Most of us pick up cleaning products the same way we did as kids: grab the bottle, trust the label, and clean the house. But there’s something worth knowing before you do that. Cleaning products are one of the only consumer products in the U.S. that aren’t required to list their ingredients on the packaging.
Food does it. Cosmetics do it. Even pet treats do it.
Cleaners? Not required.
That means the bottle under your sink might contain ingredients linked to asthma, hormone disruption, and long-term health concerns, with nothing on the label to tell you. The good news is that once you know what to watch for, making better choices gets a lot easier.
This guide covers the ingredients worth avoiding, what to look for instead, and how to spot the difference between truly non-toxic formulas and clever marketing.
Why Non-Toxic Cleaning Matters
The chemicals in cleaning products don’t disappear once the counter is wiped down. They linger. They settle on surfaces your hands touch. They coat fabrics that rest against your skin all day. They drift into the air you breathe while you’re scrubbing, long after you’ve put the bottle away.
According to research from the Environmental Working Group, more than half of the cleaning products they evaluated contained ingredients known to harm the lungs. This means the very products meant to keep your home safe and healthy could quietly be doing the opposite.
People with sensitive skin, asthma, or young children at home have the most obvious reasons to care. But indoor air quality affects everyone, and cleaning products are one of the biggest contributors to what’s in the air inside your home.
Ingredients to Avoid
Here are the ingredients worth learning to recognize. If you see any of these on a label, it may be time to consider a different product.
“Fragrance” or “Parfum”
A single word on a label, but it can hide dozens of chemicals. The International Fragrance Association’s Transparency List catalogs over 3,000 different ingredients used across the industry, any of which can legally be grouped under the word “fragrance” on a consumer product label. Some are harmless. Others, including phthalates and synthetic musks, have been linked to hormone disruption and allergic reactions.
1,4-Dioxane
You probably won’t find this one on any label, because it’s a byproduct of how certain detergent ingredients are manufactured, not something added intentionally. The EPA classifies 1,4-dioxane as a probable human carcinogen. It commonly shows up in liquid laundry detergents and any cleaner that uses ingredients with “PEG” or “eth” in their names, like sodium laureth sulfate.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (“Quats”)
Often listed as benzalkonium chloride or similar names, quats show up in antibacterial sprays, disinfecting wipes, and fabric softeners. The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics classifies them as asthmagens, meaning they can trigger asthma in people who didn’t previously have it.
Chlorine Bleach
Bleach is effective, but its fumes are harsh on the respiratory system. Frequent users have higher rates of asthma and other breathing issues. And mixing bleach with the wrong thing, whether ammonia, vinegar, or any acid-based cleaner, releases dangerous fumes. Oxygen-based bleaches are a safer alternative when you need whitening power.
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. It’s rarely added to cleaning products directly, but ingredients like DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, and bronopol slowly release it over time. EWG testing has found formaldehyde traces in some popular household cleaners that don’t mention it anywhere on the label.
Phthalates
These chemicals are used to make fragrance cling to surfaces longer, which is why they show up in so many scented products. Research has linked phthalates to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and developmental effects. Because they’re almost always hidden inside “fragrance,” the only reliable way to avoid them is to choose products that disclose their full fragrance formula.
Glycol Ethers
2-butoxyethanol, also called ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, is a common solvent in all-purpose cleaners and glass cleaners. The EPA considers it a possible human carcinogen, and it’s been linked to reproductive issues and red blood cell damage at high exposure levels.
PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)
PFAS are a family of chemicals prized for their stain-repellent and waterproofing properties, which is why they’ve turned up in everything from carpet cleaners to floor finishes. The problem is right there in the nickname. They don’t break down. They accumulate in your body and in the environment, and they’ve been tied to cancer, immune issues, and reproductive harm. Brands that are PFAS-free will usually say so explicitly.
What to Look For on a Label
Now for the good news. Recognizing a cleaner that’s actually worth bringing home is easier than decoding what to avoid. Here’s what signals quality:
A complete ingredient list. If a brand isn’t willing to tell you everything that’s in the bottle, move on. Transparent companies name every ingredient, including the specific components of their fragrance.
