Brits are flushing nearly £868 million down the drain each year on unused cleaning products, a recent study reveals. On average, just 3.9 cleaning products are used regularly. The research highlights that we collectively spend £2 billion on household cleaning supplies, about £54.20 per person, but nearly half of these products remain unused and gather dust.
This amounts to an average of £22.30 worth of idle cleaning items for those with wasteful habits. According to the survey, Millennials are the biggest culprits, leaving almost £29 worth of cleaning products unused or unfinished—£15 more than Baby Boomers.
But what’s driving this wastage? The study found that 72% of people watch cleaning-related videos online, with TikTok’s #CleanTok boasting over 5.5 million posts. While these videos inspire good intentions toward a cleaner home, Brits may actually be harming the environment by impulsively purchasing the latest products they see on TikTok.
One in 10 confessed to discarding their existing cleaning supplies when a trendy new brand hits the shelves. This tendency to chase the ‘latest’ or ‘must-have’ items results in many products going to waste, especially specialised ones (41%).
A third of respondents admitted they are regularly swayed into buying cleaning products for niche tasks, but about 40% confessed they leave many purchases untouched at the back of their ‘cleaning cupboard,’ either forgetting about them or finding that the products did not work as expected.
The study also revealed that 40% of people feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information about the ‘best’ cleaning products. Catherine Green, cleaning expert at eco-conscious brand Smol, which spearheaded the survey, advises against the temptation to buy specialist items.
She recommends focusing on four core products to handle most household chores: laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets or washing-up liquid, multipurpose spray, and bathroom cleaner.
But it’s not just customers’ wallets that suffer, the research suggests the environment is also being affected by these purchases. Alarmingly, over a quarter admitted to throwing these items into general waste instead of recycling them.
With an average household stockpile of 18.2 cleaning products this adds up to 62,000 tonnes of unnecessary plastic waste ending up in landfills annually. That’s equivalent to the weight of more than six Eiffel Towers.
Hilary Strong, Smol’s marketing expert, commented: “We know that cleaning can be a therapeutic, meditative and even pleasurable experience for many. In fact, more than half say a clean home is better for their mental health – but for millions across the UK, cleaning remains a weekly chore that just needs to get done.”
A good quality laundry liquid or laundry capsule is an essential and choosing one that will still work brilliantly on today’s lower temperature washes is crucial. Bottled liquid is perhaps more versatile as you can use this more easily to pre-treat stains or spot wash, but nothing beats the convenience of a capsule.
With some dishwasher tablets, you don’t even need to buy separate rinse aid, glass protector or salt as it’s all included-so that’s 4 dishwashing products all rolled into one neat little tablet. If you’re washing up by hand – remember your dish soap is also super versatile as it can also be used to clean makeup brushes, outdoor furniture, jewellery and more.
For kitchen worktops, cupboards, windows, glass and even the floor, a decent de-greaser can tackle pretty much every surface in the home so there’s really no need for surface-specific cleaning sprays.
It’s good to have a separate cleaner with an anti-calcium for the bathroom to prevent limescale build. The lower pH of a bathroom spray is also more effective on soap scum and if it’s a foaming one it will cling to tiled surfaces and the sides of your sink, helping you remove all the grime as you wipe things down.
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