There is a lot of greenwashing in the cleaning product market. Slap a leaf on the label, use the word “natural,” and suddenly a product costs twice as much. But does it actually clean? That is the question most people really want answered.

Living on the Sunshine Coast, there is a strong awareness of environmental impact. We are surrounded by waterways, marine parks, and bushland. What goes down our drains matters. But nobody wants to sacrifice a clean home for the sake of being eco-friendly.

Here is an honest look at what works, what does not, and where to save your money.

The Pantry Staples That Genuinely Perform

Before you spend money on specialty products, you probably already have effective cleaners at home.

White vinegar is a legitimate cleaning workhorse. Mixed 50/50 with water in a spray bottle, it handles glass, benchtops, bathroom surfaces, and general grime. It cuts through soap scum and light limescale effectively. One caveat: never use vinegar on natural stone, marble, or granite — the acid damages the surface over time.

Bicarb soda is an excellent gentle abrasive. Make a paste with water and it handles stovetop grime, sink stains, and grout cleaning without scratching. Sprinkled on carpet before vacuuming, it absorbs odours.

Castile soap works as an all-purpose cleaner when diluted. A few drops in warm water handles floors, benches, and general surface cleaning.

Lemon juice is a decent stain remover and deodoriser, though its cleaning power is often overstated. It works well on chopping board odours and light stains but will not replace a proper surface cleaner for heavy jobs.

Plant-Based Commercial Products Worth Trying

If you prefer something ready-made, several Australian brands produce genuinely effective products without the harsh chemicals.

Koala Eco makes plant-based cleaners using Australian essential oils. Their multi-purpose cleaner performs well on everyday surfaces. The bathroom cleaner handles soap scum reasonably, though it needs more dwell time than a conventional spray.

Ecostore offers a broad range at a more affordable price point. Their dish liquid and laundry detergent are solid performers.

Simply Clean uses essential oils and plant-based surfactants. Their lemon myrtle range smells excellent and performs well for daily cleaning.

What Does Not Work as Well

Some popular eco-friendly suggestions fall short in practice.

Vinegar alone on mould is not enough. For the kind of black mould that develops in Sunshine Coast bathrooms, you need something stronger. Hydrogen peroxide (the 3% solution from the chemist) is a more effective and still relatively gentle alternative.

Essential oils as disinfectants are largely unproven at household concentrations. If you need to actually disinfect — during illness or for food prep areas — use a product that meets Australian standards for disinfection.

DIY laundry detergent (the soap-and-borax recipes) often leaves residue in machines and does not clean as effectively as commercial formulas. Buying a good plant-based commercial product is worth the cost here.

Practical Tips for Making the Switch

You do not need to overhaul everything at once. Start by replacing products as they run out.

For daily surface cleaning, a vinegar-water spray handles 80% of what you need. Keep a plant-based all-purpose cleaner for the rest.

For bathrooms, use bicarb paste for scrubbing and a plant-based spray for regular maintenance. Keep hydrogen peroxide on hand for mould spots.

For tough jobs, be realistic. Oven cleaning, heavy grease, and serious mould may still need conventional products, used sparingly. Being eco-friendly most of the time is far better than giving up because the natural option could not handle one difficult job.

The Sunshine Coast community is increasingly conscious about what chemicals enter our waterways. Making even a partial switch to eco-friendly cleaning products is a meaningful step. Just make sure the products you choose actually work — otherwise they are a waste of money and you end up buying the conventional product anyway.