Your bathroom looks spanking clean and spotless. But are you concerned whether the 9 Elements cleaner you used is safe for your baby? Or the pets you have running around? Are you worried that it may have harmful chemicals like ammonia or bleach?
This article will provide you with a fair assessment of the product so you can decide for yourself.
Table of Contents
9 Elements bathroom cleaner ingredients
- Water
Water is the first ingredient that is used as a solvent. It dissolves the ingredients so they can blend properly.
- Sodium Citrate
This is a plant-based ingredient. It is the salt of citric acid. In 9 Elements cleaner, it is primarily used to balance the acidic and alkaline components. It neutralizes the pH of the cleaner.
But Sodium Citrate also has another function. It is used to treat water and make it ‘soft’. This means that the water is rid of elements like calcium, magnesium, and iron. These elements make cleaning harder. They also form deposits on surfaces over time.
So Sodium Citrate removes these elements. The resulting ‘soft water’ uses less of the detergent/ detergent equivalent to clean a space. So it is more efficient and cost-effective.
- Surfactants and Emulsifiers
C12-16 Pareth is used as a surfactant and emulsifier. It is synthetic and is made of polyethylene glycols and fatty alcohols. C12-16 Pareth allows for easy spread of the cleaner. It breaks the dirt and stains away from the surface.
The cleaner can then gather the separated dirt and the emulsifier component will dissolve it.
- Vinegar
One of the unique features of 9 Elements is its use of vinegar. Vinegar is the primary cleaning agent. And it is 100% natural. It is very useful in removing stubborn stains. It works wonders to get rid of toilet odors and bathroom stenches.
Vinegar and its source acetic acid are highly acidic. So it is very effective in eliminating rust or calcium coatings/limescale. It is very caustic and pungent. So it makes for a good antimicrobial and antiseptic.
Disease-causing organisms cannot survive because vinegar makes the area sterile and harsh. So not only does it clean and make the bathroom smell fresh, but it also disinfects the area. Sodium acetate is the salt of vinegar.
It acts as a buffer element. This means it keeps the pH of the cleaner neutral.
- Citric acid
Citric acid is another element derived from natural sources. It also functions as a cleaning agent. It is effective in removing grime and grease stains. Just like vinegar, it can get rid of limescale buildup or rust. It also eliminates hard water stains caused by magnesium or calcium residues.
- Fragrance
Finally, 9 Elements uses fragrances derived only from natural and plant-based sources. One cleaner uses oil extracted from the rosemary bush. The other uses limonene, citral, and citrus peel oil. They give off a eucalyptus and lemon scent respectively.
Is 9 Elements bathroom cleaner pet safe?
Yes, it is safe to use around pets to a large extent. 9 Elements bathroom cleaners are made of 65% naturally derived ingredients.
It doesn’t contain the usual toxic components like ammonia-based compounds, formaldehyde, bleach, phthalates, and glycol ethers that can harm pets.
Still, there are some ingredients that could irritate the digestive system of pets. Some can also cause respiratory problems. For example, there are fatty alcohols included in C12-16 Pareth. If pets ingest this there may be mild toxicity. The same applies to sodium acetate.
The rest of the ingredients, however, are not toxic. Some fragrances like limonene could harm your pet. If it ingests the cleaner, then it could cause liver poisoning. But rosemary oil is not toxic at all.
Also, the citrus oils are rather diluted. So the impact will not be too severe as when a pet ingests pure undiluted essential oils.
Is 9 Elements cleaner safe for babies?
Yes. 9 Elements bathroom cleaner is made with mostly natural ingredients and is safe for babies. The cleaner also avoids any artificial dyes, fragrances, ammonia, and preservatives that typically cause allergies and reactions on your baby’s sensitive skin.
It is also certified safe by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA Safer Choice/Product label is awarded after the EPA tests all the different ingredients and confirms that they are indeed safe. The label also certifies that it is safe for use for families and for children/babies.
Is 9 Elements cleaner safe for septic systems?
Yes, 9 Elements cleaner is septic safe. It is made up of 65% plant-based ingredients including vinegar. It has the Safer Choice label. This means its ingredients are largely biodegradable. It also means surfactants and other chemicals are safe for disposal into sewage and septic tanks.
