Nothing like mopping your floors, scrubbing your counters and cleaning your shower with hazardous waste. That’s essentially what you’re doing if you use many name-brand household cleaners to get your home spic-and-span. But you eco-conscious clean freaks probably already knew that. If you’re concerned about your health and helping the environment, your toxic household cleaners were likely the first to go. And for good reason. The household cleaning industry is largely unregulated and companies aren’t required to include ingredient lists for cleaning products, like they are for food, drugs and personal care products. Companies take advantage of that lack of regulation to make bogus claims about their cleaning products and to include toxic chemicals in their products without letting consumers know. Hidden behind vague terms or not stated at all, it’s hard to know just how bad these chemical concoctions really are for your health and for the environment. That’s why the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit research organization known for its personal care product database, has created a new database that includes more than 2,000 household cleaners.

The EWG ranked the cleaners based on how hazardous their ingredients are and how much information they include on their labels. The EWG plans to debut its EWG Cleaners Database in September 2012. In the meantime, the non-profit released a list of cleaners for its Hall of Shame. Take a look at some of the worst offenders the EWG has uncovered—so far. Perhaps one of the worst because it undeservedly boasts the title “green”, this all-purpose cleaner from Simple Green contains 2-butoxyethanol, a solvent known to damage red blood cells and irritate eyes. Despite its “non-toxic” claims on its labeling, this all-purpose cleaner also contains a secret blend of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants; some chemicals in this family are banned in the European Union. Even worse, the EWG notes that the company website instructs the user to significantly dilute this product when cleaning. Actually, Simple Green calls it “custom dilute,” as if it’s some fabulous product feature.

Yet, the cleaner is packaged in a spray bottle that implies it can be used full strength, which means possible higher exposure to the toxic chemicals in this product. the best multi purpose steam cleaners Despite its cheery cartoon scrub brush mascot, Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom and shower cleaners should do anything but bring a smile to your eco-loving face. the best multi purpose steam cleanersThese products contain chemicals banned in the European Union including DEGBE, which can irritate and inflame the lungs. carpet cleaners reading maThe European Union bans this chemical in household cleaners in concentrations above 3 percent. These products contain up to 10 percent. Besides dissolving the gunk in your oven, the chemicals in this cleaner can also burn your skin and eyes.

The label says as much. It advises users to avoid eyes, skin, mucous membranes and clothing. On top of that you should also wear long gloves when using it, avoid breathing in the mist, use only with adequate ventilation and do not ingest it. Something so dangerous has no place in the your eco-home. Unlike food, cosmetics and drugs, ingredient labels are not required for cleaning products. Some companies choose to include their ingredients because of consumer pressure—others do not, including, Target’s Up & Up brand cleaners. This brand’s toilet bowl cleaner and glass and surface wipes list no ingredients whatsoever. Other cleaners in its line of products list only one or two ingredients, or use vague terms. You know many household cleaners on the market pose serious health hazards, but what about death? This toilet bowl cleaner from Lysol even states on the label that it is “harmful or fatal if swallowed”. The label also suggests wearing safety goggles as a bit of this acidic concoction can cause “irreversible damage” to eyes.

So not worth a clean toilet. How does mixing in a little formaldehyde into your washer full of laundry sound? That’s what you do if you use any of these Phoenix Brands detergents. As a known human carcinogen at its worst, formaldehyde has also been found to cause asthma and allergies. The company only lists this information on the product as a technical disclosure for workers. One hundred forty-six: that’s the number of chemicals the EWG found in this common household toilet cleaner. Some of the chemicals are known to cause cancer, asthma and reproductive disorders. The most toxic of the chemicals found, including formaldehyde, benzene, chloroform and toluene, are not listed on the label. The EWG states that little is known about the health hazards of most of the hidden chemicals. Even though some cleaners contain ingredients derived from plants instead of petroleum, that doesn’t mean they’re safe. Case in point: this cleaner and degreaser is made from d-limonene and orange oils from citrus peels.

