Cleaning my home is like working out – I don’t look forward to doing it, but I love how I feel when it’s done. So, I want fast-acting and effective cleaning products that get me to the moment where I can sit back and enjoy my spotless home.

However, many common household cleaners contain chemicals that pollute the air and waterways. Not to mention the waste from throwing away the plastic containers in which they are typically packaged. Why clean my home with something harmful to the air I breathe and destined for a landfill?

I’ve found these five sustainable cleaning products are a win-win! They clean my home while also keeping the earth clean.

#1 Puracy’s Multi-Surface Cleaner Concentrate

For my kitchen and bathroom countertops, there is nothing better than Puracy’s multi-surface cleaner. Safe to use on quartz, laminate, granite, chrome, and even stainless steel, with one product you can practically clean your entire Camden apartment home.

Photo courtesy of Camden: Kitchen in apartment home at Camden Sedgebrook

Purchase the 25 oz spray bottle + 16 oz concentrate and you won’t have to worry about having any backstock to store. Sorry, The Home Edit, I would rather have room in my cabinets and closets for more shoes. With just a quick refill of the concentrate and water, you have a full bottle ready for your next cleaning day.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Hernandez

Puracy is a small, family-owned company out of Austin, TX, with a mission to make plant-based products that are safe to use around children and pets. They have quickly grown, and their products can be found on their own website, Amazon, and Target.

#2 Supernatural Stainless Steel Cleaner

I love all of Supernatural’s products, but my favorite might be their stainless steel cleaner. With a quick spray and swipe, my refrigerator and dishwasher are spotless, and the kitchen smells amazing! It works great on the stainless steel parts of my gas cooktop, too.

Photo courtesy of Camden: Kitchen in apartment home at Camden Lansdowne

Like all the products on this list, Supernatural is focused on preserving the environment – even in how they ship their products. But what I love most is they are intentional about creating a sensory experience, so cleaning is more enjoyable. In describing their products, they say,

“The aromatherapeutic properties replenish your energy and revitalize your senses so that your mind, body, and spirit feel just as strong as the Stainless Steel in your home.”

And I am telling you, it is true! One of the many 5-star reviews of this product calls it “decadence in a bottle.” Buy their cleaning starter set online, and you will feel like you are opening a gift to yourself when it arrives. The packaging and messaging are so well done. Like Puracy, the starter kit includes their signature spray bottles, so you only have to buy the concentrate refills afterward. Less packaging = better for the environment.

#3 Bon Ami Cleaner

Now I know, Supernatural is a bit pricey, but I do have a recommendation on the opposite side of the spectrum - Bon Ami. This 100+-year-old cleaner is my favorite for bathtubs and non-stainless steel sinks.

It is a mild, physically abrasive product without harsh chemicals. So, with just a quick dusting of Bon Ami powder and a gentle scrub with a wet sponge, all the grime just washes away. I don’t even have to take the time to put on gloves like I would with harsher, chemical-filled products.

If you live in one of the many Camden apartments with a glass cooktop, Bon Ami can also remove those pesky burn marks and stains that don’t just wipe away with dish soap and a sponge. Bonus, the retro packaging looks so cute in your cleaning basket.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Hernandez

#4 Blueland Dishwasher Tablets

The workhorse cleaner in your kitchen is probably your dishwasher. Often run daily, it does the tough job of cleaning dishes, pots, and pans so we don’t have to stand over a sink handwashing dishes for hours. And just by using your dishwasher, you are saving water and being more energy efficient! A typical dishwasher uses four gallons of water in one cycle, which is how much water you would use in just two minutes of handwashing dishes.

But, dishwasher tablets are often wrapped in plastic that dissolves into and pollutes the water supply, negatively impacting animal and plant life. They also come in large, single-use plastic containers that create more waste and pollution. That is why I love Blueland’s dishwasher tablets. They are effective, not wrapped in plastic, and come with a refillable forever tin.

Photo courtesy of Kathy Hernandez

The refill packaging is compostable, and the tin takes up barely any space in your under-sink cabinet. If you don’t believe me or the 880+ 5-star reviews, Blueland also provides a money-back guarantee, making it risk-free to try.

#5 Dryer Balls

There is even a sustainable alternative to dryer sheets and fabric softener, both of which have been shown to emit volatile organic compounds that are harmful to our health and the environment. Instead, use dryer balls that soften clothes while reducing drying time and elongating the life of your clothes. #winwin

Photo courtesy of Camden: Laundry room in an apartment home at Camden Vineyards

They can hang out in your dryer, too, leaving fewer products to store if you have limited laundry space. And it is one less thing to remember as you quickly transfer your clothes from the washing machine to the dryer so you can get back to binge-watching that new series on Netflix.

Did I mention clothes dry faster? That means lower electricity bills too!

These five sustainable products keep my home clean and help me do my part to preserve the environment. Check out other helpful tips to creating a more sustainable and greener home with this Simply Camden blog, 7 Ways to Up Your Green Game for Good. And take advantage of the recycling services available at most Camden communities nationwide.