CLEANING WITH A CONSCIENCE
We all like to keep our homes and laundry clean, but the harsh chemicals used in many products are damaging to the environment and our health. So, what is the alternative? We asked Sue Caldwell, Managing Director of Clean Living International …
What is Clean Living International?
Clean Living International is an eco-cleaning brand on a mission to make a real, positive impact on our planet while helping homes sparkle! We offer a wide range of award-winning, eco-friendly cleaning products so that you can clean your home deeply and hygienically, without harming your health or the environment.
What inspired you to create Clean Living?
Clean Living was born in 2017 when a biologist met a team of like-minded, eco-conscious individuals who were concerned about climate change, and were all too aware of the impact that the harmful ingredients in our cleaning products were having on both the environment and on our health.
That’s why we set out to find an alternative to these toxic products that would clean just as powerfully, if not even more so, without damaging the planet and our health.
We knew that there was power in nature, so began developing biological formulations with live, “good” bacteria to mimic exactly how nature works to eliminate bad bacteria. Think of our formulations as similar to good and bad gut bacteria!
We also knew that we wanted to make it easy for consumers to clean with conscience, so part of our aim was to ensure that we created a quick and convenient way for customers to get their hands on their favourite cleaning products, so that they were not tempted to reach for their old brands off the supermarket shelf!
What are the issues that Clean Living is helping to address?
Sadly, most common cleaning products are packed with dangerous chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, ammonia, chlorine, phosphate and solvent. When we use these in the home, they’re flushed down the drain and eventually make their way into the water system, where they pollute our oceans and harm marine life.
What’s more, these chemicals can also seriously impact our health, and can be extremely dangerous if they touch your skin, if they are ingested, or even if you inhale the fumes.
Some might overlook just how easy it is for these toxins to get into your system, but if you have ever used bleach to clean a bath, you may have absorbed it through your skin while enjoying a soak, and the same can be said for any surfaces in the home that your children and even pets may touch.
Aside from polluting our oceans and our own bodies with toxic ingredients, plastic waste is a huge issue facing our planet. Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste are sent to landfills, and we should all be looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle the amount of plastic we use in our daily lives.
How is Clean Living addressing these issues?
Our cruelty-free, non-toxic and biological formulations harness the power of nature and contain live healthy bacteria to literally eat away at bad bacteria, dirt and grime. Over time and with repeated use, the good bacteria builds up a protective barrier on surfaces to prevent harmful bacteria forming, so the products continue doing the hard work for you long after you have finished cleaning!
In our Complete Cleaning Kit, you will find everything you need to get started on your eco-cleaning journey, including the Biological Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Glass Cleaner, Biological Bin Odour Eliminator, Biological Odour and Spot Remover, Kitchen Cleaner and Degreaser, Drain Maintainer, Limescale Remover and Bathroom Cleaner, as well as a host of eco-friendly cleaning accessories, all of which are stored in a handy cardboard caddy, to make cleaning your whole home even easier.
To help reduce the alarming amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, we use infinitely refillable aluminium spray bottles and concentrated solutions, which are shipped in sachets direct to your home to further lower the consumer’s carbon footprint and reduce the number of lorries on the road. All you have to do is simply pour your concentrated solution into your empty bottle, top up with tap water, give it a little shake and you are ready to clean!
So that you never run out of your favourite products we also offer a completely flexible Refill Subscription Service which allows customers to select which product refills they would like to receive and how often. The refill sachets will arrive at your door exactly when you need them, then simply add the sachet of concentrate solution to your refillable aluminium bottle, top it up with tap water, and spritz away!
What happens to the packaging on your products?
All of our products are shipped in cardboard boxes, without the use of plastic wrapping, to ensure they can be easily popped into the recycling, while our aluminium bottles are infinitely refillable, so just one bottle should last you for many years.
We use special packaging for our refill sachets to prevent them from being eroded by the live bacteria in our formulations while in transit. Sadly, not all councils accept these for recycling, so to ensure no waste we include a free post envelope in all orders to allow customers to send their empty sachets back to us so that we can responsibly recycle them on their behalf.
How does Clean Living stack-up against its not-so-eco-friendly competitors?
The products that Clean Living International offer are an opportunity to avoid using less eco brands. For example, our Eco Laundry Strips are affordable, delivered to your door, take up no space, contain no harmful chemicals and just as importantly, no fillers but offer a brilliant clean. We all have a choice in what we buy and now is the perfect time for everyone to consider what they are using and the perfect time to ask – is it reducing C02, is it reducing single use plastic and does it contain harmful chemicals and if so, what are my options?
What next for you/your range?
We have recently added several incredible new products to our award-winning range. At the beginning of 2022 we introduced Zero Waste Laundry Strips, a Biological Floor Cleaner and Multi-System Mop, Biological Sports Equipment Cleaner, and just a couple of months ago, we launched our brand new Oxy Action Tablets, a Multi-Use Cleaning Mitt, Eco-Friendly Coconut Scourers, a Kids Cleaning Kit and a Mini Cleaning Kit – so our range really does offer an effective eco solution for every area of the home! Next year, we have even more exciting new products coming – watch this space!
Where can we buy/find out more in UK?
Clean Living is available to order direct to your door from our online shop, or through our network of environmentally conscious Brand Ambassadors across the country. You can also find out more about doing your bit for the planet while earning a flexible income by starting own Clean Living business by becoming a Brand Ambassador here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sue Caldwell is Managing Director of Clean Living International
Website: www.cleanlivingint.com
Facebook: /cleanlivingint
Instagram: @cleanlivingint