There is a time and place for everything, and in 2020 it was bleach. Chlorine bleach isn’t great for textile longevity, and luckily I made a safer and effective alternative for us with The Fill.

I provide more details in the “free-of” section- however, basically this comes from plastic packaging and not a common ingredient threat in this product category at this point.

Hasn’t been legal or used since 1993, so we are all good there!

Became a big buzz-word for a while, however, they really were mainly in cosmetics and not in cleaning. Everyone wanted to talk about it at one point, but it’s not a “thing” here.

Still the most common surfactant base (aka soap) used for detergents and cleaners. My big thing was never using petroleum because, in my opinion, plant based surfactants are better (and more expensive).  From an ingredient list, you can’t necessarily determine what is plant or petroleum derived.

Interestingly, certain brands are incorrectly claiming sulfate-free. Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are the main surfactants (i.e., cleaning soap ingredient) in detergents and cleaning products. The most important thing to remember in these “good” or “bad” lists is the specific use-case of the products they are used in.

I make cleaning products which get rinsed off in the laundry, wash, or used to clean a countertop. What might be “bad” for a facewash isn’t “bad” for your countertop!

One was “better” than the other, then they switched. Essentially, like all these things, there are different use-cases and ways to make these materials—petroleum, plant, etc. 

A summary of the regulation:

Since December 31, 2023, New York State has had regulations restricting 1,4-dioxane in household cleaning products to a 1 ppm (parts per million) limit. These products are not directly manufactured with 1,4-dioxane but can contain it as a byproduct from ethoxylated ingredients. The law aims to protect public health and reduce the contaminant in the environment, as 1,4-dioxane is a probable human carcinogen. 

This ingredient on the “bad list” as a carcinogen was put there, not because of the product safety concerns, but because there was too much 1,4-dioxane in the waste system that our local water systems couldn't manage. (See “About the Water”)

Animal by-product (fat) is still used in most grocery brand fabric softeners. Apparently, tallow is also making a comeback to the beauty-obsessed Gen z’ers. They are into animal fat on their baby faces, or so I’m told.

Because I legally know better, I will not use the claim Non-Toxic.

Non-Toxic is not a regulated legal term and the current legal landscape now defines it to mean that it “will not harm” is not limited to death, but also various types of temporary physical illness, such as vomiting, rash, and gastrointestinal upset. In other words, for something to be non-toxic you should arguably be able to drink, eat, and fill your fish bowl with it—none of which I suggest doing with a detergent or surface cleaner. I also don't recommend using it on the body. These are cleaning products, not personal care nor a consumable.

“Organic” isn’t a term that translates to home cleaning products.  There are various certifications (listed HERE) for the category, most are paid with their own review standards, but none that are for standards of “Organic” materials.

The USDA started the Organic food certification in 2002. It wasn't until 2008 that there was a third-party organic certification for cosmetics and personal care.

You can search “Is there an organic verification system for cleaning products” to get an explanation of details of the different current certifications EcoCert, Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice and how they are applied. 

Natural or naturally-derived are not regulated terms and, in my opinion, have little meaning or relevance within the context of cleaning products.

I say made with plant and mineral derived ingredients, which is accurate because the functional ingredients are made, at least in part, from plants or minerals. A product can be tested and assigned a Biobased marker, which tells the % of actual biobased material.

This is a great explanation of how to arrive at Biobased numbers. https://www.betalabservices.com/biobased.html

Here is a good explanation of this- basically, "Tested" implies basic safety evaluation (e.g., assessing for irritation), while "approved" or "recommended" suggests a higher level of confidence or clinical endorsement by a dermatologist. 

This is a claim that should only be said if it is substantiated by testing. My assumption is that most brands make this claim without testing.

To substantiate a “non-irritating” claim, products are often tested to ensure that a product does not cause irritation to consumers based on the use of the product. Testing is often achieved through clinical testing methods such as the Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (RIPT). RIPT tests assess both irritation and sensitization, ensuring that the product is safe for sensitive skin and does not trigger localized reactions. The process typically involves a preliminary review of risk and ingredients, volunteer panel selection, and structured exposure phases to simulate repeated consumer use while protecting participant safety.

Various regulatory boards determine the allergen list and threshold to allergens. The rules and lists keep changing and change frequently. They are mostly focused on cosmetics and skin care too. I have always adhered to the more stringent EU rules. 

To read more you can search “fragrance allergen labeling requirements” to get the current information and understanding landscape.

You will see some unidentifiable words on my labels in the fragrance section. However, “fragrance” is the legal term required for the labels. The long unknown words/names are the “chemical” or Latin names for various materials, oils, and plants.

Sadly, I don't get to give any credit to my hardworking US factories and Made in the USA packaging. I was so proud that I used American-made plastics vs. the common Chinese imported packaging. This credit went out the window, to a less deserving “assembled in the US”  because, sadly, if any of the raw materials (aka ingredients) are imported (as our wonderful enzymes made in Germany), this no longer counts. (if you’re following the rules)

I chose to scent The Fill with essential oils for their aromatherapeutic benefits. I wanted to provide more for the user than just clean clothes and homes. My theory was, If we can get extra supportive benefits, we should! 

It is nice that established medical institutions are acknowledging, defining, and researching Aromatherapy, like The Cleveland Clinic. I also really like this study too.