Unplastix household products

10 Zero-waste Household Essentials

We’re trashing the planet with the very products we use to clean our homes. It’s easy to see why. Most of them are made from or packaged in plastic that can’t be recycled and will never biodegrade. These bottles, packaging, and cleaning items will last for hundreds of years in landfills and oceans. Unplastix hopes to change that by making it easy for you to clean your home without adding to plastic waste. We’re starting with the 10 essentials reviewed below.

Whenever you run out of dish soap, laundry detergent, or anything else you need check with us to find an Unplastix alternative. We test our products for how well they work and only recommend those that are effective and meet our planet-friendly standards. We also compare prices and try to recommend products that will save you money. If we don’t have a product that you need please let us know and we’ll try to find one. Or if you have products to recommend let us know about those, too. We’re always thrilled to find out about new essentials made with the planet in mind.

Please leave comments and photos. We want to know what products you like, experiences you’ve had with them, and others you’ve tried that Unplastix should review.

This post contains links to products sold on Amazon. When you click on our link you connect with Amazon. If you purchase the product you don’t pay any more because you’re using links on our site. However, we get a small commission. This will make it possible for us to continue finding, testing, and recommending planet-friendly products.

Household Products that Don't Trash the Planet

Click images and titles for more information and to purchase. All of these products can also be found in our shop. We will soon be adding more, so be sure to return whenever you need something.

Eco Buzz dishwashing soap block does a lot of cleaning with little fanfare. It’s unscented and foams less than bottled dish soap. But it cleans well without contributing to plastic waste. 

You can use it to clean surfaces as well as dishes, without drying your hands or adding to plastic waste. It comes with a coconut coir rest which helps it stay dry and last longer. It’s also priced below other comparable dishwashing blocks.

EcoBuzz is vegan, cruelty free, palm-oil free, fragrance free, and plastic-free. It pairs well with the Eplanita dish brush and loofah, as shown.

If liquid dish soap is your jam Attitude does the job with non-toxic, plant and mineral-based ingredients. Click images to see details of each formula: Unscented, Green Apple and Basil, Pink Grapefruit, Unscented for Babies. All formulas are hypoallergenic and non-irritating. 

All are also Ecologo Certified for reduced environmental impact. And they’re PETA certified as Vegan and Cruelty-free, never tested on animals.

The bulk refill boxes are recyclable cardboard with a recyclable plastic liner. Even the spout is recyclable. The soap can be dispensed into any bottle you already have. It addresses the leaking and environmental issues of the Attitude plastic bottles. Keep plastic bottles out of landfill. Clean your dishes with the planet in mind.

Eplanita packs a powerful punch with this planet-friendly cleaning kit. You get a sturdy brush handle made of bamboo and three brush heads with bristles made of agave cactus fibers. One of the brush heads is very stiff for tough scrubbing. You also get a loofah sponge that works great for dishwashing and surfaces.

When you’ve worn out the brush heads just replace them and continue using the bamboo handle. You’ll save money and clean your dishes knowing you are keeping plastic out of landfills.

Pair it with the EcoBuzz dishwashing block for plastic-free clean!

If You Care does a great job in the dishwasher with no toxic ingredients. The formula is mineral and plant-based with powerful enzymes to dissolve stuck-on food and grease. 

The tablets are wrapped in a water soluble, biodegradable material. It looks like plastic, but it’s not. No need to unwrap. Just tuck them into your diswasher’s soap holder in the wrapper. They dissolve quickly and get right to work.

Packaging is recyclable cardboard. No plastic bottle, no energy wasted in transporting heavy liquid, no phosphates or chlorine. Just clean dishes with the planet in mind.

Poesie Laundry Detergent Sheets make so much sense you have to wonder why anyone still uses liquid laundry soap. Simply drop a small, pre-cut strip into the machine with your clothes instead of struggling with an enormous plastic bottle. You can add additional strips to large or extra-soiled loads. 

Poesie works just as well for hand washing. They dissolve instantly and do a great job cleaning your clothes. Plus they’re a bargain!

One small, recyclable cardboard box holds 160 biodegradable laundry strips. This is as many loads as the largest, heaviest plastic bottles of liquid laundry soap that cost many times more. 

Poesie sheets are lightly scented, hypoallergenic, and free of phosphates, dye, trichloroethylene, paraben, formaldehyde. A great way to care for yourself, your family, and the planet at the same time.

RU S Bamboo Soap Holders are an attractive, eco-friendly way to hold soap, shampoo, and conditioning bars so they last longer.  They come in two different colors: natural and charcoal brown. At 4.72 x 3.54 inches they hold any size bar so it dries quickly instead of dissolving.

Buy these in quantities of 10, 30, or 50. They’re a great bargain. Use them in the kitchen, bathroom, shower. Pair them with any kind of bar for affordable, attractive gifts. Fantastic way to care for yourself, your friends and family, and the planet – all at the same time!

Kame cleaning tablets are the best cleaning deal I’ve seen in a long time. Six tablet that you mix with water in the bottle of your choice are the same amount as you’d buy in six 20 oz plastic bottles. By reusing a bottle you already have you keep 6 plastic bottles out of the landfill. And there’s no down side. 

This is a highly effective cleaner that works on many different surfaces. I’ve used it throughout the kitchen and bathroom. The scent is light lavender.

If you want to know the ingredients they’re listed on the side of the zero-waste cardboard box the tablets come in. Clean your home and the planet at the same time!

Planet Wise machine washable garbage bags come in 5 gal or 13 gal capacity, and a variety of colors and patterns. They’re leakproof, anti-bacterial and last for years. No more single use plastic garbage bags! This is the most planet-friendly solution for any kind of trash.

The truth is there is no good kind of plastic garbage bag if it’s headed for landfill. Compostable bags should only be used for compost. They biodegrade in landfill and emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The same is true with any biodegradable bags. Virgin or recycled plastic bags never biodegrade and will last in landfill for hundreds of years. 

The best plastic bag is the one you don’t use. That’s why reusable, washable bags are the greenest way to throw away your trash and recyclables. Just empty the trash into the bin and wash the bag when it needs it.

Alpha tall kitchen recycled garbage bags are made from 100% recycled plastic, and they are recyclable. These 13 gal bags are sturdy and will hold garbage without leaking.

If your garbage is headed for landfill and you must use plastic bags, this is the greenest way to go. These bags are making use of plastic that has been used and recycled. They won’t decompose in landfill and emit methane. 

Using compostable and biodegradable bags for garbage headed for landfill isn’t the greenest way to go. They will slowly decompose in landfill environments and contribute to greenhouse gasses. 

It should be noted that Alpha bags pose all the hazards of plastic and should be disposed of properly so that they don’t become toxic litter.

ProGreen bags are made from plant-based materials and meet the highest compostable requirements by US law (CA and NY) and European. They are strong and thick but will biodegrade along with your food and yard waste, in home or industrial compost. Click here to see a wide range of sizes available on Amazon.

Compostable bags are not recommended for normal garbage destined for landfills. Under these conditions they will biodegrade slowly and emit methane gas which is a potent greenhouse gas.

Our next product release will focus on pet essentials. Please come back soon!

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