Wise Word: House Cleaning Products Labels

Label	Where?	What it means?	Is it verified?	Is it meaningful?
Certified Biodegradable	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product will biodegrade in the environment: is not toxic to aquatic organisms, that it does not contain phosphates or other compounds that contribute to eutrophication and that the ingredients will not adversely impact the environment by displacing other harmful substances already present.	Yes, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent certifier, has developed certification standards for biodegradable soaps, detergents, and cleaners.	Yes, SCS ’s standards require testing to show 70% biodegradation within 28 days into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals under conditions where oxygen is present, and to ensure that whatever material is left after biodegradation is not toxic to aquatic organisms.
Certified Vegan	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture and floor cleaner.	Contain no animal ingredients or by-products, use no animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process, and not tested on animals by any company or independent contractor.	Yes, the Vegan Awareness Foundation.	Yes. These products should have the logo of the Vegan Awareness Foundation.
Bactericidal/ Germicidal/ Kills Germs/ Kills Pathogenic Bacteria/ Antibacterial/ Antimicrobial	Bathroom, kitchen, and laundry cleaners, sponges.	Bactericidal/Germicidal: it contains substances that kill the bacteria. Antibacterial/Antimicrobial: it contains substances that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria.	Yes, EPA regulates all household cleaning products and laundry detergents that claim to have bactericidal or antimicrobial/antibacterial properties except dishwashing soap.	Yes. EPA reviews the claims, to ensure that the active ingredient meets required safety and effectiveness tests, and that the product is labeled properly.
Effective Against E. Coli and Staphylococcus	Bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaners.	The product kills or inhibits the growth of two specific types of bacteria that can cause disease: E. coli and staphylococcus.	Yes, it is regulated by EPA.	Yes. EPA reviews the information, to ensure that the active ingredient meets required safety and effectiveness tests, and that the product is labeled properly.
Mold and Mildew Resistant	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	The product is or contains an antimicrobial chemical which interferes with the growth of mold and mildew.	Yes, it is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA does requires safety testing of active ingredients.
Reduces Risk of Food-borne Illness from Bacteria	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	It implies that the product kills or inhibits the growth of disease-causing bacteria in or on food (or hands or items touching the food).	Yes, It is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA requires testing of active ingredients to ensure that are safe and efficacious.
Retards the Growth and Odors of Bacterial Odors	Bathroom and kitchen cleaners.	The product contains an antimicrobial chemical which helps to slow the development of odor by killing or inhibiting the growth of odor-causing microbes.	Yes, It is regulated by EPA.	Yes. The EPA requires testing of active ingredients to ensure that are safe and efficacious.
No Sodium Lauryl or Laureth Sulphate	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. However the claim is very specific.	No.	Yes. The claim is very specific.
Biodegradable	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, floor, furniture, glass, metal, and wood cleaners.	A product is degradable when exposed to air, moisture, bacteria or other organisms and that the materials will break down and return to nature within a reasonably short time after customary disposal.	No.	Somewhat. Some products may take longer to biodegrade. Note: Being biodegradable does not mean it is healthy or safe for you or the environment. There are toxins that biodegrade in even more toxic substances.
DEA-free	Glass an metal cleaners.	The product does not contain the ingredient diethanolamine(DEA).	No.	Somewhat. It is a fairly specific claim. However, many companies do not use this ingredient anymore.
Includes Biodegradable Surfactants (Anionic or Nonionic)/Includes Biodegradable Surfactants, Enzymes, and Brightening Agents	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No specific standard definition.	No.	Somewhat. They do not refer to the product as a whole. Note: Many ingredients in soap and detergent products are biodegradable regardless labeling.
No Animal By-products/ No Animal Ingredients	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. It means that no ingredients are by-products from slaughtered or rendered animals.	No.	Somewhat.
No Detergents	Bathroom, kitchen, wood, and furniture cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	Somewhat. It may still contain harsh solvents or cleaning chemicals as an alternative to detergents.
No Phosphate/Phosphate Free/Contains No Phosphorus	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that a product contains no phosphate chemicals.	No.	Somewhat. Starting in 1994, major manufacturers of laundry detergents had all eliminated phosphate from their products.
TEA-free	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product does not contain the ingredient triethanolamine, or TEA.	No.	Somewhat. It is a fairly specific claim.
Water-based	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition. Water-based products can contain chemicals that are harmful to health.	No.	Somewhat. It is not meaningful on products that contain mostly water.
100% Biocompatible	Bathroom, kitchen and laundry cleaners.	No standard definition. Manufacturers suggest that it means "tolerated by living organisms."	No.	No.
100% Vegan	Floor, laundry, glass, metal, wood, kitchen, and bathroom cleaners.	Does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.	No.	No.
Cruelty Free/No Animal Testing	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	No. Some companies can use materials that were tested on animals many years back; others can test their raw products on animals but not the final products; others may indeed not use animal testing.
Eco Safe/ Environmentally Friendly/ Environmentally Preferable/ Environmentally Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that the product or packaging has some kind of environmental benefit or that it causes no harm to the environment.	No.	No.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers this claim too vague.
Gray Water Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It implies that they will not interfere with the proper functioning of graywater collection and treatment systems.	No.	No. The NSFC states that any cleaning product is safe to use with graywater systems, so long as the product is used in accordance with the product label.
No Synthetic Detergents	Laundry cleaners.	No standard definition.	No.	No. All detergents and soap products are synthetic. Regardless of the source, the oils used must be chemically processed to make the surfactant.
Non-fuming	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It suggests that the product or substance does not give off vapors (gases), dusts, and/or smoke (physical and chemical).	No.	No.
Non-biotoxic/ Non-toxic	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	It suggests that a product, substance, or chemical will not cause adverse health effects, either immediately or over the long-term, to biological organisms.	No.	No. A product that does not meet the definition of “toxic” according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission should not necessarily be considered non-toxic.
Septic Tank Safe	Bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wood, furniture, glass, and metal cleaners.	The product is safe to use in a septic tank system.	No.	No. The NSFC states that any cleaning product is safe to use with septic tank systems, so long as the product is used in accordance with the product label.