EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning: Update Center

What are quats?

2023-11-22

What are quats?

What is sodium hypochlorite?

2023-11-21

What is sodium hypochlorite?

‘Forever chemicals’

2023-10-27

‘Forever chemicals’ – the part of cleaning you don’t want to last.

Spring Cleaning

2023-03-02

EWG's quick and dirty guide to spring cleaning.

2022 update

2022-04-21

Addressing misinformation on the internet about EWG’s ratings systems.

2021 pH update

2021-03-22

Please note, as of March 01, 2021, EWG actively seeks pH values for only corrosive cleaning product categories and forms. For more details please visit our methodology.

2019 Science Update

2019-08-09

Our 2019 science update has been completed and the new data is now being reflected in product and ingredient scores.

EWG to Remove Certification Score Boost

2019-02-15

After careful consideration, EWG has decided to adjust our scoring methods to remove the score boost we give products that have obtained Green Seal and Ecologo certification. These certifications remain robust indicators of healthier and more environmentally friendly products compared to conventional counterparts but we no longer view the score boost as necessary or warranted.

Disclosure Scoring Update

2019-02-01

Ingredient information found on the label is often missing or incomplete, hindering the public from making better choices while they shop. EWG has updated the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect the increased company adoption of digital tools that offer the public access to more complete ingredient information on the go. Starting in February 2019, if a product label has a machine-scannable barcode or QR code that allows consumers to access further ingredient information at the point of sale, the website disclosure score is multiplied by 1.5 and it is calculated from a possible nine points. For more details on our disclosure scoring, please visit step 8 (calculating a product disclosure score) of our methodology.

Updates coming in 2019

2019-01-18

EWG is conducting toxicity reviews and updating references to ensure we incorporate the latest science. The new data includes the most recently available chemical hazard information from the European Chemicals Agency based on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of chemicals, and may or may not affect ingredient and product scores.

Simple Green Update

2018-05-18

EWG is updating the Guide to Healthy Cleaning to reflect new information from Simple Green.

August 2017 Update

2017-08-31

Procter & Gamble, the world’s biggest maker of both household cleaning and personal care products, introduces the most sweeping fragrance ingredient transparency initiative to date. Click here to read more.