Zep Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser
Skip until PFAS status clarified by manufacturer.
Zep's all-purpose cleaner lacks public PFAS disclosure or independent verification. Surfactant-based cleaners sometimes contain fluorinated compounds; Zep does not specify ingredients.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
liquid concentrate, aqueous surfactant blend
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Zep Concentrated All-Purpose Degreaser is made of, ingredients and materials
Zep Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner is an aqueous surfactant blend, meaning it dissolves oils and soils using water-based detergent chemistry rather than solvent extraction. The concentrate form reduces packaging waste and shipping weight compared to ready-to-use versions. As a dilutable liquid, the actual exposure hazard depends on dilution ratio and use context (spray, wipe, rinse). No publicized information on specific surfactant types, preservatives, or chelating agents in this formulation is readily available from the manufacturer.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Surfactant irritation (skin, eyes, respiratory)
Concentrated aqueous surfactants can cause irritation if contact occurs or if spray mist is inhaled. No specific irritation data for this Zep formulation is publicly available, but standard GHS warnings for surfactant cleaners apply.
Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation
Standard surfactants are often biodegradable, but long-chain or specialty surfactants in commercial formulations may persist in aquatic systems. Zep provides no published environmental toxicity data for this concentrate.
PFAS
Graded 75/100 (Excellent) by external assessment, but manufacturer has not publicly confirmed or denied fluorochemical use. This is the primary reason to request clarification before purchase.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Preservative or chelating agent toxicity
Zep does not disclose specific preservatives or chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, citrates) in public marketing. Without ingredient list transparency, potential hazards from these additives cannot be assessed.
Systemic toxicity from ingestion
The product is intended for external cleaning use only. No reported poisoning incidents specific to this formulation are on record, but concentrated cleaners pose accidental ingestion risk, particularly for children.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Zep is a subsidiary of the Zep Inc. chemical company with a long commercial cleaning history. The brand provides Safety Data Sheets for its products and complies with GHS labeling. However, Zep has not publicly disclosed PFAS content or non-fluorinated alternatives in marketing materials, and no third-party certifications (e.g., EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal) are prominently linked to this specific product. The manufacturer's silence on fluorochemical use is the primary transparency gap.
How it compares in its category
Aqueous surfactant cleaners are standard in commercial and household use; Zep's concentrated format is typical for professional-grade degreasers. Compared to organic-solvent degreasers, aqueous formulations carry lower VOC volatility and flammability risk. Compared to certified green cleaners (e.g., Seventh Generation, Method), Zep offers less public eco-certification and ingredient transparency, though it poses no known acute toxicity higher than industry norms for heavy-duty degreasers.
If you buy it
Dilute according to label instructions; do not use concentrate directly on skin or in unventilated spaces. Wear gloves and use in well-ventilated areas to minimize inhalation of any aerosols if sprayed. Store in the original container away from heat and light, and keep out of reach of children and pets. Before repurchasing, contact Zep directly to request a written statement on PFAS presence in the formulation; if the answer is vague or absent, consider switching to a cleaner with transparent non-fluorinated claims.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Zep has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Oxidizer / skin and eye irritation
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Plant-derived surfactants, water, essential oils
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Essential oil inhalation and sensitization
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- water, plant-derived surfactants, mineral salts
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Skin irritation from surfactants
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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