Evidence labels & sources

What each evidence label means, and the sources behind them.

A technique can be highly effective and still ruin the surface it is used on, and a harmless technique can do nothing at all. Those are two separate questions, and every recommendation answers both. Here is what the answers mean.

How well supported is it?

Strongly supported
Supported
Plausible mechanism, untested in this application
Established practitioner practice
Anecdotal
Disputed
Does not work
Unresolved

Is it safe?

Safe in the conditions described: Authoritative guidance supports this combination, within the conditions described below.
Safe only in specific conditions: This is only appropriate within specific limits. Outside those limits, no claim is made.
Depends on the manufacturer: This depends on the specific product or finish. Check the manufacturer's own instructions before proceeding.
Not established: Whether this is safe is not established by any authoritative source. That is not the same as it being safe — it means the evidence needed to answer has not been published. Do not treat this as permission to proceed.
Best avoided: The available guidance advises against this.
Unsafe: Do not do this. The risk is established, and it is described below.

Sources

Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners
Washington State Department of Health · Government or regulator · Licence not established
Hazard Alert — Worker Health and Safety: Mixing Bleach with Other Cleaning Products Can Be Deadly
New Jersey Department of Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Surveillance Program · Government or regulator · Licence not established
Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), United Kingdom · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
TOXBASE, the clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service
National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), United Kingdom · Poison or chemical-safety authority · All rights reserved
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC · Poison or chemical-safety authority · Public domain
EN ISO 3758, Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) · Standards body · Standard — purchase required
ASTM A967/A967M, Standard Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts
ASTM International · Standards body · Standard — purchase required
Industrial washing conditions as factor that influence the cellulose structure and mechanical strength of bed linens
Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio), 2023 · Scientific literature · Creative Commons
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Sodium Hydroxide
New Jersey Department of Health, Right to Know Program · Government or regulator · Licence not established
Mold Cleanup in Your Home
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) · Government or regulator · Public domain
Cultivation-Based Quantification and Identification of Bacteria at Two Hygienic Key Sides of Domestic Washing Machines
Microorganisms (MDPI), 2021 · Scientific literature · Creative Commons
Technical Bulletin: Cleaning and Maintenance of Laminate Floor Coverings in the Home
EPLF — Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring, 2022 · Trade or professional body · All rights reserved
Glass Technical Paper FB01-00: Proper Procedures for Cleaning Architectural Glass Products
National Glass Association (NGA) with the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA), 2023 · Trade or professional body · All rights reserved
Technical Procedures: Cleaning of Copper Alloy Objects
United States General Services Administration (GSA), Historic Preservation · Reference work · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Chlorine
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Ammonia
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Chloroform
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Sodium Hypochlorite
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Hydrogen Peroxide
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Isopropyl Alcohol
New Jersey Department of Health · Government or regulator · Public domain
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Air and Radiation, 2012 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Cleaning composition and method for removal of sunscreen stains, US patent US9222058B2
Ecolab USA Inc., granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2015 · Manufacturer documentation · All rights reserved
Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes after a Fitness Session
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, 2014 · Scientific literature · All rights reserved
Textile friendly non-aerosol antiperspirants with methanesulfonic acid, US patent US9549883B2
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 2017 · Manufacturer documentation · All rights reserved
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) · Government or regulator · Public domain
Sterilising baby bottles
National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Maggots in your wheelie bin — advice on prevention
Fareham Borough Council · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Care of Ivory, Bone, Horn and Antler — CCI Notes 6/1
Canadian Conservation Institute, Department of Canadian Heritage · Trade or professional body · Licence not established
Conserve O Gram 3/4: Mold — Prevention of Growth in Museum Collections
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2007 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 16/1: Causes, Detection and Prevention of Mold and Mildew on Textiles
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1993 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 8/4: Care and Identification of Objects Made from Plastic
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 7/6: Silicone in Furniture Waxes and Polishes
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1993 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 10/2: Caring for Silver and Copper Alloy Objects
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 1/6: Choosing a Museum Vacuum Cleaner
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2003 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 15/2: Dusting Guidelines for Stone Objects and Interior Architectural Features
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 16/2: Dry Cleaning Museum Textiles
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 7/1: Cleaning Wood Furniture
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1993 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 8/1: Removing Dust From Ceramic And Glass Objects
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1993 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 10/5: Caring for Outdoor Bronze Plaques, Part II — Cleaning and Waxing
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 15/1: Care of Alabaster
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2000 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home — guidance for rented housing providers
UK Health Security Agency and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, GOV.UK, 2023 · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Conserve O Gram 9/1: Fatty Acid Spew on Leather Objects
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2025 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 7/2: Waxing Furniture and Wooden Objects
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1993 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 10/1: Caring for Historic Longarms — Storage and Handling Requirements
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1999 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Conserve O Gram 10/3: Preparing Historic Motorized Vehicles For Storage Or Exhibit
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1999 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Safe Method: Cleaning Effectively (Safer Food, Better Business)
Food Standards Agency, United Kingdom · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Why is cleaning important
Food Standards Agency, United Kingdom (GOV.UK) · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Conserve O Gram 3/11: Identifying Museum Insect Pest Damage
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2008 · Government or regulator · Public domain
Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 on detergents, Annex VII — labelling and ingredient data sheet
European Parliament and Council, as retained in UK law (legislation.gov.uk), 2004 · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Safer Chemical Ingredients List — functional-use classes
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Safer Choice · Government or regulator · Public domain
Chimney Sweepers Acts — Case of George Brewster, House of Lords, 16 February 1875
Hansard, UK Parliament, 1875 · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Woven & Knit Residential Upholstery Fabric Standards & Guidelines
Joint Industry Fabric Standards and Guidelines Committee, via the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) · Standards body · All rights reserved
Cleaning accommodation and facilities: COSHH essentials, control approach 1
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), United Kingdom · Government or regulator · Open Government Licence
Museum Handbook Part I, Appendix O: Curatorial Care of Metal Objects
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 2002 · Reference work · Public domain
Service Bulletin 06-00-89-029T: Interior Cleaning — Instrument Panel, Hard or Plastic Surfaces, Seats, Carpet, Leather, Vinyl, Fabric
General Motors LLC, published via NHTSA · Manufacturer documentation · All rights reserved

Corrections

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Evidence labels & sources

How well supported is it?

Is it safe?

Sources

TOXBASE, the clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

EN ISO 3758, Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols

ASTM A967/A967M, Standard Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts

Dimension Stone Design Manual

HETAS guidance for users of solid fuel and wood-burning appliances

Cleaning product science and ingredient information

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology

Handbook of Detergents (Surfactant Science Series)

Royal Society of Chemistry educational and reference chemistry resources