At GoodBasics, one of our foundational premises is that the home is a microbiome. Just as our bodies are inhabited by vast communities of microorganisms, so too are our homes. Every surface, room, textile and dust particle hosts an intricate ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and other microscopic life. Far from being sterile environments, our homes are dynamic living systems, continuously shaped by the people, pets, plants and landscapes that move through them – and the microbial life that underpins it all. 

This understanding fundamentally changes the way we think about both cleaning and hygiene.

Understanding The Home Microbiome

Research into indoor microbial ecosystems has revealed that the average home contains an astonishing diversity of microbial life. In fact, studies have identified what scientists refer to as a ‘core house dust microbiome’; communities of microorganisms consistently found across homes throughout the world, regardless of geography, architecture or climate.

These microbial communities are constantly evolving. Every time we open a window, welcome a guest, stroke a pet, prepare food or walk in from outdoors, we introduce new microorganisms into our homes. Ventilation, humidity, building materials, cleaning practices and even the surrounding landscape all influence the composition of our indoor microbiome. 

While certain microorganisms are associated with illness or contamination, many are entirely benign and some may even play extremely beneficial roles. Modern microbial science increasingly recognises that the relationship between humans and microbes is characterised by extraordinary complexity, interdependence and coexistence.

Expanding Our Understanding Of Hygiene

Targeted hygiene remains incredibly important. However, advances in microbial science suggest that indiscriminate sterilisation may not always be the most sophisticated or ecologically appropriate approach to maintaining a healthy home.

At GoodBasics, we believe that cleaning performance can be understood more expansively.

True performance extends beyond simply removing visible dirt or eliminating microbes on contact. It considers the broader ecology of the home, the long-term health of indoor environments and the impact our cleaning choices have on wider ecosystems. This is what we mean when we describe our formulations as microbiome supporting.

Our probiotic-powered formulations are designed to reduce common unwanted household bacteria, yeast and mould, while simultaneously supporting beneficial microbial activity. Rather than seeking to eradicate all microbial life, they work towards restoring and maintaining microbial balance. By introducing beneficial microbes into the home environment, probiotic cleaning helps create conditions in which unwanted microbes are naturally reduced over time.

What Does The Science Say?

We're constantly evolving our understanding of the microbial world and how our formulations interact with it. This year, we conducted further independent validation studies to better understand exactly how GoodBasics performs within real-world microbial environments; findings we'd love to share with you.

To better understand how our formulations behave in the presence of common household microorganisms, independent validation testing was conducted on the GoodBasics probiotic formulation over a seven-day period. 

The formulation demonstrated significant reductions across all unwanted microorganisms tested. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium frequently associated with damp environments such as bathrooms and drains, reduced to non-detectable levels within just two days. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was reduced to non-detectable levels by Day 4, while Candida albicans, a common household yeast, was similarly reduced to non-detectable levels during the testing period.

Even more resilient microorganisms demonstrated substantial reductions. Staphylococcus aureus populations fell dramatically over the course of the study, while Aspergillus brasiliensis, a mould species, was similarly suppressed.

Crucially, however, beneficial probiotic cultures remained highly viable and stable throughout the entire seven-day period. The study demonstrated that it is possible to effectively reduce common unwanted household bacteria, yeast and mould while simultaneously maintaining beneficial microbial activity.

In other words, instead of waging war on all microbial life, GoodBasics supports a healthier microbial equilibrium within the home.

Looking Beyond The Surface

At GoodBasics, our understanding of cleaning extends beyond what happens on kitchen counters, bathroom tiles or floors. Every cleaning product eventually leaves the home.

After use, formulations enter wastewater systems, where their ingredients continue into broader ecological networks that include rivers, oceans and soil systems. For this reason, we believe that environmental performance forms an essential part of overall cleaning performance. Independent biodegradability testing of the GoodBasics formulation demonstrated that the product achieved 97.25% biodegradability under internationally recognised testing standards.

In simple terms, this means that nearly the entire formulation naturally breaks down after use through biological processes. This matters because products that do not biodegrade effectively can persist in the environment long after they have left our homes. By contrast, readily biodegradable formulations are designed to integrate more harmoniously into natural cycles, reducing environmental persistence while maintaining cleaning efficacy.

For us, sustainability is inseparable from performance itself.

Towards A New Vision Of Home Care

Emerging microbial science is inviting us to rethink many long-held assumptions about cleanliness. A healthy home is one in which unwanted microbes are effectively managed, beneficial microbial communities are respected, and environmental impact is thoughtfully considered.

At GoodBasics, we are committed to translating this science into everyday understanding, helping consumers build cleaning rituals that are both highly effective and ecologically informed. The future of home care is about learning to live well alongside microbial life. 

 References

1. GoodBasics Validation Study: Probiotic-powered cleaning technology reduces common unwanted household bacteria, yeast and mould while supporting probiotic viability. May 2026.

2. GoodBasics Validation Study: Readily Biodegradable. April 2026.

3. Thompson, J.R. et al. (2021). Bacterial Diversity in House Dust: Characterization of a Core Indoor Microbiome. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 

4. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Indoor Microbiome.