Cleaning

It's spring cleaning season! What better time to make sustainable swaps for your cleaning routine?

But First, Do Natural Cleaners Actually Work?

Most people don't realize we've been conditioned to associate "clean" with synthetic fragrance. But fake smells don't actually mean things are dirt-free or germ-free. Plant-derived surfactants are just as effective at cutting grease and lifting grime as conventional cleaners, without the residue you're left breathing in or the masking scent left behind.

The EPA has linked prolonged exposure to common cleaning chemicals to asthma, hormone disruption, and increased cancer risk. Perhaps most surprising: indoor air quality is often MORE polluted than outdoor air, and cleaning products are a leading contributor. You deserve to know what's in the products you're using. The good news is, you don't need any of those harmful chemicals to get your home clean!

Ditch harmful chemicals and single-use products for a few simple ingredients or products that can clean every surface in your home. The best part? You likely already have many of these on hand!

To start, we recommend gathering a few cleaning tools to wipe, scrub, and dust. Here are some of our recommendations. (You really only need one of each!)

Zero-Waste Cleaning Supplies You'll Need:

To wipe: Compostable Pop-Up Sponge, Reusable Non-Paper Towels, Swedish Dish Cloth, cut-up old linens (cotton sheets, flannel, or worn-out towels)

To scrub: Home & Bath Scrub Brush, Wooden Dish Brush, Toilet Brush, Copper Scrubber

To dust: Washable Duster, old clean socks, spare pillowcase (specifically for dusting ceiling fan blades)

To protect: Fair Trade Latex Household Cleaning Gloves, reusable 100% cotton face mask

You can clean every surface in your home with only a few staples!

• All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
• Dish Soap and/or Castile Soap
• Baking Soda
• Cleaning Vinegar (5% Ready to Use).
• Optional additions include Bath and Kitchen Scrub, Stain Remover Spray, Oxy Powder, and 70% isopropyl alcohol.

(All the ingredients above, excluding alcohol, are refillable with us!)

Surface by Surface: Zero-Waste Cleaning Guide

High-Touch Surfaces: Our All-Purpose Cleaning Spray is safe, affordable, and effective on almost every surface in your home, from counters and appliances to sinks showers, toilets, and more. It blends plant-derived surfactants, essential oils, and alcohol to effectively remove grease, germs, and grime.

Disinfecting: 70% isopropyl alcohol is a low-waste, non-toxic option. (The Good Fill does not sell alcohol, but we encourage you to recycle your bottles or bring them into our store to refill with a different product.)

Glass and Windows: Diluting your all-purpose cleaning solution by half makes a great streak-free glass and window cleaner (use within three months). Green Llama is another easy option. Or you can find a simple DIY recipe here.

Sinks, Showers, Tiles, Toilets & Tubs: One of the worst parts of spring cleaning is the smelly, fuming chemicals that fill your home - especially in the bathroom. The good news? You don't need a different product for every surface.

The Good Fill's Bath and Kitchen Scrub is a nontoxic, all-purpose bathroom and kitchen cleaner. It cleans grime off surfaces without leaving water spots and soap scum behind. Sprinkle a thin layer directly onto the surface or onto a damp cloth or sponge, scrub in a circular motion, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse away. (Since the scrub is such a fine powder, we recommend wearing a reusable mask when using a lot.)

For stubborn drain clogs, we recommend cleaning out the P-trap rather than sending harsh chemicals through your pipes. 

For grout stains, The Good Fill's Stain Remover Spray works beautifully — spray it on, let it soak for about 20 minutes, scrub, then rinse. Tough stains? Make a paste with our Oxy Powder and water.

Floors A small amount (1 tsp or so) of castile soap or dish soap mixed into a gallon of warm water is all you need for a simple, streak-free floor cleaner. Have a swiffer mop? Wrap the mop end with cleaning rags and fill the bottle with our All-Purpose!

Stainless Steel A copper scrubber can remove burnt residue from pots, pans, and stovetops, even glass and chrome. Always dampen the scrubber before use to increase cleaning effectiveness and prevent scratches.

Appliances A baking soda paste is all you need for a sparkling oven interior - no fumes, no harsh chemicals. For your dishwasher and washing machine, soaking the filters in a vinegar and hot water solution breaks down residue and mineral deposits.

Linens & Upholstery Spot treat stains with Stain Remover Spray or a Stain Remover Stick. Let these products sit at least 15 minutes before washing. For whites, Oxy Powder works as a great bleach alternative.

The Cost Case for Zero-Waste Cleaning

Conventional cleaning aisles are designed to sell you a different product for every surface in your home, and it adds up fast, in both dollars and plastic. A simple, ingredient-based routine flips that. One bottle of castile soap handles floors, dishes, and counters. A bag of baking soda costs a few dollars and lasts months. Our refillable All-Purpose Spray Concentrate makes a bottle of cleaner for just $1.50, and you reuse the same bottle every time. Most customers spend significantly less on cleaning products after making the switch. 

Not Sure Where to Start? Just Swap One Thing.

You don't have to overhaul your routine all at once. When you run out of something, replace it with a sustainable alternative. A great first swap is your all-purpose spray — it's what people reach for most often, and switching to a refillable version is one of the easiest changes you can make. From there, swap your dish soap, then your laundry detergent, then your paper towels - at whatever pace works for you. Every swap counts!

We hope this makes spring cleaning feel a little less overwhelming! Find some of our favorite zero-waste cleaning recipes in one easy place, and drop a comment below if you have a favorite swap we missed. We'd love to hear from you!