Are Green Cleaning Products Really Safe?

As concern for the environment and home safety increases, consumers are demanding non-toxic cleaning solutions more than ever before. Jumping on the environmental bandwagon, more cleaning product manufacturers declare that they use “green” ingredients and boast “safe for the environment” on their labels. Consumers trying to do the right thing may buy a product based on hype and false labeling — and not on the facts. While it may take some time to conduct research on which products really are green and which are the imposters, here is some information you may find helpful:

Check the Material Safety Data Sheet for the Product

Since many cleaning products do not include labels with a list of ingredients, consumers can check the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Website to learn more about the products.

“Green” Doesn’t Mean “Green”

If a product’s ingredients read like a who’s who of gibberish then you probably don’t want to spread it around your home or let your loved ones breathe it. One of the common cleaning products that claims to be non-toxic and has a questionable pedigree is Simple Green.

According to a study conducted by Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), some of the purportedly non-toxic Simple Green products, manufactured by Sunshine Makers, contain 2-butoxyethanol. The Simple Green Website states, “Our Mission: We, the Sunshine Makers, as a socially responsible company, are committed to being worldwide market leaders providing quality, environmentally safe, cleaning products.”

However, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says this about 2-butoxyethanol: “Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol…occurs mainly from breathing air or having skin contact with household products containing them. Breathing in large amounts of 2-butoxyethanol … may result in irritation of the nose and eyes, headache and vomiting. 2-Butoxyethanol has been found in at least 20 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency.” In summary, this ingredient is decidedly not non-toxic.

Please use green cleaning products that are safe for your home and won’t hurt our planet. Because you home is where you spend most of your time, especially your bedroom.