Eco-friendly cleaning is easier than it sounds: plant-based cleaners that do the job, a refill station so you stop buying new bottles, and a few plastic-free swaps for the sink. Here's what we stock at both stores, how our refillery works, and how to choose cleaners you'll be happy to keep using.
What makes cleaning products eco-friendly?
There's no single label that makes a cleaner green, so read the bottle. The cleaning products on our sustainable household shelf are plant-based and made without chlorine bleach or ammonia, and we use them in our own stores. Beyond that, here's what to look for.
| Look for | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Plant-derived | Cleaning agents made from plant sources, such as coconut or sugar-based surfactants |
| Biodegradable | Ingredients designed to break down in wastewater instead of lingering in lakes and waterways |
| Phosphate-free | No phosphates, which is better news for lakes and septic systems |
| Fragrance-free | Nothing added for scent, for sensitive noses, babies and pets |
| Certified | An independent eco-label, such as ECOLOGO, on the bottle |
| Refill or concentrate | Less plastic per wash, and less space in the cupboard |
| Made in Canada | Products from Canadian companies, made closer to home |
Many of the eco-friendly cleaning products Canada shoppers ask us for most, from ATTITUDE to The Unscented Company, are made in this country. You don't need a cupboard full of special bottles, either. An all-purpose cleaner, a dish soap, a laundry detergent and a hand soap cover most of the house, and all four are on our refillery. If you'd rather keep one bottle for almost everything, our castile soap guide has dilutions for most cleaning jobs.
Refillable cleaning products: our refillery
Both stores have a household refillery with laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner and hand soap on tap, next to our organic bulk station. Down East dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent and hand and body wash are all there. It's the simplest, most sustainable way to cut down on plastic: no new bottle, no new packaging. Refilling can also work out cheaper than buying a new full-size bottle each time. Keep one bottle of laundry detergent by the washer, one dish soap by the sink and a hand soap pump for clean hands at every sink, and top them up as you go. Many eco-friendly brands also sell big refill sizes, like ATTITUDE's 4 L all-purpose cleaner, for topping up at home.
- Bring a clean container. Any bottle or jar works, and refillable glass bottles are easy to clean and last for years. Forgot yours? There are empty bottles at the station.
- Weigh it empty. Weigh your container first, so you pay only for what goes in.
- Fill and pay. Fill what you need, then bring it to the till.
- Label it at home. Write the product name and directions on the bottle, and keep the cap on between uses.
PureGlass spray bottle, 500 mLAn empty glass sprayer to refill over and over.Shop →
Down EastDishwashing liquid, 750 mLHighly concentrated: one little squirt does the job. Refill it at the station.Shop →
Keep refills simple
Use one bottle per product and never mix cleaners together. Don't refill cleaners into drink bottles or food jars, and store them out of reach of kids and pets.
ATTITUDE cleaning products
ATTITUDE is a Canadian company, and its products are designed and made in Canada. Its cleaners use plant-derived surfactants, and ATTITUDE plants a tree for every product sold. These are the ATTITUDE bottles we reach for most:
ATTITUDEAll-purpose cleanerCitrus Zest, for counters and most hard surfaces.Shop →
ATTITUDEDish soapPink Grapefruit; vegan, biodegradable, cuts grease.Shop →
ATTITUDELaundry detergentExtra Gentle and fragrance-free, ECOLOGO certified.Shop →
ATTITUDEWindow and mirrorCitrus Zest, for glass and mirrors.Shop →
The all-purpose cleaner is the bottle that lives on the kitchen counter: spray, wipe, done. It cleans with sugar-based surfactants, gets its citrus scent from natural fragrance components, and is accepted for use in food establishments. The dish soap softens the water as it cleans and comes in an HDPE #2 bottle, one of the easiest plastics to recycle.
Concentrates: less plastic, less space
A concentrate is one of the most effective ways to buy less plastic without sacrificing convenience. You add the water at home, so one small bottle makes bucket after bucket, takes up less space under the sink and often works out cheaper per use.
