Certified
A third party checked it. The certifier's own public list shows this product or its brand. These chips are solid and carry a small corner notch.
Badges
Badges with receipts
Every badge on a Clean Fluff Club pick comes from a certifier's public list or the maker's own page. Open any pick to see the source and the exact words.
- Clean Fluff Club's Fluff Seal
- Certified: VOHC accepted
- The maker states: Fragrance-free
Three kinds of badge
Maker states
The maker states: it is on their own page or label, and the pick quotes and links it. These chips are outlined and never say certified.
The Fluff Seal
Our own mark, and the rarest: a rule decides it (no editor picks it by hand), and it is capped at 1 in 20 products.
How a badge is earned
One rule covers all of them: a source you can open, and the exact words.
- A link to the source. A certifier's own list, or the maker's own product page or label.
- The words, quoted. We copy the line that earns the badge, word for word, and show it on the pick's page.
- This product, not a cousin. The source has to name this product line (or the whole brand, where the certifier certifies brands). A sister product, a parent company or a different size line doesn't count.
- Rechecked. Certifier lists are checked again at least every six months. When a listing lapses, the badge comes off.
If two sources disagree, the badge waits until they don't.
The Fluff Seal
A pick earns the Fluff Seal when all of these are true:
- 1It's a top-3 pick on one of our live hubs or roundups.
- 2At least one Certified badge.
- 3At least three badges in total.
- 4No safety catch in its "The catch" notes (things like a choking risk, or a skin warning on the label).
- 5Its link is live: our daily link check has confirmed it goes to the right product.
The Seal comes off the moment any of these stops being true. If more than 1 in 20 of our products ever qualifies, the bar goes up.
Certified badges
VOHC accepted
Certified: VOHC acceptedVOHC accepted products list
The Veterinary Oral Health Council lists this product as accepted to help control plaque, tartar or both.
What earns it: this exact product and species on VOHC's accepted products list. The pick page says which claim it is accepted for.
What doesn't: a different product from the same brand, a cat chew when only the dog chew is listed (or the reverse), or "dental" and "vet recommended" on the pack.
Certified organic
Certified: Certified organicUSDA Organic Integrity Database
USDA's Organic Integrity Database lists a certified operation for this product, and it carries USDA's organic or 100% organic label.
What earns it: an Organic Integrity Database record for the maker or its certified handler that covers this product, plus the USDA organic or 100% organic label on the product.
What doesn't: "made with organic ingredients", organic ingredients in a product that isn't certified, or organic cotton (a different standard).
Safer Choice certified
Certified: Safer Choice certifiedEPA Safer Choice certified products list
The EPA's Safer Choice program lists this exact product as certified.
What earns it: this product (and scent, where the list splits them) on the EPA's certified products list.
What doesn't: another product from the same brand, or "made with Safer Choice ingredients".
Leaping Bunny certified
Certified: Leaping Bunny certifiedLeaping Bunny brand directory
Leaping Bunny lists this brand as certified cruelty-free: no animal testing after a fixed cut-off date, by the brand or its suppliers, with supplier checks.
What earns it: the brand on Leaping Bunny's own directory, covering this product line.
What doesn't: "cruelty-free" or "never tested on animals" on the maker's own page, or a parent company that is listed when this brand isn't.
Green Seal certified
Certified: Green Seal certifiedGreen Seal certified products directory
Green Seal's directory lists this product as certified to its published standard for its category.
What earns it: this product and its standard (for example GS-52) on Green Seal's directory.
What doesn't: another product from the brand, an expired certificate, or "green" on the label.
NASC Quality Seal
Certified: NASC Quality SealNational Animal Supplement Council member directory
The National Animal Supplement Council lists this brand as a current Quality Seal holder, which means it passed NASC's facility audit and keeps its listing current.
What earns it: the brand as a current Quality Seal holder on NASC's own site.
What doesn't: the seal printed on the maker's page with no NASC listing, or a co-packer's membership.
Home compostable
Certified: Home compostableTÜV Austria OK compost certificate database
TÜV Austria certifies this product as compostable in a home pile.
What earns it: this product on TÜV Austria's OK compost HOME list.
What doesn't: an industrial-only certificate (that earns Industrial compostable), "biodegradable" bags, or "compostable" on the box with no certificate behind it.