Plant-derived surfactants. Look for ingredient names like “coco-glucoside,” “decyl glucoside,” or simply “plant-based surfactants.” These do the actual cleaning and come from renewable sources instead of petroleum.
Enzyme-based cleaning power. Enzymes like protease, lipase, cellulase, and amylase break down specific types of stains without needing harsh chemistry to back them up. Enzyme formulas work in cold water too, which saves energy.
Biodegradable, backed by certification. The word “biodegradable” isn’t regulated on its own, so the certification matters more than the claim. EPA Safer Choice and EWG Verified are two of the most reliable seals to look for.
Essential oil-based fragrance. If a product smells good because of real essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance, the label will say so. This is one of the biggest distinguishing factors between premium non-toxic formulas and everything else.
Cruelty-free and vegan. Not a direct health issue, but often a signal that a brand cares about the full picture of what goes into their products.
The Greenwashing Problem
Walk down any cleaning aisle and you’ll see words like “natural,” “green,” “eco-friendly,” and “non-toxic” plastered on bottles. Most of these terms are completely unregulated. A company can put “natural” on a label for a product that contains formaldehyde and face no consequences for it.
The only claims that actually mean something are the ones backed by third-party certification, or by a full, transparent ingredient list you can read yourself. A brand that clearly states every component and earns certifications is doing the work. A product that leans on vague buzzwords and photos of leaves on the bottle might not be.
How LAFCO’s Home Care Collection Checks the Right Boxes
LAFCO has spent over 30 years perfecting fragrance that uses essential oils and natural ingredients instead of cheap synthetic alternatives. That same approach now extends into the part of your home where non-toxic formulations matter most.
Every product in the Home Care lineup is plant-based, biodegradable, free from synthetic ingredients, and cruelty-free. The whole collection is scented with Chamomile Lavender, built from calming chamomile, bright bergamot, soothing lavender and eucalyptus, and a warm base of rosemary, patchouli, and honey flower.
Here’s what you can find in the collection:
Chamomile Lavender Laundry Detergent
A concentrated, enzyme-powered formula that handles protein, grease, and starch stains without the dyes, phthalates, or synthetic additives you’ll find in most mainstream detergents. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, strong enough for everyday loads.
Chamomile Lavender Surface Cleaner
A plant-based, biodegradable spray that works on countertops, bathroom fixtures, porcelain, tile, and sealed stone. Spray, wait about 60 seconds, and wipe. It cuts through dirt and grease while leaving behind a light, calming scent instead of a chemical one.
Chamomile Lavender Scented Dryer Ball Set
Three reusable New Zealand wool dryer balls plus a bottle of Chamomile Lavender laundry fragrance oil. Add a few drops to each ball before drying. They soften fabrics naturally, reduce static, and cut drying time, all without the coated chemical residue that conventional dryer sheets leave behind.
For a deeper look at how enzyme-based detergents actually work, LAFCO’s guide to plant-based laundry detergent breaks down the science.
Small Shifts That Add Up
Audit what you already own. Pull everything out from under the sink and check labels. Flag anything with the red-flag ingredients above. Drop hazardous products at a local household hazardous waste collection site rather than pouring them down the drain.
Replace as you run out. You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. When a product empties, swap it for a cleaner formulated version.
Ventilate while you clean. Even the safest cleaners work better with airflow. Crack a window or run an exhaust fan.
Store cleaners safely. Even plant-based formulas can cause problems if ingested or splashed in the wrong place, so keep them away from kids and pets.
Layer the fragrance beyond the laundry room. If you love the way Chamomile Lavender smells on your sheets, a matching scented candle or reed diffuser carries the same calming scent into the rest of the house. A consistent fragrance across spaces makes a home feel more intentional.
A Cleaner Home Starts with a Better Label
Non-toxic cleaning isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about paying attention to what you’re bringing into your home, what you’re breathing, and what you’re touching every day. The ingredients above are worth knowing. The certifications are worth trusting. And the brands that do both are worth choosing.
LAFCO’s Home Care Collection is one place to start. It was built on the same commitment to natural ingredients and essential oil fragrance that has defined LAFCO for decades, just applied to a part of the home that was overdue for it.