Guide to Reading Labels: How to Understand the Ingredients in Eco-Conscious Cleaning Products

In a world where we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of taking care of our health, our family, and the environment, choosing eco-conscious cleaning products has become a priority. However, we often find ourselves faced with labels full of ingredients we don’t fully understand. How can we be sure we’re making a safer choice for our home? In this guide, we’ll teach you how to read and understand product labels and highlight how ECOS cleaning products stand out for its commitment to plant-based ingredients and responsible formulas.

Why is it important to read labels?

Traditional cleaning products often contain ingredients that can be harmful to both health and the environment. Components like phosphates, chlorine, or synthetic fragrances can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even impact water quality when they reach our rivers and oceans. That’s why reading and understanding product labels is essential to make an informed decision and choose products that are safer for your family, pets, and the planet.

How to Read Cleaning Product Labels

When shopping for cleaning products, you might encounter labels full of complex ingredient names. Understanding what these ingredients mean is key to ensuring you’re choosing products that are safer for both your health and the environment. Here are a few tips on how to read and understand the labels of cleaning products.

1. Look for Plant- and Mineral – Based Active Ingredients:

Products made with plant-based ingredients are generally safer for your home and the environment. Look for ingredients like sodium coco-sulfate (derived from coconut oil), a highly effective cleaning agent that is also gentle on the skin. You’ll find it in many of our products, such as our ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent.

Preservatives are necessary to keep cleaning formulas stable. At ECOS, we only use preservatives approved by Safer Choice, such as potassium sorbate. Safer Choice is the approval standard created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help consumers find products that are safer for their health and the environment without sacrificing performance.

If you’re looking to brighten your laundry without using bleach, opt for ingredients like the stain-fighting minerals found in our Oxobrite. These minerals offer an eco-friendly alternative to bleach and can be used safely without the worry of hidden toxic chemicals.

2. Avoid Harmful Ingredients

Some ingredients found in conventional cleaning products can be harmful to health and the environment. Ingredients to avoid include:

• Ethoxylated surfactants: These are dangerous because during manufacturing they create a harmful byproduct known as 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen and neurotoxin. These compounds rarely appear on labels but can be detected by looking for ingredients ending in “-eth,” such as laureth-6 or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).
• Chlorine: While effective for disinfection and often found in bleach, it can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs, and harm water ecosystems.
• Optical brighteners: These are fluorescent dyes used to make fabrics appear whiter or brighter. However, they often leave residues that can irritate the skin and are not biodegradable.
• Phosphates: Though generally safe for human use, phosphates can damage aquatic ecosystems by causing algal blooms.
• Phthalates: Common in fragrances, these compounds can cause respiratory issues and disrupt hormonal balance. If a product lists “fragrance” but doesn’t specify that it’s phthalate-free, it may contain them.
• MEA, DEA, and TEA: These emulsifiers help keep ingredients in cleaning products from separating, but some studies have linked them to asthma and skin irritations.

3. Look for Trustworthy Certifications

Labels on eco-conscious cleaning products often include certification seals from independent organizations, such as the EPA’s Safer Choice seal. This certification ensures the product has been thoroughly evaluated and meets stringent safety standards for both the environment and human health.

4. Pay Attention to Warnings

Product warnings on cleaning labels can give you a quick indication of which are safe or hazardous. Words like “danger,” “caution,” or “toxic” indicate that the product may pose risks to health or the environment, especially when used incorrectly.

5. Opt for Products with Transparent Ingredients

Brands committed to consumer safety and wellness typically list their ingredients clearly and transparently. If a label only includes vague terms like “fragrance” or “colorants,” it could be a red flag that the product contains undisclosed chemicals that may be harmful.

6. Choose Products with Minimal Packaging

Beyond ingredients, packaging is also important. Eco-conscious cleaning products usually use recyclable or reusable packaging. Choosing brands that use sustainable packaging is another way to reduce your environmental impact.

7. Check the Usage Instructions

The usage instructions on cleaning product labels help ensure you’re using the products safely and effectively. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations will not only guarantee better cleaning results but also minimize health risks.

Transparency on Labels

Did you know that there’s no federal law in the United States that requires cleaning product brands to disclose their ingredients? While companies are required to list every ingredient in the foods we consume, cleaning product brands can choose not to reveal anything. That’s right—nothing at all.

However, there is an exception: In 2017, California passed the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, which requires brands to disclose the ingredients in their cleaning products both on the label and in a digital format if they are sold in the state. This is a significant step forward, and it would be fantastic to see more states adopt similar measures or, even better, a federal law that makes this the standard nationwide.

At ECOS, we believe everyone deserves access to the information they need to choose safer cleaning products. As we often say, the more you know, the smarter you can be about what you bring into your home.

That’s why we’ve identified over 500 harmful ingredients found in cleaning products and listed them on our website. We call them “The Nasties,” and you can check them out here. This list is not only informative but also serves as our promise that we will never use these ingredients in our products.

Another useful tip when shopping is to look for the U.S. EPA Safer Choice logo on cleaning product labels. This program identifies products that are made with ingredients that are safer for your health and the environment without sacrificing performance. More than 120 ECOS products carry this certification. You can read more about it here.

Conclusion

Reading cleaning product labels may seem overwhelming at first, but with a little knowledge, it becomes easier to identify ingredients that are safe for your family and the planet. ECOS cleaning products are a perfect example of how innovation in plant-powered ingredients can offer superior cleaning without compromising health or the environment. By choosing eco-conscious and plant-based products like those offered by ECOS, you’re not only caring for your loved ones but also for the world around you.

Make the safer choice. Choose ECOS cleaning products for a clean home in harmony with nature.

Sources:

7 Common Toxins Found in Laundry Detergent
http://xh86.239877.com/live-cleaner/7-common-toxins-found-in-laundry-detergent/

The Nasties: Our Never-Ever List
http://xh86.239877.com/the-nasties/

6 Common Toxins Found in Household Cleaners
http://xh86.239877.com/live-cleaner/6-common-toxins-found-in-household-cleaners/