Eco & safety
Eco-friendly cleaning products: what to look for in 2026
The eco-cleaning landscape changed in 2025 with new EcoLogo and EPA Safer Choice updates. What to look for on a label, what to ignore, and our actual product list.
TL;DR
In 2026, three certifications are worth checking on a cleaning product label — EPA Safer Choice, EcoLogo (UL ECOLOGO 2759), and Green Seal GS-37. Everything else is marketing. The most under-regulated category is fragrance, which is exempt from full ingredient disclosure even on otherwise certified products.
'Eco-friendly' is one of the most abused labels in cleaning. Anyone can put a leaf on a bottle. The actual question is whether the product has been independently audited against a published standard.
Three certifications that mean something
- EPA Safer Choice — formerly DfE; audited against the EPA's safer-ingredient criteria. Disclosure of every ingredient by weight is mandatory.
- EcoLogo (UL ECOLOGO 2759) — Canadian-origin standard, internationally recognized; audits manufacturing inputs as well as product chemistry.
- Green Seal GS-37 — focused on institutional and household cleaners; the strictest on biodegradability thresholds.
Labels that don't mean anything specific
- 'Natural' — not a regulated term in Canada or the US
- 'Non-toxic' — vague; usually based on the manufacturer's own LD50 testing
- 'Plant-based' — accurate but tells you nothing about the surfactants or preservatives
- 'Biodegradable' — meaningless without a timeframe and standard (28-day OECD 301 is the right one)
Fragrance is the gap
Under both Canadian and US law, the word 'fragrance' on an ingredient list is allowed to encompass dozens of unlisted chemicals — including some sensitizers and endocrine disruptors. Fragrance-free or 'naturally scented with listed essential oils only' is the right standard for sensitive households.
What we actually use
Our team uses fragrance-free Method, Seventh Generation, ECOS, and Branch Basics across the bulk of work, with vinegar-water for glass and stainless and a hydrogen-peroxide-based all-purpose for bathrooms. Full product list on request.
Frequently asked
- Are eco-products less effective?
- On most surfaces, no. The exception is heavy commercial degreasing (post-construction) where surfactant strength matters; we use industrial-grade plant-based formulations there.
- Are eco-products safe for pets?
- When fragrance-free and dried before pets re-enter the area, yes. Cats are more sensitive than dogs to essential oils, so we keep tea-tree and citrus-based products away from cat households.
- Do I pay extra for eco-products?
- No. Eco is our default — included in every quote, not an upsell.
- What about disinfection? Eco-products and disinfection compatible?
- Hydrogen peroxide at 3–7% is both EPA-Registered as a disinfectant and on the Safer Choice list. We use it for kitchen and bathroom disinfection.
Related
- Eco & safetyPet-safe cleaning products: a 2026 reference
What's safe around dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits — and what isn't. The household chemicals most likely to harm a pet, and the eco-products that are confirmed safe.
- Eco & safetyPlant-based cleaners: what we actually use and why
Inside the cleaning caddy — the specific plant-based products our team uses on every Edmonton home, why we chose each, and what's not in our kit (and why).
- Eco & safetyAsthma-friendly cleaning in Edmonton
How to clean a home well without triggering asthma. The five biggest indoor asthma triggers, the products to avoid, and how to schedule cleaning around symptoms.
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