Sun & Earth Update

Date posted: 2013-04-03

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from Sun & Earth.

Surprised by a score?

Date posted: 2013-03-27

When EWG released the Guide to Healthy Cleaning in 2012, some of our scores and findings surprised not only our viewers but us, too. Who knew Lysol made a product EWG can recommend, while many cleaning products marketed as “natural” or “green” don’t pass? We were also shocked to find out how common it is in the cleaning product industry to hide ingredient information from consumers.

Read about five noteworthy surprises by EWG Senior Scientist, Johanna Congleton >>

March 2013 Update

Date posted: 2013-03-27

EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning has been updated to include more products and brands. Search now to learn how your cleaning products rate and if there are safer alternatives.

"Natural" Extracts Can Trigger Allergies

Date posted: 2013-02-08

By Johanna Congleton, EWG Senior Scientist

Allergies are an increasingly serious health issue for millions of Americans, especially children.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  estimates that the number of American children and teenagers reported to suffer skin allergies more than quadrupled, from 2 million reported cases between 1999 and 2001 to nearly 9 million between 2008 and 2010.   Another 12.6 million children and teens were estimated to suffer from respiratory allergies in 2008 to 2010, the CDC said, almost triple the estimate of 4.4 million in 1999 to 2001.

Read more

Planet Inc.

Date posted: 2012-12-14

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from Planet Inc.

EWG to review formaldehyde releasers

Date posted: 2012-12-03

The Environmental Working Group has launched an investigation of ingredients added to cleaning products in order to release formaldehyde. Manufacturers of cleaners compound their products with these chemicals knowing they will break down in a gradual time-release manner to generate small amounts of formaldehyde that serve as a preservative to retard the growth of bacteria.

This industry practice may pose health risks for consumers.

The U.S. government and World Health Organization classify inhaled formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. Skin contact with formaldehyde may cause an allergic reaction. Formaldehyde is a skin sensitizer: repeated exposures increase the chance of having an allergic reaction.

People daily encounter background levels of airborne formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust fumes and other air pollutants. Still, we believe it is prudent for consumers to avoid additional exposure to formaldehyde via cleaning products and personal care items because there is no known safe level of the chemical.

Cleaning product manufacturers can switch to other preservative methods that do not rely on formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals.

While we take a close look at the human health risks posed by the presence of these chemicals in cleaning products, we continue to advise consumers to read labels carefully and seek out products free of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances.

The formaldehyde releasers found in many cleaning products include:

• DMDM hydantoin (trade name Glydant)
• Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)
• Quaternium-15
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Diazolidinyl urea
• Hydroxymethylglycinate
• Hexahydro-1,3,5-tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-S-triazine (trade name Grotan)

Laura Turner Seydel and EWG Present: Tips for Green Cleaning

Date posted: 2012-11-19

Get helpful tips on ways to find healthier cleaners and learn how to make your own green cleaner - a fun project to do with your kids!

Caldrea

Date posted: 2012-11-13

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from Caldrea.

Method update

Date posted: 2012-10-31

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from: Method

Drainbo Update

Date posted: 2012-10-24

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from Drainbo.