Overview
By following label instructions and recommended safety practices, families can confidently and safely use cleaning products in their homes and communities.
Modern cleaning products undergo scientific testing and are subject to regulatory oversight, helping to substantiate their safety when used as directed. In fact, proper usage of cleaning products can promote wellness by minimizing health risks and supporting public health. Consumers can trust that cleaning products on the market have been formulated to clean effectively and help support the health and well-being of consumers and their families.
Furthermore, advancements in ingredient transparency and labeling means more information about cleaning product ingredients is available than ever before, empowering consumers to make informed choices. The presence of detailed safety information, as well as third-party certifications like EPA Safer Choice, demonstrates a commitment to protecting public health.
Cleaning Product Risk Assessment Process
Risk assessment for cleaning product ingredients involves evaluating both the hazard and exposure associated with each substance.
Hazard refers to the inherent potential of an ingredient to cause harm under certain conditions, such as toxicity or irritancy. An ingredient can present a hazard without causing any harm. That just means it has the potential to cause harm if not used carefully, like driving a car.
Exposure considers how, and to what extent, people, pets, or organisms in the environment may come into contact with the ingredient during typical use. For instance, apple seeds contain cyanide, but usually when you eat an apple you don’t eat the seeds, and even if you do, a few seeds contain so little cyanide that they aren’t dangerous. Therefore, the exposure to cyanide in apples is low.
Risk is the likelihood that a certain hazard will occur at realistic exposure levels. Formulators and regulators apply risk-based principles when evaluating the safety of cleaning product ingredients.
Labeling Requirements
In the United States, cleaning products must meet labeling requirements as established through the current system of risk evaluation and risk-based labeling under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) regulations, administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Through the FHSA regulations, the label informs consumers about the potential hazards, ingredients contributing to those hazards, appropriate handling and storage, and applicable first aid information. Learn more about the information on a cleaning product label.
Cleaning Product Ingredients
Cleaning products list ingredients on the label. To learn more about these ingredients, you can scan the SmartLabel QR code found on many product packages for detailed information. Additional ingredient details and safety information are often available on the manufacturer’s website. For screening-level health and environmental risk assessments of common cleaning product ingredients, visit our Cleaning Chemistry Catalog.
Safety Tips for Homes with Children or Pets
- Always read and follow label directions for proper use, storage, and disposal. Never mix cleaning products together.
- Properly close all containers, especially those with child-resistant caps, and store them out of sight and reach of children and pets.
- Keep products in their original containers with the label intact for proper instructions and safety information.
- Put cleaning products away immediately after use.
- Stay attentive when using cleaning products and household appliances. Keep buckets and cleaning solutions out of reach of young children.
- Clean up any cleaning product spills immediately.
- Install child safety locks on cabinets if you have young children or frequent child visitors.
- If you encounter potential poison, call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222.
Cleaning Product Safety FAQ
Always read safety information on cleaning products labels before use. The label on the back of a cleaning produce is where you’ll usually find important information about proper use, storage, disposal, precautions, and first aid instructions. Our How to Read a Cleaning Product Label guide can help show you what to look for and where.
When selecting cleaning products that are safer for children, pets and the environment, look for those bearing the EPA Safer Choice label. In addition, keep small children and pets away from recently cleaned areas until surfaces are dry, and store all cleaning supplies out of reach. Rinse toys with water after cleaning.
Cleaning products are formulated to be safe and effective when used as directed. DIY cleaning product recipes found or shared may not be safe or effective. In addition, they do not come with the safety information found on a cleaning product label. They are not necessarily the safer option that they are often touted as and should be approached with caution. Learn more about mix-at-home cleaners here.
No – not necessarily. All of the chemicals used to make the ingredients that go into cleaning products are found in nature. Very few chemicals extracted from plants or the earth are used without further processing to obtain ingredients that perform a cleaning function. Thus, the term "natural" to describe a final product can be misleading. The best advice is to avoid making assumptions about safety or performance based on a "natural" label alone. Learn more about natural cleaning products here.
Cleaning products are safe when used as directed, but there is no such thing as a non-toxic cleaning product. Toxicity for any cleaning product or solution, even ones called “non-toxic,” depends on exposure. If you are looking for a product containing safer ingredients for human health and the environment, one thing to look for is the EPA Safer Choice label.
Follow the disposal instructions on the product label. Visit our cleaning product disposal guide for more information.