What's Inside: Understanding Non-Toxic Ingredients in Our Products
There's a moment every conscious consumer faces-standing in the cleaning aisle, squinting at a bottle, trying to decode a list of ingredients that reads more like a chemistry exam than something you'd spray around your kids and pets. For Ashley James, that moment came years before founding The Bare Home, when she realized that even brands claiming to be "green" or "natural" weren't actually telling you what was inside.
That frustration became the foundation of everything we do. At The Bare Home, we believe you deserve to know exactly what you're bringing into your home- not just the marketing promises, but the real ingredients, their purpose, and why we chose them. This is especially important for Canadian families looking for non-toxic cleaning products Canada can trust, where transparency isn't a trend but a commitment.
At The Bare Home, we believe you should feel empowered in every choice you make for your home- starting with what's inside the products you use every day. That's why we invite you to discover every ingredient that goes into our cleaners, soaps, and personal care line. We're committed to full transparency because we know that real trust comes from giving you the facts, not just marketing buzzwords.
By sharing exactly what's in each bottle, we're helping you decide what is right for you- helping you make thoughtful choices for your family, your wellbeing, and the environment. Our ingredients are clearly listed, plant-based, and always safe- no hidden toxins, no synthetic fragrances, and never anything that compromises your peace of mind. When you choose The Bare Home, you're joining a community that puts honesty, sustainability, and your best interests at the heart of every formula.
Why We Obsess Over Ingredients
Ashley's journey to creating The Bare Home started with a simple but powerful realization: most cleaning products don't tell you the whole story. Our industry often boasts about what's not in the bottle- but rarely explains what is actually there.
For us, ingredient transparency isn't just good practice; it's everything. We set out to create a Canadian-made cleaning brand that goes beyond vague promises and actually shows you the receipts. That means listing every ingredient, explaining its purpose, and ensuring it meets rigorous safety standards set by Health Canada and independent bodies such as EWG's Skin Deep database.
Our promise is straightforward: only what's necessary goes into the bottle, and nothing that compromises your health, your indoor air quality, or our waterways. Every formula is plant-based, biodegradable, phosphate-free, dye-free, and never tested on animals. We use only 100% pure essential oils- never synthetic fragrances that can trigger headaches or allergies.
Why do we obsess over this? Because you deserve safe cleaning products families can use with confidence. And because being an ethical cleaning brand means earning your trust, one ingredient at a time.
What's Actually in Our Cleaners?
Let's break it down, category by category. We know the ingredient lists can look intimidating, so we're here to translate.
Plant-Based Surfactants (The Cleaning Power)
Surfactants are what make cleaners work-they break down grease, lift dirt, and create that satisfying lather. But not all surfactants are created equal.
Sodium C14-C16 Olefin Sulfonate: This coconut-derived surfactant is the star of our hand soap formula. It creates a rich, foamy lather without the harsh petroleum-based sulfates (like SLS or SLES) found in conventional cleaners that can irritate your skin. It's plant-based, gentle, and widely considered safe for you and the environment.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Another coconut-based surfactant, this ingredient does triple duty- it cleanses, hydrates your skin, and helps thicken the product for a creamier texture. You'll find it in our hand soap and dish soap formulas.
Sodium Cocoamphoacetate: Our final surfactant is a gentle, coconut-based cleanser that both cleans and conditions your skin. It's especially important for products that come into frequent contact with your hands.
Decyl Glucoside and C9-C11 Alcohol Ethoxylates: These plant-derived surfactants appear in our All Purpose Cleaner, providing powerful cleaning action that's biodegradable and safe on all surfaces.
Moisturisers & Skin-Friendly Ingredients
Glycerine: This humectant allows your skin to retain moisture- essential in hand soap because conventional formulas can leave your hands feeling tight, dry, or itchy. We wanted every wash to leave your skin soft, soothed, and comfortable.
pH Balancers & Thickeners
Citric Acid: Extracted from citrus fruits, citric acid lowers the pH of our products, creating gentler formulas that are kinder to your skin and surfaces.
Sodium Chloride: The chemical name for salt, it's a natural thickening agent that helps give our cleaners the right consistency.
Hydroxyethylcellulose: A plant-derived thickener used in our laundry detergent to create the perfect texture for easy dispensing.
