‍When shopping for surface cleaner, opt for ammonia-free products to reduce the risk of inhaling toxic chemicals, and if possible, look for a formula using ethanol instead of isopropyl alcohol. A fragrance-free clear liquid cleaner is best, meaning no unnecessary synthetic fragrances and dyes were added. Our favorite surface cleaners are certified by EWG, EPA Safer Choice, and Leaping Bunny or PETA. 

Ingredients

Ammonia

Ammonia is a gas made up of nitrogen and hydrogen compounds and when dissolved in water, becomes ammonium hydroxide, a pungent, colorless liquid. While one study notes severe inhalation of ammonia has led to chronic pulmonary issues, others have determined that there should be no adverse health effects if levels are concentrated at or below 50 ppm, which is in line with the latest Occupational Safety and Health Association guidelines. 

An important side note because we care about you: never mix ammonia-based products with products that contain chlorine bleach. When those two mingle it’s highly toxic, releasing lethal chloramine gasses. Better yet, choose a surface cleaner that’s ammonia-free, and, voila! Problem solved.

Isopropyl Alcohol

More commonly known as ‘rubbing alcohol’, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is another typical ingredient you may notice on surface cleaners. For starters, IPA (not to be confused with the tasty craft beer) is made through a process called hydration that combines water with Propene - a byproduct of refined fossil fuels like petroleum.

Inhaling IPA can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs, and may affect the liver and kidneys if prolonged exposure exceeds safe thresholds. In lieu of IPA, try finding a cleaner that uses plant-based ethanol. It’s found to be just as effective as a disinfectant and it’s derived from corn and not fossil fuels. As corn grain is processed through a cool and science-y grinding process, the remaining proteins are used as animal feed while the remaining starch is fermented into alcohol. Ethanol can also irritate the skin, and probably for a longer time since it won’t evaporate as fast as IPA. But - the big difference is that the human body has enzymes that can process and detoxify ethanol. All that said, it’s never a bad idea to wear protective gear when cleaning your home. Think eyewear, gloves, and a mouth covering.

Another thing to note is that both ammonia and IPA have a sharp odor that, to be commercially enticing, needs to be masked by more appealing fragrances. This brings us to our next point.

Synthetic Fragrances

It can be tricky to sniff out the truth with fragrances. Simply put, vague mentions of “fragrance” are often a proprietary blend of synthetic and undisclosed chemicals. Essential oils, which are obtained from mechanical pressing or distillation, are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell of their source. The use of essential oils in cleaning products is on the rise as consumers are looking for more ‘natural’ options.

While we don’t want synthetic fragrances, the quality of things like essential oils can be hard to verify. Regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration do not enforce a rigorous review process for essential oils since they’re considered cosmetic ingredients. Although essential oils are generally considered to be safe, due to the lack of full transparency with fragrances on product labels, users are left to hope high-quality products are being used. Still, we would opt for plant-derived essential oils over “fragrances”.

Dyes

Dyes have been added to spray cleaners to attract customers, and so that people can see where the product has been applied and how much cleaner is left in the container. While color-coding cleaners may have benefits in industrial settings to avoid mix-ups of application (i.e. yellow = surface, green = food prep), for home use, dye adds no additional cleaning function and since specific formulations are usually protected under patent, no one really knows what’s in it. Some companies publish this information on their website or through the Environmental Protection Agency, so if you’re loyal to a blue or yellow brand, we recommend searching for their safety data sheet (SDS) or material safety data sheet (MSDS) to see what you can find out.

Packaging

Ingredients aren’t the only thing that makes an impact. Surface cleaner packaging may be an afterthought, but it’s a critical one that factors into choosing the most sustainable option. The vast majority of commercial surface cleaners come in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles. HDPE is super common, but comes from - you guessed it - fossil fuels. That’s why it’s important to keep your eyes peeled for bottles that contain post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The higher the percentage of PCR, the less virgin (aka petroleum-based) plastic needs to be sourced, refined, and manufactured for use.

Just because a material is recyclable (aka able to be recycled) doesn’t mean it ultimately is recycled. The U.S. has a strikingly low plastic recycling rate (about 5% in 2021) and of all the plastics that are recycled, only a portion are HDPE. Although HDPE is recyclable (yay!), a recent press release from the Association of Plastic Recyclers says that of recycled plastics, only 28% are HDPE or PE (polyethylene). If plastics aren’t recycled, there’s no PCR content to be used again. Catch our drift?

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.

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