This zero-waste soap brand actually cleans and kills germs

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Hand soap, dish detergent and all-purpose cleaner are staples in any household — but they also tend to produce a lot of plastic waste. Even if you buy eco-friendly products, many come in plastic bottles that are tossed out without much thought. While the product may be eco-friendly and do some good for the environment, the packaging is anything but sustainable. 

Cleancult is on a mission to reimagine the eco-friendly cleaning industry, using zero-waste packaging and natural coconut-based ingredients. And, yes, the brand promises its products still perform and sanitize. 

“Why are we so obsessed with coconuts? Well, they possess antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties, proving you don’t need harmful chemicals to get a solid clean,” the brand writes on their website. “They tackle grease and grime just as well as unnatural products. And lastly, we love a good piña colada.”

Cleancult explains that most “conventional cleaners” contain untested, potentially toxic chemicals. But so-called “green cleaners” often don’t actually have the needed ingredients to kill germs effectively. It’s a cleaning conundrum for consumers.

To create an alternative, Cleancult uses a series of ingredients that are natural and proven to have antimicrobial properties. Saponified coconut oil and citric acid are the two main elements in Cleancult that the brand champions as antibacterial powerhouses.

Lauric acid in coconut oil has long been studied for its antimicrobial properties, especially (and oddly) in dentistry. Coconut oil is a common ingredients in soap and shampoo for this reason.

Citric acid has also been hailed for its antibacterial qualities, which is why you may find it in many cleaning agents. Citrus smells alone are almost synonymous with a deep clean — but it goes further than just scent.

“Citric acid is a natural substance found in lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits,” Sonja Koukel, PhD at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University writes. “It is nontoxic, antibacterial, and antiseptic.”

A customer’s first shipment from Cleancult comes in a glass bottle, which has a no-slip grip and is shatter resistant. Refills thereafter are delivered in eco-friendly packaging like milk cartons. The brand also ships using sustainable materials, and is carbon neutral.

“This reduces our plastic waste to almost zero and also makes us feel pretty good,” the brand writes on its website.

Check out some of Cleancult products, and feel better about the way you clean.

Shop: Mosaic Starter Kit Bundle, $45.04 (Orig. $56.30)

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: Off-White Starter Kit Bundle, $45.04 (Orig. 56.30)

Cleancult

Shop: Refill Bundle, $38.96 (Orig. $48.70)

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: Liquid Hand Soap, $13.45

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: All-Purpose Cleaner, $16.45

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: Liquid Dish Soap, $15.45

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: Dishwasher Tablets, $14.45

Credit: Cleancult

Shop: Laundry Tablets, $14.45

Cleancult

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