Learn Library
117 plain-language guides to the chemicals, materials, and label claims behind everyday products — written calmly, calibrated to the evidence.
Core Chemicals
The chemical families behind most label confusion.
Phthalates
Plasticizers and fragrance fixatives
Fragrance Compounds
Synthetic fragrance, parfum, scent mixtures
BPA / BPS / Bisphenols
Bisphenol A and its chemical cousins
PFAS / Fluorinated Chemicals
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ('forever chemicals')
Parabens
Preservatives in personal care
Formaldehyde Releasers
Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde
Triclosan / Triclocarban
Antibacterial agents in soaps and personal care
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (indoor air)
Quats
Quaternary ammonium compounds (disinfectants)
Flame Retardants
Chemicals added to slow ignition
Isothiazolinone Preservatives
MI, MCI, and related preservatives
Chemical UV Filters
Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and related sunscreen ingredients
SLS / SLES
Sodium lauryl sulfate / sodium laureth sulfate
Synthetic Dyes
Artificial food and product colourings
Microplastics
Tiny plastic particles in food, water, and air
Formaldehyde
The gas that off-gasses from new wood and easy-care fabrics
Heavy Metals (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic)
Legacy contaminants in old paint, glazes, water, and food
Chlorine Bleach Compounds
A strong tool — the rules are dilute, ventilate, never mix
Ammonia / Ammonium Hydroxide
The sharp-smelling cleaner that must never meet bleach
Pesticides / Insecticides
Home and garden pest sprays, baits, and foggers
Glycol Ethers
Solvents in cleaners, paints, and inks
Solvent VOCs (Toluene, Xylene)
Strong solvents in nail polish, paints, and glues
Acrylates / Methacrylates
The plastics behind gel and acrylic nails
Hair Dye Chemicals (PPD, Resorcinol)
Permanent colour chemistry and practical timing
Everyday Preservatives (Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate)
The calmer preservatives that replaced parabens
Optical Brighteners
Whitening agents that stay on laundered fabric
Antimicrobial Finishes / Silver Agents
Anti-odour biocides built into textiles and gear
Talc & Contaminants
Mineral powder with an asbestos-contamination history
Nonylphenols / Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
Industrial detergent chemicals restricted in the EU
Antimony
A catalyst residue in PET plastic and polyester
Mineral Oil Residues (MOSH / MOAH)
Oil traces that migrate from packaging into food
PEG Compounds
Polyethylene glycols — workhorse helpers, mostly low concern
Titanium Dioxide
Trusted mineral sunscreen filter, debated food whitener
Alcohols in Mouthwash / Personal Care
Drying question, not a harm question — mostly
Surfactants Beyond SLS / SLES
Betaines, glucosides, and the gentler cleaning crowd
Bisphenols on Thermal Receipts
The receipt-handling route
1,4-Dioxane
A trace contaminant in sudsing products
Cyclosiloxanes (D4 / D5 / D6)
Cyclic silicones in hair and skin products
Benzene
A contaminant in some aerosol sprays
Mothballs (Naphthalene & Paradichlorobenzene)
Pesticide blocks that turn into vapour you breathe
UV-328 & Benzotriazole UV Stabilisers
Light-protectors added to plastics and coatings
Materials
What everyday materials are — and how they behave with heat and wear.
Plastic
A broad family of synthetic polymers
PVC / Vinyl
A chlorinated plastic — flexible or rigid
Polyester
The most common synthetic fabric
Nylon
Synthetic polyamide — clothing and gear
Acrylic Fabric
Synthetic wool substitute
Spandex
The stretch fibre in activewear and underwear
Silicone
Flexible rubber-like material — often plastic-alternative
Stainless Steel
Durable food-contact metal alloy
Glass
The lowest-leaching everyday material
Cast Iron
Heavy traditional cookware metal
Non-Stick Coating
PTFE (Teflon), ceramic, and modern alternatives
Polypropylene (PP)
Often called the safer everyday plastic
PET / PETE
The clear plastic of bottles and food jars
Polycarbonate (PC)
The hard clear plastic made from BPA
Polystyrene / PS / Foam
Foam cups and takeaway boxes — code 6
Melamine
Hard, shatterproof dinnerware plastic — fine cold, not hot
ABS Plastic
The tough plastic in building bricks and gadget casings
TPE / TPU
The soft-touch plastics — promising but formulation-dependent
EVA Foam
Soft play-mat foam — let it air before baby use
Black Recycled Plastic
Dark plastic utensils with a murky supply chain
Recycled Polyester (rPET)
Better for the planet, same fabric on your skin
Cotton
The everyday natural-fibre default
Wool
Naturally flame-resistant natural fibre
Linen
Durable, low-finish flax fibre
Hemp
Hardy, low-input natural fibre
Wood & Bamboo
Calm natural materials with one composite trap
Ceramic & Enamel
Reassuring kitchen staples with a vintage-glaze caveat
Rubber / Latex
Tree sap, synthetic cousins, and one allergy note
Aluminium
Everyday metal with a largely reassuring evidence base
Paper & Cardboard Food Packaging
Looks simple, but chemistry rides along
Polyurethane Foam
The soft foam inside mattresses and sofas
Pressed Wood / MDF / Particleboard
Wood fibres glued together — the glue is the story
Vinyl Flooring
PVC at floor level, where babies crawl and play
Carpet & Carpet Backing
Soft underfoot — and the home's biggest dust reservoir
Paint & Coatings
Low-VOC choices and well-timed decorating
Adhesives & Sealants
Strong bonds, short fumes — ventilation and cure time
Waterproof Coated Textiles
Rainwear and protectors — it's the coating that counts
Synthetic Fleece
Warm, fluffy, and the top microfibre shedder
Common Labels
What marketing claims actually mean, with an honest verdict for each.
Fragrance Free
The strongest scent claim — but not legally defined
Unscented
The scent label to actively distrust
BPA Free
Means "no BPA" — not "no bisphenols"
Microwave Safe
Means "won't melt" — not "no chemicals leach"
Dishwasher Safe
Practical claim — not a health claim
Waterproof
A common check-next flag for PFAS
Stain Resistant
Among the strongest PFAS flags
Flame Resistant
Important safety claim — but check the chemistry
Antibacterial
Usually unnecessary at home
Scented
The honest label everyone reads straight past
Free & Clear / Sensitive
Usually fragrance- and dye-free — but nobody defines it
Hypoallergenic
A reassuring word with no legal definition
Dermatologist Tested
Confirms a test happened — not what it found
Dye Free
A small honest claim that actually delivers
Alcohol Free
One claim, very different meanings by product
Natural / Naturally Derived
Not regulated — and natural fragrance is still fragrance
Clean / Clean Beauty
A retail marketing framework, not a standard
Non-Toxic
No legal definition — the word to stop shopping by
Eco Friendly / Green
An environmental claim, not an exposure claim
Phthalate Free
One of the few free-from claims aimed at the right family
Paraben Free
Fine as a claim — check what replaced the parabens
PFAS Free
The right claim to look for — with no referee behind it
PFOA Free
True of nearly every new pan — and nearly meaningless
PVC Free
A quiet label that does real work
SLS Free / Sulfate Free
A comfort claim more than a safety claim
Talc Free
Born from asbestos contamination — sensible for powders
Fluoride Free
The one free-from claim worth pausing on
No Added Formaldehyde
A rare label that targets a real indoor-air source
PTFE / Teflon / Non-Stick
Honest about the coating — manage heat and wear
Food Grade
A legal floor for food contact, not zero migration
Long Wear / Waterproof / Smudge Proof
Staying power comes from chemistry worth a quick check
Mineral Sunscreen
The lower-concern filter option — never stop using sunscreen
Wrinkle Free / Easy Care / Non-Iron
A convenience finish with a formaldehyde question
Organic Cotton / GOTS
A textile claim with a real standard behind it
OEKO-TEX Certified
Tested for residual chemicals — not the same as organic
Low VOC / GREENGUARD
One of the few claims backed by real certification
Biodegradable / Compostable
End-of-life claims — not what's in the product
Recyclable
An end-of-life claim — the resin number says more
Everything here, plus swaps and daily tips
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