What You Need to Know About the Ban on Cleaning Products Containing PFAS

Many states have already or will be banning the use of many products, including floor cleaning solutions, that contain intentionally added PFAS. Continue reading to learn more about PFAS, how this will affect you, and our recommendation for a safe and compliant floor cleaning product.

What are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and they are a group of synthetic chemical compounds. Commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS take an extremely long time to break down and remain present, building up in living organisms and in the environment. Because they are toxic to living organisms and the environment*, there is growing concern over their presence in everyday products.

How do I know if the cleaning product I use contains PFAS?

There are approximately 7 million PFAS chemical compounds which means that it may be difficult to determine whether your product contains PFAS just by reading the ingredients list. Not to mention, going through a list of chemical ingredients can be an extremely tedious task.

You may be able to do a quick search online to determine whether your cleaning solution contains PFAS. However, if you can’t find an answer, the chances that it contains PFAS are high as they are commonly used as a surfactant in floor cleaning products.

Which states are banning PFAS?

As of December 2024, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, and Washington all have passed policies to phase-out or actively ban PFAS in cleaning products. To see an up-to-date list of states that have PFAS bans and what kinds of products are banned, check out Safer States.

If I live in a state that’s banned PFAS, how will this affect me?

While the specific details of each state’s plan or execution of the bans is beyond what we can cover in this quick blog, it is important to remain compliant with your state’s current policies and avoid any issues with the supply chain. We recommend making the switch to a PFAS-free cleaning solution as soon as possible.

What PFAS-free cleaning product should I use?

Triad Service Center has partnered with Biosolutions, a Michigan-based biodegradable cleaning solution manufacturer, to provide our customers with a great price on a high quality PFAS-free floor cleaning solution that works just as effectively as traditional products. We have personally tested many of their floor cleaning products to ensure they will meet our customers’ expectations. Our #1 recommendation is their Clean & Green™ Super Concentrate as it is an excellent all-purpose cleaning and degreasing solution for hard, non-porous surfaces.

Learn more about Clean & Green™ Super Concentrate and request a quote: https://www.triadservice.com/cleaningproducts/

 

* United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.) Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas