Between plastic pollution and toxic chemicals, cleaning products have a dirty impact on the planet and our health.
Choosing greener alternatives that leave homes sparkling doesn’t have to be a chore, thanks to the growing number of sustainable brands offering refillable cleaning products that use less packaging and contain non-toxic ingredients so you can breathe easier—literally!
A Quick Sweep Of Our Favorite Refillable Soaps & Cleaning Products
Greatfill eliminates single-use plastic from cleaning products with stainless steel forever bottles and eco-friendly refill pouches that can be returned for reuse.
Think green with Blueland’s less waste and water-saving dissolvable cleaning tablets, which come in compostable paper.
UK-based Miniml Refills is closing the loop with refill pouches and bulk containers that can be sent back for cleaning and reuse. Their minimalist range ticks all the boxes for a plastic-free, eco clean.
Best-case scenario, every empty bottle of bleach, detergent, or multi-purpose cleaner is recycled. In the worst (usual) case, they’re thrown away and end up in landfills or polluting the environment.
However, recycling isn’t the best zero waste solution. It’s at the bottom of the “5 R’s” (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot) and should be a last resort for dealing with plastic waste which is expected to hit 1 billion metric tons by 2060.
Fortunately, the rise in refillable alternatives makes it easy to ditch plastic from your cleaning routine. Sweep to the bottom to learn how we chose these brands.
Our Curated List Of Refillable & Reusable Cleaning Products For A Healthier Home
1. Greatfill
Price Range | $8–$55 | Shop Greatfill
Ingredients | Non-toxic, biodegradable plant-based ingredients which are palm oil-free and cruelty-free. They contain no parabens, phosphates, phthalates, or triclosan. The scented range contains essential oils and the handwash and bodywash contain SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) derived from coconut oil.
What We Love | Greatfill was created by husband and wife Mika and Joel to make the world a healthier place for their children and we personally love the quality of their stainless steel forever bottles AND that the refill pouches can be returned to be recycled by the brand.
Greatfill’s Cleaning Refills
Greatfill’s plant-based and certified cruelty-free laundry detergents, multi-purpose cleaners, dish soap, body wash, and hand soap are truly refill-utionary. Starter kits include a stainless steel forever bottle, and refills come in 28 fl oz or 112 fl oz pouches. Order once or subscribe and save with flexible delivery options.
For an eco-friendly all-rounder, the Multi-Purpose Cleaner tackles even the thick grease and grime of our stovetop—which gets really gross considering we cook every meal from scratch in our household.
But it’s not limited to just kitchen use. Since it can be used safely on all non-porous surfaces, we use it on the floor, in the shower, and beyond, loving the subtle fresh grapefruit and mandarin scent it leaves behind.
Greatfill’s Sustainability
Certifications | Leaping Bunny
Thoughtful Packaging | The stainless steel refillable cleaning bottles come with a lifetime guarantee, and the zero waste refill pouches can be returned for reuse in a kraft paper envelope that comes with your first order. Shipping materials are recyclable, and boxes are printed with soy-based inks.
Pay It Forward | As a 1% for the Planet member, Greatfill donates 1% of sales to environmental charities.
2. Blueland
Price Range | $8–$90 | Shop Blueland
Ingredients | Cruelty-free and non-toxic vegan ingredients. Some contain RSPO-certified palm oil.
What We Love | After a successful appearance on Shark Tank, Blueland was the first company to bring truly zero waste (as in PVA-free) cleaning tablets to the market. So far, they’ve diverted 1,162,400,220 single-use plastic bottles from oceans and landfills and we’ve found all their products to be highly effective.
Blueland’s Refillable Cleaning Supplies
Blueland’s range includes: three sprays (Multi-Surface, Bathroom, and Glass + Mirror), tablets for toilets, dishwashers, and laundry, hand soap, body wash, and facial cleanser.
Order your starter kits first and subscribe and save to get cleaning refills delivered on a flexible basis. All cleaning spray products come in concentrated, dry tablet form. Drop one tablet in a forever bottle with warm or hot water; Once it’s dissolved, you’re ready to roll.
The Clean Essentials kit includes four of Blueland’s best-selling products at a 20% bundle saving. We’ve tried their whole line-up and attest to their ability to keep all of our surfaces sustainably sparkly and smelling great via their really gentle, non-overpowering scents.
Blueland’s Sustainability
Certifications | RSPO, B Corp, Climate Neutral, EWG, Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, USDA BioPreferred, Leaping Bunny, MADE SAFE
Carbon | A carbon-neutral company since 2020, Blueland offsets carbon generated from shipping.
Sourcing & Supply Chain | Blueland ensures all suppliers, manufacturers, and warehouses are ethical and transparent.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | The female co-founded company prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its team and works to empower people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Thoughtful Packaging | All shipping materials are recyclable, while the tablet wrappers and powder refill pouches are home compostable. We can confirm they do break down in a come compost setting.
Pay It Forward | Blueland supports community-led social and environmental projects, including DigDeep, ACLU, Lonely Whale, and NRDC.
