Ecolosophy Home Scan · The method

A score you can check.

Most “clean” ratings ask you to trust them. This one shows its work. Every bottle starts at 100. Points come off only for a documented concern backed by a linked source, and for hiding ingredients behind a catch-all word.

The formula

Start at 100. Take off points for each concern. Take off points for partial disclosure. The result stays between 0 and 100.

score = clamp(100 − Σ SEVERITY_WEIGHT[flag] − DISCLOSURE_PENALTY[level], 0, 100)

Six rules the scorer never breaks

  1. No list, no score.If a brand does not publish its ingredients, we do not guess. The bottle shows “Not scored” instead of a number.
  2. No source, no deduction.Every flag needs a linked source. A flag without a working link is dropped before scoring. The kind of source each flag accepts is listed below.
  3. Only documented flags count.A flag has to be defined in the table below, with its severity, before it can move a score.
  4. Each concern counts once.Three quats in one bottle are one quat deduction. Every ingredient that carried it is still listed.
  5. Same flag, same points.Severity comes from the table, never from the product, so two bottles with the same flag lose the same points.
  6. No exceptions for us.Ecolosophy bottles run through the same function as every other brand. If our flags change, our score changes.

Points per concern

−18High concern
−10Moderate concern
−4Low concern
0For your information

Points for disclosure

  • 0Every ingredient named
  • −12Catch-all term in the list ("Fragrance", "Parfum", "Colorants")
  • Not scoredNo ingredient disclosure found

What the number means

  • Excellent90–100
  • Good75–89
  • Limited50–74
  • Caution25–49
  • Avoid0–24

Every flag, and the source it needs

  • Chlorine bleach source−18

    Sodium hypochlorite or trichloroisocyanuric acid. Corrosive to skin and airways, and releases chlorine gas if mixed with acids or ammonia.

    Source required: CDC or ECHA

  • Corrosive acid descaler−18

    ECHA classifies the acid as Skin Corr. 1C / Eye Dam. 1 as a substance. Real burn risk at concentrate strength.

    Source required: ECHA classification

  • Fragrance not itemized−18

    "Fragrance" or "Parfum" on a label stands in for a mixture the brand does not list compound by compound. California SB 258 and EPA Safer Choice disclosure guidance treat this as the gap to close.

    Source required: Disclosure law or EPA disclosure guidance

  • High-VOC solvent load−18

    A large share of the formula is a volatile solvent (for example 58% ethanol in an aerosol). NIOSH lists eye, nose and throat irritation.

    Source required: NIOSH or ATSDR

  • Never mix with bleach−18

    An acid or ammonia product that releases toxic gas if combined with a chlorine-bleach cleaner in the same space. CDC bleach guidance.

    Source required: CDC

  • Quaternary ammonium antimicrobial−18

    Quats (benzalkonium chloride, ADBAC, DDAC) are registered antimicrobials. EPA’s ADBAC re-registration decision and ECHA infocards record skin and eye irritation and respiratory sensitization.

    Source required: EPA RED or ECHA infocard

  • Aerosol propellant−10

    Hydrocarbon propellant (butane / propane) sprayed indoors. NIOSH pocket guide entries for the propellants.

    Source required: NIOSH

  • Alkaline oxygen bleach−10

    Sodium percarbonate / carbonate. ASPCApro notes oral and esophageal injury if a concentrated soak is swallowed by a pet.

    Source required: ASPCApro

  • Ammonia−10

    ATSDR ToxFAQs: irritating to eyes, nose and throat, more so in a closed room.

    Source required: ATSDR ToxFAQs

  • Glycol-ether solvent−10

    Propylene glycol butyl ether / butoxypropanol. ECHA infocards list eye irritation. Consumer-product levels run below occupational limits.

    Source required: ECHA infocard

  • Sensitizing preservative−10

    Methylisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone or glutaral. ECHA classifies these as Skin Sens. 1 / 1A.

    Source required: ECHA classification or NIOSH

  • Sulfate or ethoxylated surfactant−4

    Effective cleaners. ECHA classifies the pure substance as a skin and eye irritant; at use dilution this is a class note.

    Source required: ECHA classification or ATSDR

  • EPA-registered disinfectantInfo

    The active is registered with EPA for disinfecting. A disinfecting step, not an everyday cleaner. Informational.

    Source required: EPA pesticide product label

  • Ethoxylated surfactant (1,4-dioxane class note)Info

    ATSDR notes 1,4-dioxane as a possible trace contaminant of ethoxylated surfactants as a class. Presence in this product is not verified and carries no weight here.

    Source required: ATSDR (class note only)

  • Ingredient class on EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients ListInfo

    The named surfactant class appears on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List. This is a class listing, not a Safer Choice product certification. Informational.

    Source required: EPA SCIL

  • Scent components named individuallyInfo

    Scent comes from individually listed oils or the formula is unscented. Informational.

    Source required: Brand disclosure

Think we got one wrong?

Send the bottle, the ingredient and your source to [email protected]. If the source holds up, the score changes, ours included.

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