PureUltra-Concentrated Multipurpose Cleaner, 500 mLA capful in a bucket of warm water for floors, counters, windows and outdoor surfaces. pH neutral and streak-free, with a full ingredient list on the label.Shop →
Its light scent is at least half natural essential oils. Always dilute a concentrate before use, and follow the label for how much to add.
Plastic-free dish soap, laundry and cloths
Solid dish soap, laundry pacs and washable cloths take the plastic bottle and the paper towel out of the picture altogether.
Make Nice CompanySolid dish soapOne cube replaces up to three bottles of liquid dish soap.Shop →
No Tox LifeDish blockVegan, fragrance-free, phosphate-free and septic safe.Shop →
The Unscented CompanyLaundry pacs, 35Made in Canada, fragrance-free, recyclable packaging.Shop →
Square LoveSwedish sponge clothCompostable, and washable up to 300 times.Shop →
Make Nice's bar is made from saponified coconut and olive oils with French green clay, scented with peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils: rub a wet brush over it, wash and rinse. The Unscented Company's laundry pacs dissolve in the drum, with one pac for everyday loads and two for heavier fabrics and tough dirt. Our Swedish sponge cloths come from Square Love, a mother-daughter business we're happy to support. Each cloth is 70% cellulose and 30% cotton, soaks up to 15 times its weight, and goes in the washing machine or the top rack of the dishwasher.
Fragrance-free cleaners
For a sensitive nose, a new baby or just a preference, our fragrance-free cleaners have nothing added for scent and do the same jobs as the scented ones. Choose by what you like to smell, or not smell, when the cleaning is done.
The Unscented CompanyAll Purpose Cleaner, 800 mLMade in Canada with 98.07% naturally derived ingredients. Vegan, and free of fragrance, dye and phosphates.Shop →
The greenest bottle is the one you already own. Bring it back and fill it again.
Using eco-friendly cleaners well
Plant-based cleaners are made for everyday dirt and grease, and they work best with a little time and a good cloth. Spray, give it a minute on tough spots, then wipe. For laundry, pre-treat tough stains before the wash rather than adding extra detergent.
Cleaning and disinfecting are different jobs. Everyday cleaning removes dirt from surfaces; if you need to disinfect, choose a product labelled as a disinfectant and follow its directions. And whatever you use, read the label, keep the original directions with any refill, and never mix cleaners, especially anything with bleach.
Questions we get a lot
Is ATTITUDE a Canadian brand?
Yes. ATTITUDE is a Canadian company, and its products are designed and made in Canada.
Where can I buy ATTITUDE products in Canada?
At both Luminate Co stores in Bedford and Dartmouth, and online with same-day delivery in HRM or shipping across Canada.
What are the best refillable cleaning products?
The four you use most: dish soap, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner and hand soap. All four are on our refillery, so one set of bottles covers most of the house.
What is the best eco-friendly laundry detergent?
The laundry detergent that suits your machine and your nose. ATTITUDE Extra Gentle is fragrance-free and ECOLOGO certified, The Unscented Company's pacs are made in Canada with no added fragrance or dyes, and Down East laundry detergent is on refill at both stores.
What are some examples of eco-friendly cleaning products?
Refills of dish soap and laundry detergent, concentrated cleaners you dilute at home, solid dish soap bars and blocks, laundry pacs in recyclable packaging, and washable sponge cloths that replace paper towel.
Do eco-friendly cleaning products work?
Yes. We use plant-based cleaning products in our own stores. Give a spray a minute on stuck-on spots, and pre-treat tough laundry stains before washing.
New to the refillery?
Bring a bottle to either store and we'll show you how the station works, or help you choose a cleaner for the job.
Eco-friendly cleaning products are on the household shelf and refillery at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. Browse our household page, see the fragrance-free cleaners, or read how bulk shopping works. For a finishing touch once the house is clean, see our guide to Nova Scotia candles. If you'd rather skip scent altogether, our fragrance-free laundry and dish soap guide compares the formats, and for plastic-free swaps beyond cleaning, our guide to organic pads and period care covers cloth pads and cups. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.
Sources: ATTITUDE, About us; product labels.
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