Simple green is a great cleaning agent and is widely used to clean homes and outdoor spaces and sometimes it can into contact with plants. There are good reasons why you should not be worried.
Simple green is safe for plants because it doesn’t contain toxic chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, or petroleum distillates. It will not cause any harm or damage if it gets onto the plant. When washed off, the wetting agent it contains will also help the soil retain moisture.
This article will explain everything pertaining to simple green when it comes to plants and how it can be effectively used to promote healthy plant growth.
Is Simple Green Safe for Plants?
The short answer is yes.
Simple Green is a cleaning product that has been around since 1975. It’s been used as a cleaner for cars, bathrooms, kitchens, and just about any other surface you can think of. It has also been used in the houseplant industry for years now.
Simple Green is safe for plants and shrubs. It also works well on grass, as it’s a water-soluble formula that won’t leave an oily residue behind like other cleaners will do.
It can help elevate hydrophobic soils. This type of soil does not absorb water well and when water falls on the soil, it runs off the surface, or simply sits there and doesn’t mix.
The surfactants in simple green lower the interfacial tension of water within the soil making it easier to be absorbed by the soil.
Many household cleaners contain chemicals that can be toxic to plants. If you have an indoor garden or potted plants in your home, consider using a plant-friendly cleaner like Simple Green instead of traditional cleaners like bleach or ammonia.
Simple Green is biodegradable and non-toxic. It’s a cleaning agent, not a pesticide.
If you accidentally spray too much on your plant, you may cause leaf burn or browning of the leaves, but it will likely recover with time and good care.
This simple green product will not only clean your desired area but also keep your plants out of harm's way.
What Is Simple Green?
Simple Green is a concentrated, multi-purpose cleaner that is safe for people and the environment.
It contains no harsh or toxic chemicals and is safe to use on all surfaces around your home, including your lawn and garden.
Simple Green can be used as an all-purpose cleaner to remove stains and dirt from almost any surface in your home.
From windows and mirrors to floors, appliances, tile and grout, it can clean just about anything!
It is a cleaning agent, and it is safe for plants. It’s not a fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide or fungicide. It’s also concentrated and should only be used diluted per the instructions on the bottle.
What Ingredients Does Simple Green Have?
Simple Green contains various ingredients, which you can read about below.
Water –
This makes up most of the product and is also where most of its active ingredients are found.
Sodium lauryl sulfate –
This ingredient has two functions: it removes grease from surfaces (like your countertop) and acts as a surfactant.
It is a substance that allows water to mix with oil or grease when appropriately applied by rubbing it between your hands for about 20 seconds before washing off thoroughly with soap and water (or vinegar).
Sodium carbonate –
In addition to acting as an abrasive, this ingredient can neutralize acidic solutions by adding bicarbonate ions.
It works best if combined with sodium hydroxide or citric acid because they help keep pH levels stable during use; however, if you choose not to add any other type of cleaning agent, then be sure not to use too much because this could cause damage!
What Does It Do In The Environment And Plants?
Simple Green is safe for the environment and plants. It contains no harmful chemicals, toxins or other ingredients that may be toxic to your plants.
Simple Green is biodegradable, so it does not harm the environment when you use it on your lawn and garden. Simple Green does not contain any harmful chemicals that could harm your plants in any way.
Simple Green is an eco-friendly product that can clean many different surfaces, including plants and the environment.
The active ingredients in Simple Green are plant-based, so they don’t harm the planet or the plants.
You should always follow label directions when using this product, but here are some general guidelines:
Clean soil off pots and planters with warm water before using Simple Green to disinfect them.
If there’s dirt in the potting soil itself (like with seedlings), then you won’t need to clean it off first —spray it down with Simple Green and let it sit for five to ten minutes before washing it with warm water again.
Does Simple Green Have Harmful Chemicals?
The simple answer is no; Simple Green’s biodegradable cleaner is safe for humans and pets.
