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You don’t have to be cruel to be clean. You don’t have to buy your cleaning products from big brands because ‘other products just don’t get the stains out.’
Nonsense.
In actual fact, your cleaning routine is likely emitting some pretty serious fumes. Research shows paints, perfumes, sprays and other synthetic items contribute to high levels of ‘volatile organic compounds’ in air.
Compounds that live in the cupboard under the sink are an unfortunate contributor to increasing air pollution – triggering breathing problems and emitting fine airborne particles that drive heart and lung disease.
So, you need to refine your approach to cleaning. We’ve tested dozens of cruelty-free cleaning products to find the safest, plant-based cleaners that smell good and – most importantly – clean your home effectively.
What’s on this page?
The Best Overall Vegan & Cruelty-Free Cleaner
Method AP Cleaner
The French Lavender is our go-to cleaner of choice. Great value – particularly with the refill pack – and it’s made from recycled and recyclable materials.
- £2.50
- Cruelty-free & vegan
- PETA certified
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria
You can read more about our favourite cleaner below.
Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan All-Purpose Cleaners
Method All-Purpose Cleaner
Our favourite overall cleaner, Method’s AP Cleaner is our go-to cleaner of choice. Period. Great value at £2.50 for 828ml. We always get the refill pack too.
We absolutely love Method. Not only do they have wonderful ethical credentials – cruelty-free, vegan, harmful chemical-free, you name it – but their products are fantastic quality.
Their All-Purpose Cleaner kills 99.9% of bacteria – and does so without harming animals we might add.
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO
- Also features in our best cruelty-free and vegan washing-up liquids
It’s actually made with a naturally derived lactic acid formula (the same lactic acid that makes sprinting impossible past 29) that is widely used in household cleaning products.
Read our cruelty-free review of Method here.
Ecover All-Purpose Cleaner
When we’ve spilled some wine on a surface (and somehow forgotten about it) or our cat (Poppy) has thrown up somewhere and it takes us a week to find the smell, the Ecover AP Cleaner comes out. As does the refill pack – incredible value!
‘What a life’ I hear you cry. And you’d be right.
The great value, fully biodegradable plant-based formula is unbelievably good at getting tough stains off almost any surface.
- £2.50
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan – not certified, but they use no animal byproducts
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben and phosphate-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO
- Palm-oil free cleaning
It’s harmful chemical-free and minimises plastic use through their rather revolutionary utilisation of plantplastic.
ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner
The most premium option on the list – and for good reason – ECOS All Purpose Cleaner is an incredible cleaner.
Worth the extra money if you really want to minimise your impact.
It’s parsley scented (although they do have orange and ginger available) and whilst this almost put us off, the product smells so energising. And clean.
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the USA
- Dye, paraben, phosphate and phthalate-free
- Recyclable packaging
- Completely biodegradable
- 100% Renewable energy
ECOS is a hell of a brand. They use plant-powered, locally sourced ingredients and all products are free-from harmful chemicals and they’re powered by 100% renewable energy from its own carbon neutral facility.
Extraordinary. And the reason why it features in our favourite eco-friendly, cruelty-free products page.
Bio D All-Purpose Sanitiser Spray
A convenient multi-purpose sanitiser that tackles almost any stain – even caked on grease.
The formula neutralises 99.9% of all harmful bacteria including salmonella and e coli.
And the bottle itself is completely recyclable.
- £2.90
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Paraben and phthalate-free
- Made in the UK
- Septic-tank suitable
And – as there’s a 5l refill option – it’s worth buying the two together.
Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan Kitchen Cleaners
Ecover Oven & Hob Cleaner
Cleaning ovens and / or hobs is a f*cking nightmare.
You know it. I know it. Well, I don’t know it that well actually. I do all the cooking in our household and – as seems fair – Adelle does most of the cleaning.
But I am reliably informed that cleaning ovens, hobs and anything with cooked on grease stains is awful.
Until that is we started using Ecover’s Oven and Hob Cleaner. This is a strong cleaning product and the longer you leave it, the easier cleaning is.
Goodbye elbow grease. Sayonara hard work. Auf wiedersehn dirty ovens. Switch on that TV and let the spray do the work.
- £4
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan – not certified, but they use no animal byproducts
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben and phosphate-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO
Ecozone’s Oven Cleaning Gel
Cleaning an oven is the absolute worst part of cleaning a kitchen. Potentially anywhere in the house. Even the toilet.
