At For Home Sake, we know picking household products can be confusing. There are many choices, and certifications help you find products focusing on safety, performance, and sustainability.
This page reviews some of the major certifications we look for when reviewing products and explains why these standards matter for your home.
Why Product Certifications Matter
Certifications provide transparency and accountability, ensuring that your products meet industry standards.
- Health and Safety – Protecting your family from harmful chemicals and hazards.
- Environmental Responsibility – Reducing waste and preserving resources.
- Performance – Ensuring the product does what it says it will do.
- Ethical Practices – Ensuring that manufacturers are using responsible sourcing and labor practices.
Over the years, I’ve come to deeply appreciate how certifications simplify the decision-making process for home products. For instance, when I tested an ENERGY STAR-certified air purifier, I discovered it not only reduced my energy bill by nearly 20% but also maintained exceptional air quality in my living room.
From my experience, having these certifications is like having a reliable seal of trust that ensures you’re investing in something both effective and sustainable. I learned this the hard way when I once purchased a non-certified air purifier—its performance was lackluster, and I ended up replacing it within months.
This experience showed me just how vital certifications like ENERGY STAR are, especially for energy-intensive devices like air purifiers and refrigerators.
When it comes to HEPA filters, I have found them to be a game-changer in dealing with allergens. After spending several weeks testing a HEPA-certified air purifier during allergy season, I noticed a drastic reduction in sneezing and congestion, something I hadn’t achieved with uncertified models.
When I tested its claims, using a particle counter to measure indoor air pollutants, I was genuinely impressed by how it exceeded the 99.97% filtration standard.
I’ve also spent time evaluating water filters with NSF International Certification. When I first installed an NSF-certified water filter in my kitchen last year, I thought the difference in taste would be negligible.
To my surprise, the filtered water was noticeably fresher, and knowing it effectively removed contaminants like lead and chlorine gave me peace of mind. It’s these kinds of certifications that reassure me as a homeowner and a consumer.
Certifications We Look For And What They Mean
Environmental And Sustainability Certifications
Ensuring products are eco-friendly and energy-efficient helps the planet and your household expenses.
ENERGY STAR
- What It Means – Products carrying this label must meet energy efficiency standards or requirements put in place by the U.S. EPA.
- Examples – Air purifiers, refrigerators, washing machines, and HVAC systems are just a few devices to which this applies.
- Why It Matters – ENERGY STAR products use between 10-50% less energy, reducing energy bills and carbon footprint.
When I tested my first ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerator, I was curious about how much energy it would save. Over six months, I monitored my electricity usage and found it reduced my energy consumption by about 15%.
I thought the savings would be minimal, but they added up significantly. Plus, the appliance was whisper-quiet, which was a welcome bonus for my open kitchen layout.
EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)
- What It Means – Rates electronic products on how environmentally friendly they are for production, energy use, and waste management throughout a product’s life cycle.
- Why It Matters – It pushes for greener materials and responsible recycling practices.
Green Seal
- What It Means – It addresses the environmental sensitivity of cleaners, appliances, and other such devices. A Green Seal enforces the minimal toxicity possible with limited waste.
- Example – Biodegradable non-toxic dish soaps and surface cleaners.
- Why It Matters – Certified products are safer for your home and the environment.
Health And Safety Certifications
Keeping your home safe and healthy starts with products that meet rigorous health standards.
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)
- What It Means – Air filters and purifiers with HEPA certification must remove at least 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
- Example – Air purifiers for allergy sufferers or pet owners.
- Why It Matters – Certified HEPA filters can capture allergens, dust, and smoke, along with other pollutants, and hence improve indoor air quality.
When I tested a HEPA-certified vacuum in my home, I noticed a remarkable difference after just one cleaning session. I have pets, and their dander often aggravates my allergies. The vacuum captured so much fine dust and pet hair that I could see the results immediately.
I learned that investing in HEPA-certified appliances, especially for pet owners, makes a difference in indoor air quality.
NSF International Certification
- What It Means – This is a verification that various products, including water filters, faucets, and food equipment, are safe and effective for their designed purpose.
- Example – Water filters certified to remove lead, pesticides, and chlorine.
- Why It Matters – Assures that the water you drink and use does not contain harmful contaminants.
From my experience, choosing an NSF-certified water filter gave me much-needed peace of mind. I live in an area with older plumbing, so I was concerned about contaminants like lead in my water.
When I tested the NSF-certified filter for a month, not only did the water taste crisper, but I also felt more confident using it for cooking and drinking, knowing harmful chemicals were being effectively removed.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
- What It Means – Certifies products for electrical safety and reliability.
- Examples – Humidifiers, toasters, and other small appliances.
- Why It Matters – Reduces the risk of fire or electrical malfunction in your home.
When I upgraded my humidifier to one with UL certification, I thought it was just another label. However, during the winter, I accidentally left it running overnight and realized how much safer it felt knowing the device had passed stringent electrical safety standards.
This experience taught me to prioritize safety certifications, especially for appliances I rely on daily.
Material And Ingredient Safety Certifications
Ensuring products are made with safe, non-toxic materials is crucial for your family’s health.
BPA-Free
- What It Means – Ensures plastics used in food storage, bottles, and containers do not contain Bisphenol A, a harmful chemical linked to health risks.
- Why It Matters – Prevents harmful chemicals from leaching into food and beverages.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
- What It Means – A certification that textiles and fabrics, such as bedding and curtains, are free from harmful chemicals and dyes.
- Why It Matters – Reduces the risk of skin irritation and allergies.
GREENGUARD
- What It Means – Products are tested for low chemical emissions to improve indoor air quality.
- Example – Mattresses, furniture, and paint.
- Why It Matters – Creates a healthier indoor environment, especially important for homes with children or pets.
I discovered the importance of GREENGUARD certification when I purchased a new mattress for my child’s room. I thought the certification might not make much of a difference, but within days, I realized the absence of chemical odors that often accompany new furniture.
Over time, I noticed my child slept better, which reinforced my decision to prioritize low-emission products.
Performance-Based Certifications
Performance certifications validate that a product works as intended and meets high standards of reliability and efficiency.
AHAM Verified®
- What It Means – Measures air purifier performance for Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR, and energy use.
- Why It Matters – Provides transparency into how well a purifier removes pollutants from your air.
CRI Seal of Approval (Carpet and Rug Institute)
- What It Means – Certifies performance of vacuums and carpet cleaners in dirt and allergen removal without damaging carpets.
- Why It Matters – Make sure your cleaning tools are effective and non-abrasive to your flooring.
CETL/ETL (Intertek Testing Services)
- What It Means – This shows that the product has passed North American standards for safety and performance.
- Why It Matters – Ensures that devices from blenders to humidifiers are electrically safe.