Sounds innocent, but when sprayed into the air these oils can react with trace levels of ozone air pollution to form ultra-fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Many of these brand name spray cleaners are laced with ingredients that cause asthma, including quaternary ammonium compounds or ethanolamine. These chemicals can trigger asthma attacks and even cause new cases of the disease. These products essentially spray these dangerous chemicals directly into your home’s air. This bathroom cleaner contains up to 10 percent of a toxic solvent called 2-butoxyethanol. Canada only allows this chemical’s use in non-aerosol cleaners up to 6 percent. As if that wasn’t enough of a hazardous toxin for one cleaning product, this product also includes nonylphenol ethoxylate, a chemical prohibited in cleaners in the European Union. Follow Kirsten on Twitter @kirsten_hudson, Google+ and Pinterest.This review was published on September 05, 2014. Since then, this product may have been discontinued or replaced.

Pricing and availability may differ from what is stated in the review. The Kenmore 21614 Progressive (MSRP $259.99) is a blueberry-colored canister vacuum. The unusual shade may be eye-catching, but we were pleased to find the 21614 is skilled at catching dirt as well. The vacuum's power is unmistakable, allowing it to pick up debris and clean high-pile carpets without pause. In fact, it cleans almost as well as the Miele S7, and can be yours for a fraction of the cost. Just watch out for its clunky swiveling power brush, which is as apt to bump into furniture as it is to suck away dust. Vacuum seeking cat lady The 21614 comes with multiple attachments for dealing with animal hair. For big jobs, you'll probably want to stick to the Pet PowerMate, which picked up most of the cat hair set out during testing. A pet hair catcher tool is another handy option that can attach right in front of the dusting brush, allowing you to clean your pet's fur from the drapes without the risk of clogging the vacuum's hose.

Beyond that, the 21614's accessories are pretty standard: a crevice tool, a telescopic wand, and a bare floor brush. All of these tools can be stored in compartments on the vacuum itself. Strong suction, but difficult to move. The controls are located on the handle, so no bending down. The Kenmore 21614 has a catch on the bottom that keeps it from rolling down the stairs, and at nearly 22 pounds you'll have to tug pretty hard to move it forward. Additionally, the vacuum's strong suction gave some resistance when we tried to pull the head backwards during testing, and the stubbornly wide turning radius on the whole vacuum proved mediocre at best. All this is workable, but users should definitely come prepared with some elbow grease. We also found it difficult to pull the telescopic wand from its shell in the power brush. You'll need to push a lever, press a button, and pull upward to get it out. In summary, the 21614 and its accessories stayed in place, whether you wanted them to or not.

Miele Compact C2 Onyx $499.00 at Crate & Barrel Miele Complete C2 Limited Edition Miele Classic C1 Delphi Top of the High-Pile A pedal controls the height of the power brush. The power brush tool on the 21614 is height-adjustable, which means it has an easier time dealing with high-pile carpets like shag. The vacuum picked up dirt and debris from deep carpets better than other models at twice the price. On normal carpet and bare floors, this vacuum's scores were rather average. Its higher profile prevented it from cleaning fine dirt on normal carpets, even though we chose the manufacturer-recommended height setting. On bare floors, the vacuum struggled to collect food particles such as uncooked rice, even while using the bare floor brush. However, with the use of proper tools, not even cat hair could hide from the 21614. Whether the dirt and hair were located in the middle of the room or near the walls, the vacuum sucked them right up. Its suction power was just as strong at the edges of the brush as it was at the center.

This kind of power does come at a price: The 21614 is one of the loudest machines we've ever tested. When you use it, the whole house will know. For in-depth performance information, please visit the Science Page. Blueberries may go out of season, but this vacuum can clean your house anytime. The Kenmore 21614 Progressive is a stalwart device. The design isn't fancy, but it has many features that combine to create a positive user experience. All the accessories can be stored onboard, and there's a hook on the bottom of the canister to keep it from rolling down the stairs. When it comes to cleaning, the Progressive shows Kenmore hasn't lost its touch over the years. This canister picks up dirt on both high-pile carpet and bare floor, earning scores almost as high as the much more expensive Miele S7. With its focus on both good household design and cleaning performance, the Kenmore 21614 is a vacuum we'd recommend to anyone. Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need.