Industrial compostable
Certified: Industrial compostableBPI certified products catalog or TÜV Austria OK compost INDUSTRIAL database
BPI or TÜV Austria certifies this product as compostable in an industrial facility, so it only composts where your area has one.
What earns it: this product on BPI's catalog or TÜV Austria's OK compost INDUSTRIAL list.
What doesn't: "biodegradable" bags, or "compostable" on the box with no certificate behind it.
Crash-test certified
Certified: Crash-test certifiedCenter for Pet Safety CPS Certified products list
The Center for Pet Safety, an independent non-profit, lists this exact product as CPS Certified: it passed their crash-test protocol.
What earns it: this exact harness, carrier or crate model on the Center for Pet Safety's certified products list, with "Passed Testing: Yes". The pick page quotes the rating as listed.
What doesn't: "crash tested" on the maker's or a seller's page with no CPS entry, another product from the same brand, or a different model or size than the one CPS lists.
Maker states badges
Fragrance-free
The maker states: Fragrance-freeThe maker states: no fragrance is added, and the ingredient list they publish shows none.
What earns it: "fragrance-free", "no fragrance", "without fragrance" or "no perfume", with no qualifier, and no fragrance, parfum or essential oil on the list.
What doesn't: "unscented" with a masking fragrance listed, "no artificial fragrance", essential oils, or a named scent like lemon or lavender.
Plant-based
The maker states: Plant-basedThe maker describes the whole formula as plant-based or plant-derived and publishes the ingredient list.
What doesn't: "made with plant extracts", "plant-based enzymes" on their own, or "natural".
Enzyme formula
The maker states: Enzyme formulaThe maker states: it uses enzymes, which break down the pee or vomit itself, so the smell goes with it.
What doesn't: "enzyme-like action", oxygen cleaners, or probiotic sprays that don't mention enzymes.
Dye-free
The maker states: Dye-freeThe maker states: no dye or added color goes in, and the ingredient list they publish shows none.
What earns it: "dye-free", "no dyes", "without dyes" or "no colorants", with no qualifier, and no colorant on the list.
What doesn't: "no artificial dyes", or "no artificial colors" with caramel color or another colorant on the list.
Limited ingredient
The maker states: Limited ingredientThe maker calls it limited or single ingredient and publishes the full list, so you can check it against your pet's triggers.
What doesn't: "simple recipe" with no list, "grain-free" alone, or a single-protein claim with a second protein on the list.
Made in USA
The maker states: Made in USAThe maker states: it is made in the USA, with no qualifier. Under FTC rules, that claim has to mean all or virtually all of it is made here.
What earns it: "Made in USA", "Made in the United States", "Made in America", "Manufactured in the USA" or "Produced in the USA", with nothing added.
What doesn't: "assembled in USA", "made in USA with globally sourced ingredients", "designed in USA", or a US address.
Made in Canada
The maker states: Made in CanadaThe maker states: it is made in Canada, with no qualifier.
What doesn't: "made in Canada with imported ingredients", or a Canadian head office with the factory elsewhere.
Machine washable
The maker states: Machine washableThe maker's care instructions say the whole item can go in the washing machine.
What doesn't: a washable cover over an insert that isn't (the pick's notes say so instead), or "spot clean".
Refill available
The maker states: Refill availableThe maker sells a refill or concentrate for this product, so you keep the bottle or holder.
What doesn't: a bigger bottle of the same thing, or a third-party refill.
Biodegradable formula
The maker states: Biodegradable formulaThe maker states: the liquid formula itself is biodegradable once it goes down the drain.
What doesn't: "biodegradable" bags, wipes or litter, or one biodegradable ingredient.
Recyclable packaging
The maker states: Recyclable packagingThe maker states: the packaging is recyclable, with no "check locally" qualifier.
What doesn't: "recyclable where facilities exist", store drop-off only, or "made from recycled plastic".
Words that don't earn a badge
Some words sound reassuring but no certifier list backs them, so they never become a badge here, whoever says them: non-toxic, chemical-free, natural, eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, pet-safe and vet-recommended. When a label leans on them, open the pick: the full ingredient list and any real certification are right there.
Put the badges to work
Every badge comes from a list you can open or the maker's own words. Now pick for the mess.
See the picksSpot a badge that's out of date?
Certifiers update their lists and makers change formulas. If a badge doesn't match the source anymore, tell us and we'll recheck it.