My cleaning cupboard used to look like a chemistry experiment. Separate products for every surface, each in a plastic bottle with a list of ingredients I couldn’t pronounce, half of them half-empty and probably expired. I replaced all of it with four ingredients. The cleaning got better. The waste disappeared. And I stopped worrying about what I was spraying around the kitchen where I also prepare food.
A zero-waste cleaning routine for a small home is simpler than most people expect — and considerably cheaper than what it replaces.
The Four Ingredients That Replace Almost Everything
White vinegar
A natural disinfectant and descaler that cuts through grease, removes soap scum, and eliminates most bacteria. Diluted 1:1 with water in a reusable spray bottle, it replaces kitchen and bathroom surface sprays entirely. The smell dissipates quickly as it dries. Avoid on natural stone surfaces like marble, which it can etch.
Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
A mild abrasive and deodoriser. Sprinkled on a damp cloth, it scrubs sinks, hobs, and bathtubs without scratching. Combined with vinegar, it creates a fizzing action useful for drain cleaning. Sprinkled in the fridge or a smelly bin overnight, it absorbs odours without masking them.
Castile soap
A plant-based, biodegradable soap concentrate made from olive or hemp oil. A few drops in water makes a gentle all-purpose cleaner, floor wash, or washing-up liquid. Dr. Bronner’s is the most widely available brand in Europe and one bottle, properly diluted, lasts for months.
Essential oils (optional)
Tea tree oil is a natural antimicrobial — a few drops added to a vinegar spray enhances disinfecting properties. Lavender or lemon essential oil adds a pleasant scent without synthetic fragrance compounds.
Room by Room: What to Use Where
Kitchen
Vinegar spray for countertops, hob, and sink surround. Baking soda paste (baking soda plus a little water) for scrubbing the hob and sink basin. Castile soap for washing up and mopping the floor. Vinegar and hot water for the inside of the microwave — heat for two minutes with a cup of water and vinegar inside, then wipe clean.
Bathroom
Vinegar spray for tiles, mirror, and toilet exterior. Baking soda for scrubbing the bath and basin. A few drops of castile soap in the toilet bowl, scrubbed, handles weekly cleaning. For limescale on taps and showerheads, soak in undiluted vinegar for 30 minutes and wipe clean.
Living areas
A diluted castile soap solution for floors. A lightly damp microfibre cloth for dusting surfaces — no product required. Vinegar spray for glass and mirrors, wiped with a dry cloth or newspaper for a streak-free finish.
The Zero-Waste Tools That Replace Disposables
- Microfibre cloths — reusable, machine washable, more effective than disposable paper towels for most surfaces
- Reusable spray bottles — refill from bulk concentrates rather than buying new plastic bottles each time
- A wooden or bamboo scrubbing brush — for dishes and surfaces, replaces plastic-handled sponges that shed microplastics
- Compostable sponges or loofah — for tasks that genuinely need a soft sponge
What About Tougher Cleaning Jobs?
For oven cleaning, a thick baking soda paste left overnight and wiped clean in the morning handles most buildup without fumes. For mould on grout, undiluted white vinegar or a tea tree oil spray left for an hour before scrubbing works effectively. These methods take slightly more time than commercial products but produce better results without the chemical exposure in a small, enclosed space.
Simpler, Cleaner, Cheaper
The cleaning routine I use now takes the same amount of time as before, costs a fraction of what I used to spend on commercial products, and generates almost no plastic waste. The house is clean — actually clean, not just smelling of chemicals that simulate clean.
Start with a bottle of white vinegar and a box of baking soda. Try them for a week. You’ll be surprised how little else you need.
About Olivia
Olivia is passionate about small-space living, sustainable home decor, indoor gardening, and practical ideas that help people create beautiful and comfortable homes.