The Essential Oil Difference
Here's where we really stand apart. Instead of synthetic "fragrance" (which can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals), we use only 100% pure essential oils.
Lemon Tea Tree: Fresh, crisp, and naturally antibacterial-perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
Blood Orange, Bergamot + Sandalwood: Bright citrus grounded by warm, earthy notes-our most popular blend for hand soap.
Bergamot + Lime: Uplifting and refreshing, ideal for dish soap and hand soap.
Lavender+ Sage: Calming and herbal, featured in our laundry detergent.
These aren't just nice scents-they're therapeutic-grade aromatherapy in every spray, pump, and wash.
How We Choose Every Ingredient
Choosing ingredients for The Bare Home isn't a casual process. Every single component goes through a rigorous vetting system:
Third-Party Safety Standards: We consult EWG's Skin Deep database, Health Canada guidelines, and peer-reviewed research to ensure every ingredient meets strict safety criteria.
Supplier Transparency: We partner only with suppliers who provide complete traceability-where ingredients come from, how they're processed, and their environmental impact.
Continuous Review: As new research emerges, we revisit our formulas. Science evolves, and so do we.
Environmental Impact: We prioritize biodegradable, phosphate-free, and dye-free ingredients that won't harm Canadian waterways or ecosystems.
Being a sustainable cleaning company means balancing efficacy with responsibility. We refuse to compromise on cleaning power, but we'll never sacrifice your health or the planet to achieve it.
Why This Approach Matters for Your Family & Home
So what does "non-toxic" actually mean for your daily life?
Healthier Indoor Air: Our formulas release zero harsh chemical fumes. No more holding your breath while cleaning bathrooms or worrying about lingering toxic residue on countertops where you prepare food.
Safe for Everyone: Kids, pets, people with sensitivities-our plant-based cleaning ingredients are gentle enough for all. Customers tell us they love being able to clean without wearing gloves or worrying about chemical burns.
Better for Canadian Waterways: Every ingredient is biodegradable and phosphate-free, so what goes down your drain won't harm aquatic life or septic systems.
No Compromise on Clean: Here's the best part- plant-based doesn't mean less effective. Our All Purpose Cleaner tackles grease, grime, and streaks on glass, stainless steel, granite, marble, and more. Our dish soap cuts through baked-on food. Our laundry detergent works in cold water and is tough on stains.
Peace of Mind: Every label is an invitation to ask questions. We list every ingredient, and our team is always available at Info@thebarehome.ca if you want to know more.
Choosing The Bare Home means joining a broader movement for ethical, verified safe cleaning in Canada- supporting transparency over greenwashing, and accountability over empty claims.
Ingredient Disclosure is Only the Start
We'll be honest: no company is perfect, and we're no exception. But we believe open disclosure invites accountability-and that's exactly what we want.
Our Ongoing Commitments:
Continuous Ingredient Review: As new research emerges, we revisit and improve our formulas. Science doesn't stand still, and neither do we.
Evolution: We're exploring even safer preservative systems, supporting Canadian ingredient innovation, and working with environmental partners to advance the entire industry.
New Content: We're launching an ingredient spotlight blog series where we'll dive even deeper into specific ingredients, answer your questions, and share what we're learning.
Your Feedback Matters: Have questions or concerns about an ingredient? Reach out. We're here to listen, learn, and evolve.
Being a sustainable cleaning company means embracing continuous improvement over perfection. We're transparent about our journey- including the setbacks and challenges- because that's what real accountability looks like.
Clean Ingredients, Clean Conscience
For Ashley, being an open book isn't just a business strategy- it's personal. It's about the trust you place in us every time you bring The Bare Home into your space. It's about creating products worthy of that trust, and inviting you to hold us accountable every step of the way.
Thank you for demanding more from brands, for supporting Canadian-made, non-toxic cleaning products, and for being part of this movement toward transparency and sustainability. Your choices matter- they push us to keep improving, and they inspire other companies to follow suit.
Ready to explore our ingredient lists in detail? Visit any product page on our website to see the full breakdown.
And if this post resonated with you, share it with friends and family who care about what they're bringing into their homes. Together, we're proving that plant-based cleaning ingredients and powerful results aren't mutually exclusive-they're the future of clean.
Because you deserve to know what's inside, always.
