Know What's Inside.
Understand How It Works.
Cleaning products can be difficult to understand.
Long ingredient names don't always tell us what they do, why they're there, or what we actually need for effective cleaning.
Zoumology makes it simpler.
Cleaning Works as a System
Effective cleaning isn't about one ingredient.
Different ingredients have different jobs, and they work together to get the job done.
Lift Dirt & Oils Soap + Surfactants
Surfactants help loosen oils and dirt so they can be washed away.
| Ingredient | Description | Function | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil Soap | Soap / Surfactant | Helps lift oils, body soil and dirt from fabrics. | # |
| Soapwort Extract | Plant-derived surfactant | Contains naturally occurring saponins that support cleaning. | # |
| Decyl Glucoside | Plant-derived surfactant | Helps lift dirt and grease from surfaces. | # |
Manage Water Minerals Chelating + Water-Softening Agents
Water contains minerals. In hard water, these minerals can interfere with cleaning.
These ingredients help manage them so the rest of the formula can work effectively.
| Ingredient | Description | Function | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Citrate | Water softener / Chelating agent | Helps bind calcium and magnesium in hard water and reduce mineral residue. | # |
| Sodium Gluconate | Chelating agent | Helps control metal ions in water and supports cleaning performance. | # |
Support Deeper Cleaning Alkalinity System
Some dirt and grease are easier to remove under alkaline conditions.
These ingredients help create the right environment for the cleaning system to work.
| Ingredient | Description | Function | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Carbonate | Alkalinity booster | Raises wash pH to help loosen oils, dirt and stains. | # |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | Buffering + odour control | Helps balance alkalinity and neutralize odours. | # |
| Sodium Metasilicate | Alkalinity support | Supports cleaning performance, especially on greasy soil. | # |
Remove Stains & Odours Oxygen-Based Cleaning
Some stains need more than surfactants.
Oxygen-based cleaning helps break down stains and odour-causing compounds without chlorine bleach.
| Ingredient | Description | Function | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Percarbonate | Oxygen bleach / Stain removal | Releases active oxygen in water to help remove stains, brighten fabrics and reduce odours. | # |
| TAED | Oxygen bleach activator | Helps sodium percarbonate work effectively at lower wash temperatures. | # |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | Oxygen-based cleaning agent | Helps break down stains and organic soil on surfaces. | # |
Keep Formulas Stable Preservation + Formula Support
And that's important.
Some ingredients are there to keep a formula stable, maintain the right pH, or keep a powder flowing properly.
| Ingredient | Description | Function | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative | Helps protect water-based formulas from microbial growth. | # |
| Potassium Sorbate | Preservative | Helps keep water-based formulas stable during use and storage. | # |
| Citric Acid | pH adjustment | Helps bring a formula to the pH it needs to work as intended. | # |
| Silicon Dioxide | Anti-caking agent | Helps powders flow and prevents clumping during storage. | # |
| Water | Formula base | Carries and disperses ingredients in our liquid formulas. | # |
What's Really Inside Cleaning Products?
You do not need a chemistry degree to understand the products you bring into your home.
The Cleaner Home Guide
What's Really Inside Cleaning Products?
Cleaning labels aren't always easy to understand. We created a simple guide to help you know what common ingredients do, where they're found, and which ones deserve a closer look.
Inside the Guide
Fragrance · Optical Brighteners · Quats · Surfactants · Preservatives · Antibacterial Ingredients · Exposure & Residue · Reading Labels
The Zoum Label Decoder
Take It Shopping
A quick reference to ingredients and ingredient families covered in the Cleaner Home Guide.
Save it to your phone. Check it when you're comparing cleaning products.
- 01 Save It Keep the Decoder on your phone.
- 02 Check The Label Look for ingredients you recognize.
- 03 Know What You're Choosing Use the Guide when you want to understand more.
You Don't Need to Know Chemistry.
You just need clear information.
Understanding ingredients makes it easier to question claims, read labels and choose what works for your home.