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ICON DECODER

COMPANY RATINGS
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Praises, some criticism
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Criticisms

Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
> more about ratings

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Issues

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Toilet Cleaners

The Guide > Household > Cleaning > Toilet Cleaners 

    Industry Alert: Toxic Chemicals

Green toilet cleaning

Cleaning is less harmful to the environment if people use alternative cleaners, rather than products containing chemicals and other environmentally damaging ingredients.

How to clean your toilet with alternative cleaners:
  • clean frequently with a hot, soapy water solution
  • add a cup of vinegar to the toilet bowl at night and leave; clean with toilet brush next morning
  • to remove stain build-up, rub with bicarbonate of soda
  • spray toilet bowl and seat with vinegar and wipe clean with a moist cloth.

Cleaning Products

Most cleaning products don't list ingredients. However, you can learn something about a product's hazards by reading its label. 'Danger/ Poison' - most hazardous; 'Warning' - moderately hazardous; 'Caution' - slightly toxic. Ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. These include skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.  [EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning]
  • Avoid:
  • chlorine or ammonia, listed as active ingredients
  • formaldehyde, terpenes, phenols, chlorine, organic mercurials, balsams, aluminium complexes, chlorine, organic mercurials, balsams, and aluminium complexes. These are known to have carcinogenic effects.
  • detergents containing alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) - do not degrade completely and are known hormone disruptors.
  • detergents containing phosphates - cause algal blooms in water ways
  • Look for:
  • biodegradable to AS4351, or better still, an international standard
  • plant-based ingredients, instead of petroleum-based
  • concentrated form
  • specific ingredient information (such as solvent-free no petroleum-based ingredients solvent-free, no petroleum-based ingredients) rather than unregulated greenwash claims (such as natural and eco-friendly)

Alternatives beyond the mainstream

SimplyClean  [more info]
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, vegan, palm oil free, non-toxic
SimplyClean launched in 2012. All their products are made in Northern NSW. Their range of environmentally friendly cleaning products are non-toxic, palm oil free, vegan, cruelty free (accredited by PETA) and grey water safe. Available from selected wholefood stores and independent supermarkets.
Manufacturer: SimplyClean
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
ecostore  Ecostore   NZL  Praises, no criticism1
Earth Choice  Natures Organics   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Organic Choice  Aware Environmental   Australian Owned  No rating3
Oomph  Pascoe's   (Pact Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Strike  Woolworths   Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Green Action  Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Power Force  Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Bref  Henkel Australia   (Henkel) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Jeyes Bloo  Jeyes   (Henkel) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Domestos  Unilever Australia   (Unilever) UK  Praises, some criticism4
White King  Pental   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Harpic  Reckitt Australia   (Reckitt) UK  Criticism, some praise5
Duck  SC Johnson Australia   (SC Johnson) USA  Criticism, some praise5
Coles Ultra  Coles Supermarkets   (Coles Group) Australian Owned  Criticisms6



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