8 Popular Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products in Japan
Eco-friendly cleaning choices that are gentle on both the planet and your body are gaining attention. Instead of relying on synthetic surfactants or artificial fragrances, these eco-conscious products use plant-based and additive-free ingredients—helping you maintain a clean home while also protecting the environment.
In this article, we’ve carefully selected 8 of the most popular environmentally friendly cleaning products available in Japan, highlighting their functionality, safety, and sustainability.
Ranking of Popular Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tools
- Shabondama Snow-ru
- Miyoshi Additive-Free Foaming Soap Spray
- Yashinomi Detergent
- arau. Laundry Soap
- Midori no Majo Bathroom Cleaner
- MUJI Cleaning Supplies Series
- Ecover Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Fafa Baby Floral Natural Ingredient Cleaner
1. Shabondama Snow-ru
Source: Shabondama Snow-ru Homepage
Overview
First launched by Shabondama Soap Co., founded in 1974, this liquid laundry soap is one of the brand’s signature products, continuously developed and improved over the years. Since the 1990s, the company has focused on making additive-free, fragrance-free soaps, with a firm commitment to avoiding synthetic chemicals—an approach that has earned strong support from households and even medical professionals.
Snow-ru is beloved by eco-conscious users across Japan for balancing environmental sustainability with gentleness on the skin. It contains no synthetic surfactants, optical brighteners, or fragrances, making it a long-standing favorite for those seeking a truly natural laundry solution.
Key Features
- Made with pure soap ingredients derived from plant-based oils.
- Gently cleans with the mild feel typical of traditional soap.
- Suitable for babies and individuals with sensitive or allergy-prone skin.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Highly biodegradable with minimal environmental residue.
- Minimizes use of chemical additives even during production.
Recommended Use
- Safe for both washing machines and handwashing.
- Ideal for sensitive-skin clothing, towels, and baby items.
2. Miyoshi Additive-Free Foaming Soap Spray
Source: Miyoshi Soap Homepage
Overview
A core product in the additive-free series by Miyoshi Soap, a long-established company founded in the Meiji era. This foaming spray-type household cleaner is safe enough to be used on dishes and kitchen tools, making it ideal for cleaning around the kitchen. Since the 2020s, as visible safety in household cleaners has become more important, the product has gained attention from families with children and users with allergies.
Staying true to Miyoshi Soap’s philosophy, the cleaner contains only the most essential ingredients and wipes off easily after use.
Key Features
- Cleaning power that meets safety standards for food-contact surfaces.
- Spray nozzle allows precise application on targeted areas.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Free from synthetic surfactants, fragrances, and colorants.
- The bottle is refillable and reusable.
Recommended Use
- Disinfecting and cleaning refrigerators, microwaves, and sinks.
- Safe for children’s items like toys and dining tables.
3. Yashinomi Detergent
Source: Yashinomi Detergent Homepage
Overview
First launched in 1971 by Saraya, Yashinomi Detergent is a pioneer in environmentally friendly dishwashing liquids. From the beginning, its coconut-inspired branding has reflected its commitment to combining strong cleaning power with low environmental impact through plant-based ingredients. Since the 2000s, the brand has taken further steps toward sustainability by obtaining RSPO certification and promoting refillable packaging. Free from petroleum-based ingredients, the detergent is gentle on both skin and the planet.
Key Features
- Balances effective cleaning with skin-friendliness.
- Fragrance-free and colorant-free for peace of mind.
- Available in large refill packs for economical use.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Uses plant-derived surfactants made from coconut oil.
- RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil sourcing.
Recommended Use
- Ideal for washing dishes, as well as sanitizing dishcloths and cutting boards.
4. arau. Laundry Soap
Source: arau. Laundry Soap Homepage
Overview
Part of the arau. series launched by Saraya in 2005, this laundry soap is known for its gentle formula made with plant-based ingredients and natural essential oils. Developed for babies and those with sensitive skin, its additive-free and naturally derived composition has earned praise—especially among families with young children. With thoughtful packaging and a relaxing herbal scent, the product fits well into a natural lifestyle. It gently removes dirt using the power of herbs.
Key Features
- Free from synthetic surfactants, synthetic fragrances, and colorants.
- Light, relaxing scent from natural essential oils like lavender.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Made with 100% plant-based soap ingredients.
- Highly biodegradable, minimizing impact on waterways after use.
