Green Cleaning? Look At The Label

Here's help in judging "green" claims on cleaning product packages.

Biodegradable: This unregulated term is meaningful only if it specifies the amount of time it takes for the product to decompose, as most substances will eventually biodegrade over time given the right conditions, such as sunlight.

Non-toxic: There is no official definition or third-party verification for this claim. Not meaningful.

Organic: Household cleaning products aren't regulated by the Organic Foods Production Act, but some of their ingredients, such as plant oils, can be labeled "certified organic."

For more info, see ecolabels.org.