You grab a wipe to clean up spilled milk from the floor.
You use another to clean up the dirty restaurant table.
You even wipe down the airplane seat and tray.
You’re making the everything cleaner, right?
👉 But what if the very wipes you’re using are leaving behind a trail of harsh, invisible chemicals?
It’s a scary thought—and for so many popular cleaning wipes, it’s the shocking truth.
Don’t worry, mama. You don’t need a chemistry degree to protect your family. You just need a secret weapon savvy moms use to see past the marketing hype: the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
This guide will break down what EWG ratings really mean and show you how to choose a wipe you can finally feel good about.
Decoding the EWG Report Card for Your Cleaning Products
So, what is the EWG?
Think of them as a health watchdog for your home. The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit that uses scientists to investigate and rate the safety of everyday products—from sunscreen to kitchen cleaners.
Their mission: cut through confusing labels and tell you what’s actually inside.
For cleaning wipes, they use the “Guide to Healthy Cleaning,” which gives products a simple letter grade—just like a school report card:
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A = Lowest Concern (best of the best ✅)
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F = Highest Concern (avoid at all costs 🚫)
These grades aren’t random. The EWG looks at three key areas:
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Health Dangers – Does the product contain ingredients linked to asthma, allergies, or even cancer?
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Environmental Impact – Are the chemicals harmful to water or wildlife?
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Ingredient Honesty – Does the company actually list all ingredients? (Hint: many don’t.)
The Dirty Secret Hiding in Most Cleaning Wipes
When you look at the EWG’s ratings for the most popular wipes, you’ll notice a disturbing trend: a sea of D’s and F’s.
The same chemicals that make wipes great at killing germs are often the same ones harming our health.
Here are the biggest red flags to watch out for:
🚩 Red Flag #1: Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds)
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Look for chemical names ending in “ammonium chloride.”
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Known to irritate skin, trigger asthma, and may even affect reproductive health.
🚩 Red Flag #2: Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)
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That harsh, eye-watering smell?
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A strong disinfectant, but also a respiratory irritant that’s risky in small, unventilated spaces.
🚩 Red Flag #3: Harsh Solvents
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Common culprits: Ammonium Hydroxide and Ethanolamine.
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Effective cleaners, but flagged by EWG for respiratory effects and organ toxicity.
🚩 Red Flag #4: The “Fragrance” Loophole
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If you see “Fragrance” or “Parfum” on the label, beware.
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This single word can legally hide hundreds of unlisted chemicals—including hormone disruptors and allergens.
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EWG penalizes heavily for this lack of transparency.
Seeing Is Believing: How Popular Wipes Score
Here’s how some big-name brands stack up on the EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning:
| Brand | Product Name | EWG Grade | Key Ingredients of Concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clorox | Disinfecting Bleach Wipes, Original | D | Sodium Hypochlorite |
| Lysol | Disinfecting Wipes, Lemon Lime | D | Quats |
| Windex | Original Glass Wipes | F | Ammonium Hydroxide, Ethanolamine, “Fragrance” |
| Target (Up & Up) | Disinfecting Wipes, Lemon Scent | D | Quats, d-Limonene |
👉 Translation: Most wipes on store shelves come with hidden risks.
The Scrunchy Solution: A Clean You Can Finally Trust
Reading all this can feel overwhelming. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to compromise.
We created Scrunchy 100% Cotton Wipes to give families a safer, smarter option.
What’s Inside Scrunchy Wipes?
✨ Gentle Plant-Powered Soaps
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Ingredients like Decyl Glucoside and Coco Glucoside (from coconut & sugar).
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Tough on messes, gentle on skin.
✨ No Fragrance Loophole
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100% fragrance-free.
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A clean home smell comes from surfaces actually being clean.
✨ Safe Helpers You Recognize
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Citric Acid + Sodium Citrate for natural pH balance.
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Baking Soda (yes, the kind in your pantry) to fight odors and clean safely.
✨ Plant-Based Preservatives
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Sodium Levulinate (from corn) + Sodium Benzoate (found in fruits).
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Keeps wipes fresh—without the harsh stuff.
✅ Perfect for: kitchen counters, bathroom sinks, sticky doorknobs, and highchair trays.
Make the Switch to a Truly Clean Home
You’re the gatekeeper of your home. And you deserve better than wipes rated D’s and F’s.
By switching to safer ingredients, you’re not sacrificing cleaning power—you’re choosing a smarter, healthier way to clean.
💡 Remember: Transparency matters. Gentle ingredients matter. Your family’s health matters.