{"id":10037,"date":"2025-10-29T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/accommodation\/?p=10037"},"modified":"2025-10-16T11:42:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T10:42:22","slug":"top-tips-for-sustainable-cleaning-in-your-student-accommodation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/accommodation\/top-tips-for-sustainable-cleaning-in-your-student-accommodation\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Sustainable Cleaning in your Student Accommodation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A clean space can make a real improvement to how you feel. In this guest blog, Meg Haslam from the University Sustainability Team shares some top tips on how to keep on top of cleaning in a sustainable way.
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Soap and washing up liquid<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Buying hand soap and washing up liquid in larger bottles at the start of term can save you money and is the more sustainable choice. Through buying larger refill bottles<\/a> at the start of the year, you can help to cut down on packaging waste, particularly soap bottles which have non-recyclable pumps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For communal spaces like kitchens or shared bathrooms, if everyone chips in a bit of money at the start of the year to cover the cost of a larger bottle<\/a>, it\u2019ll prevent arguments in the long run about who\u2019s turn it is to buy soap and washing up liquid! You can then just just keep refilling a soap dispenser this throughout the year as it becomes empty! (You can also buy glass or aluminium bottles with pumps to refill to avoid buying plastic products).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponges<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Most sponges you find in supermarkets are made from plastic and are not recyclable. If you want to consider buying more sustainable biodegradable alternatives, They can be purchased from places like the zero waste shop on Fore Street<\/a> or online from a range of retailers including Amazon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coconut fibre scouring pads<\/a> make for great alternatives to plastic sponges and metal scourers \u2013 effectively cleaning baked on food without any damage to your pans or crockery (and best of all, they are biodegradable once you\u2019ve finished with them). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning sprays <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many sustainable cleaning brands and products can be more expensive than the supermarket own brand alternative. However, making more sustainable purchases is not impossible on a low budget and when it comes to surface and bathroom cleaning sprays, this is definitely the case! Many supermarkets, including Tesco, sell refill pods which can save you money and prevent the need to keep buying new plastic spray bottles (of which many components are unrecyclable, predominately the spray mechanism). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tesco\u2019s \u2018Antibacterial Multi Purpose Cleaner Refill\u2019 pods<\/a> cost less than \u00a31 and all you have to do is place them within any existing (empty and clean) spray bottle, add water and shake! There are multiple different refill options too, with pods available for multi-surface cleansers, bathroom cleaners and window and glass sprays. There are also a number of sustainable cleaning companies that sell eco-friendly, non-toxic surface sprays, such as Smol<\/a>, but the price tag is slightly higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other things to consider<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many surfaces and cleaning jobs don\u2019t actually require strong chemicals or cleaning sprays. Next time your floor or kitchen worktop is a bit dirty, consider wiping it with just a reusable wet cloth or some wet kitchen roll instead of reaching for the surface spray*! It\u2019s also worth considering what items you already own that may be useful for cleaning, such as old toothbrushes or worn-out textiles (old toothbrushes, including electric toothbrush heads that are used\/old, are perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach areas and things like shower heads).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Unless meat or other similar foods have been prepared on the surface that is (or your flatmate with the flu has been coughing on it)!<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a list of product ideas to suit different needs and budgets on the Sustainability website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note:<\/strong> All brands mentioned in this document are not affiliated or partnered with the university, they are just suggestions to help you live more sustainably. Other brands are available! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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