3 Ways to Detox Your Cleaning Routine for the New Year – Sustainable Swaps Approved by Cleaning Experts
Leave harsh chemicals, bacteria-ridden sponges, and excessive plastic in 2025
It feels like we blinked and suddenly it's the New Year, and time to wave goodbye to the festive frivolities of December. And where better to start than by putting together (and sticking to) a list of New Year's resolutions.
Top of my list this year – if you need some inspiration – is detoxing my cleaning routine. So, to find out exactly which smart, sustainable swaps I should be making, I spoke to our professional cleaners.
3 Ways to Detox Your Cleaning Routine for the New Year
1. Switch to Reusable Spray Bottles
Reusable spray bottles are far more environmentally friendly, even than those that are recyclable.
One of the easiest ways to be more sustainable at home is by switching to reusable spray bottles, which also cut down on plastic waste and allow you to mix up your own DIY cleaning solutions.
As Camila Herrera, professional organizer and cleaning expert at Sparkly Maid San Diego, warns, 'Plastic bottles can degrade and leach chemicals over time, especially when holding essential oils or acidic DIY mixtures.'
Instead, 'Glass is non-reactive, durable, and hygienic,' she explains. 'Amber glass specifically protects light-sensitive natural ingredients, like hydrogen peroxide or essential oils, from degrading, ensuring your cleaner stays effective longer.'
For this sustainable swap, Camila recommends using Glass Spray Bottles, available at Amazon, as they feature heavy-duty, adjustable nozzles that won't clog, and offer a fine mist or targeted stream that plastic equivalents often struggle to match.
Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, Punteha van Terheyden, uses a simple cleaning spray recipe every day to clean her home, including stainless steel, windows, wooden and stone surfaces, as well as refreshing her velvet sofas and quickly removing marks.
She says, 'All you need is an amber glass spray bottle, two cups of water, a tiny drop of dish soap (it acts as a surfactant, helping it cling to dirt and surfaces), and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.
'I use 100% pure organic geranium essential oil, also available at Amazon, as it makes my house smell like a spa and lingers gently without causing a headache.'
It's not only free from harsh chemicals, but versatile and safe to use on surfaces across the home. If in doubt, test on an inconspicuous spot first.
2. Replace Harsh Cleaners With Plant-Based Options
Pantry staples like vinegar and baking soda make brilliant alternatives to commercial cleaning products.
As Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless, explains, many commercial cleaners contain unnecessary fragrances, dyes, and irritants, so regularly using them is a serious cleaning regret that I've been working to rectify.
'Plant-based formulas clean effectively without releasing VOCs into your home,' she advises, recommending the Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, available in a pack of four at Amazon, as 'it’s fragrance-free, safer for sensitive households, and works well on a variety of surfaces.'
Similarly, I personally use and love the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner, available at Walmart. Alternatively, you can also use pantry staples as multi-purpose cleaners, adds Karina, by cleaning with baking soda, or cleaning with vinegar, for example.
'Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon are powerful, non-toxic cleaning staples that can replace multiple specialty products,' she explains. These natural ingredients prove you don't need harsh chemicals to clean well.
3. Replace Synthetic Sponges With Compostable Ones
Traditional sponges harvest bacteria.
'Traditional cellulose sponges are notorious for harboring billions of bacteria because they stay damp deep inside their pores,' warns Camila, which is why scientists recommend you banish your kitchen sponge, settling the dish sponge vs dish brush debate once and for all.
As Camila explains, silicone scrubbers and bristle dish brushes are favorable as they dry almost instantly, helping to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
'They also last months longer than sponges and can be sanitized in the dishwasher without falling apart,' she adds. 'The OXO Good Grips Dish Brush available at Amazon is durable, ergonomic, and has a replaceable head to reduce waste.
'For a direct sponge swap, Peachy Clean Silicone Dish Sponge Scrubbers, also available at Amazon, are antimicrobial and resistant to the "sponge smell" that signals bacterial growth.'
Neel Parekh, founder and CEO of MaidThis, agrees with Camila and says, 'Weirdly, we stopped using sponges and started using Swedish dishcloths instead. After three days of use, regular sponges hold 200,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
'You can wash the Skoy Swedish Dishcloths, available at Walmart, and they will be completely clean. They dry in minutes, killing bacteria, and they last for months of daily use. They soak up 15 times their weight, so you will not be putting dirty water back on surfaces.'
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
These reusable and refillable amber spray bottles feature adjustable nozzles and UV-protection to prevent ingredients like vinegar and essential oils from degrading.
I love Method's plant-powered cleaning products, and this all-purpose pink grapefruit spray smells as good as it cleans.
This Joseph Joseph Edge dish brush is the only one I ever use at home, as I love the convenient way it hangs to dry on the side of my sink.
Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, tried deep cleaning her whole kitchen with a steam cleaner as a non-toxic method, and loved the easy, effortless results.
These ultra-soft, absorbent, and lint-free microfiber cloths are brilliant for dusting and cleaning all around the house, can be machine-washed and reused 100s of times.
These natural cleaning sponges have a porous, quick-dry structure to prevent the build-up of bacteria and odors. They're non-scratch, ergonomic, and biodegradable.
Meet the Experts
As a cleaning expert and the operations manager at Spekless, based in the Washington D.C. region, Karina is a pro when it comes to all things commercial and residential cleaning. Working to connect independent cleaners with clients, Spekless specializes in everything from house cleaning to move-in/ move-out cleaning.
Camila is a cleaning expert and professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego. As a senior team member, she helps clients achieve spotless, well-organized homes through eco-friendly products and proven cleaning systems.
Neel Parekh is the founder and CEO of MaidThis®, the first U.S.-based home cleaning franchise that uses technology to provide residential and short-term rental services. Neel is an expert in the operational science of a clean home, and designed a system that manages and guarantees top cleaning quality at more than 50 locations in different states.
Once you've detoxed your cleaning routine, you can detox your home by cleansing your home with salt.
