I cook three times a day and I have a seven year old. That means I am cleaning my kitchen counters at minimum three times a day. Probably more if you count the random snack situations and the general chaos that comes with raising a small human.
For years I was grabbing whatever was under the sink without a second thought. Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, whatever smelled clean and felt like it was working. Then I started reading labels and realized that the products I was using to clean the surfaces my daughter eats off of every single day were loaded with the exact chemicals I was trying to get away from everywhere else.
That was a fun realization.
What Is Actually in Conventional Cleaners
According to EWG, 52% of household cleaning products contain ingredients that harm the lungs. Studies show that using these cleaners as infrequently as once a week can contribute to asthma. I was using mine three times a day.
The most concerning ingredients to know about:
Formaldehyde is used as a preservative in some cleaning products and is a known carcinogen.
Chloroform is found in bleach products and is also a known carcinogen.
Sodium Borate commonly known as Borax, shows up in many conventional cleaners and is a known hormone disruptor.
The American Lung Association notes that cleaning supplies containing VOCs and other toxic substances can cause chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and headaches with regular use. Products that commonly contain VOCs include aerosol sprays, air fresheners, chlorine bleach, detergent and dishwashing liquid, rug and upholstery cleaners, furniture polish, and oven cleaners.
The good news is that there are genuinely great clean alternatives that work just as well. I have tested all of these personally and use them in my own home.ys, air fresheners, bleach, dishwashing liquid, and furniture polish.
The Brands I Actually Use
The good news? There are many cleaner options that are both safe and effective. Below are some of my favorite multipurpose cleaners, along with their EWG ratings.
1. Puracy (EWG Grade: A)
- This one is always in my house and it is my top pick for hardwood floors specifically. The Green Tea and Lime scent is light and genuinely lovely and it does not leave any film or stickiness after mopping which is harder to find than you would think. I also use it on kitchen counters regularly just to mix things up.
- It is free of SLS, SLES, sulfates, phosphates, petroleum-based ingredients, animal by-products, dyes, chlorine, petrochemicals, ammonia, and caustics. EWG rates Puracy an A.
- One note: Puracy is not a disinfectant. They do have a disinfecting line separately if you need that.
- Pros: EWG A rating, light and fresh scent, no film on floors, free from a long list of toxic ingredients, great for hardwood.
- Cons: Not a disinfectant in the standard formulation. If sanitization is your goal you need their separate disinfecting line
2. Thieves Household Cleaner (EWG Grade: B)
- This is my number one. Hands down my favorite multipurpose cleaner I have ever tried and I have tried a lot of them. I use it on every single surface in my house — kitchen counters, floors, stainless steel appliances, bathroom counters, toilets, all of it. I used it to sanitize my daughter’s toys when she was little. It smells incredible and it works.
- It comes in one large bottle of concentrated solution with directions for different concentrations depending on what you are cleaning and where. Kitchen use, bathroom use, stain removal — all different dilutions from the same bottle which makes it incredibly cost effective.
- One thing worth knowing: Thieves does not directly claim to be a disinfectant on their website. I did my own research into the individual essential oils in the blend and here is what I found. Clove bud is antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Lemon peel oil is antibacterial with studies done against staph and E. coli. Cinnamon bark is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and fights against parasites. Rosemary leaf oil is one of the most effective antiviral essential oils in the research I found. Eucalyptus is antibacterial and antiviral. That is a pretty impressive lineup of natural cleaning properties.
- EWG rates this a low hazard. Available on Amazon.
- Pros: Works on every surface, incredibly cost effective, smells amazing, natural essential oil blend with real antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Cons: Not formally labeled as a disinfectant so if you need EPA registered disinfection for something specific this is not your product for that purpose.
3. Branch Basics (EWG Grade: B)
- This one does everything. One concentrated solution that makes kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, streak-free surface cleaner, hand soap, and laundry detergent. I was genuinely impressed by how well the streak-free formula actually worked because a lot of products claim streak free and lie about it. Branch Basics does not lie.
- The system costs around $75 upfront but it makes multiple bottles of each product which works out to a great value over time. It also comes with an oxygen boost which is an added bonus for laundry and tough stains.
