Simply Green Cleaner not so simple or green
Posted by easy eco blog
Simply Green is a popular cleaning product that is marketed as nontoxic and environmentally friendly. Analysis has shown that it is not that simple and nontoxic as it contains EGBE, also known as 2-butoxyethanol: “the company said it didn’t detail all the chemicals in its products to protect its formula from piracy…. ”
“William Nazaroff, a professor of environmental engineering and chairman of the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley, said the EPA erred when it removed the chemical from the hazardous air pollutants list.
Nazaroff conducted a study for the California Air Resources Board in 2006 on the indoor air chemistry of cleaning agents and toxic air contaminants.
He found that people using some common products containing EGBE could be exposed to levels 12 times greater than California’s one-hour exposure guideline.”
A quick look at the Simply Green Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) shows the 2-butoxyethanol ingredient. It also has <1.2% VOCs. Far from a product that is all natural. Furthermore, the Simply Green bottle does not even list all ingredients.
My advice is to skip Simply Green and the controversy and try cleaners from Seventh Generation or Method that list all their ingredients
Related posts:
- Safeway Bright Green Eco-friendly Products – Scotch Brite Greener Cleaner Green cleaning products
- What is a Natural Cleaner or Natural home care product ?
- Clorox Green Works Household Cleaner, Method, Seventh Generation – ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent
- Clorox Green Works Laundry Detergent Deal
- MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheets – What ingredients are in a product?
- Greenwashing Labels – Misleading Green Labeling
- Green Spring Cleaning Tips and Season Home Preparation Tips
- Green Summer Preparation Tips and Season Home Preparation Tips
Filed under: Cleaning, Uncategorized | Tags: house cleaner, simply green
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2 Responses to “Simply Green Cleaner not so simple or green”
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April 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
[...] behind some chemicals like monoethanolamine in Mr Clean and Formula 409, and 2-butoxyethanol in Simple Green. Chemicals and cleaners that I would just [...]
March 27th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I bought this product by mistake. It smelled so strongly like ether and chemicals when I opened it at home that I doubted the “natural” label. The ingredients conveniently were not listed on the product. I looked up the ingredients and found this “non-toxic” product contains 2-butoxyethanol. I researched this chemical in American and International Chemical Safety Data Sheets. It is carcinogenic and should not be inhaled and can cause a variety of health and reproductive problems. If we have to wear gloves and masks to breathe this then why the heck are we spraying this toxin all over our bathroom and cleaning products ?
This product, “Simple Green” is just another chemical masquerading as what it is not. Just like most advertising, is based on the assumption that we as consumers are idiots.
Stick to the simple facts — read the ingredients and if they are not listed, do not buy it. If the ingredients are understandable and natural, it will smell natural and most likely not be toxic.
Seventh Generation has just recently agreed to list all its ingredients, and their truly are non-toxic and plant based and smell as such.
We vote everyday to protect our rights, our health, our earth, so make the smart choice and don’t let a marketing label fool you.
You are NOT a dumb consumer.