Look for EPA Safer Choice and EWG-verified labels

When buying cleaning products, look for two trusted labels: EPA Safer Choice (verified to meet safety and environmental standards) and EWG Verified (screened for health concerns by the Environmental Working Group). These certifications take the guesswork out of choosing safer products.

Why It Works

Greenwashing is rampant in the cleaning industry — terms like "natural" and "eco-friendly" have no legal definition. Third-party certifications provide independent verification that the product meets specific safety and environmental criteria.

Tips

• The EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning (ewg.org) rates thousands of products with letter grades A-F
• EPA Safer Choice products meet strict criteria for human and environmental safety
• Avoid products listing "fragrance" as an ingredient — this term can hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals
• Unscented products generally contain fewer potentially harmful chemicals than scented ones