Not all household products are created equal. And beware of false postings. The special issue of 60 Million January and February 2022, already on newsstands, put 52 brands to the test to guide you in choosing the right products. With details from Sophie Coisne, deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine’s specials.
franceinfo: To help consumers find their way around, you have designed the score household?
Sophie Coisne: Absoutely. The ‘Menag’score’ was created in 2019 to help consumers identify cleaning products that are less harmful to health and the environment, thanks to a very visual rating system. Like Nutriscore for food products, it ranges from A to E: A product to be used without reservation; E product strongly discouraged. In our test, a third of the products are rated D or E.
Manufacturers are riding the wave of healthy, environmentally friendly products, is it sometimes just display?
Yes, there are in our special edition several examples of products with a visual and a name which evoke nature, but which contain polluting substances and toxic for aquatic life (eg: Airwick) or softeners “precious breath” or “long-lasting freshness”, packed with potential allergens.
How to identify potentially toxic products sold in stores?
This is not obvious, because manufacturers are not required to declare the full composition of the product on the label. Nevertheless, we can verify that there are not too many perfumes: they are often allergenic or sensitizing. We can also avoid certain categories of products that were mostly poorly rated, such as wipes and deodorants.
There is quite a movement going on in natural and homemade products, with the two star ingredients, white vinegar and baking soda. We can really go there with our eyes closed, is it efficient in addition to being economical?
Eyes closed, no, because you must always read the precautions for use. On the other hand, in terms of health and impact on the environment, raw products make it possible to produce truly healthier household products.
What products are we talking about?
Baking soda, household vinegar, alcohol, black soap or Marseille soap. These ingredients have a very good Menag’score, A or B.
Are they as effective as manufactured products?
First of all, not all manufactured products are effective. Some are even rather ineffective, for example in toilet gels. Then, we can ask the question: should efficiency come at the cost of our health? Isn’t it better to have a product that is a little less technical but much less risky?
Finally, They also allow to make huge savings. For example, with a bottle of vinegar and a bottle of alcohol, we avoid buying 15 window cleaning sprays! And who says economy, also says economy of plastic, of running time.
When we talk about “homemade”, you say, be careful not to do anything. With essential oils for example, we tend to misuse them …
Indeed. We have the impression that this natural product is harmless, yet they are very active substances. They should therefore be used sparingly and completely avoided if you are pregnant, have small children or an immunocompromised person at home.
Do you have any advice for us, simple and effective recipes for do-it-yourself cleaning products?
Yes, stop the mental load! AT 60 million consumers, we offer super simple recipes because we don’t want to spend hours making our products. We have given ourselves as a rule: no more than 3 ingredients per recipe, in addition to the water. And some recipes even have only one ingredient, such as laundry color enhancer, or vinegar-only fabric softener.
Are homemade products really a fundamental trend in France?
Yes, 1 in 4 French people now manufacture their household products, at least occasionally. Suddenly, manufacturers rush into the breach. Very good if they offer raw products that are not too expensive. It is less good when they offer ready-to-use kits, 10 times more expensive than if the raw products were purchased individually.
Has the health crisis changed our relationship to cleanliness, to our way of cleaning?
Yes, particularly in our use of disinfectants, whose sales increased by 133% in 2020 compared to 2019, or wipes, which have experienced a strong growth rate. Unfortunately, these are not the most virtuous products, and disinfectants side, it is necessary to respect the instructions for use, otherwise they will be ineffective.