How we check

Every page answers one question. We check the products people buy against public records and what their makers publish.

1. Start with the question people ask. Each page is built around a real search, like "laundry detergent without 1,4-dioxane."
2. Find the products people buy. We look at what sells on Amazon for that search and keep the ones with strong ratings and many reviews.
3. Read the public record. EPA Safer Choice list, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls, California Prop 65 notices and EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. We match by barcode where the listing gives one, and by brand and product name otherwise.
4. Read the maker's label. Under California's cleaning product law, makers publish their ingredient lists. We copy the words and record the link and date. Amazon titles and bullets are claims; when they disagree with the maker, the maker wins.
5. Line them up. The facts that decide the question, side by side for every brand.
6. Pick for the job. One pick for most people, plus picks for special cases.
7. Prices. Prices come from Amazon's product data with the date we read them. If a price is more than a day old, the page shows a rounded range.
8. If we can't confirm it, we say so or leave it out.

What a flag means

• A flag such as "lists fragrance" comes straight from the label. It tells you what is in the bottle; it does not say a product is unsafe. A missing record does not mean a product is bad; many good products never applied.
• For pets: we name ingredients that poison cats or dogs, using ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline and veterinary sources. If your pet swallowed a cleaner, call your vet or a pet poison line.

Last updated November 3, 2026.