There is no single legal meaning for eco friendly cleaning services in the UK. When you hire a domestic cleaner who promises to use gentler products, the label of green or sustainable means very little on its own. The useful thing to do is ignore the marketing terms and ask exactly what your cleaner uses and how they work in your home.
What eco friendly cleaning can and cannot mean
A regular domestic clean is a repeat visit covering the routine wipe down of kitchens, bathrooms, floors and surfaces. Some households ask for gentler products because of children, pets, asthma or personal values. You are letting someone into your home, so it is reasonable to agree exactly how they will work and what products they will bring inside.
Eco friendly has no single legal meaning for a cleaning service, so it does not tell you what products are used. It also does not mean the ingredients are guaranteed to be harmless to children or pets, and it does not mean they are safer or less safe than other products. Store all supplies safely out of reach and air the property while the work is done. A cleaner calling themselves green might mean many different things, which is why it helps to ask.
Check what tasks the service covers before you book, and ask whether any jobs would need different products from the ones they normally use. Do not assume a greener product will clean as well as a standard one, and do not assume it will not. Ask the cleaner what they expect and agree it in writing.
What the UK Green Claims Code says about vague terms
The Competition and Markets Authority published the Green Claims Code on 20 September 2021 to help businesses comply with the law. This guidance states that any environmental claims made about goods and services must be truthful and accurate. The claims must be clear and unambiguous, and a business must not omit or hide important relevant information from the customer. Any comparisons made between products or services must be fair and meaningful.
The CMA guidance also requires that claims consider the full life cycle of the product or service, and that every claim must be substantiated with evidence. Broad terms like green, sustainable and eco friendly are likely to suggest that a service has a positive environmental impact, or at least no adverse one. The rules state that especially if these terms are used without explanation, a business risks breaking the law unless it can prove the claim is true. Terms with an established meaning such as organic should only be used if the product meets the meaning consumers expect.
To highlight how strict this is, the CMA uses the example of a company selling jeans with only 35 per cent organic cotton, calling that claim almost certainly misleading. If a business breaks the rules, the CMA can deal with infringements using several measures including civil action and criminal enforcement. The CMA or another enforcement body may seek an enforcement order from a court, and the regulator can accept an undertaking from a trader to stop breaches. This does not mean a cleaner using the word green is automatically breaking the law, but it gives you a strong reason to ask for specifics before you pay them.
Questions to ask about products
Since eco friendly has no single legal meaning for cleaning services, you have to ask direct questions to find out what you are paying for. A self-employed cleaner you deal with directly might have completely different standards to a cleaning company that sends employed staff. An agency or booking service that introduces a cleaner and takes a fee might not control the products at all. You need to know who decides what goes into the mop bucket.
This table shows common claims about green cleaning and the practical questions you should ask to compare your options.
|
Claim you might hear |
What to ask the cleaner |
|---|---|
|
We use eco friendly products |
Which specific brands and products do you bring to the house? |
|
Our service is sustainable |
Does this mean you use refillable bottles or different cleaning methods? |
|
We use natural ingredients |
Are these products certified by any recognised scheme? |
|
We avoid harsh chemicals |
What do you use for tough jobs like heavy limescale or oven grease? |
You should also ask what happens if they encounter a stain that their standard products cannot shift. If a cleaner brings a mix of products, ask whether they know which cleaning products are dangerous to mix. Never ask a cleaner to mix products to make them stronger.
Sprays, fragrance and indoor air
Asthma + Lung UK says volatile organic compounds and particulate matter from everyday cleaning and cosmetic products can cause allergic reactions or headaches. In the charity's 2024 Life with a Lung Condition survey, 4 in 10 people said aerosols and perfumes triggered their lung condition.
Allergy UK advises damp dusting rather than using a feather duster, which can flick dust into the air for several hours. Ask your cleaner to use a damp cloth.
Allergy UK recommends choosing a vacuum with efficient pick up and filtration, and taking care when emptying bagless vacuums as allergens can be released. If your cleaner brings their own vacuum, ask about this.
