In my quest to live a cruelty-free life, there was one thing that I hadn’t really thought about: Laundry. When you think about cruelty-free, you tend to think about make-up, haircare, lotions and potions and all kinds of beauty products. But an animal-tested industry that is often overlooked is household cleaning products. After finding out just how many products ARE tested on animals, I was absolutely adamant that all of the cleaning products in my cupboards will 100% cruelty free. And the good news is that yours can be too, with a massive bundle of Astonish products in my giveaway – read on to enter..!
I’ve touched on the types of cleaning products I’ve been using in previous posts when I gave my mum a big batch of non-animal-tested cleaning products to get her started on her CF journey and also when I wrote about products I was already using that happened to be cruelty-free. I’ve already blogged about my favourite (and the cheapest!) CF cleaning products on the market in my cleaning hacks blog post last month. But today I’m going to focus on laundry products and washing your clothes the animal-friendly way.
Powder or liquid, whichever you prefer to use, there’s a cruelty-free alternative out there that won’t break the back and will clean your clothes just as well as all the other animal-tested products. You can find low-cost Astonish laundry liquids in places like The Range, Savers and sometimes even on the market. Supermarket shoppers can pick up washing powder from Waitrose or the Co-Op and be sure to check out their ranges of fragranced fabric conditioners too. I’ve been using Waitrose’s own brand of non-biological powder and it’s been fantastic. The lavender and ylang ylang scent of my Astonish super concentrate is like summer in a bottle.
If you’re looking for effective stain removal solutions there are plenty of cruelty-free options out there. The Astonish Stain Bar is just like the old classic stain remover bar that you mum has had in the cupboard for years but it’s 100% cruelty-free. Rub it on, or use a soft brush to apply to stubborn stains to minimise them before the go into the wash. I’ve been using the Waitrose Pre-Wash Stain Remover Spray to quickly treat larger stained areas (just when did I spill that tea down my top?). I’ve also been adding a scoop of Astonish Oxi Magic to the washing machine drum to lift stains within the wash (I’m taking no chances!) and it’s also good to chuck in with a light wash too, just freshen up pale colours.
I recently found out that Cussons is a cruelty-free brand too, so I picked up a box of Morning Fresh non-bio washing powder in Mandarin and Lemon from – wait for it – Poundland! I’ve also seen it in QD too, so check out your local discount sores to stock up on Morning Fresh. And don’t forget that Cussons make lovely handwash (in large size bottles) and washing up liquid too, so it’s a thrifty alternative to Ecover and Method.
Pretty much everything you would need for laundry can be found as a cruelty-free product, you just have to know where to look. I can recommend Astonish for the low, low prices and uncompromising performance. Most of the CF products I’ve mentioned in today’s blog post can be found in high street shops so keep an eye out and stock up your laundry cupboard whenever you come across these brands. And for convenience, you can’t beat picking up cleaning products from supermarkets such as Waitrose and the Co-Op with your weekly shop.
And now, on to a fantastic giveaway to get your started on your Cruelty-Free cleaning adventure! The lovely people at Astonish spotted that I’d mentioned them in my previous posts on CF cleaning products and wanted to give something back to my blog readers. So they put together a huge bundle of their best-selling cruelty-free cleaning products just for you. It contains everything you need to give your home a jolly good clean this summer, including specialist kitchen cleaners, their famous laundry products, window and floor cleaners, dishwasher tablets and even a feather duster! They are plenty of ways to earn entries via the rafflecopter widget below so do it now, and best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway open to UK residents only, must be over 18 to enter, giveaway runs from 16th August – 4th September 2016.
The products included in the prize package are as follows; Oxy Plus Stain Remover, Stain Remover Target Spray, Fabric Refresher, Clean and Protect Hand wash, Oven and Cookware Paste, Grease Lifter Tablets, Daily Shower Cleaner, 4 in 1 Disinfectant Spray, Window and Glass Cleaner, Fresh Sea Mist Floor Cleaner, all in 1 Dishwasher Tablets and the Dust Buster.
Some items in this blog post have been gifted to me and the pink links indicate a gifted product, affiliate link or information source. All thoughts and opinions in this post are based on my own experience and I am not responsible for your experience 🙂
38 responses
Good germ-killing tip Katie 🙂
Good thinking Clair, I’ll have to keep hold of an old toothbrush in the future 🙂
Haha genius tip Allison! 😉
I agree Frances, I do this every time I have a shower – much less cleaning needed!
Ooh fab idea Kim, I hate scrubbing grills so anything that makes it easier is good with me!
Great tip, thanks Natalie – I need this with the amount of tea I drink, haha!
Use washing powder to clean stains from mugs and spoons!
To clean oven grills soak them overnight in the bath with some washing powder and water and by the morning easy to clean
If you use a window wiper on shower glass it stops the build up of limescale
top thoughts for cleaning mmm give the kids a challenge on how many items in a colour to find and put away that belongs to people.works every time
use an old toothbrush to get in small nooks and crannies
Hot hot water & some zoflora, does the trick & kills all the germs
I definitely need these tips for keeping my house free of cat-smells, thanks so much for sharing all of these ideas – baking powder works wonders! 🙂
Good thinking Kim, I always have a spare sock in my cleaning cupboard for polishing shoes so I’ll try this next time I clean my blinds 🙂
Ooh I much prefer the idea of a natural solution to blocked sinks, thanks for this Helen 🙂
Ahha Heather, great tip! Thanks for sharing it 🙂
Great idea Cheryl, more time for the fun stuff afterwards! 🙂
Thanks for the tip Colin, I’ll try this next time I wash my windows 🙂
Haha, the life of a tea-drinker, eh Gemima?! Thanks for the cold wash tip, I never thought of this before 🙂
Haha I definitely need to get better at pre-treating stains Tracey, I ruin so many clothes with drips!
Genius idea Laura, thanks for sharing 🙂
Great idea Gillian! I have a leather sofa so must try this 🙂
Thanks Tracy, I use old toothbrushes for cleaning the soles of my shoes too! 🙂
I switched after I used up all my old products Anca, no point in wasting something you’ve already bought! Astonish, Cussons and Waitrose’s own brand are great CF cleaning products 🙂
That’s a great idea Tracy, I’m going to do it!
Astonish are fantastic, I use so many of their products 🙂 My best tip is to always wash stains on a cold wash, and I always use the Astonish stain remover first too – I’m a chronic tea spiller as well 😉
When cleaning windows Polish up with old newspaper for a streak free finish
Always use disposable cloths – more hygienic and germ free for the family
make cleaning a family chore..more hands less time
Whenever a sinks blocked, put bicarb of soda down it. Works amazingly and a lot cheaper than sink unblocking products.
Clean blinds with an old sock on your hand
I use sea salt, white vinegar lemons or limes for most of my surfaces/tile/microwave cleaning. For less fragrant (pet) smells baking powder brushed into carpets/rugs and vacuumed up after 20 mins is a great way to freshness without putting in fake smells. Works on cushions/upholstery too.
I don’t use air fresheners, but I do have 4 adorable cats and no desire to smell like a cattery, so a tablespoon of baking soda in the base of the litter tray absorbs smells and gets distributed through the tray.
A small dishes off baking soda throughout the flat absorbs smells, by the front door I have one which I add essential oils too. So much nicer than air fresheners.
Other ways I use to scent a room, pots of Basil, mint, scented geraniums, vases of pink/white lilies though be very careful with cats as every portion of the plant is poisonous to them. Beware the pollen too as it stains. It is a lovely perfume though
using dental floss to clean under the knobs on the cooker
Baby wipes are a cleaners best friend. They are great for leather sofas!
I keep an old toothbrush to get into the hard to reach places and is good for cleaning inbetween tiles
I had no idea the detergent I’m using is tested on animals. I assumed that detergent, like cosmetics aren’t tested anymore (I mean in Europe). I will switch after I finish the products I still have, as it would be a waste to bin them.
Use Aluminum Foil to Scrub Off Baked-On Food
If you have remnants of your casserole stuck to your baking dish, roll a clean piece of foil into a ball, then use it with few drops of dishwashing liquid to scrub glass cookware clean.
Always pre treat stains on clothes as soon as it happens then put them in the next wash this helps get the stains out first wash