Because you only do it when it’s too late. The months or years of compacted grease, burnt pizza dough and dried up sauce you need to scrub off to get back your deposit is an all too familiar feeling.
Fortunately there are cruelty-free cleaning products that make this job a little less arduous.
And Ecozone’s Oven Cleaning Gel is the best we have tried. It did still require a fair amount of elbow grease, but our deposit nestled snuggly back in my hand afterwards.
- £6
- 500ml
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- UK manufactured
- Paraben, triclosan and phthalate-free
- Palm-oil free
- Suitable for septic tanks
Method Daily Kitchen Cleaner
Method’s Daily Kitchen Cleaner is a non-toxic, cruelty-free kitchen cleaner you can count on.
The new powergreen formula devised by Method is made with powerful, chemical-free surfactants – a primary component of cleaning agents – that actually absorb dirt rather than degrading it with harsh chemicals.
- £2.50
- 828ml
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben, phthalate, triclosan-free
- 100% recycled and recyclable packaging and plastic bottle
- Non-GMO
I’m sure you’ve felt the pungent, eye-watering stench of traditional cleaning agents. But Method is all clementine, no filler. Sweet, even pleasant in my eyes. Or nostrils.
Ecozone Kettle & Iron Descaler
One of the biggest issues we find with kitchen cleaning, particularly in London, is the buildup of limescale in our kettle. To mitigate that we use Ecozone’s Kettle and Iron Descaler.
Although I never iron anything…
London’s is well-known for it’s hard water. The high concentration(s) of calcium and magnesium compounds make limescale build a serious problem. And according to Thames Water, over 60% of the UK population live in areas of hard water.
So the chances are, you have an issue with limescale buildup. One which will reduce the life expectancy of your products. And you need a descaler!
- £3.25
- 3 x 20g descalers
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Paraben, triclosan, palm-oil and phthalate-free
- Allergy UK approved
- Biodegradable
- Suitable for kettles and irons
Given an electric kettle will last for around 4 years – and limescale buildup can significantly reduce this – cleaning your small appliances regularly is crucial.
Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan Bathroom Cleaners
Method Bathroom Cleaner
My bathroom is usually pretty sparse. Adelle (my girlfriend and Co-Creator of RedOrangePeach) bought me some male grooming products to make my sanctity shed look less pitiful.
And it did.
But one staple that’s always in there is Method’s Bathroom Cleaner. Personally I go for the Eucalyptus Mint as I think bathroom’s need:
- A high strength cleaner (tick)
- A strong, fresh smell (tick)
And the naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients make your bathroom feel as clean as it’s possible for a bathroom to feel.
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO
All for just £3!
Ecover Bathroom Cleaner
Obviously bathroom cleaners need to get rid of scum. And there’s such a proliferation of bathroom scum available – toilet, sink, shower, floor.
And as of right now, we have toilets that don’t flush properly – yikes!
So we need a cleaner that demolishes stains, limescale and bacteria. And Ecover’s Bathroom Cleaner is exactly that. Beautifully fresh, chrome friendly – a biodegradable bathroom weapon.
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan – not certified, but they use no animal byproducts
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben and phosphate-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO
A 4.7* rating out of well over 200 reviews also suggests we’re not alone.
Ecover also do a Limescale Remover, which is an essential given London’s limey water.
Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan Toilet Cleaners
Ecover Toilet Cleaner
Ecover’s Toilet Cleaner is a phenomenal value, plant-based toilet cleaner that is completely made from recycled and plant-plastic materials.
Sea breeze and sage is a unusual, but really light scent. And it doesn’t have that overly-chemically feel usually associated with toilet cleaning products.
Ultimately:
- It works fast
- Removes limescale
- Decalcifies
- And is harmful chemical-free
And, thanks to Ecover’s brilliance, this product is:
- £1.75
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan – not certified, but they use no animal byproducts
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben and phosphate-free
- Made with recycled and recyclable plant-based materials
- Non-GMO
Whatever you do, make sure you get the 5l refill option to save on packaging and plastic too.
If you’re in desperate need, they also have a Power Toilet Cleaner that works wonders.
Ecozone Toilet Blocks
Always loved a toilet block. But the noxious fumes, colours and chemicals have always concerned me.
Fortunately Ecozone’s Forever Flush 2000 Toilet Block (twin pack) has put a stop to that. And it is:
- £9.99
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from China
- Paraben and phosphate-free
- Made with recyclable materials
- Biodegradable
Seemingly they last forever – the 2000 is a homage to how many flushes each block can endure. And the biodegradable, non-toxic and septic tank safe formula is exactly what your toilet deserves.
