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ICON DECODER

COMPANY RATINGS
Praises, no criticism
Some praise, no criticism
No rating
Praises, some criticism
Criticism, some praise
Criticisms

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

OTHER ICONS
Australian Owned
Outstanding Product Feature
Industry Alert

Issues

What do you value?
> Animal testing
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> See all
 

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What do you buy?
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Multi-Purpose Cleaners

The Guide > Household > Cleaning > Multi-Purpose Cleaners 

    Industry Alert: Toxic Chemicals

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

Koh  [more info]
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, GECA Approved, palm oil free, toxic free
Founded by two dads from Bondi Beach. Koh's Universal Cleaner is 100% Australian owned and made, certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), accredited cruelty free, grey water safe and free of palm oil and nasty chemicals. Available online.
Manufacturer: Koh
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
Tri Nature  [more info]
Features: 100% Australian owned & made, cruelty free, plant-based, non-toxic
Founded in 1989, Tri Nature's award winning range of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products are Australian-owned and made, plant-based, accredited cruelty free, grey water safe and free of nasty chemicals.
Manufacturer: Tri Nature
About these listings
Find farmers' markets, food coops, farm gate products at Local Harvest
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
ecostore  Ecostore   NZL  Praises, no criticism1
CLR  Advil   (Sabrands) Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Bosisto's  FGB Natural Products   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Cove  Natures Organics   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Earth Choice  Natures Organics   Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
Vin-A-Clean  Riviana Foods   (SunRice) Australian Owned  Some praise, no criticism2
EucoClean  Advantage Chemicals   Australian Owned  No rating3
Orange Power  Aware Environmental   Australian Owned  No rating3
Organic Choice  Aware Environmental   Australian Owned  No rating3
Citro Clean  Chem Pack   Australian Owned  No rating3
Bare Essentials  Pascoe's   (Pact Group) Australian Owned  Praises, some criticism4
Glitz  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
Green Works  Clorox Australia   (Clorox) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Gumption  Clorox Australia   (Clorox) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Handy Andy  Clorox Australia   (Clorox) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Selleys Sugar Soap  DuluxGroup   (Nippon Paint) JPN  Praises, some criticism4
method  Method   (SC Johnson) USA  Praises, some criticism4
Seventh Generation  Seventh Generation   (Unilever) UK  Praises, some criticism4
Domestos  Unilever Australia   (Unilever) UK  Praises, some criticism4
Jif  Unilever Australia   (Unilever) UK  Praises, some criticism4
White King  Pental   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Ajax  Colgate-Palmolive Australia   (Colgate-Palmolive) USA  Criticism, some praise5
Nifti  Colgate-Palmolive Australia   (Colgate-Palmolive) USA  Criticism, some praise5
Dettol  Reckitt Australia   (Reckitt) UK  Criticism, some praise5
Easy Off BAM  Reckitt Australia   (Reckitt) UK  Criticism, some praise5
Pine O Cleen  Reckitt Australia   (Reckitt) UK  Criticism, some praise5
Pledge  SC Johnson Australia   (SC Johnson) USA  Criticism, some praise5
Windex  SC Johnson Australia   (SC Johnson) USA  Criticism, some praise5
Coles Ultra  Coles Supermarkets   (Coles Group) Australian Owned  Criticisms6
Jasol  George Weston Foods   (Garfield Weston Foundation) UK  Criticisms6
Titan  George Weston Foods   (Garfield Weston Foundation) UK  Criticisms6



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