Why Ingredients Matter: The Truth About Cleaning Products
Myth: If you can buy it at the store, it must be safe.
Many of us naturally assume products lining store shelves have been carefully vetted and approved for our safety. Unfortunately, the truth is far less reassuring. The household cleaning industry is notoriously under-regulated, allowing companies to prioritize cheaper, more harmful ingredients over safer alternatives. Labels become confusing, ingredients remain undisclosed, and consumers bear the risk.
At Be Better Goods, we believe informed choices empower healthier living. This is why we've created our "Why Ingredients Matter" series: to demystify ingredients, highlight potential health impacts, and help you confidently choose safer products for you and your family.
Here's why paying attention to what's in your cleaners truly matters:
1. Breathe: Protect Your Lungs from Toxic Fumes
Every spray, wipe, or aerosol releases particles into the air you breathe. Common household cleaners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia, and synthetic fragrances that linger in the air long after you’ve finished cleaning. Over time, exposure to these chemicals can contribute to respiratory issues, allergies, asthma, and even chronic lung conditions.
Learn more about how cleaning products impact your lungs →
2. Eat: How Cleaning Chemicals Enter Your Diet
No one intentionally eats dish soap, yet small amounts of cleaning chemicals remain on dishes, utensils, and baby bottles after washing. Ingredients like alcohol ethoxylates and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) linger, disrupting gut health, harming beneficial gut bacteria, and affecting hormonal balance.
Discover how cleaning chemicals enter your diet →
3. Feel: Safeguarding Your Skin from Harmful Chemicals
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and the first barrier against toxins. However, many cleaning products contain ingredients known to irritate or harm your skin—such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), synthetic fragrances, and harsh preservatives. These chemicals can trigger skin irritation, allergies, and chronic skin conditions like eczema.
Explore how cleaning products impact your skin →
You Deserve Transparency
Companies aren’t legally required to disclose every ingredient in their cleaning products. Generic terms like “fragrance” or “surfactant” can mask dozens of undisclosed, harmful chemicals. At Be Better Goods, we reject this approach. Transparency is essential—every ingredient matters.
Choose Better, Live Healthier
Understanding ingredients empowers you to make safer choices. By becoming informed, you protect yourself, your family, and your home from unnecessary exposure to toxic substances.
Ready to learn more?
Explore each detailed guide above, and confidently switch to products that prioritize your health.