What Your Natural Cleaning Products Might Be Hiding From You

These days, welcoming unnecessary chemicals into our home feels almost as bad as welcoming the germs they are meant to kill. Folks are leaning towards more natural products — and we're not just talking about a fridge full of organic produce. Cleaning products that have been labeled as "natural" or "green" are having their moment in the disinfectant aisles. According to The Spruce, there are many benefits to be enjoyed by using natural products such as protecting your health, freshening up your indoor air, looking out for the environment, and perhaps even saving a bit of money. It sounds like we should all be making the switch! But before you do, there are a few things these "clean" products might be hiding from you.

When we see cleaning products claiming to be all-natural on the label, it's easy to jump to the conclusion that they're safer and free of toxic chemicals. Sadly, this isn't always the case. According to Force of Nature, the natural label does not automatically mean more safe. There is no uniform standard on what a cleaning product needs to be made of to be considered "natural." You may think you can check for yourself by flipping the product over and reading the ingredients, but manufacturers of the product aren't required to show their full ingredients list on their labels.

Considering the disinfectant aisle is housing all of these cleaning products, one would assume it would be the cleanest area of the store. When in fact, the labeling of these products, and what companies are allowed to claim, can make the whole aisle a huge grey area. A "natural" product is technically not a "green" product, and other labels such as "environmentally friendly" and "non-toxic" are not federally regulated and can lead to a lot of confusion, says The Spruce.

We understand why consumers want to make the switch to green products. According to Medical News Today, the cleaning products many of us grew up with contain toxic chemicals such as ammonia and bleach, which can cause long-term illness, burns, and asthma attacks. If you are really aiming to clean your home with the most "natural" and "green" ingredients available, experts suggest making your own soap and detergent with 100% natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, tea tree oil, and castile soap. If you do choose to hit up the cleaning aisle, do some research beforehand to find the truly non-toxic products and be wary of all the unregulated "natural" claims on product labels.