How We Decide

The Clean Bar

When we look at a product, we focus on what's in it — and what's not — so you don't have to second-guess what's worth buying.

What Clean Means

The Clean Bar is how we review every product.

It's not about labels like "natural" or "eco." Those terms are often vague and don't say much about what a product is actually made from.

Instead, we look at four things.

01
Materials
What the product is made from — including fabrics, plastics, finishes and adhesives.
02
Chemical Exposure
Things like fragrances, dyes, coatings and treatments that don't need to be there.
03
Safety Standards
Whether it meets the relevant safety standards for that product.
04
Certifications & Claims
Helpful in some cases — but not something we rely on on their own.
The Shortlist

Once a product passes the Clean Bar, the decision becomes simpler.

We then weigh a few considerations:

Because the "best" option isn't always the cleanest or the most expensive — it's the one you'll actually use and keep buying.

Further Reading
What Actually Matters — By Category

From The Down Low — a simplified breakdown of what matters in each category before you buy.