Methodology Changelog

Changes

• Published the five disqualifiers that keep a product out of our top picks: a chemical of concern at meaningful exposure levels, the brand refusing to disclose composition, failing the minimum quality bar (under 4.1 stars or under 50 Amazon reviews), brand exit or relaunch as a smaller entity, and a documented pattern of misrepresenting safety or certification claims.
• Published the verification we run before adding any product to top picks: the Amazon listing must show an Add to Cart button (not a 'See options' disambiguation), the affiliate link must return a 200 status code, any cited certification (NSF, GOTS, OEKO-TEX, MADE SAFE, CertiPUR-US, EPA Safer Choice) must appear in the certifying body's public database, and the published price range must reflect prices observed at two or more sellers within the last 30 days.
• Added per-category disqualifiers: no PTFE or PFOA-derived nonstick coatings for cookware; NSF/ANSI 53 (lead), P473/P231 (PFAS), or 42 (chlorine) certification required for any water-filter health claim; no brominated flame retardants on polyurethane foam in mattresses; EPA Safer Choice or full ingredient disclosure for cleaning products; no synthetic fragrance, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, parabens, or phthalates in personal care; under 50 g/L VOC for interior paint.
• Published the first five empty-category entries (categories where we evaluated the market and nothing met the bar): synthetic plug-in and spray air fresheners, fragranced dryer sheets, PVC vinyl shower curtains, conventional aerosol bug sprays, and conventional fragranced laundry detergents. Each entry names the disqualifier and recommends an alternative.