3. The Good Fill
Price Range | $3–$15 | Shop The Good Fill
Ingredients | Cruelty-free, gluten-free, palm oil-free, vegan, and all-natural ingredients scented with essential oils.
What We Love | The Good Fill is a zero-waste store offering sustainable alternatives to single-use household and personal care items via two Nashville locations and a nationwide online store. We adore the look of their green and amber glass refill bottles, and that powder refills come in a simple, compostable brown paper sack.
The Good Fill’s Refillable Home Cleaning Products
Shop The Good Fill’s range of cleaning sprays, dish soaps, hand sanitizers, laundry detergents, refillable candles, personal care, and hair care products. To order online, choose the product you need and use the dropdown menu to select either the bottle or refill pouch.
For sparkling mirrors and stainless steel surfaces, The Good Fill’s Glass Cleaner Spray & Refill is streak-free and all-natural. The 10x concentrate formula makes each refill less than $2 per 16 oz bottle, a competitive price compared with other refillable glass cleaning products. We think this glass cleaner is the most effective of all those we’ve tested, especially at removing built-up grime on our outside windows—despite it having only four simple ingredients!
The Good Fill Sustainability
Sourcing & Supply Chain | The Good Fill’s cleaning products are handmade just outside Nashville, Tennessee.
Thoughtful Packaging | All shipping materials are upcycled, recycled, recyclable, and/or compostable. Liquid refills are packed in BPA-free, plastic pouches that can be recycled either through TerraCycle or returned to the brand itself.
4. Common Good
Price Range | $4–$154 | Shop Common Good
Ingredients | Vegan and 100% biodegradable ingredients, which are paraben, sulfate, and phthalate-free. Choose from unscented and essential oil scents. Some formulas contain RSPO-certified palm oil.
What We Love | Common Good’s minimalist products span every household and personal care cleaning need under the sun. We especially like that they offer different sizes to cater to different cleaning demands, including huge 2.5 gallon bulk refill boxes that stack to save precious shelf space in the cleaning cabinet.
Common Good’s Cleaning Refills
From bathroom cleaners to laundry detergents, Common Good’s refillable house cleaning products have 86% less plastic than traditional products. Start your refills with a refillable glass bottle with a spray nozzle or pump dispenser.
The plastic refill pouches can be recycled with soft plastics. Once empty, cut off the nozzle, clean out any residue, and recycle at your local plastic bag recycling point.
Still, we have tested most of their products and appreciate how effective and concentrated they are. The Dish Soap easily cuts through grease and leaves our dishes clean and sparkling, while still being gentle on the hands and senses, as it contains no synthetic fragrance.
Common Good’s Sustainability
Certifications | RSPO, Leaping Bunny
Carbon | Common Good partners with Route to offer package protection and carbon-neutral shipping.
Thoughtful Packaging | The brand’s shipping materials are plastic-free, recycled, and printed with natural and non-toxic inks. The brand is looking into plastic-free alternatives for their refill pouches, and we would love to see this, since soft plastics recycling services are rare and often ineffective at best.
5. Cleancult
Price Range | $5–$11 | Shop Cleancult
Ingredients | All-natural and biodegradable ingredients,which don’t contain phthalates, phosphates, parabens, SLES, SLS, or dyes. Most products are vegan except for the wool dryer balls, but they do appear to contain synthetic fragrances.
What We Love | Cleancult believes in “refilling, not landfilling” and has diverted seven million pounds of plastic from oceans and landfills. We’re super impressed with the quality of their refillable bottles for cleaning products, with super durable frosted glass bodies and drop-resistant silicone sleeves.
Cleancult’s Refillable Soaps & Cleaning Products
No cults are involved, but Cleancult helps you kick plastic out of your household with its collection of liquid and solid soaps, dish soaps, multi-surface cleaners, and laundry products.
The brand’s Liquid Laundry Detergent has gained a bit of a cult following with almost 250 five-star reviews. We’ve tested it ourselves and agree that it’s effective at fighting stains and odors without harsh chemicals. It comes in delectable lavender and juniper sandalwood scents—which definitely leave your laundry smelling like the formulas, so if you have sensitive skin or nose, opt for the unscented version.
Plus, the formulas are very concentrated, so a little goes a long way—one bottle of their laundry soap is set to last for 64 full loads, but we often use less and it’s lasted us even longer while delivering the same cleaning power.
Cleancult’s Sustainability
Certifications | Leaping Bunny, Plastic Neutral
Thoughtful Packaging | A member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Cleancult’s liquid refills and solid soaps are packed in eco-friendly, paper-based waxed cartons, or in their new 100% recyclable aluminum bottles. Dishwasher tablets do contain biodegradable PVA, but since this isn’t truly zero waste, we would avoid these.
Pay It Forward | Cleancult supports sustainable waste management projects around the world—including a cooperative of waste workers in Colombia.
