As a busy mom of three with a full schedule, I‘m always looking for ways to reduce hassles at home. I love discovering cleaning lifehacks that save me time without using harsh chemicals around my family. Recently, one UK-based brand caught my eye with their innovative approach to eco-friendly yet powerfully effective household cleaners.
My Cleaning Pain Points
Before jumping into this Homethings review, let me give you background on my cleaning frustrations that led me to search out better solutions…
For years I’ve dealt with the following issues:
- Struggling to find all-natural cleaners that actually remove tough stains and don’t require endless scrubbing. Gentle ingredients often mean weak cleaning power.
- Hating the plastic waste created by full spray bottles that contain up to 90% water just for dilution!
- Fighting for precious storage space under my kitchen and bathroom sinks for the many cleaners and huge jugs of laundry detergent I need for my busy household.
- Fearing toxic fumes from harsh chemicals and worrying about impacts on my family’s health, especially my asthmatic daughter.
Does this struggle resonate with you too?
I desperately wanted cleaners that simplified my routine and storage needs while also being gentle on the environment AND tough on stains. It felt like too much to ask…until I discovered Homethings.
What Makes Homethings Different
Founded in 2020 by UK friends looking to shrink their cabinet clutter and plastic waste, Homethings takes an innovative 3-step approach:
1. Concentrated tabs that contain powerful cleaning ingredients in very compact sizes. A single 5g tab equals a whole spray bottle dilution! This drastically reduces plastic use, weight and emissions during shipping, and storage needs.
2. Reusable bottles made from 100% recycled plastic to simply add tap water and drop the dissolvable tabs in.
3. Vegan plant-based formulas that avoid harsh toxins and use strategic antibacterial extracts that kill bad bacteria while maintaining healthy microbial balance.
This brilliant system allows exceptional cleaning clout while being kind to your home and the environment. Intrigued, I had to give Homethings a try…
My Hands-On Review Testing Homethings
I purchased Homethings’ starter kit with their signature 3-tab system:
- Allthings: All-purpose cleaner
- Baththings: Bathroom solution
- Shinythings: Glass and mirror spray
At only $20 for reusable bottles and sample tabs, this kit enabled me to tackle every cleaning need in my home.
Here is how Homethings performed and my candid thoughts:
Set-up Couldn’t Be Easier
I really appreciate the ease of getting started. Just fill each recycled bottle with tap water to the marked line then drop in a premeasured cleaning tab. In seconds it fully dissolved into a ready-to-use cleaner. No mixing, mess or hassle!
- Set-up time: 20 seconds
- Cost per 500ml bottle: $0.40
Allthings: A Shocking Powerhouse Against Grime
I sprayed Allthings directly onto a caked-on sticky sauce spill down my stovefront that had been there for days resisting all my usual scrubbing. I braced for more frustration. But after one minute of dwell time, I wiped and the crusty mess came right off without any elbow grease required!
Allthings has since eradicated all sorts of messes throughout my home including:
- Greasy fingerprints on cabinets
- Gunky sticky residue on dining tables
- Dingy stovetop discoloration
- Muddy paw prints on floors
Its gentle citrus scent never irritates my nose or family’s breathing issues. And the cleaning clout without toxic fumes makes this a new staple for me.
Cost per 500ml: $0.40
Baththings: Unsung Hero Against Soap Scum
With kids that love extended showers plus super hard water in my area, soap scum accumulates quickly. I’ve tried countless bathroom cleaners trying to keep my surfaces shining. Many required multiple applications and scrubbing that ruined my manicures!
Baththings proved a total revelation – with minimal spraying and wiping, it completely eradicated the thick, stubborn scum coating my shower walls and doors. After years of battling soap buildup nearly daily despite cleaning, I was shocked and relieved to see the transformation. It was like having new bathroom surfaces!
I also use it effectively on:
- Bathroom mirrors to prevent foggy film
- Grimey sinks
- Toilet bowl stains
Cost per 500ml: $0.40
Shinythings: Freakishly Spotless Windows and Mirrors
I’ll admit, I had low expectations for a natural cleaner on glass and mirrors, especially with little kids that leave nose and handprints everywhere!
But wow, Shinythings works miracles! It immediately breaks down fingerprints and smudges on contact. And it leaves a streak-free shine that no chemical-laden glass cleaner has achieved.
I also love using it to revive:
- Stainless steel appliances
- Chrome fixtures that tend to spot
- Granite countertops
- Tabletops
Cost per 500ml: $0.40
Additional Homethings Products
Beyond the starter kit, I’ve also embraced:
Dishthings tabs: These vegan powder tabs contain dishwasher detergent AND rinse aid in one, replacing liquid varieties. They get dishes sparkling clean while being kinder if my kids happen to intake residue. Cost per tab: $0.25
Laundrythings pods: Available scented or fragrance-free, these enzymatic laundry tabs make whites whiter and colors brighter. Impressively they activate in cold water to save energy and my clothes look fresher than ever. Cost per pod $0.15
Floorthings tabs: Just one Floorthings tab in my mop bucket creates a light floral floor solution. And each refill is only $0.40 – way more affordable than any natural floor cleaner concentrate I’ve found.
The Downsides
In the spirit of an honest review, what disadvantages have I found?
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Limited scents: I wish they offered more fragrance varieties for laundry beyond unscented or one floral option. Their citrus and herbal notes are pleasant enough but more choices would be fun.
-
Soft on grease: While Allthings is mighty on most dirt and grime, it struggles with cooked-on greasy buildup. An oven or barbecue degreaser would round out the line.
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No wood cleaner: With surfaces covered, a specialty wood/laminate floor cleaner would also be useful for those of us with hardwoods.
Environmental Factors
What excites me most about Homethings is their commitment to ecology. Some compelling stats:
- Saving 90% weight and carbon emissions by eliminating water during shipping
- 100% plant-based ingredients avoid chemical run-off pollution
- Antibacterial extracts kill bad bacteria yet maintain healthy microflora balance
- 100% recycled and reusable bottles prevent waste
- Carbon neutral delivery offsets environmental impact
- Packaging and business practices meet B Corporation certification for sustainability
Simply put – this is clean living made easy. For your home and the planet!
Cost Breakdown
How does Homethings compare cost-wise?
- Allthings Starter Kit: $20 for 3 reusable bottles + 18 sample tabs
- Standard spray bottles: $5-10 each x 3 = $15-30 just for empty vessels!
- Large surface cleaners (750-32 oz): $4-8 each x 3 = $12-24 then empty plastic waste
- Standard dishwasher liquid (25 oz): $3-5 each
- Laundry detergent (75 oz): $10-15 each
- Floor cleaner concentrate (24 oz): $4-6 each
Accounting for reusable bottles and tablet cost per wash, Homethings offers significant savings – especially when subscribing for regular deliveries. Considering their exceptional cleaning performance plus environmental benefits, they provide outstanding value.
The Verdict After Extensive Testing
If you can’t tell by now, I am thoroughly wowed by Homethings and so glad I switched!
- Their concentrated cleaning tabs match or beat standard brands in cleaning power with gentler formulas that avoid toxic chemicals.
- The reusable bottle system conserves countless plastic containers from landfills and oceans.
- Their combos save money while taking up far less storage space.
- Customer service is extremely helpful and responsive to product questions or issues.
- Subscription plans make home cleaning easy with regular delivery.
While no company is 100% perfect, Homethings checks nearly every box on my wishlist. I will continue evangelizing their products to all my friends and family!
If you‘re looking for an eco-friendly cleaning overhaul that doesn‘t require sacrifice, join me and thousands of happy Homethings devotees. You and Mother Earth won‘t regret it!
