10 eco-power tips to make your home shine

• Embrace “less is more” – four products are often all you need

Instead of ten specialized cleaners you usually only need a neutral all-purpose cleaner, a vinegar-based cleaner or citric acid for limescale, an abrasive/cleaning powder for encrustations and a dishwashing liquid. This saves money, reduces household chemicals and avoids unnecessary packaging.

• Look for reliable eco-labels when buying

Seals such as the EU Ecolabel, Blauer Engel, the Nordic Swan or the Austrian Ecolabel help identify genuinely more environmentally friendly formulations. They let you choose products that meet stricter requirements for ingredients and environmental impact – rather than just looking “green.”

• Choose mild acids for bathrooms and toilets – instead of aggressive “power” chemistry

Many classic toilet cleaners use very strong acids that can irritate skin and eyes if used incorrectly. More sustainable alternatives often rely on citric or lactic acid and still remove limescale and urine deposits reliably.

• Use household remedies deliberately – vinegar is not “for everything”

Vinegar is excellent for descaling and neutralising odours, but it should not be used on natural stone/marble. For limescale and stubborn residues citric acid is often the better choice – effective and gentle on materials.

• Mix your window cleaner yourself – quick and cheap

A practical mix is water + vinegar (e.g. in a spray bottle) for mirrors and glass. If you want to avoid harsh fumes, leave ammonia-based cleaners on the shelf – they are better avoided for respiratory health.

• Use sparing doses

A hazelnut-sized amount of shampoo/ shower gel or the recommended amount of cleaner is usually enough. Too much product rarely cleans better, but it burdens waterways more and can leave surfaces unnecessarily “slippery”.

• Replace disposable with reusable

Swap kitchen roll & disposable wipes for washable cotton or microfibre cloths. These can be washed hygienically at 60 °C and used many times – less waste, lower ongoing costs.

• Clean smart with mechanical methods: microfibre cloth, brush, scouring sponge – less chemistry needed

Often you remove dirt best with the right technique rather than “stronger” products. A slightly damp cloth is usually sufficient for dust, and for encrustations a scouring sponge or cleaning powder helps in a targeted way.

• Save water and energy when cleaning

Clean with a bucket instead of running water and wash dishes in the sink where possible. For many households the dishwasher (properly loaded, Eco programme) is often more efficient than constant hand-washing.

• Reduce plastic with refill systems – and avoid “scent-show” products

Refill bottles, refill pouches or zero-waste options significantly reduce packaging waste. At the same time: toilet blocks, scent dispensers and room sprays mostly just mask odours and introduce unnecessary fragrance chemicals into wastewater – they are not needed for true cleanliness.