An eco-conscious, concentrated all-purpose cleaner formulated to safely cut through heavy grease, dirt, and stains on almost any washable surface while offering a refreshing sassafras scent.
The respectable performance rating of 8.3/10 is driven by a highly functional surfactant system. C9-11 Alcohols Ethoxylated acts as a powerful non-ionic surfactant that excels at cutting through grease, oil, and household grime. This is supported by Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, a highly effective, biodegradable chelating agent that binds hard water minerals to prevent them from interfering with the cleaning process. Additionally, Sodium Bicarbonate provides mild abrasive action and pH buffering to help lift soils, resulting in a reliable and versatile cleaner for everyday surfaces.
The safety rating is limited to 5.8/10 primarily due to the preservation system and fragrance ingredients. The formulation contains Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI), which are well-known, potent skin sensitizers and contact allergens. The presence of Fragrances and Anethole further increases the risk of skin and respiratory irritation for sensitive individuals. While ingredients like Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate are green and safe, and Hydrochloric Acid is likely used in tiny quantities solely for pH balancing, the allergen risks prevent a higher safety score.
With an overall rating of 7.0/10, this product represents a capable but allergen-prone cleaning solution. It delivers strong performance (8.3/10) thanks to its grease-cutting surfactants and chelators, ensuring excellent utility across various surfaces. However, its compromised safety profile (5.8/10)—stemming from sensitizing preservatives like MCI/MI and added fragrances—drags down the overall score, making it a highly effective choice but one that requires caution for users with sensitive skin or allergies.
This ingredient profile represents the classic, highly versatile, and biodegradable formulation of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. Built on a base of water and C9-11 Alcohols Ethoxylated, it relies on a powerful non-ionic surfactant to aggressively emulsify grease, oils, and stubborn grime. The addition of Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate is a highly effective, plant-based chelating agent that binds hard water minerals, preventing them from interfering with the surfactant’s cleaning performance. For pH stabilization and mild deodorizing power, the formula utilizes Sodium Bicarbonate balanced carefully with trace amounts of Hydrochloric Acid to achieve a safe, non-corrosive pH level that remains gentle on household surfaces while ruthlessly tackling dirt. The vibrant, signature green shade of this cleaner is achieved using a premium blend of polyoxyalkylene substituted chromophores (cyan and yellow). These are polymeric colorants designed to remain highly stable in liquid formulas without the heavy-metal environmental safety concerns associated with some traditional industrial dyes. To elevate the user experience, the formula features its iconic, refreshing sassafras aroma driven by anethole and proprietary fragrances. This provides a pleasant, licorice-like scent that completely avoids the harsh, chemical fumes of typical heavy-duty industrial degreasers. While this product is proudly recognized by the EPA’s Safer Choice Program for its environmental friendliness and safer chemical footprint, sensitive users should take note of its preservation system. It utilizes Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) to prevent microbial growth. Although highly effective at keeping the concentrate shelf-stable, these isothiazolinone compounds are well-documented contact allergens. They can trigger contact dermatitis or skin irritation in individuals who are chemically sensitive, highly allergic, or prone to eczema, especially during prolonged dermal exposure. Ultimately, this formula is an outstanding, highly concentrated cleaner that offers incredible economic value, as it can be diluted up to thirty-fold for light everyday household tasks or used full strength for heavy-duty automotive, outdoor, or industrial degreasing. It successfully strikes an excellent, reliable balance between environmental responsibility and aggressive cleaning power, making it a highly recommended, versatile staple for anyone looking to declutter their cleaning cabinet with a single, dependable multi-surface solution.
🧪 Water / 水
Purpose: Acts as a liquid carrier and solvent to dissolve other ingredients.
Concerns: None.
Notes: Essential base for liquid household cleaners.
🧪 Surfactant / 表面活性剂
Purpose: Lowers surface tension of water, helping to trap and remove dirt and grease.
Concerns: Can cause minor skin or eye irritation depending on the specific chemical type used.
Notes: A generic term representing active cleaning agents in the formula.
🧪 C9-11 Alcohols Ethoxylated / C9-11 醇聚醚
Purpose: Non-ionic surfactant that penetrates, breaks down, and lifts greasy soils and dirt.
Concerns: Can cause moderate to severe eye irritation; toxic to aquatic life but highly biodegradable.
Notes: Widely used in household cleaners for its excellent degreasing properties.
🧪 Sodium Bicarbonate / 碳酸氢钠
Purpose: Alkaline builder, pH buffer, and mild deodorizer.
Concerns: Generally safe and non-toxic.
Notes: Commonly known as baking soda; helps stabilize the formulation’s pH.
🧪 Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate / 谷氨酸二乙酸四钠
Purpose: Chelating agent that binds metal ions to soften hard water and boost cleaning efficiency.
Concerns: Very low toxicity, highly biodegradable, and eco-friendly.
Notes: Often used as a safer alternative to older chelators like EDTA and NTA.
🧪 Hydrochloric Acid / 盐酸
Purpose: Strong acid used in tiny quantities to adjust and balance the final pH of the formula.
Concerns: Highly corrosive in concentrated form, but fully neutralized and safe at the extremely low concentrations used in this formulation.
Notes: Strictly used as a processing aid for pH adjustment.
🧪 Blend of Polyoxyalkylene Substituted Chromophores (Cyan and Yellow) / 聚氧烯烃取代发色团混合物（青色和黄色）
Purpose: Polymeric colorant used to impart a stable green hue to the cleaning solution.
Concerns: Low general toxicity; designed to be safe on skin and surfaces.
Notes: Typically trade-named Liquitint; formulated to wash away easily without staining surfaces.
🧪 Fragrances / 香精
Purpose: Imparts a pleasant scent to mask the chemical odors of other raw materials.
Concerns: Potential skin sensitizer and respiratory irritant for sensitive individuals; exact composition is often proprietary.
Notes: Can trigger allergies in individuals sensitive to synthetic scents.
🧪 Anethole / 茴香脑
Purpose: Aroma compound providing a sweet, anise or licorice-like scent.
Concerns: Known allergen that can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals.
Notes: Naturally found in essential oils of anise, fennel, and star anise.
🧪 Methylchloroisothiazolinone / 甲基氯异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Broad-spectrum preservative used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in the product.
Concerns: Strong contact allergen and skin sensitizer; highly toxic to aquatic life.
Notes: Commonly used in combination with Methylisothiazolinone (often referred to as MCI/MI).
🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮
Purpose: Preservative used to inhibit the growth of microbes, extending product shelf life.
Concerns: Known to cause contact allergy and eczema; strictly regulated in many regions due to sensitization risks.
Notes: Should be avoided by individuals with highly sensitive skin or existing skin conditions.