9 Elements bathroom cleaner is also safer for the environment.
It does not contain chemicals like ammonia, phosphates, and acids that can cause disintegration in septic tanks. It uses water as a solvent and its pH is balanced. This makes it safe when it enters septic systems.
Water softeners like phosphates are usually the culprit when it comes to damaging septic tanks. It kills all the bacteria that help decompose waste in the tank. But 9 Elements uses a natural, biodegradable alternative i.e. Sodium Citrate which is relatively harmless.
Is 9 Elements cleaner safe for bathrooms?
Yes, the 9 Elements bathroom cleaner is safe for use in bathrooms. It can be used on a daily basis. This is because it is non-toxic and quite harmless. It is certified as being safe for use in a family and for children.
It doesn’t contain bleach, ammonium, or any other hazardous chemicals. It is very mild. It can be used on different bathroom surfaces like ceramic, glass, tiles, porcelain, and showerheads.
Since it does not contain bleach/ammonia it doesn’t react with other chemicals to create noxious fumes.
Is 9 Elements cleaner cruelty-free?
Yes, 9 Elements appears to be cruelty-free. The parent company of 9 Elements is Proctor and Gamble. It is moving towards completely eliminating animal testing.
P&G only tests on animals for 1% of its products. Since 9 Elements bathroom cleaner is not a skincare or haircare product that necessitates testing on animals, it’s most likely not in the 1%.
The company is committed to an eco-friendly vision. In addition, 9 Elements products are largely plant-based. Or, they are made from natural ingredients. So while it may not be vegan, it is likely that the product line is cruelty-free.
This is because they are driven by considerations of sustainability, which usually means a cruelty-free approach.
Still, some elements may be processed or manufactured in a way that is harmful to animals. Perhaps third-party sellers/producers have tested their elements on animals. There is no definitive evidence either way.
Does 9 Elements cleaner disinfect?
Yes, 9 Elements bathroom cleaner also functions as a disinfectant. It is a vinegar-based cleaner. Vinegar is less effective than bleach but is a more sustainable alternative. It is natural and plant-based.
So it is safer than most commercial disinfectants. Vinegar and its base acetic acid are anti-bacterial.
It kills mold, bacteria, and germs. Because it is so acidic, it does not allow germs and microbes to grow. On its own, or when diluted in water, vinegar is much weaker than other commercial choices. But in the 9 Elements formula, other ingredients are combined with vinegar to make it an effective disinfectant.
Does 9 Elements contain ammonia, bleach or alcohol?
No. 9 Elements cleaner does not contain ammonia, ammonium-based compounds, bleach, or alcohol. It uses natural alternatives like vinegar, sodium citrate, and sodium acetate to perform the same surfactant and disinfectant role that the harsher chemicals play.
9 Elements also does not use any toxic alcohols like ethanol.
Ethanol and similar alcohols negatively affect your breathing, skin, and overall health. Rather, it uses fatty alcohols – these are alcohols derived from fatty acids. They have nothing in common with regular alcohol or ethanol etc.
They are completely harmless. They are combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG) which is also completely benign.
Does 9 Elements leave a vinegar smell after cleaning?
No. The 9 Elements formula includes some natural oils like lemon, citrus, and eucalyptus that cover up the odor of the vinegar. Only a mild citrus or rosemary scent will linger that is quite pleasant and will not overwhelm you.
Even if there is a faint trace of vinegar initially, it won’t remain after the bathroom dries. Air your bathroom out after cleaning. This will ensure that any pungent smell evaporates from closed spaces.
Where to buy 9 Elements cleaner?
You can buy 9 Elements bathroom cleaners pretty much anywhere. You can buy it from the 9 Elements’ own online store, straight from the source. It is available at various retail stores across the country. Other online retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart also offer the products.
9 Elements products are available all through the continental USA. It is not sold in Hawaii or Alaska. At the moment, it is also not available in any other country except the United States.
Now that you know everything about 9 Elements, go ahead and scrub down your bathroom fearlessly!
References:
- https://nine-elements.com/eucalyptus-bathroom-cleaner/
- https://www.ewg.org/guides/brand/17255-9Elements/
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