Plastic Free July: How to Create a Plastic-Free Cleaning Routine

Stop scrolling for a second and take a look inside your cleaning cupboard.

Single-use spray bottles, plastic-wrapped sponges, and bulky detergent containers you've been meaning to recycle. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many Australian households generate far more plastic waste from cleaning products than they realise.

That's why Plastic Free July is the perfect time to rethink your cleaning routine. Start with the places you clean most often: the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. Small swaps, like choosing refillable or plastic-free cleaning products, can make a real difference without adding extra effort or cost.

The reality is that most homes don't just have a cleaning problem. They have a packaging problem too. By reducing the amount of single-use plastic that comes into your home, you can cut waste while still keeping every surface sparkling clean.

This Plastic Free July, challenge yourself to make a few simple changes to your cleaning routine. Small steps can lead to a big reduction in plastic waste over time.

What Is a Plastic Free Cleaning Routine?

A plastic free cleaning routine is exactly what it sounds like. It's swapping your everyday cleaning products for eco-friendly cleaning products that come with little to no plastic packaging. Think concentrated refills, solid bars, glass bottles, and compostable packaging.

It doesn't mean your home gets less clean. It doesn't mean scrubbing harder or spending a fortune. It means making smarter choices about what's inside the bottle, and what the bottle itself is made of.

A big part of this shift also includes using natural cleaning solutions, products made with plant based, biodegradable ingredients instead of harsh synthetic chemicals. They clean effectively while being gentler on your home, your health, and the environment.

Sustainable cleaning products work just as well as the conventional stuff on supermarket shelves. Often better. The difference is they're designed with the environment in mind, from the ingredients to the packaging to how long they last.

A plastic free cleaning routine covers every part of your home, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, floors. It's not about one swap. It's about rethinking the whole cupboard.

Why Australia's Plastic Problem Starts at Home 

Let's be real. Australians love the outdoors, beach weekends, backyard Sundays, recycling bins that feel like they're doing something. But the numbers tell a different story, and it starts right at our homes.

The world's worst single-use plastic habit

• Australia holds the highest consumption of single-use plastic waste per capita in the world.

• Each person uses around 60 kilograms of single-use plastic every year. That's not a typo. Per person. Per year.

3.2 million tonnes, and barely any of it recycled

• In 2024, Australia generated 3.2 million tonnes of plastic waste, and recycled only 13% of it.

• A staggering 84% of all plastic waste is sent to landfill.

• The government had a 70% recycling target for 2025. In 2023, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek admitted those targets would not be met, pushing the goal back to 2040.

130,000 tonnes leaking into the ocean every year

• Every year, 130,000 tonnes of plastic ends up in the marine environment.

• The Great Barrier Reef is directly in the path of this runoff.

• 99% of seabirds are estimated to have ingested plastic by 2025, and oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050.

Cleaning products are a big part of the problem

• Most conventional cleaning products come in single use plastic bottles that go straight to landfill.

• Soft plastic refill pouches are almost never processed correctly, even when placed in recycling bins.

• Chemicals washed down the drain enter waterways and reach the coastlines Australians spend their weekends at.

The recycling system is broken, not a solution

• 4.5 billion single-use plastic bags are still used annually in Australia.

• Over 10 million single-use plastic straws are used every single day.

• Only 18% of plastic packaging is currently recycled, and plastic consumption is predicted to increase by more than 200% by 2050.

This is exactly why Plastic Free July encourages simple, practical swaps that can be carried into everyday life long after July ends. 

How to Build a Plastic Free Cleaning Routine Step by Step

Ready to make the switch to eco friendly cleaning products? Here's how to do it without feeling overwhelmed.

Step 1: Take Stock of What You Already Have 

Before buying anything new, have a look through your cleaning cupboard. Chances are you've already got enough products to last a while. Using up what you have first prevents unnecessary waste and helps you identify where plastic tends to build up in your cleaning routine. 

Step 2: Give Your Cleaning Bottles a Second Life

Instead of replacing spray bottles every time they run empty, give them a second life. Reusing bottles for your cleaning products helps reduce single-use plastic and cuts down on the number of containers heading to landfill. If a bottle can no longer be used, make sure it's cleaned and recycled correctly through your local council's recycling program. 

Step 3: Choose Recyclable Packaging 

Not all cleaning product packaging is created equal. When it's time to replace a product, look for options that use recyclable materials or packaging designed to reduce waste. Supporting brands that prioritise sustainability helps drive demand for more environmentally responsible products across Australia. 

Step 4: Swap Disposable Cleaning Tools for Reusable Alternatives 

Many common cleaning items, such as wipes, paper towels and disposable dusters, create a surprising amount of waste over time. Switching to reusable cloths, washable mop pads and long-lasting cleaning tools can significantly reduce the amount of plastic and rubbish your household generates. 

Step 5: Rethink Your Laundry

The laundry is one of the biggest culprits for plastic packaging in Aussie homes. Large plastic tubs of powder, single use liquid pouches, dryer sheets wrapped in plastic. Switch to a concentrated laundry powder or liquid in bulk. Less packaging per wash, better value, and better for the environment.

Step 6: Get the Whole Household On Board

A plastic free cleaning routine works best when everyone's on board. Talk to your housemates, partner, or kids about why you're making the switch. When the whole household is committed, the habits stick.

Euca Plastic Free July Solutions to Live By