I’m sure it goes through hell. But as each block lasts for 1,000 flushes, you’ll be well covered.
ATTITUDE Bathroom Natural Multipurpose Spray Cleaner
Whilst we wouldn’t usually add a multipurpose cruelty-free cleaner under toilet cleaners, Attitude’s Multipurpose Cleaner is made of strong stuff.
A mineral and plant-based formula that delivers streak-free cleaning – with a citrussy punch – that is:
- ECOLOGO-certified – which means the services and packaging are certified for reduced environmental impact
- Graded A on EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning – guidance that utilises the strictest criteria for transparency and health
A great all-round bathroom cleaner that is perfect for toilet use that’s also:
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the UK
- Noxious chemical-free
- Made with recyclable materials
- Biodegradable
Best Cruelty-Free and Vegan Shower Cleaners
Ecozone Shower Spray
Ecozone’s Anti-Bacterial Spray and Leave Shower Cleaner is the cleaning product we all dream of.
Anything that says spray and leave on the packaging is an instant purchase for me.
It’s tough on limescale and decalcifies really effectively.
In a very out of character move I always wipe the shower twice after using this product. Even though you don’t need to. Because:
- a) It makes our shower look sparkling
- And b) it does make a difference, so calling it entirely wipe-free isn’t necessarily true
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the UK
- Noxious chemical-free
- Made with recyclable materials
- Biodegradable
And again let’s get in the habit of getting the refill packs too to save on packaging.
Method Glass Cleaner Spray
Method making yet another appearance on the list. But what cruelty-free shower cleaning yarn would be complete without this superb glass cleaner.
Packed full of plant-based, biodegradable ingredients in a recycled and recyclable bottle, this streak-free glass cleaner is great for shower screens.
A clean shower really does make your bathroom sparkle. And Method’s powergreen technology works a treat.
- £2.50
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan – completely plant-based
- Ships from the USA
- Paraben-free
- Made with 100% PCR recycled and recyclable packaging
- Non-GMO and non-toxic
ECOS ‘Shower Kleener’
ECOS’s Shower Kleener is a cracking bathroom cleaning product. In fact, it’s my favourite product on the list.
You just need to spray. You don’t need to wipe. For lazy cleaners like myself, this is a dream.
You might be worried that the product won’t be strong enough to get rid of soap scum, mould or mildew. But you’d be wrong. Even without wiping.
This product is also US EPA Safer Choice certified. Which means absolutely nothing to me, but it sounds highly professional.
- Certified Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Ships from the USA
- Dye, paraben, phosphate and phthalate-free
- Recyclable packaging
- Completely biodegradable
- 100% Renewable energy
FAQs
All the above – Ecover, ECOS, Method and Koh are our favourites. Faith in Nature have some wonderful cleaning products too and Coop’s own brand range is cruelty-free. As are M&S and Sainsbury’s.
Dettol – they say ‘we only test on animals where it’s required by law,’ which means they sell in China and do test on animals – Persil, Cillit Bang, Arial, Mr. Muscle all test on animals.
ECOS, Ecover, Method and KOH are all paraben-free. It’s part of the reason we love them so much. Most cleaning products make you feel like you’ve been chopping ever-so-ripe onions against your will. Whereas these don’t.
We personally don’t think you need to look at any other household cleaning brands, but Faith in Nature are paraben-free too.
We believe ECOS are the environmentally-friendly, cruelty-free cleaning brand you can invest in. Ecover, Method and KOH are very good too, but ECOS’ carbon neutral facilities and renewable energy pledge make them very hard to beat.
One thing you should consider in your quest to be cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. Where are these products manufactured? Whilst we love ECOS, their products are manufactured in the US.
So if buying local is more up your street we recommend a UK based brand – and if you’re on the high street
(probably not in 2021) then we always use Coop’s own brand cleaning products as our go-to.
Through a lot of product testing and product analysis, but to be more specific, all cleaning products that feature in our list had to be:
– Cruelty free, either certified by PETA or via a cruelty free guarantee
– Vegan. While not all the brands are vegan, all the products featured here are
– Used by us. We have used all these products over the years so I can give some personal insight, rather than just regurgitating marketing materials from the brands themselves
– Affordable. We haven’t featured anything truly outrageous (ECOS is on the premium side but they really do last for a long time)
– Chemical-free: It’s important to use the cleaning products we use are minimal impact – to animals and the planet