- My only complaint is the same one I always have with fragrance-free products: there is no scent. I have said it before and I will keep saying it — something in my brain equates a good smell with clean. Branch Basics will not give you that. What it will give you is an incredibly clean home with minimal ingredients and an EWG rating of low hazard.
- Pros: One solution handles everything, streak-free glass formula actually works, EWG low hazard, great value for the upfront cost, minimal ingredients, fragrance-free is ideal for sensitive skin.
- Cons: No scent whatsoever. If you are someone who needs to smell clean to feel clean this one will be an adjustment.
4. Squeak All Purpose Cleaner (EWG Verified)
- This one is EWG Verified which is the highest possible standard and it is built around tea tree oil which is one of the most well-researched essential oils for cleaning. Tea tree has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties and it actually delivers on those claims in a way that some other natural cleaners do not.
- The formula is water, witch hazel, and a blend of essential oils including tea tree, citrus, and eucalyptus. It cleaned my counters really well and handled my daughter’s messes without any scrubbing required.
- One honest note on the scent: if you have ever been to the steam room at a gym you know exactly what this smells like. Tea tree and eucalyptus together are very much a spa or steam room situation. I personally do not mind it but it is not a traditional clean laundry scent and some people find it strong.
- Pros: EWG Verified, tea tree base with real antibacterial and antiviral properties, cleans well with minimal effort, great for households with kids.
- Cons: The eucalyptus and tea tree scent is strong and polarizing. Not for everyone.
5. Attitude All-Purpose Cleaner (EWG Grade: A)
- Attitude keeps showing up on this page and there is a reason for that. They are EWG Verified across their cleaning line, plant and mineral based, hypoallergenic, and genuinely effective. The all purpose cleaner handles dirt and grease well and has a light pleasant scent. It comes in a sustainable recyclable bottle and if you are already using Attitude for laundry or deodorant this fits seamlessly into the same routine.
- Pros: EWG Verified, plant and mineral based, hypoallergenic, effective on grease and dirt, light scent, sustainable packaging, available on Amazon.
- Cons: The scent is subtle which some people love and others find underwhelming.
6. Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar Wipes (EWG Grade: A)
- I want to start by acknowledging that the name alone almost stopped me from trying these. It did not inspire confidence. But I am glad I pushed through because these wipes genuinely clean really well.
- We all need a quick clean option and vinegar wipes are it. I used them under my daughter’s chair at the kitchen table where the grime situation is genuinely impressive, on my hardwood floors, and for potty training cleanup when my daughter was younger. They get the grime off in one or two wipes, they are completely non-toxic, biodegradable, and EWG rates them an A.
- The downside and I am not going to soften this: they smell like vinegar. I bought lemon scented. I do not smell the lemon. If the smell of vinegar bothers you these are not your everyday counter cleaner. But for floors, high-touch surfaces, and situations where you need something that actually works fast without chemicals they are excellent.
- Pros: EWG A rating, biodegradable, genuinely effective on grime, great for floors and high-touch surfaces, safe around kids and pets, non-toxic, made in the USA.
- Cons: They smell like vinegar. The lemon scent does not meaningfully change this.
On My Radar
These are brands I have not personally tested yet but that are worth knowing about based on their EWG ratings and ingredient transparency.
Truly Free rates an EWG A on their Everyday Cleaner with low concern across all categories including cancer, skin allergies, developmental toxicity, and environment. They use plant-based ingredients and provide full transparency on their website including what each ingredient does and its individual EWG score. Their model is a refillable system — you buy starter bottles and order refill pods which reduces plastic waste significantly. On my list to try.
AspenClean is one of only three all-purpose cleaners in existence with EWG Verified status. The formula uses grapefruit and lavender essential oils, works on all washable surfaces, and is actually used by professional cleaning services which tells you something about how well it performs. Also on my list.
I will update this post with full reviews once I have tested both personally.
The Bottom Line
For everyday counter cleaning and general use Thieves is my personal favorite. For floors Puracy is unmatched. For a one product does everything system Branch Basics is the move. And when you just need to grab something fast and wipe something down quickly Aunt Fannie’s vinegar wipes will get the job done even if your kitchen briefly smells like a salad.
Every product on this list is available on Amazon and linked in my bio. Always check current EWG ratings at ewg.org/cleaners before purchasing as formulas can change.
For more information on safe cleaning products, check out: