Our Ingredients: Transparency You Can Trust

At Common Good, we list every ingredient because transparency matters. Our sustainably sourced, biodegradable materials meet the highest safety standards, so you can trust what’s in every product.

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Our products are made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients, but we know some of their scientific names can sound a little intimidating. That’s why we’re here to break it all down—so you can feel confident knowing every ingredient is safe for you, your family, and your home.

  • Carriers

    Base or carrier ingredients, like purified water, act as the foundation, holding and distributing other ingredients evenly.

  • Surfactants

    Surfactants reduce water’s surface tension, helping lift dirt, grease, and grime so they can be easily rinsed away.

  • Humectants

    Humectants draw moisture to the surface, keeping skin and surfaces hydrated and soft. Examples include glycerin and aloe vera.

  • Builders

    Builders enhance cleaning performance by softening water or boosting the effectiveness of surfactants.

  • Preservatives

    Preservatives prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast in water-based products, ensuring they stay safe and effective.

  • Preservative Boosters

    Preservative boosters work alongside preservatives to enhance their effectiveness, keeping products fresh and stable.

  • pH Adjusters

    pH adjusters balance the acidity or alkalinity of a product, ensuring it works effectively without irritating skin or surfaces.

  • Chelating Agents

    Chelating agents bind to hard water minerals, preventing buildup and allowing other cleaning ingredients to perform better.

  • Cleaning Agents

    Cleaning agents remove dirt, grease, and stains, leaving surfaces and fabrics fresh and spotless.

  • Essential Oils

    Provide a natural, pleasant scent as well as some antiseptic and mood-boosting properties.

  • Enzymes

    Enzymes target and break down specific stains, like proteins, fats, or starches, making cleaning more effective with less effort.

  • Solvents

    Solvents dissolve ingredients or help break down stains, evaporating quickly for streak-free cleaning. We only use alcohol for quick drying linen water.

  • Thickeners

    Thickeners adjust the texture of products, ensuring they are easy to apply and use without dripping or spilling.

  • Conditioning Agents

    Conditioning agents enhance the texture of products, making them feel silky and luxurious to use. They also help soften and smooth hair and skin, leaving them nourished and hydrated.

Full Ingredient List & Ratings

INGREDIENT EWG RATING TYPE WHAT IS IT? WHY WE USE IT?
Aloe Barbadensis 1 Humectant Leaf juice from aloe plant Natural moisturizer
Amylase Enzyme 1 Enzyme Plant-derived enzyme Helps break down starch-based soil
Brassica Alcohol 1 Conditioning Agent Brassica plant-derived emollient and conditioner It’s a safe, mild conditioner and gives product a smooth, luxurious texture
Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate 1 Enzyme Mild mustard seed-derived surfactant and conditioner Provides effective conditioning while being kind to sensitive skin
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside 1 Surfactant Sugar-derived surfactant from corn, potatoes Mild sulfate-free cleaning agent
Cetyl Betaine 1 Surfactant Mild surfactant Gentle cleansing power
Citric Acid 2 pH Adjuster Natural, non-GMO corn-derived water softener Hard water stain removal and natural preservative
Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract Oil 3 Fragrance 100% pure essential oil Natural fragrance
Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine 1-2 Surfactant Coconut-based surfactant Cleansing, foaming, and thickening
Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 1-2 Surfactant Coconut-based surfactant Mild cleaning and foaming agent
Coconut Fatty Acid 1 Surfactant Coconut oil-based cleanser Water soluble and provides quick lather
Decyl Glucoside 1 Surfactant Sugar-derived surfactant Mild SLS-free cleanser great for people with sensitive skin
Disodium-2 Sulfolaurate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild, non-drying cleanser and foaming agent
Ethylhexylglycerin 1 Preservative Booster Preservative Paraben-free preservative
Glycerin 2 Humectant Vegetable-derived humectant Moisturizer
Gluconic Acid 1 pH Adjuster Plant-derived non-caustic acid Occurs naturally in fruit and dissolves mineral deposits
Gluconolactone 1 Natural glucose-derived preservative Plant-derived non-caustic acid Preserves freshness and boosts hydration
Hydroxypropyl Guar 1 Conditioning Agent Guar bean-derived thickener and conditioner Adds smoothness and improves texture for better application and conditioning
Isopropyl Alcohol 3 Solvent Alcohol Evaporation and germicide
L Lactic Acid 2 pH Adjuster Plant-derived lactic acid Good descaler and soap scum remover and natural antibacterial agent
Lauramine Oxide 1-2 Surfactant Plant-derived surfactant Mild, sulfate-free surfactant
Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil 3 Fragrance 100% pure essential oil Natural fragrance
Lipase Enzyme 1 Enzyme Plant-derived enzyme Helps break down fats
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil 1 Fragrance 100% pure essential oil Natural plant-based fragrance
Phenoxyethanol 2 Preservative Preservative Paraben-free preservative
Poly Glucosides 1 Surfactant Non-ionic surfactant from natural sugars Gently breaks down dirt and grease
Potassium Hydroxide 3 pH Adjuster Mineral-based pH adjuster and cleaning agent pH adjuster that is safe when used in low concentrations
Potassium Carbonate 1 pH Adjuster Mineral-based inorganic salt Adjusts pH
Protease Enzyme 1 Enzyme Plant-derived enzyme Helps break down proteins
Purified Water 1 Base/Carrier Mechanically filtered water Cleaned of contaminants
Sodium Benzoate 1 Preservative Synthetic preservative Well-tested, food-grade preservative
Sodium Carbonate 1 Builder Salt used as a cleaning agent and water softener Enhances effectiveness of detergent
Sodium Chloride 1 Thickener Inorganic salt (table salt) Increases viscosity
Sodium Citrate 1 pH Adjuster Mineral-based salt Adjusts acidity
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild sulfate-free cleaning agent
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild SLS-free cleanser that allows dirt to be washed away
Sodium Gluconate 1 Cleaning Agent Cleaning and chelating agent Water softener and cleaning agent
Sodium Hydroxide 3 pH Adjuster Inorganic salt Adjusts pH levels
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild sulfate-free cleaning agent
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate 1-2 Surfactant Coconut-derived cleanser Mild cleanser with good foaming properties
Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild sulfate-free cleaning agent
Sodium Methyl-2 Sulfolaurate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild cleanser with good foaming properties
Sodium methyl cocoyl Taurate 1 Surfactant Coconut-derived surfactant Mild sulfate-free cleaning agent
Sodium Percarbonate 1 Cleaning Agent Salt that releases hydrogen peroxide in water Removes soil and stains, bleaches, and disinfects
Sodium Silicate 1 Builder Salt used as a detergent Dissolves oils and grease
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate 1 Chelating Agent Non-EDTA water softener Improves cleaning performance by softening water
Xantham Gum 1 Thickener Safe, natural thickener produced via fermentation Provides consistency and stability to liquid products like soaps and cleaners

Know Your Clean: Chemistry Deep Dive

Surfactants: How Our Products Work and Why We Use Plant-Based Options

Surfactants are the active ingredients in cleaners that allow water to mix with oils and grease. They work by surrounding and breaking apart oil and dirt molecules, forming tiny droplets (micelles) that can be suspended and washed away with water. This is how surfactants enable effective cleaning on surfaces, fabrics, dishes, hands, etc.

In conventional products, many surfactants are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. These synthetic surfactants often take much longer to biodegrade and can leave harmful residues in waterways, posing risks to aquatic life.

We use plant-based surfactants derived from renewable sources like coconut, sugar, and corn. While older plant-based surfactants didn’t match the cleaning performance of synthetic ones, advancements in green chemistry have changed that. Modern plant-based surfactants are just as effective and break down quickly and completely in the environment. By choosing these alternatives, we avoid the environmental impact of petroleum-derived chemicals and ensure our products are safe for you and your home.

Preservatives: Why They’re Necessary and How We Choose Safely

Preservatives are essential for keeping water-based products like hand soap and cleaners safe to use. Without them, mold, bacteria, and yeast could grow, turning a product meant to clean into a potential health hazard.

We carefully select preservatives that are proven to be safe and effective at low concentrations. Ingredients like phenoxyethanol and sodium benzoate are food-grade or widely used in personal care, ensuring they meet rigorous safety standards. These preservatives work well at concentrations far below regulatory limits, reducing any risk of irritation while keeping products stable.

Many brands, even those labeled “natural,” have adopted isothiazolinones (like MIT/BIT), which are inexpensive but highly sensitizing and potentially harmful. These chemicals are linked to skin irritation, allergies, and, in some cases, are banned or limited in the EU. We refuse to compromise your safety with shortcuts like these. By using gentle, well-tested preservatives, we ensure our products stay fresh without posing unnecessary risks.

Fragrance: Why We Use Only 100% Pure Essential Oils

Fragrance is a key part of the cleaning experience, but it’s also an area where conventional products can introduce hidden risks. Synthetic fragrances, often labeled simply as “fragrance” or "perfume," can contain a mix of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates and other hormone-disrupting compounds. And don't be fooled by products that use a mix of essentials oils and fragrance. Even a small amount of these chemicals can still cause irritation and long-term health concerns.

At Common Good, we exclusively use 100% pure essential oils to scent our products. Sourced from plants, these oils provide a natural, fresh scent without the synthetic additives. While essential oils can sometimes irritate skin at high concentrations, we use them sparingly and carefully to ensure safety while maintaining the uplifting scents you love.

By choosing essential oils, we prioritize transparency and safety, offering scents that are better for your home and the environment.

Enzymes: Nature’s Smart Cleaning Technology

Enzymes are proteins derived from natural sources like bacteria or fungi, designed to target specific stains. Protease breaks down proteins like blood or egg, lipase tackles grease, and amylase handles starches. Think of them as precision tools for cleaning, breaking stains into smaller pieces so they rinse away easily.

Enzymes replace harsher ingredients found in traditional cleaners, like phosphates, which harm waterways, or chlorine bleach, which is corrosive. They work effectively in cold water, saving energy, and are biodegradable, leaving no harmful residues.

No Harmful VOCs: Clean Air, Safe Cleaning

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate into the air during use, commonly found in conventional cleaning products and air fresheners. They’re often added as solvents to break down grease, speed up drying, or in synthetic fragrances to create a lingering scent. You can often feel them as they irritate your nose, throat, and eyes, making the air in your home feel harsh and uncomfortable.

Indoors, VOCs are a major contributor to poor air quality, leading to headaches, dizziness, or irritation. Over time, exposure can exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma and pose serious health risks. At Common Good, we avoid harmful VOCs entirely, relying instead on safe, plant-based alternatives and 100% pure essential oils.

Improve your indoor air quality by increasing airflow, avoid toxic conventional cleaners, swap synthetic fragrances for natural ones.

READ OUR BLOG POST ON IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY →

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