The EPA tested the product, and it has been proven to be non-hazardous in all areas of use except one: plants.
If you plan on using this product around your home, keep it away from shrubs and grass—it can damage them if misused.
Will Simple Green Kill Grass?
Simple Green is safe for grass. It’s non-caustic, non-toxic, and non-corrosive, which means it won’t harm the roots of your lawn or cause any damage to soil structure.
Simple Green is ideal for cleaning up your yard’s spills and messes without worrying about long-term effects like fertilizer burn or killing off all of your plants.
While you may still want to take precautions when using Simple Green on specific types of grasses (like Bermuda), it’s generally safe as long as you don’t use too much at once!
How to Prevent Cleaning Agents from Getting onto Plants?
While cleaning, do your best to avoid chemicals on the plants. It’s also best to keep the area surrounding your plants free of chemicals so that if you accidentally spill some, it doesn’t get on them.
- Apply cleaners to areas of dirt or stains but not to plant leaves or stems.
- Cover the plane for protection when applying chemicals to areas around the plant.
- Move the plant from the area which is to be cleaned so the potential of chemicals getting onto it is eliminated.
Many cleaners are too strong for the delicate skin and leaves of living things like plants because they contain harmful agents like ammonia.
They can cause damage that may take days or weeks to heal depending on how much was applied and how long it sits there before being washed off (or not).
Only use chemicals suitable for the plant in question; for example, if you’re using Simple Green on an indoor plant that originated outdoors but has been indoors for a long time.
This might cause mild shock because its body isn’t accustomed to this particular chemical environment, yet it could still be harmful enough over time!
A similar rule applies when using too much cleaning agent: If a little bit goes a long way, then applying too much would waste both time & money as well as potentially causing more harm than good overall.”
What to do if a Plant is exposed to Simple Green?
If you suspect that your plants have been exposed to Simple Green, the best thing to do is wash them with water. Suppose it’s still showing signs of damage after this initial treatment.
In that case, you can add a solution of baking soda and water (1 teaspoon of baking soda per 1 quart of warm water) and spray it on the plant to help neutralize any remaining acid in its leaves.
Shrubs and Grass
Simple Green is safe to use on all types of plants, including shrubs and grass.
You can use it to clean them, but you want to be careful not to overuse it or leave it on the plant for too long. If you do either, some of your greenery may die off.
When cleaning your landscaping with Simple Green, ensure that whatever plant you use the product on does not contain toxic substances that could harm humans (or pets).
What is a Safe Cleaning Agent That can be used around Plants?
Simple Green is perfectly safe for plants and won’t cause any damage to your shrubbery or houseplants.
But some people prefer to use a different cleaning agent around their plants because they think it will be less harmful, but it’s important to remember that Simple Green isn’t hurt your plant either.
If you are concerned about using Simple Green around your garden or indoor plants, consider using another cleaning product instead. Many products on the market are labelled as being “plant safe.”
These products do not contain toxic ingredients, so they’re much safer than simple Green when used around living things like plants and trees.
Other safe cleaning agents that can be used around plants:
- Wash Safe Supreme.
- Rejuvenate Dual System Outdoor Siding Cleaner.
- Scotts Outdoor Cleaner Multi-Purpose Formula.
- Wet and Forget Moss, Mold, Mildew, and Algae.
- Krud Kutter Mold & Mildew.
- Distilled White Vinegar.
The Takeaway
The takeaway from this article is that Simple Green is safe for plants. It’s a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning agent used by professional gardeners for years.
While there are better options for your shrubs and grass (and you shouldn’t use them to clean your car), they can be used around any indoor or outdoor plant without fear of damaging them.
If you accidentally spill some on your excellent, you always avoid getting any cleaning agents on your plants.
Still, if the worst happens and there’s no other option than using one of these products around them, then this is better than using something like bleach which could kill your grass or shrubs overnight!
