It is true that having children changes everything, and for me that included my career. For the past 13 years, I have worked as a formulation chemist. My professional life has been dedicated to formulating exciting new products that are safe, effective, and innovative. For much of my career, I devoted my energy to developing skin care products. When Tiffany and I had Rachel and Allison our lives became exciting, challenging, wonderful and a bit exhausting, and well, so did my career.

Like any father, I want a safe and healthy environment for our kids. As soon as my children started to crawl and explore, I realized that oftentimes the biggest dangers exist inside our own homes. Under the kitchen sink and in bathroom cabinets - our homes are filled with harsh, toxic and deadly chemicals. As a scientist, I know that these chemicals pose a serious risk to us, our children and pets, every time we use them. As a parent I wanted to get these toxins out of my house. I started using so called “green” cleaning products because the labels told me they were environmentally safe, non-toxic and effective. Yet it bothered me that warning and caution statements still remained on the label and these products contained many of the same harsh chemical ingredients found in the traditional products. Tim and I set out with a mission: to create a high performing cleaner that is completely safe. Our result is BETTER LIFE. It's safe for our families and our planet. No warning labels necessary.

Below are a few questions I am often asked. If you still are looking for the facts on cleaning green, drop me a line at info@cleanhappens.com. Also, stop by our BLOG for more information, tips and articles. Thanks for your interest in safe and healthy cleaning – Kevin Tibbs

This is one of the most common misconceptions about “green” cleaning products. Just because a product biodegrades does not mean that it is safe around people and pets. I often use the example of Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is a plant, it is natural, it is biodegradable and has no negative effects on marine life. However, I would not recommend bringing it in your home or having it contact your skin!

There is a growing concern about the safety of household cleaning products. However, because manufacturers are not required to list ingredients it makes it very difficult for the consumer to fully evaluate which products are the safest to use in their home. If the manufacturer does include an ingredient statement it is voluntary and in many cases this disclosure is inaccurate and incomplete.
****Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, household cleaners are the only household products for which manufacturers are NOT required to list all ingredients.

Ethoxyates are a class of synthetic (based on petroleum), surfactants used in a wide variety of detergents, disinfectants and household cleaners. They are also used in disposable diapers, wipes, and spermicides. These chemicals get between dirt and surfaces (like a kitchen counter, fabric or even human skin) allowing water to more easily wash away dirt. Unfortunately, these surfactants can be hazardous to both you and the environment.

There are several things which you should consider when making your own cleaning products. These “homemade” cleaning products lack performance testing, safety testing and product directions. They have not been tested and approved compatible for specific surfaces to be cleaned. Homemade cleaners are often mixed with commercial cleaners (like dish soap or borax) which they may not be compatible with. Often these homemade remedies are inconvenient and ineffective causing you to work harder with fewer results. They are unstable and need to be used immediately after making them otherwise they will spoil (grow bacteria, yeasts and mold).