The 2-Step Laundry Cupboard Challenge
Take a look inside your laundry cupboard. How many different products are in there? Washing powder or liquid. Stain remover. Fabric softener. Scent boosters. Maybe a specialised product for whites. Endless cleaning sprays, creams and other disinfectants.
When I started looking more closely at the products I was using around my home, I realised I didn't need quite so many. As part of creating a healthier home and reducing everyday exposure to microplastics, plastic-associated chemicals and unnecessary chemical ingredients, I wanted to simplify what I was bringing into the laundry.
Here's a simple challenge you can try:
Step 1: Clean out the products you're not using
Start by taking everything out of your laundry cupboard. Have a look at what you've actually got. Are there products you've bought but barely use? Half-empty bottles? Something you tried once and didn't like? Products that have been sitting there for years?
You don't need to replace anything yet. Simply clear out what you no longer use and take stock of what remains. And don't automatically throw everything away. If a product is still usable, you may decide to finish it rather than creating unnecessary waste.
The goal isn't to create a whole new collection of "healthier" laundry products overnight. It's to use what you have, reduce what you don't need and be more intentional about what you buy next.
Step 2: Choose 1–3 products to rethink
Now look at the products you use most often. For most households, the obvious place to start might be your washing detergent. You might also regularly use a stain remover or fabric softener. Or maybe it's your go-to cleaning spray.
Choose one to three products that you use regularly. When they need replacing, look for alternatives with:
More plant-based or naturally derived ingredients
No or low added fragrance
Fewer unnecessary harsh chemicals
A relatively simple ingredient list
The ability to actually do the job you need it to do
You don't need to find a perfect product, maybe just one that's a little better than the one you had before. And you don't need to replace everything at once. You're simply looking for a better option when the time comes to buy something new.
Why start with the laundry?
Products stored in our laundry are used regularly and can become a routine source of exposure in the home. The detergent and other products we choose come into contact with our clothing, bedding, towels and other textiles that we use every day. Cleaning sprays and other products are also used around the home and can contribute to what we're exposed to through the air and our surroundings.
This is one of those areas where small changes can become part of your normal routine. There's no need to panic about the products you currently have. Use what you've got, and make a different choice when it needs replacing.
Your challenge
Spend 10 minutes cleaning out your laundry cupboard. Then choose one product you're going to rethink when it runs out. It could simply be your laundry detergent. That's it. No complete laundry makeover. No throwing everything away. No need to find the "perfect" product.
One small swap is enough to start.
If you'd like me to help you apply this to your own home, here's how… How I Can Help