Where To Buy The Ingredients For Homemade Cleaners
When you’re making homemade cleaning products from ingredients like citric acid, white vinegar, and bicarbonate of soda, you don’t want to be spending a fortune on postage. Here are some eco-friendly stores where you can buy all your DIY essentials.
There is no doubt about it - making homemade cleaning products saves you money.
But you don’t want to spend a fortune on postage if the DIY ingredients aren’t in your local shops.
I’ve been making natural cleaning recipes for several years now so I’m going to share the eco-friendly retailers that help you can buy lots of ingredients in one place.
I’ll also briefly explain what each ingredient is used for, what kind of packaging it has (for those of you trying to go plastic-free), and where you can buy it.
COMING UP
Which online shops sell homemade cleaning ingredients in the UK?
Where can you buy each ingredient for DIY cleaning?
Sodium sesquicarbonate (borax substitute)
Sodium carbonate (soda crystals)
Sodium percarbonate (green bleach)
My goal is to make sustainable living easier for you by doing all the research. Some blog posts contain affiliate links to eco-conscious products at no extra cost to you.
Which online shops sell homemade cleaning ingredients?
If you’re in the United Kingdom, you can buy lots of DIY cleaning ingredients from:
Ethical Superstore
Ethical Superstore sells a vast range of eco-friendly products so it’s easy to get lots of sustainable bits and bobs in the same place.
They stock the traditional cleaning staples made by Dri Pak and ecoLiving.
&Keep
&Keep is a small business owned by eco-warriors that sells lots of sustainable products to help you save on postage.
They only stock the ecoLiving range of DIY cleaning ingredients which tend to come in slightly larger sizes (750g). These are made in the UK or Europe and come in handy resealable packets.
Regn
Regn is another small business that stocks a range of eco-friendly products. They sell the ecoLiving range of homemade cleaning ingredients, along with a couple of plastic-free options from Dri Pak.
I have noticed that Regn either sell products cheaper or more expensive than the others, but overall they are budget-friendly.
Big Green Smile
Big Green Smile is a European retailer that sells a variety of organic, natural brands. Alongside Dri Pak, it also stocks a DIY ingredients brand called Droguerie Ecologique.
Droguerie Ecologique is produced in France, certified by Ecocert, and comes in 1kg paper bags.
Where can you buy homemade cleaning ingredients in the U.S.A.?
Grove Collaborative
Grove Collaborative, based in San Fransisco, sells a wide range of natural cleaning and personal care products, including its own range.
You can find:
Etsy
Etsy is a great place to find small sustainable businesses to support. Here are a few non-toxic cleaning items I’ve found from the same store:
What ingredients do you need for homemade cleaning and where to buy them?
I will briefly explain what each ingredient is used for and then list where you can buy them.
The majority can be bought from one of the eco-friendly retailers in section one. If you’re in America, please see section two.
Liquid soap, also called castile, is a mild surfactant that is effective at removing dirt from surfaces.
Make sure you check the ingredient lists (or use a brand I recommend) because some brands use additives, for example, synthetic fragrances, animal derivatives, antibacterial agents, and palm oil.
Soap can be used for:
Washing wooden, stone, and vinyl flooring
Laundry and pre-wash stain removal
Hand and body wash
General cleaning
Where can you buy liquid castile soap in the U.K.?
Dri Pak: [£4.65 per litre]
Budget-friendly ✅
Ingredients: Palm oil free ✅ Natural ✅ Vegan ✅
Packaging: Plastic bottle❌Dr Bronners: [£26.44 per litre - or £20.05 in bulk quantities]
Organic ✅ Expensive ❌
Ingredients: Palm oil is Fairtrade ✅ Natural✅ Vegan ✅
Packaging: 100% Recycled plastic bottle ✅Perfance: [£36 per litre]
Handmade ✅ Expensive ❌
Ingredients: Palm oil free ✅ Organic ingredients ✅ Vegan✅
Packaging: Metal bottle + lidMulieres [£12 per litre]
Ecocert ceritifed✅
Ingredients: Palm oil free ✅ Organic ingredients ✅ Vegan✅
Packaging: Recycled cardboard bottle (plastic lining inside - 70% less plastic than a typical bottle)
Bicarbonate of soda (called baking powder in America) has an abundance of uses around the home. It has an alkaline pH so it should not be mixed with acids in cleaning solutions. Bicarbonate of soda is a mild abrasive and deodoriser.
Bicarb. can be used for:
Cleaning cookers and sinks
Deodorising carpets, upholstery, fridges, and bins
Unblocking drains and plug holes
Cleaning tiles
Making cream cleaners
Where can you buy bicarbonate of soda in the U.K.?
The following brands sell bicarbonate of soda. You can also find them stocked at all the eco-friendly retailers in section one.