Recommended Use
- Ideal for delicate items such as baby clothes and cloth diapers.
5. Midori no Majo Bathroom Cleaner
Source: Midori no Majo Homepage
Overview
Developed in Germany in the 1990s, this eco-conscious cleaning product line gained attention in Japan alongside the rise of the green consumer movement. The bathroom cleaner in this series delivers powerful cleaning performance while prioritizing environmental harmony. In the Japanese market, it’s especially popular for its unique added value—“keeping drains clean using the power of microorganisms.”
It offers both strong cleaning and disinfecting power while also helping maintain a healthy bacterial balance in drainpipes.
Key Features
- Powerful cleaning performance that removes tough grime.
- Microorganisms help keep drains clean after use.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Uses highly biodegradable surfactants.
- Neutral formula that’s gentle on surfaces.
Recommended Use
- Ideal for cleaning bathtubs, sinks, and bathroom floors.
6. MUJI Cleaning Supplies Series
Source: MUJI Homepage
Overview
In response to the growing interest in simple living and LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) since the 2000s, MUJI developed its own line of cleaning products. Made with classic natural ingredients like baking soda and citric acid, the series combines environmental consciousness with practicality through minimalist design and refillable packaging. Suitable for a variety of household cleaning needs, it has gained broad support from both younger and older generations. Its refillable, reusable design makes it ideal for a minimalist lifestyle.
Key Features
- Simple, safe ingredients.
- Refillable packaging to reduce waste.
- Designed to reduce plastic usage.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Formulated with natural ingredients such as citric acid and baking soda.
- Simplified, recyclable containers.
Recommended Use
- Great for everyday cleaning of kitchens, refrigerators, toilets, floors, and more.
7. Ecover Multi-Surface Cleaner
Source: Ecover Homepage
Overview
Founded in Belgium in 1980, Ecover is a pioneer of ecological cleaning products in Europe. In Japan, its popularity grew in the late 2000s, especially through natural lifestyle and eco-conscious stores. The brand is highly regarded for its commitment to sustainability—refusing animal testing and using bottles made from recycled plastic. The Multi-Surface Cleaner stands out for its versatility, suitable for everything from kitchens to furniture. Widely praised overseas, it has also earned the trust of natural-living enthusiasts in Japan.
Key Features
- Versatile use: suitable for kitchens, furniture, and general household cleaning.
- Effective cleaning power with a subtle, pleasant scent.
- Cruelty-free, with a strict no animal testing policy.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Made with renewable, plant-based cleaning agents.
- Bottles made from 100% recycled plastic.
Recommended Use
- Ideal for wiping kitchen counters, dining tables, and furniture surfaces.
8. Fafa Baby Floral Natural Ingredient Cleaner
Source: Fafa Homepage
Overview
Developed by NS Fafa Japan, known for its popular Fafa fabric softener brand, this natural-ingredient cleaner was created by building on the company’s expertise in household care. In response to growing demand for baby-friendly products in the 2010s, it offers a safe formula with a gentle scent—making it a hit among families with infants. Designed with parenting and baby meal prep in mind, it’s safe enough to use around food and baby products. It strikes a balance between soothing fragrance and safety.
Key Features
- Free from alcohol and surfactants.
- Safe for use around food and baby items.
Eco & Ingredient Highlights
- Made with plant-derived fermented lactic acid.
- Refillable spray bottle reduces waste.
Recommended Use
- Perfect for wiping baby items, dining tables, and toys.
Conclusion
In the past, strong scents and powerful ingredients were seen as symbols of cleanliness. But in today’s households, gentleness—for both people and the planet—is becoming the new standard.
For example, families with children who have allergies rely on Miyoshi’s additive-free soap spray as an essential part of their daily cleaning routine. Older generations are rediscovering the benefits of familiar ingredients like baking soda and natural soap through MUJI’s minimalist cleaning products.
In dual-income households, Ecover’s multi-surface cleaner has become part of a time-saving, reliable routine. And for parents with young children, Fafa’s Baby Floral Cleaner offers peace of mind when disinfecting high-touch areas like dining spaces and toys.
These small everyday choices—one bottle of cleaner, one spray at a time—are steps toward a more sustainable future.
The evolution of cleaning means choosing products that not only care for your home, but also contribute to a better world.
Start with your next clean. A single eco-friendly action today may help shape a cleaner tomorrow.
