Community Highlight: Wayakit
Wayakit fulfills your cleaning product needs and delivers for free to your door
The Wayakit Story:
It started with two female scientists and a question: "Can we create a powerful cleaning agent made from biodegradable and naturally derived ingredients?"
Today, most conventional cleaning products on the market, from hand soaps to toilet bowl cleaners, contain petroleum-derived chemicals that can pose health and environmental concerns, particularly with repeated exposure. Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum (crude oil) and natural gas. Even small amounts of these toxic chemicals have been found to cause cancer, harm reproductive health, and create chronic health issues (source).
Wayakit is pioneering a new type of cleaning products here in Saudi Arabia. Wayakit’s founders, Dr. Sandra Medina and Dr. Luisa Javier, earned their doctoral degrees at KAUST in 2020 and 2021. As a mother, Luisa knows the important role we, as parents, play as the gatekeepers of our homes. We choose what items and products we purchase and let into our kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
"Think about your baby - what are they being exposed to?" Luisa said. " We designed the baby bottle disinfectant first because this is what they (babies) are putting in their mouths. A recent study showed your kitchen sink can be dirtier than even the seat of your toilet."
Through extensive research and testing, Sandra and Luisa discovered a new molecule created by biotechnology from natural, agricultural waste, instead of petroleum waste. Using this molecule, they created a cleaning product that is not only non-toxic, but also even more effective. While other disinfectants take up to 30 minutes to work, Wayakit guarantees efficacy in just 30 seconds and works on any type of surface.
"We have one of the best disinfectants on the market, for babies and newborns and most household needs," Luisa said.
Wayakit started in 2018 and by 2020 was producing their disinfectants for large airline businesses. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when disinfecting planes and terminals was more important than ever.
However, over their years of living overseas, Sandra and Luisa began to see the need for natural, effective cleaning products in their own homes here in Saudi Arabia. Last year (2025), they began selling their products to the public.
With everything from stain remover spray to pet odor deodorizer to baby bottle foam wash, Wayakit products can fill all household cleaning needs.
And Wayakit works hard to provide products at the best level of sustainability, efficacy and cost. Oftentimes purchasing natural/non-toxic products comes at double, even triple the cost of regular supermarket brands, but not with Wayakit.
"We want to be the ones without the assumption that buying organic comes with a premium, no!" Luisa shared. "We want to remove that premium price."
Wayakit products come unscented or with two naturally-derived scents: Rose Musk and Jasmine. Many products on the market today with "fragrance" produce their scents cheaply using harmful petrochemicals. Wayakit's scents are naturally oil-based and are sourced directly from a natural producer in India.
Wayakit helps fight mold and dust problems in KAUST homes
Beyond developing cleaning products, Wayakit has also found another way to help KAUST residents create healthier homes: professional deep-cleaning services designed to tackle dust mites, mold, and other household allergens.
While staying at a friend's home during a work trip in Riyadh, Luisa noticed redness and puffiness in her eyes. She sent a photo to Sandra.
"You need to get to a hospital right away!" Sandra texted. She knew this was an early sign of a major allergic reaction.
As soon as Luisa walked into the hospital's emergency department, she realized she was about to black out from anaphylactic shock. She shouted, "Allergy!" and fainted. Luisa soon learned she'd developed a severe allergy to dust mites (Tiny bugs that live in house dust and thrive in warm, humid settings).
When she returned to KAUST, she began testing different areas of her home. Through her research, Wayakit now offers a wide range of house-cleaning services, using their own formulated cleaning products.
Wayakit teams can deep clean your curtains, AC vents, mattresses, furniture and more. Using wet vacuuming with their disinfectant, Wayakit can remove most dust mites from your home and reduce allergy symptoms. You can book an appointment on the KAUST Central App or the Wayakit website.
Where can I purchase Wayakit products?
Wayakit.com: click here (free delivery within KAUST)
To support their mission of sustainability, once you run out of a product and would like to purchase more, Wayakit comes to pick up your empty bottles and refill them.
Noon: click here
Trendyol: click here
Keep an eye out for Wayakit products coming soon to Amazon. Wayakit is in the process of setting up a process to sell its products at KAUST's Tamimi. And they are in advanced discussions with all the other retail chains across Saudi Arabia.
Whether you’re looking for a safer way to clean your baby’s bottles, remove stubborn laundry stains, or tackle dust and allergens in your home, Wayakit offers a growing range of cleaning solutions, delivered directly to your door. Check them out today!
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