This is how to avoid falling victim to vacuous greenwashing, greenlighting and greenshifting when picking cleaning products, say experts

A dark brown glass soap dispenser on top of a beige cloth, with a wooden board and dried grass behind it.

With so many of us wanting to do our bit for the planet, it can be easy to fall victim to 'greenwashing' when choosing cleaning products: the promise of impressive eco-credentials or reassuring labels which in reality, do or mean very little.

I’ve asked cleaning pros exactly what greenwashing is, how companies do it, and the phrases to watch out for when you’re purchasing cleaning products. I have also scouted out natural cleaning products that will help you avoid greenwashed products altogether and really do work to avoid the burden on the planet.