The Real Questions People Ask Me About Eco Cleaning (and My Unfiltered Answers)

I’ve learned something running an eco-friendly cleaning business:
People don’t want “perfect.” They want honest answers to the questions they’re already thinking… plus permission to be a little dramatic about it.

So here are the real questions I get - the ones people whisper like it’s a confession - with my straight answers.

1) “Can I use it on… everything?”

Short answer: YES
Longer answer: if you currently use a product purchased in a store I have an equal product – that’s healthier.

You will need a specific dishwashing liquid and washing powder etc, but 50 Zymes will take care of the rest of your house. If there are any danger zones that need special attention – talk to me – lets get them cleaned up and back into 50 Zymes territory!

Rule of thumb:
If it’s porous, precious, or pricey, do a small patch test first. If it’s a kitchen counter, bathroom surface, tiles, bins, mirrors… you’re living the dream.

2) “My Helper won’t use it because it doesn’t smell outrageous?”

Ah yes — the “if it doesn’t burn my nostrils, it can’t be working” belief system.
It’s deeply rooted within us.

Here’s the truth: a hectic smell is often just theatre. It can signal “fresh,” but it doesn’t automatically mean “clean.” A product can work brilliantly without turning your home into a chemical cloud.

How to win this one (without a fight):

• Start with one “wow” zone: kitchen counters, bins, bathrooms, or the area around the sink (high impact, fast results).

Once they see results, the smell obsession usually calms down.

Which leads us to the next question!

3) “How do I train my Helper to use this without spending hours and hours?”

You don’t need training sessions. You need a system that removes decision-making.

Here’s the fastest way:

The 10-minute setup that saves you 10 hours later

Step 1: Pre-mix + label bottles
Have one ready-to-use spray bottle clearly labelled (e.g. Where she previously used Jik – Label the bottle Jik, and fill with undiluted 50 Zymes, where she used furniture polish – label the bottle Furniture Polish and dilute 50 Zymes - 5ml in 750ml water in a spray bottle).

Step 2: Give “zones”, not instructions
Instead of: “Use this everywhere.”
Show: Put the usage chart up in the cupboard with the cleaning products so she can see where everything is used. (Yes I provide this too)

And if all else fails – and you don’t live in Pit Sonder Water – I do provide in person training. (Please ask me for more info here!!)

4) “My Helper uses A LOT of product… what do I do without getting awkward?”

Keep it neutral and “saving money” focused. People respond better to “this works better” than “you’re doing it wrong.”

Use this exact script:

“This one works better with less. Let’s use a smaller measure so it lasts longer and cleans properly.”

Then give:

• a single pre-diluted bottle per week for each replacement product.

Not awkward. Just systems.

5) “Can I mix it with other stuff to make it stronger?”

Please don’t.

Mixing products is how you end up with:

• streaky surfaces

• sticky residue

• unpredictable results

• and occasionally a household science experiment you didn’t sign up for

If you want “stronger,” the better lever is:

• correct dilution, or

• letting it sit for 60–90 seconds before wiping, or

• using it more consistently on the problem area for a week

“Stronger” is often just “wasting money” and science experiments!

6) “Is it more expensive than normal products?”

Short Answer: No

But it’s a great question — because price and cost in use are not the same thing.

Most “normal” products are cheap at checkout… but you go through them fast because:

• you need more product per clean

• you often need multiple products for different areas

• and you’re sometimes masking problems (so you clean again sooner)

A concentrated or multi-use product can look pricier, but if it replaces several bottles and lasts longer, your cost per clean can come down incredibly.

The real question to ask is:
“How many cleans do I get per bottle — and how many other products does it replace?”

That’s where the maths gets sexy.

7) “Why aren’t you in major stores?”

Because major retail is a whole different sport — and it’s not always the best one for a small, quality-driven brand.

To get into big stores you usually need:

• massive volume capacity

• long payment terms (120 days)

• listing fees + promos + discounts baked in

• and packaging/pricing structured for retail margins

• and you only get paid if there are no returns or issues – mostly out of your control!

That can force small brands to either:

• compromise on quality,

• squeeze margins into dust, or

• scale too fast and break operations.

Right now, I’d rather deliver a product that works consistently than play “retail roulette” and dilute what makes it good.

8) “Why don’t you have a shop?”

Because a shop isn’t just a door and a counter — it’s:

• rent

• staff

• stock holding

• security

• Electricity & Water issues

• and a lot of time not spent improving products or serving customers

Also: most people don’t want to drive across town for cleaning supplies. They want:

• easy ordering

• reliable delivery

• the right product the first time

So the “shop” is the system - not the building.

If you’ve got a weird cleaning question, send it my way - I don’t judge – every question needs an answer!