How to Read Cleaning Product Labels
Here at Nimble HQ, we take the safety of babies and children (and you) very seriously. Behind the scenes, we do lots of intensive research and rigorous safety checks to bring you the very best in child-friendly cleaning products that actually work.
In the UK, Child Safety Week falls every June, but for us, every week is Child Safety Week. We know that many parents are often confused or anxious about cleaning products and how safe they are to use around kids, so we thought we’d share some insight to help ease your mind.
Read on to find out about our top tips on reading the labels on cleaning products to make sure your daily housework isn’t putting your precious little ones at risk
why is reading labels important?
You may be wondering why it’s so important to be able to read and understand product labels? The labels on the cleaning products you buy are there to inform you of what the product is claiming to do, the ingredients it contains, the safety precautions you need to take when using it, and much more.
Nimble Babies was created after our founder, Von, checked the label on the cleaning products his family was using when his niece was born. Long story short, he was shocked by the number of harsh chemicals being used and made it his mission to develop a range of effective child-friendly and earth-friendly products.
It really is imperative to read the labels before you use any cleaning products around your home- so here’s a breakdown of what they likely contain and what bits you need to make sure you don’t skip over
Ingredients list
Pretty self-explanatory— this will tell you what’s inside the cleaning product. Depending on what you buy, you might find a list of very complicated-sounding chemicals, but don’t let that put you off reading through it. Some products might not be recommended for use with other chemicals or products, or they could contain potential allergens, so you must check.
If there isn’t a list of ingredients on the product, look online or check with the manufacturer. Here at Nimble, we use plant-based ingredients, we never test on animals, and you can find the ingredients for all of our products on our website & on the product's labels!
Instructions for use
Instructions for use are vital components of the label- always follow them carefully as they’re there to make sure you can use the product effectively.
Cautionary advice and hazard information
It’s there for a reason! Some products might not be safe for use around pets or children or may have specific instructions for use and storage, plus directions for safe disposal too. There may be symbols that need to be deciphered, too. It’s worth googling these before you use the product to know what precautions you need to take.
Storage instructions
All cleaning products should be stored away from children, but there might be additional information regarding conditions in which they should be stored. Always check to be on the safe side.
Disposal instructions
The label should tell you the correct way to dispose of the cleaning product once you’ve used it.
First aid advice
Always read what to do if the cleaning product comes into contact with the skin, eyes, or mouth. Knowing what you need to do and being able to do it quickly can make all the difference if an accident occurs.
Contact info
If you need to contact the manufacturer, that information should be readily available on the label- or check online if you cannot locate it.
And if you have any questions for us, please feel free to drop us a message hello@nimblebabies.com, we'd be delighted to help you.