There is no requirement that the country of manufacture be displayed on cleaning products. Many manufacturers of cleaning products don’t sell their products under their own company name. I have therefore restricted my listing to the products where I could confirm manufacture.

In terms of biodegradable products, you have the following choices:

Better Earth make a range of household cleaning products that are locally produced, 100% biodegradable and support ethical farming. Both their dishwashing liquid and their gel for dishwashing machines were finalists for ‘Fair Lady’s Consumer Awards’ in 2010.

Enchantrix make an all purpose cleaner for the household called ‘iClean It All’, which gets domestic worker approval in a friend’s green household as an alternative to Handy Andy. They also make a germ-busting toilet cleaner.

Earth Sap make dishwashing liquid, all purpose cleaner concentrate and scrub, toilet bowl cleaner and a window cleaner. I find the products work, although for adamant grease you might need to use a double dosage.

Bloublommetjieskloof offer dishwashing liquid, scourer and sanitising liquid.

Harmless House distribute various imported products but they also sell a locally manufactured home cleaning range consisting of dishwashing liquid, surface cleaner and toilet cleaner.

In terms of conventional products:

Chet Chemicals, a Johannesburg based manufacturer produce Xtra, Bingo, Punch, Daisy and Nahoon. They also manufacture the Shoprite/Checkers housebrands All Purpose Cleaner and Bleach and their Dishwashing liquid.

According to Unilever Sunlight, Handy Andy and Domestos are locally produced, although Unilever, of course, is not a South African company.