About Us

Why Free & Clear?

People choose Free & Clear products for many reasons. Some people prefer to use a laundry detergent or dish liquid that won’t compete with other scents they already have in their home. Others regularly choose unscented products, just as a matter of course. And still others are coping with physical conditions (allergies, asthma, multiple-chemical sensitivities) that make using these products a priority in order for them to be comfortable and healthy in their homes.

What Does "Free & Clear" Mean?

"Free" refers to the absence of added fragrances. Seventh Generation carefully selects ingredients that have minimal scent so that fragrances are not necessary. Some conventional products that are called “Free” actually use masking agents to cover the scent of their ingredients. Masks are fragrances that do not have a strong odor of their own, but can "overload" the olfactory sense so other fragrances are difficult to detect, too.

"Clear" is used to indicate that no dyes or pigments are added to the cleaning product. The dyes and pigments used in most conventional cleaning products are not biodegradable, and have aquatic toxicity.

Did You Know...?

• ...the EPA's Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas.
• ...one out of nine trips to the doctor involves allergies, including one in every five visits to a pediatrician.
• Asthma costs $6.2 billion in time lost from work and school.
• ...the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) estimates that today 50 million Americans have allergic diseases.