6. Miniml Refills
Price Range | £2–£25 | Shop Miniml Refills
Ingredients | Vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, and biodegradable ingredients which are paraben-free and sulfate-free. Some formulas contain RSPO-certified palm oil.
What We Love | UK-based Miniml wants to help you have a minimal impact on the earth during your spring cleaning routine. They make closed-loop, eco-friendly cleaning more accessible with affordable prices.
Miniml Refills’ Reusable Cleaning Products
Miniml Refills has got your minimalist household and personal care products covered with 1L or 500L refills in returnable packaging. Find everything from scented surface cleaners to washing up liquid and dog-friendly shampoos for your furry family members.
Start minimal with the Cleaning Essentials Sample Kit to see if the brand works for you. The kit includes 100ml bottles of washing-up liquid, anti-bac surface cleaner, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, and hand soap.
Miniml refills are available in stores across the UK, which you find via their handy store locator.
Miniml Refills’ Sustainability
Certifications | RSPO
Sourcing & Supply Chain | Products are made at Miniml’s soap factory in the Yorkshire Dales. They source ingredients locally whenever possible, and in-house chemists test all formulas.
Thoughtful Packaging | Shipping materials are eco-friendly and recyclable. The refill pouches and containers can be returned to the brand in a prepaid mailer to be washed and reused in a closed-loop system.
7. Clean Living
Price Range | £2–£120 | Shop Clean Living
Ingredients | Natural, biodegradable, PH-neutral, vegan-friendly, and cruelty-free biological and pet-safe ingredients.
What We Love | If you’re looking for safe, non-toxic, and effective cleaning products, look no further than Clean Living. The UK-based brand helps you “Clean with Conscience” with its award-winning biological formulas.
Clean Living’s Best Refillable Cleaning Products
Clean Living has cleaning products for every part of your home, from multi-purpose cleaners to more specific trash can odor eliminator sprays, bathroom cleaners, and kitchen degreasers. They also offer whole-house cleaning kits, reusable cleaning supplies, and home fragrances such as candles and incense sticks.
Order the refill sachets in bulk or as part of a flexible Refill-Reuse-Recycle subscription.
Mop up the eco-friendly way with Clean Living’s Biological Multi-Mop Cleaning System. The award-winning mop kit has four types of reusable mop pads, a reusable floor cleaner bottle, and five biological floor cleaner sachets.
Clean Living’s Sustainability
Carbon | To reduce carbon emissions, deliveries come to you in empty aluminum bottles, complete with a sachet of concentrate.
Thoughtful Packaging | Clean Living’s refill sachets are made from foil. If your local council can’t recycle them, you can send them back to be recycled by the brand.
How Did We Choose The Best Refillable Cleaning Products?
To tell the difference between green cleaning and greenwashing, we’ve created a set of criteria to help us find eco-friendly cleaning products putting the (house)work in to give us healthier, cleaner homes that don’t cost the earth.
Not every brand needs to have a squeaky-clean record in every category. Still, those taking serious steps to tackle plastic pollution and focusing on safe, non-toxic ingredients get our attention over those that don’t.
Certifications:
Climate Neutral, Leaping Bunny, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RPSO), B Corporation, Environmental Working Group (EWG), Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, USDA BioPreferred, MADE SAFE
Ingredients:
Ingredients should be vegan, non-toxic, and natural, being free of synthetic dyes and fragrances, bleach, sulfates, phosphates, phthalates, and anything else that pollutes our planet and the indoor air quality of our homes.
And since typical cleaning products are more than 90% water (meaning a lot of unnecessary packaging, volume, and weight, adding to shipping emissions), we prefer to see those that omit water or limit it to deliver highly concentrated formulas.
Ideally, we don’t want to see any palm oil in cleaning products but know that other vegetable oils can come with their own problems. At a minimum, palm oil should be RSPO-certified.
Carbon Goals & Achievements:
Cleaning brands offering refills in concentrated form can save on transport emissions because reduced volume and weight = fewer vehicles. Replacing single-use bottles with ‘forever bottles’ and reusing refill pouches also reduces CO2 and closes the loop on a product’s lifecycle.
Outside of packaging, brands can adopt renewable energy, improve supply chain efficiency, and offer carbon neutral shipping.
Sourcing & Supply Chain:
We would like to see more transparency from cleaning brands about the factories making their products to ensure that ethical standards (such as no animal testing) are being met across the supply chain, down to the supplier level.
Thoughtful Packaging:
If being 100% plastic-free isn’t possible, we want to see brands taking responsibility for their plastic packaging by offering take-back schemes for reuse and recycling. We’re pleased to see brands offer refillable containers designed to last a lifetime.
Pay It Forward:
While charitable giving isn’t essential, it’s encouraging to see brands support social and environmental causes they believe in.
Closing Thoughts On Refillable Household Cleaning Products
At least 35.7 million tons of plastic is discarded in the US every year and an estimated 20% of global plastic packaging could be replaced by reusable alternatives—cleaning products included.
Instead, let’s all refill our way to a greener cleaning routine and share this article to encourage everyone we know to do the same.