Did you know most conventional cleaning products are made from up to 90% water? Yep, if you look at the ingredient list on your cleaning products, you’ll probably notice that water (or aqua) is nearly always first, which means you’re often paying for tap water to be bottled, shipped, and binned as plastic packaging.

But what if your kitchen spray came in a tiny bar and you add tap water instead? Just-add-water cleaners (bars, tablets, powders) keep the active ingredients concentrated, so you add the water at home using a reusable bottle and create far less waste.

Suddenly, scrubbing the bench feels a little more clever.

Today we’re talking all things just-add-water cleaning products. Stick around and we’ll show you why these clever bars and powders are a game-changer for reducing clutter, waste and fuss in your home. By the end, you might even start looking forward to your next cleaning session. Let’s dive in! 

Why Traditional Cleaners Are A Sustainability Nightmare

Conventional cleaning products like cleaning sprays may look convenient, but they come with a hidden cost. Only a small percentage of these products are made up of active cleaning ingredients; the rest is up to 90% water, which still needs to be bottled, stored, and transported. That adds fuel use and emissions before the product even reaches your home.

Don't even get us started on the plastic bottles they’re stored in! Even “recyclable” bottles often end up in landfill or the ocean. In fact, in Australia, only about 13% of plastic is recovered and recycled and 84% is sent to landfill.

If it’s not correctly recycled, plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose, and even then, it will never fully disappear. Instead, it just get smaller and turns into microplastics that persist in soil, waterways, and oceans, affecting wildlife and ecosystems. Swapping to just-add-water products is a simple way to reduce your  household impact by cutting down on plastic and emissions.

What Are Just-Add-Water Cleaning Products?

Just-add-water cleaning products are concentrated formulas in solid, tablet, bar or powdered form that come to life when you add water at home. These concentrated products become full-strength sprays ready for your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere else that needs a clean.

The options that we stock at Go For Zero are compact, waste-free, toxin-free, and surprisingly fun to watch fizz into action. One little bar can go a long way and make a big difference in your routine.

Do just-add-water cleaners actually work?

Absolutely. The just-add-water cleaners we stock at Go For Zero are packed with natural, plant-based ingredients that cut through everyday grease and grime without relying on harsh chemicals. This means that they are also safe to use in your home if you have kids and pets. 

Because you control the water, there’s no wasteful overuse. Plus, they can be added to reusable glass bottle, so you’re also keeping single-use plastic out of landfill. It’s cleaning that works and feels good for the planet!

The “Stop Shipping Water” check (use this in the cleaning aisle)

If you want a quick way to spot a better option, use our 5-question Go For Zero filter

1. Is water (aqua) the first ingredient? If yes, you’re probably buying a diluted product.
2. Do you have to buy a new bottle every time? If so, repeat waste is built in.
3. Can you reuse the same bottle? That’s the point.
4. Is the packaging home-compostable or genuinely minimal? Good.
5. Will it replace what you use now? If not, it’s not a swap. It’s clutter.

How to switch without overhauling your whole cupboard

You don’t need to redo your whole home. You need one bottle and one concentrate.

Start with the thing you use most

For most homes, it’s one of these:

• All-purpose spray
• Kitchen cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Dish wash

Pick one, try it out, love it, and expand later.

How to use just-add-water cleaners

1. Grab a reusable bottle (glass is great). Use what you have at home already. If you need one, we love our reusable amber bottles.
2. Fill with tap water.
3. Add the tablet or powder, or use the bar as directed.
4. Label it so nobody sprays bathroom cleaner on the dining table. I have done this hahaha

Done. It simple, and actually pretty fun too!

Our Favourite Just-Add-Water Cleaners For Your Home

We love products that are safe, effective, and kind to the planet, and our just-add-water cleaning products tick all those boxes. Here are some of our favourites that make cleaning easier and greener:

1. Go For Zero – Zero Waste Dish & Laundry Block

Meet the crowd favourite at Go For Zero! With 175 five-star reviews (it's that good), our Zero Waste Dish & Laundry Block really does it all. It washes dishes, tackles laundry, and cleans surfaces, all without plastic and toxins. 

Powered by natural ingredients like lemon myrtle, kakadu plum, coconut oil, and bicarb soda, it’s tough on grime, gentle on hands, and even doubles as a veggie wash. A little goes a long way, so one block replaces multiple conventional products. You can learn all about how to use our Zero Waste Dish & Laundry Bar here. 

2. Good Change Store – Cleaning Kits

We’ve loved stocking the Good Change Store for years, so we’re super excited to now offer their 100% natural, zero-waste, just-add-water cleaning kits (woohoo!) 

Whether you choose the Full House Trio Tablet Pack or the individual All-Purpose, Kitchen, or Bathroom kits, each tablet transforms with water into a powerful, plant-based cleaner.With refillable bottles, home-compostable packaging, and a three-year shelf life, these tablets and cleaning kits cut down on plastic and clutter while making cleaning smarter, easier, and more sustainable.

3. Resparkle – Water-Activated Cleaning Powders

Resparkle has a range of water-activated powders that transform with tap water into effective, plant-based cleaners for your home, all without plastic, toxins, or nasties.

Their range includes all-purpose cleaner, dish wash, and foaming hand wash, all gentle on sensitive skin but tough on grime. Each refill is septic-safe and comes in a home-compostable sachet for use with reusable glass bottles wrapped in a silicone sleeve (love)!

4. E.Sup - Water-Activated Cleaning Powders

With a mission to protect people and planet, E.sup’s Aussie-made cleaning range is zero-waste, vegan, and toxin-free.

Packed with plant-based enzymes, their powders also turn your tap water into natural cleaners. With refillable bottles and a simple ‘less is more’ approach, their all-purpose, bathroom, dish and shiny surface cleaners are designed to simplify your routine, cut down on waste, and prove that clean homes and conscious choices can go hand in hand.

Making the Switch to Smarter Cleaning

Cleaning doesn’t have to mean a mountain of plastic or a cupboard full of chemical sprays. Honestly, a few simple swaps with just-add-water products can make a huge difference for your home, your health, and the planet.

Every fizzing cleaning bar or powder you drop into a reusable bottle is a tiny win. And the best part? They actually work, they look great on your bench, and yes, they're even satisfying.

With Love, 
Ellie xox 

---

FAQ: Just-Add-Water Cleaning Products

1. What are just-add-water cleaning products?

Concentrated bars, tablets, or powders that become full-strength sprays when mixed with tap water. They are natural, non-toxic, and eco-friendly.

2. Are just-add-water cleaners effective?

Yes. They contain plant-based, ingredients like lemon myrtle, kakadu plum, coconut oil, and bicarb soda to cut through grease, grime, and stains without harsh chemicals.

3. Are they safe for kids and pets?

Absolutely. The just-add-water cleaning products that we stock at Go For Zero are made with natural, toxin-free formulas that are safe for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and around the whole family.

4. How do I use them?

Add tap water to a reusable glass bottle, drop in the bar, tablet, or powder, and watch it dissolve into a ready-to-use cleaner.

5. How do they help the environment?

They reduce plastic waste, cut transport emissions, and come in biodegradable, home-compostable packaging, making your cleaning routine greener and smarter.

6. Are conventional cleaners really up to 90% water?

Many conventional sprays list water (aqua) as the first ingredient, and it’s common for these products to be mostly water with a smaller portion of active ingredients. That’s why concentrates make sense: you add the water yourself.