Geelong sits on the shores of Corio Bay — a waterway that connects directly to Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. What goes down Geelong drains eventually reaches those waters. For families with young children, pets or anyone sensitive to chemical exposure, the products used inside your home matter far more than most cleaning companies will tell you.
The problem with conventional cleaning products
Most conventional cleaning products contain petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, phosphates and bleach derivatives. When washed down Geelong drains, these compounds enter the stormwater and sewage systems that feed into Corio Bay. The environmental impact is real — phosphates in particular cause algal blooms that deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.
Inside the home, the story is equally concerning. Conventional multi-surface sprays, bathroom cleaners and floor products off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that linger in the air for hours. For children, pets, asthma sufferers and people with compromised immune systems — which includes many NDIS participants and aged care recipients — this is a genuine health consideration.
What makes a cleaning product genuinely eco-friendly?
- Plant-based surfactants (not petroleum-derived)
- Readily biodegradable — breaks down in water within 28 days
- Phosphate-free — no contribution to waterway eutrophication
- Fragrance-free or naturally fragranced (not synthetic parfum)
- Not tested on animals
- Concentrated formula — less packaging waste per clean
- No chlorine bleach, ammonia or formaldehyde
Eco-friendly cleaning in practice: what Naturo Group uses
Every Naturo Group clean in Geelong uses plant-based, non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products. Our formulas are free of phosphates, chlorine bleach, synthetic fragrances and petrochemicals. We use concentrated products to minimise packaging, and microfibre cloths that clean effectively with less product overall.
For NDIS participants, aged care recipients and families with sensory sensitivities or respiratory conditions, we use fragrance-free formulas by default. We never substitute conventional products — not to cut costs, not to clean faster, not for any reason.
Is eco-friendly cleaning as effective as conventional cleaning?
Yes — with the right products and technique. Plant-based surfactants break down grease and grime just as effectively as petroleum-based ones; they just work through chemistry rather than brute chemical force. The difference is what happens afterwards: biodegradable products break down harmlessly in water; conventional chemicals persist.
For heavily soiled surfaces — baked-on oven grease, mildewed grout, hard-water scale — we use targeted application, dwell time and mechanical action rather than stronger chemicals. It takes more skill, but produces the same result without the environmental and health trade-offs.