Ingredients In Simple Green

Simple Green is touted as a nontoxic, multipurpose cleanser. The manufacturer's website states that the product started as an industrial cleaner that eventually moved to the commercial market. They note that over $3 million has been spent to verify the safety of the product, claiming it is nontoxic and biodegradable. Conflicting information exists over the veracity of these claims.

Butoxyethanol

Simple Green lists butoxyethanol as one of its seven ingredients. This ingredient is a cleansing agent and solvent, effective on resins, lacquers, varnishes and enamels without damaging them. The U.S. Department of Health's Household Products Database lists butoxyethanol as a synonymous term for the chemical 2-Butoxyethanol. The Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, for Simple Green states that none of the ingredients in Simple Green is listed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, International Agency for Research on Cancer or National Toxicology Program as carcinogenic, however the New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet for this chemical states that butoxyethanol is a carcinogen, citing multiple sources including OSHA, the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Mixed Alcohol Ethoxylate

Mixed alcohol ethoxylate is a term referring to a mixture of alcohol ethoxylates, which are non-ionic surfactants that act as detergents. Surfactants change how water reacts to the product, allowing Simple Green to remain on surfaces without being washed away immediately. Alcohol ethoxylates are biodegradable cleansers, according to the Proctor and Gamble ingredient safety website.

Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate

Tetrapotassium pyrophosphate is used to clean calcium and magnesium from surfaces, according to the "Handbook of Inorganic Compounds." It is colorless and odorless and may cause skin irritation in those with sensitive skin.

Sodium Citrate

Sodium citrate is a preservative. It prevents metal ions from binding to Simple Green cleanser. Another property of sodium citrate is resistance to changes in pH level. Sodium citrate helps Simple Green maintain an even pH level over time, allowing it to become neither too acidic nor too alkaline.

Other Ingredients

Simple Green is an aqueous solution, and the first ingredient listed by the manufacturer is water. The manufacturer's website also gives a nondescript listing for fragrance and colorant. The colorant and fragrance are not named specifically, though the product has a green hue and the MSDS cites a sassafras-like odor.