Cleaning Products Are Increasingly Green, But Consumers Still Need To Be Wary

More than two thousand cleaning products, many using ingredients like vinegar and plant-based oils, now carry the EPA’s Design for the Environment seal, an indication of the gathering strength of the green and sustainable movement over the last two years. But consumers need to be aware that scores of cleaning products that claim to be nontoxic and good for the planet have not earned that seal. Eco-conscious consumers should also be alert to a company’s packaging and shipping methods. Cleaners often contain mostly water; shipping that extra weight wastes fuel and has a "lousy environmental impact," according to Joey Green, author of the book "Cleaning Magic." One solution? Concentrated cleaners and refillable packages, a trend that has already caught on in Europe.