Dri Pak:
Packaging: Cardboard box
Weight: 250g
Price: £1.99 - £2.50
ecoLiving:
Packaging: Resealable paper packet
Weight: 750g
Price: £4.95 - £5.33
Fill Refill Co
Packaging: refillable glass jars, or recycled plastic refill tubs that can be returned for free to be reused
5kg tub is £14.30
500g jar is £6.90
Droguerie Ecologique
Packaging: Paper bag
Weight: 1kg
Price: £5.15
Use borax substitute for:
Softening water in the washing machine
Stain removal (pre-wash and during)
Cleaning stone, wooden, and vinyl floors
General cleaning
Making cleaning and stain removal pastes
Where can you buy borax substitute in the U.K.?
You can only buy borax substitute or sodium sesquicarbonate from the following two brands. It is stocked in the sustainable retailers I listed in section 1.
Dri Pak:
Packaging: Cardboard box
Weight: 250g
Price: £1.58 - £2.50
ecoLiving:
Packaging: Resealable paper packet
Weight: 750g
Price: £3.50 - £4.16
Citric acid naturally exists in citrus foods but the demand is so high that it is now manufactured via fermentation.
Citric acid is used as a substitute for vinegar. It’s ideal for removing limescale and is naturally antibacterial.
Citric acid can be used for:
Descaling appliance
Spray cleaners
Removing limescale
Rinse aid
Cleaning glasses
Cleaning drains and plugholes
Where can you buy citric acid in the U.K.?
The following brands produce citric acid, as well as the other sustainable retailers I listed in section one.
Dri Pak:
Packaging: Cardboard box
Weight: 250g
Price: £2.21 - £2.50
ecoLiving:
Packaging: Resealable paper packet
Weight: 750g
Price: £6.95-7.45
Droguerie Ecologique
Packaging: Paper bag
Weight: 1kg
Price: £10.99
Soda crystals, also known as washing soda or sodium carbonate, are a natural, eco-friendly cleaning ingredient that can be used for many household tasks.
They are stronger than bicarbonate of soda and borax substitute.
Use Soda Crystals for:
Softening water
Dissolving grease
Unblocking drains
Cleaning ovens
Sinks and baths
Where can you buy soda crystals in the U.K.?
You can often find soda crystals in the supermarket. It is produced by the following brands:
Dri Pak:
Packaging: Plastic bag (recycle with soft plastics)
Weight: 1kg
Price: £2.29-£3.50
Note: Ethical Superstore sells this as a pack of 2.
ecoLiving:
Packaging: Resealable paper packet
Weight: 750g
Price: £3.50-£4
White vinegar is a traditional, non-toxic cleaning staple. You should always opt for white, distilled vinegar without additives.
Vinegar gets its cleaning power from its acidic nature. Make sure you never use vinegar on natural stone, like granite and marble, rubber, or waxed surfaces, like hardwood floors.
Use white vinegar for:
Limescale removal
Upholstery and carpets
Pre-wash stain removal
Cleaning surfaces
Glass and mirrors
Where can you buy white vinegar in the U.K.?
You can find white vinegar in the supermarket, but if you’d like to buy it in a larger size, most of the following retailers offer refills or bulk sizes.
Dri Pak:
Packaging: Plastic spray bottle
Volume: 500ml
Price: £1.99
Miniml
Packaging: refillable glass bottle, 1-litre plastic pouches, 5-litre plastic refill container(send refills back to be reused for free)
Volume: 500g, 1 litre, 5 litres
Price: £2.95 for the glass spray £8.25 for 5L bulk refill
eBay (budget option)
Packaging: plastic container
Volume: 5litres
Price: £6.99
Green bleach, which is also called oxygen bleach, is an eco-friendly alternative to chlorine bleach.
The active ingredient is sodium percarbonate and it is often marketed as a laundry product due to its ability to remove stains and prevent limescale.
Use green bleach for:
Removing stains in the washing machine
Pre-treating stains (including grease)
Softening water
Removing limescale
Carpets and upholstery
Where to buy Green Bleach in the U.K.?
Green bleach can be bought in the supermarket, though it is usually Ecover. While this is a natural product, it is owned by the polluting corporation S.C Johnson. You can find it online in the following stores:
Dri Pak: Oxiboost
Packaging: Cardboard box (add to a container or jar)
Weight: 250g
Price: £1.88
Bio-D: Laundry Bleach
Packaging: Cardboard box with a soft plastic bag inside
Weight: 250g
Price: £1.88
ecoLiving: Natural Bleach
Packaging: Resealable paper pouch
Weight: 750g
Price: £5.95- £6.29
Hydrogen Peroxide is traditionally an antiseptic. Its ability to kill bacteria makes it a useful addition to your cleaning cupboard.
As it can have a bleaching effect, make sure you know how to use it properly. 3% is recommended for household use.
DO NOT: mix with bleach, ammonia, or vinegar
Use hydrogen peroxide for:
Disinfecting
Cleaning grout
Cleaning the oven
Cleaning the washing machine
Stain removal (white clothes)
Where to buy hydrogen peroxide in the U.K.?
You can buy small amber glass bottles of 3% hydrogen peroxide (200ml) in some chemists.
You can buy it in larger sizes (1-5 litres) in a plastic container from eBay.
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