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CarCareTruth

Ceteareth-6

  • Nonionic surfactants
  • IUPAC: Alcohols, C16-18, ethoxylated (6 EO)

Ceteareth-6 appears in 1 of the 2,180 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of September 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

A fatty alcohol ethoxylate with a low degree of ethoxylation, more oil-soluble than its higher-EO siblings. Not classified as a skin or respiratory sensitizer. Like every ethoxylate it carries a trace residual of ethylene oxide, a California Proposition 65 listed chemical, from the manufacturing reaction.

Ceteareth-6 is the oil-friendly half of the emulsifier pair used in many polishing compounds. Made by adding roughly six ethylene oxide units to cetearyl alcohol, it sits at the boundary between the oil carrier and the water phase and keeps the two from splitting.

Compared with Ceteareth-11 it holds more oil and less water, so a formulator pairs the two to set exactly how wet or greasy a compound feels on the pad and how cleanly the residue releases when you wipe the panel.

Manufacturers commonly withhold the CAS number for a specific ethoxylate grade as a trade secret while still naming the INCI identity, which is what happens on the California Cleaning Product Right to Know disclosures for several car care compounds. The ethylene oxide residual left over from ethoxylation is why those same disclosures list ethylene oxide as a nonfunctional constituent.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
yes
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
3/5
Purpose: Low-ethoxylate nonionic emulsifier that carries the oil phase of a polishing compound and controls how the product wets a foam pad

Common questions about Ceteareth-6

What is Ceteareth-6 used for in car care?
Low-ethoxylate nonionic emulsifier that carries the oil phase of a polishing compound and controls how the product wets a foam pad
Is Ceteareth-6 a VOC?
No. Ceteareth-6 is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Ceteareth-6 on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Ceteareth-6 is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Ceteareth-6 biodegradable?
Yes. Ceteareth-6 has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

1 product contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.