How Can You Tell if a House Cleaning Service Really Uses Non-Toxic Cleaning Products?

If a cleaning company advertises non-toxic cleaning, you should be able to find out what that actually means before inviting them into your home.

The easiest way is to look beyond broad marketing terms and ask about the specific products being used. A trustworthy cleaning company should be comfortable explaining what it uses, where those products are used, and why different cleaning jobs may require different solutions.

How can you tell if a house cleaning service really uses non-toxic cleaning products?

Start by asking for specifics.

A non-toxic cleaning service should be able to tell you the names of the products it describes as non-toxic. Once you know the product, you can look at manufacturer information, ingredients, directions, certifications, and other available documentation.

At Pristine, our general all-purpose cleaner is nontoxic and biodegradable, and we use other products when a different surface or cleaning job calls for a more specialized approach.

That kind of specificity is more useful than simply saying every product is “green.”

If you want to verify non-toxic cleaning products, look for:

EPA's Safer Choice program is one example of a meaningful certification. Products carrying the Safer Choice label must meet EPA criteria for ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment while also meeting performance requirements. (US EPA)

For more context, read Non-Toxic House Cleaning.

What product information should a cleaning company be willing to provide?

A cleaning company should be able to explain what products it regularly brings into your home and what they are used for.

Useful information includes:

Safety Data Sheets can provide information about a chemical product's properties, hazards, handling, storage, and protective measures. (OSHA)

You should also be able to ask why a particular cleaner is being used on a particular surface.

At Pristine, for example, our all-purpose cleaner handles many everyday water-wipeable surfaces, while floors, porcelain, stainless-steel sinks, stovetops, showers, tubs, and wood furniture are cleaned with products chosen for those specific jobs.

That is what good house cleaning service non-toxic products transparency should look like: clear answers instead of vague promises.

Are labels like green, natural, eco-friendly, and non-toxic the same thing?

No. These terms can communicate different ideas, so homeowners should not treat them as interchangeable.

The FTC's Green Guides are designed to help prevent misleading environmental marketing. The FTC specifically states that non-toxic claims should be supported by reliable scientific evidence, while broad environmental claims such as “green” or “eco-friendly” can be difficult to substantiate without explaining exactly what makes the product environmentally preferable. (Federal Trade Commission)

A recognizable certification can provide more useful information than a vague label. EPA Safer Choice, for example, uses defined ingredient and performance criteria before a qualifying product can display its label. (US EPA)

For a closer explanation of the terminology, read What Does Non-Toxic House Cleaning Actually Mean?.

What questions should you ask before hiring a non-toxic cleaning service?

The best questions to ask a non-toxic cleaning company are simple and practical:

Clear answers help you understand what will actually happen inside your home.

You can also learn more about cleaning company product transparency and Are Cleaning Products Safe for Your Home?.

Ask Us What We Use Before You Book

You should not have to rely on a label alone when choosing a cleaning company.

If you want to know what Pristine will use on your floors, counters, bathrooms, furniture, or other surfaces, ask us. We are happy to discuss our products, your preferences, and any specialty surfaces before service.

Contact Pristine House Cleaning to ask questions and request a cleaning quote.