Let's Talk About Green Cleaning — Honestly
There's a lot of marketing noise around "green" and "eco-friendly" cleaning products. Some of it is legitimate. A lot of it is greenwashing — slapping a leaf on the label and charging more for essentially the same product. As a cleaning company that cares about what we bring into your home, we've tested dozens of products over the years. Here's what we've learned.
What "Green" Actually Means
There's no single regulated standard for "green" cleaning products in Canada. A product can call itself eco-friendly without meeting any specific criteria. That said, there are a few things worth looking for:
- EcoLogo certification: A legitimate Canadian certification that tests for reduced environmental impact
- Ingredient transparency: Companies that list every ingredient (not just "proprietary blend") are usually the real deal
- Biodegradable surfactants: The cleaning agents break down naturally instead of persisting in waterways
- No artificial fragrances: "Fresh linen scent" is almost always synthetic. True green products are either unscented or use essential oils
What Works and What Doesn't
After years of testing in real homes — not lab conditions — here's our honest take:
Works great:
- Vinegar + water for glass, mirrors, and light surface cleaning — cheap, effective, safe
- Baking soda paste for scrubbing sinks, tubs, and stovetops — gentle abrasive that actually works
- Enzyme-based cleaners for pet stains and organic messes — they outperform chemical alternatives
- Castile soap for general cleaning — versatile and genuinely biodegradable
- Microfiber cloths — reduce the amount of product needed because they clean mechanically, not chemically
Doesn't cut it:
- Most "green" bathroom cleaners struggle with hard water stains and soap scum. Alberta's hard water is particularly tough.
- Plant-based degreasers on heavy kitchen grease — they need significantly more time and effort
- DIY essential oil sprays as disinfectants — they smell nice but don't kill bacteria reliably
What We Use at Simply Done
We take a practical approach. Where green products perform equally well, we use them. Where they don't, we use professional-grade products that are as low-impact as possible while still doing the job. We're not going to leave your bathroom half-clean because we refused to use a product that actually cuts through hard water buildup.
We also believe the biggest environmental impact comes from how you clean, not just what products you use. Microfiber cloths, efficient techniques, and not over-applying products all reduce waste and chemical use more than switching to an expensive "green" spray.
Making the Switch at Home
If you want to move toward greener cleaning at home, start simple:
- Switch your all-purpose cleaner to diluted castile soap
- Replace paper towels with reusable microfiber cloths
- Keep vinegar spray for glass and light cleaning
- Save the stronger products for the jobs that need them — bathroom deep cleans, oven interiors
You don't have to go all-or-nothing. Even small changes add up, especially over a Grande Prairie winter when your house is sealed up tight and indoor air quality matters more than ever.