Do you know what's in your household cleaners? We don't. We admit it.
There are certain "green" brands that we trust, and we use their products even though we have no idea what chemical ingredients are in the bottle. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, some companies are now coming clean about the chemicals in some of their products.
S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. is publishing the ingredients of some of their products at WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com and Clorox is doing the same at TheCloroxCompany.com. Some companies, like Seventh Generation, are even explaining chemical names in a way that consumers can understand.
Of course, none of this is mandatory for makers of cleaners intended for household use, even though many of the ingredients are believed to contribute to asthma and a whole host of health problems.
Environmental groups would like to make it mandatory for cleaning manufacturers to list all of their ingredients on the product label ... just like food manufacturers are required to do.
What do you think? Would a list of ingredients on a label help you make better choices when purchasing cleaning products?
(Thanks to Jonathan for the tip!)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
I think it's a great idea. But then, I don't buy a lot of commercial cleaners. the ones I do generally disclose already. But my favorite cleaner is baking soda, because the main ingredient is baking soda.
view whytephoenix's profile
It's helpful only if their is an available explanation of what the ingredient is and how it is or is not harmful. Dihydro-oxygen sounds chemical until you figure out it's water.
view LilyC's profile
I don't buy any chemical cleaners anyway. Even if they contain things like Dihydro-oxygen that is actually water.
I use baking soda, lemon juice and warm water, and it has been marvelous. Haven't felt the need for anything else, even dishwasher detergent or clothing detergent.
Everything comes out clean with water, agitation (not me, the washer or the dishwasher) and some scrubbing.
view FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com's profile
white vinegar is an awesome cleaner :)
view VeryDelishVeg's profile
It's definitely a step in the right direction! But I agree with Lily. Many of the ingredients are things that we've never heard of and probably can't even pronounce so having descriptions would be helpful.
view mrsjonessoapbox's profile