If you have kids, pets, asthma, or any kind of chemical sensitivity, the question of what's actually in your house cleaner's spray bottles isn't trivial — it's the air you breathe for the next 24 hours after they leave. Here's what reputable NEPA cleaning companies (including Jemstone) actually use, what to avoid, and how to know what's in someone's bag before they walk in your door.
The "eco-friendly" label is meaningless on its own
Walk through any cleaning supply aisle in NEPA — Walmart, Target, Lowe's — and you'll see "eco-friendly," "natural," "green," and "plant-based" stickers everywhere. Most are marketing. There's no FDA-style regulation of what those words mean on cleaning product labels in the US.
What actually matters: the ingredient list, third-party certifications, and how the product is used. The good news: a few specific certifications are genuinely meaningful, and a few specific ingredients are genuinely concerning.
Certifications worth looking for
If a cleaner tells you they use "eco-friendly" products, ask which of these certifications apply:
- EPA Safer Choice — formerly Design for the Environment. Means EPA reviewed every ingredient and confirmed it meets specific safety + environmental criteria. The gold standard in the US.
- Green Seal Certified — independent third-party testing for environmental and health performance.
- EWG Verified — Environmental Working Group's seal; means full ingredient disclosure and no chemicals on EWG's "concern" list.
- USDA Certified Biobased — measured plant-derived content.
Brands a Jemstone-style cleaner typically uses: Method, Mrs. Meyer's, Seventh Generation, Branch Basics, Force of Nature (electrolyzed water), Better Life. All of these have at least one of the above certifications on most of their lineup.
Ingredients to avoid in homes with kids, pets, or allergies
Even within the "eco-friendly" world, some ingredients show up frequently and are worth avoiding:
- Synthetic fragrance ("fragrance" or "parfum" on the label) — under US labeling law, this single word can hide hundreds of unlisted chemicals, many of which are common allergens and respiratory irritants. Most reputable NEPA cleaners default to fragrance-free for client homes for exactly this reason.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats") — found in many disinfectants. Linked to asthma development with chronic exposure. Not worth using in homes with children.
- Bleach + ammonia combinations — never mix these (creates toxic chloramine gas). Reputable cleaners NEVER use both products in the same visit.
- Parabens, phthalates — endocrine disruptors that show up in some "natural" products despite the marketing.
- Triclosan — antibacterial agent, FDA-restricted but still appears in some imports.
What's actually in a Jemstone cleaning kit
Our default kit, in case you want a baseline to compare any NEPA cleaner against:
- All-purpose cleaner: Branch Basics or Force of Nature (electrolyzed water — only ingredients are water, salt, vinegar)
- Glass cleaner: Method Glass + Surface or homemade vinegar + water
- Bathroom cleaner: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Bathroom Cleaner
- Disinfectant (when needed): Force of Nature or hydrogen peroxide-based (NOT quats or bleach)
- Floor cleaner: Bona Hardwood (for sealed wood), Better Life Floor Cleaner
- Microfiber cloths — washed between every job, color-coded by area (bathroom cloths NEVER touch kitchen surfaces, etc.)
- HEPA-filter vacuum — captures pet dander, dust mite debris, and pollen instead of recirculating it
If you need or prefer specific products (e.g., your dermatologist recommended a particular brand, you have a specific allergy, you only want vinegar/water), just tell us on the quote form. Many recurring clients have us use their preferred products from under the sink.
Special considerations
Pets
Pets lick floors, paws, and surfaces. Anything you wouldn't lick, don't put on the floor where they walk. Default Jemstone products are pet-safe; bleach, ammonia, and pine-based cleaners (which are toxic to cats) are never in our bag without explicit client request.
Asthma / COPD / chemical sensitivity
Tell us before the first visit. We use only fragrance-free, low-VOC products and ventilate aggressively (open windows, HEPA vacuum, no aerosol sprays). Some clients with severe sensitivity prefer we use only their products — fine with us.
Babies and toddlers
For homes with infants, we recommend default eco-products PLUS asking us to schedule cleaning during nap time (so vacuuming and any aerosols happen when the baby's room is closed).
Restoring older NEPA homes
Many older Scranton, Carbondale, and Dunmore homes have unsealed brass fixtures, original hardwoods, antique tile, or plaster walls. Standard products can damage these. We use neutral-pH, non-abrasive products on anything older than ~1980 unless you tell us otherwise.
Questions to ask any NEPA cleaner about products
- Are your products fragrance-free by default? If not, can you make my house fragrance-free on request?
- Are your products safe for pets (specifically cats — some "eco" pine cleaners are toxic to cats)?
- Do you carry any EPA Safer Choice or Green Seal certified products?
- Do you ever mix bleach and ammonia products in the same visit? (Should be a hard no.)
- If I have specific allergies, can you use only my products?
- What do you use on hardwood floors? (Bona is the gold standard — most other cleaners damage finish over time.)
- Do your vacuums have HEPA filters?
A reputable Jemstone-style cleaner can answer all seven in under 60 seconds. If they hedge or don't know, that tells you something.
FAQ
Do eco-friendly products actually clean as well as conventional cleaners?
For 95% of household tasks, yes — modern eco-products are formulated to perform equivalently. The exception: serious mold or grease deposits sometimes still need stronger products (which we use only when needed, never as a default).
Are your products safe to use around food prep surfaces?
Yes — our default lineup is rinse-free safe for food contact surfaces. We still wipe with clean water after if you prefer extra reassurance, especially around cutting boards or where babies eat.
Can I supply my own products and have you use them?
Absolutely. Many of our recurring clients have us use their preferred products from under the sink. Just leave them out before our visit; we'll use them and let you know if anything runs low.
Do you use ANY chemical disinfectants?
Sometimes — but only when actually needed (e.g., toilets, after illness in the home). Default is hydrogen peroxide or electrolyzed water, both EPA-registered as effective disinfectants without the asthma risks of quats or bleach.
What about commercial / office cleaning — same products?
For most offices, yes — same eco-default lineup. For medical practices we use additional EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants per healthcare cleaning standards. We're transparent about exactly what's used in any commercial environment.