Unscented and pump spray options
Asthma + Lung UK advises choosing pump sprays over aerosols, since aerosols release more volatile organic compounds. The charity also suggests picking unscented products where possible. It cannot promise that this will relieve symptoms, so follow your own asthma plan and ask your GP if you are unsure.
Before you buy any supplies for your cleaner to use, check the labels and instructions carefully. Asthma + Lung UK suggests looking for products with an Air Label certification. It also says to use spray and aerosol products with the window open or in a well aired space where possible. Ask your cleaner to do the same.
You can set clear rules for whoever comes to clean your home. Ask your cleaner to follow these steps during their visit:
- Open the windows in the room they are currently working in.
- Apply liquids using a trigger pump spray rather than a pressurised aerosol can.
- Wipe all shelves and skirting boards with a damp cloth instead of dry dusting.
- Use unscented sprays and floor cleaners where possible.
- Take care when emptying the vacuum cleaner, especially a bagless one.
Does green cleaning clean as well
Greener products are not guaranteed to clean as well as traditional products, and there is no performance evidence to say whether they do. A claim that a product is environmentally friendly says nothing about how well it cleans. If you need a particular result, ask the cleaner to show you how they get it.
If you want a one off deep clean or an end of tenancy clean as well, ask the cleaner how they will reach the standard you need with the products you have chosen. Agree the products and the standard in writing before the work starts.
Ask the cleaner to explain what they mean by their own words for the service, for example green or gentle, and what they do differently as a result. A cleaner who can answer clearly is more useful to you than one who relies on a label. If a claim sounds too broad to check, it is fair to ask for specifics, as the Green Claims Code expects a business to be able to prove what it says.
Who supplies the products and what it does to the price
Products may be supplied by the cleaner or by you, and this can affect what you are quoted. You need to decide whether you need to provide cleaning products before you ask for a price. Supplying the products yourself lets you choose and read the labels, which Asthma + Lung UK advises checking before buying. Ask each cleaner whether supplying your own changes their quote.
Prices vary by area and by what is included, so ask each cleaner for the same details and compare like with like.
Asking for it in writing
A verbal agreement about product preferences is easily forgotten. Put your requirements in writing before the cleaner starts, stating which products they should use and which methods you prefer.
Keep a copy of the task list and the product list. If something is not as agreed, you then have a clear record to refer to when you talk to the cleaner.
Your written agreement should include these details to avoid any confusion:
- The exact tasks required in each room and how long the visit should take.
- A list of the specific products to be used and who is supplying them.
- An agreement on how keys are stored and handled if you are out.
- Whether windows should be opened while sprays are used.
Common questions
Can a cleaner call their service eco friendly without proof?
The Green Claims Code says broad terms like green, sustainable and eco friendly are likely to suggest a positive environmental impact, and a business risks breaking the law unless it can prove that. It does not follow that any particular cleaner is doing so. It is a good reason to ask what they mean.
Are natural products safer for asthma?
Natural is not a defined term for cleaning products, so it does not tell you whether a product is gentler. Asthma + Lung UK advises pump sprays over aerosols, unscented products where possible, and ventilation when using sprays. Follow your own asthma plan and ask your GP if you are unsure.
Is a green cleaner guaranteed to use fewer chemicals?
No. The Green Claims Code expects claims to be truthful, clear, fair and substantiated, so it is reasonable to ask a cleaner which products they use, whether they are scented, and whether they use aerosols or pump sprays.
Should I ask a cleaner to avoid feather dusters?
Allergy UK advises damp dusting rather than using a feather duster, which can flick dust into the air for several hours. It is a simple request to put in your written task list.
Next steps for booking your clean
Finding a reliable cleaner who respects your preferences takes a little effort upfront. Asking the right questions can help you see past vague marketing claims.
Follow these steps to arrange your service safely:
- Decide your exact tasks, frequency and budget before you contact anyone.
- Get quotes in writing from more than one provider so you can compare them.
- Ask about vetting, whether the same cleaner comes each time, and holiday cover.
- Check their cancellation terms and agree on exactly who supplies the equipment.
- Put your product preferences in a written task list, including whether you want unscented products and pump sprays rather than aerosols.
Once you have your written checklist ready, you can find a house cleaner near you to discuss your requirements.
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