A little clarity for everyday life.

Why I look for EPA Safer Choice.

When I’m choosing household products-especially something like laundry detergent, which I use on clothing, towels, and bedding-the EPA Safer Choice label is my first choice. I want a product with carefully reviewed ingredients, and I want it to do its job. In this case, that means clean clothes.

To earn the label, a product’s full ingredient list is reviewed against EPA criteria for human health and the environment, including ingredients present in very small amounts. The review considers concerns such as cancer, reproductive and developmental effects, harm to aquatic life, and how long a chemical persists in the environment. It also looks beyond ingredients to factors such as product pH and packaging.

Performance matters, too. Safer Choice products must meet standards specific to their product category and perform comparably to conventional products. Manufacturers must provide evidence of cleaning performance; the label is not awarded on ingredient review alone. For laundry detergent, that includes demonstrating that it effectively cleans laundry.

I also favor fragrance-free options. The standard Safer Choice label does not automatically mean fragrance-free, so I check that separately; EPA offers an additional fragrance-free designation. Together, these are useful guideposts for making a thoughtful choice without having to become an expert in every ingredient.

Learn about EPA’s Safer Choice label · Find certified products