Which Cleaning Concentrate Is EWG Verified? 5 Brands Compared
Of the five cleaning concentrates compared here — Scrunchy, Branch Basics, Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, Young Living Thieves, and Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Concentrate — only the Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate holds EWG Verified™ certification. The other four are EWG rated, meaning their scores are algorithm-based and self-reported, not independently audited. Mrs. Meyer's carries three D-rated ingredients; Branch Basics earns an overall "A" while containing one D-rated ingredient.
EWG Verified and EWG rated are not the same thing, and that distinction matters more than most labels suggest. EWG's Cleaners database (ewg.org/cleaners) assigns ratings based on disclosed ingredients run through a scoring algorithm, with no independent audit of what's actually in the bottle. EWG Verified goes further: it requires companies to submit their full formulation for review, disclose manufacturing processes, and meet strict criteria with ongoing compliance. For families cleaning every surface in their home with a concentrate, that difference is worth understanding. EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning notes that conventional cleaning products can contain ingredients linked to respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and hormone disruption, and that everyday exposure adds up.
TL;DR:
1. Only Scrunchy holds EWG Verified™ certification — the other four brands are EWG rated, not verified.
2. Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Concentrate contains three D-rated ingredients: Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), PEG-5 Cocoate, and Fragrance.
3. Branch Basics earns an overall EWG "A" rating but contains Sodium Phytate, which EWG rates D — the algorithm averages across all ingredients.
4. "Natural" and essential oil-based cleaners (Dr. Bronner's, Young Living) contain multiple C-rated ingredients, including known skin sensitizers particularly relevant for pregnant women and young children.
Key Takeaways
- Only one of the five concentrates is EWG Verified: Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate. The other four, including Branch Basics, which markets a clean image, are EWG rated but not independently audited.
- Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Concentrate contains Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a D-rated synthetic preservative that the EU has restricted from leave-on cosmetic products due to skin sensitization concerns. And it's in a cleaning concentrate that dries on your counters.
- An EWG "A" overall rating does not mean every ingredient is A-rated. Branch Basics receives an "A" overall while containing Sodium Phytate, which EWG rates D — a nuance the rating label alone won't tell you.
Why Do Cleaning Concentrate Ingredients Matter?
When you clean with a concentrate, you're distributing it across nearly every surface in your home — and residue from whatever's in the formula stays in your living environment between uses.
Counters where food gets prepped, sinks where kids wash their hands, floors where babies crawl, high chairs and bouncy seats: a cleaning concentrate touches all of it. Choosing a concentrate with a transparent, vetted ingredient list is one of the higher-leverage swaps a family can make. EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning notes that conventional cleaning products can contain ingredients linked to respiratory irritation, skin sensitization, and hormone disruption (endocrine disruptors, meaning chemicals that can interfere with your hormones), and that everyday exposure adds up.
What Does EWG Verified Actually Mean — and How Is It Different From EWG Rated?
EWG Rated (A/B/C/D) is a score generated by EWG's Cleaners database when it runs a product's disclosed ingredient list through its scoring algorithm. There's no independent audit of whether the disclosed ingredients match what's in the bottle. The overall rating is also an aggregate: a product can contain one D-rated ingredient and still receive an overall "A" if the rest of the list pulls the average up. Branch Basics is a real-world example of exactly this.
EWG Verified™ requires companies to submit their full formulation for EWG review, disclose manufacturing and supply chain processes, meet strict criteria with no ingredients of concern, and maintain ongoing compliance. There's no averaging. One disqualifying ingredient means no certification. Among the five concentrates in this comparison, only one holds that certification.
The Five Concentrates We Compared
Using EWG's publicly available Cleaners database, we pulled the full ingredient list and individual EWG ratings for each product below.
| Brand | Product | EWG Verified? | Overall EWG Rating | D-Rated Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrunchy | Multi-Surface Concentrate | ✅ Yes | Verified | None |
| Branch Basics | The Concentrate | ❌ No | A | Sodium Phytate |
| Dr. Bronner's | Sal Suds | ❌ No | A | None |
| Young Living | Thieves Cleaner | ❌ No | B | None |
| Mrs. Meyer's | Multi-Surface Concentrate | ❌ No | D | MIT, PEG-5 Cocoate, Fragrance |
Ingredient Safety at a Glance
| Brand | Ingredient | EWG Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Scrunchy | Water | A |
| Musa Sapientum (Banana) Leaf/Trunk Extract | C | |
| Sodium Gluconate | B | |
| Sodium Citrate | A | |
| Glycerin | A | |
| Coco-Glucoside | B | |
| Decyl Glucoside | B | |
| Citric Acid | A | |
| Branch Basics | Water | A |
| Decyl Glucoside | B | |
| Organic Chamomile Flower Extract | C | |
| Coco-Glucoside | B | |
| Laryl Glucoside | B | |
| Sodium Citrate | A | |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | A | |
| Sodium Phytate | D | |
| Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds | Water | A |
| Potassium Hydroxide | C | |
| Decyl Glucoside | B | |
| Picea Glauca (White Spruce) Leaf Oil | C | |
| Abies Sibirica (Siberian Fir) Oil | C | |
| Coco-Betaine | C | |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | C | |
| Citric Acid | A | |
| Sodium Sulfate | A | |
| Sodium Chloride | A | |
| Young Living Thieves | Water | A |
| Alkyl Polyglucoside | C | |
| Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate | C | |
| Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate | C | |
| Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) Bud Oil | C | |
| Lemon (Citrus limon) Peel Oil | C | |
| Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Bark Oil | C | |
| Eucalyptus radiata Leaf Oil | C | |
| Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate | C | |
| Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil | B | |
| Mrs. Meyer's | Water | A |
| Sodium Citrate | A | |
| Glycerin | A | |
| Citric Acid | A | |
| Sodium Sulfate | A | |
| Sodium Hydroxide | A | |
| Decyl Glucoside | B | |
| Benzisothiazolinone | C | |
| Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate | C | |
| Betula Pubescens (White Birch) Bark Extract | C | |
| Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil | C | |
| Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil | C | |
| Polysorbate-20 | C | |
| Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate | C | |
| Methylisothiazolinone | D | |
| PEG-5 Cocoate | D | |
| Fragrance | D |
Scrunchy's ingredient list is the shortest of the five and the only one with no ingredients rated below B, with the exception of Banana Leaf/Trunk Extract. That ingredient is C-rated but functions as a natural preservative that enables EWG Verification without synthetic alternatives. Mrs. Meyer's, by contrast, contains 17 ingredients, three of which carry EWG's highest concern rating of D.
Which Cleaning Concentrate Ingredients Are Most Concerning?
The ingredients worth examining most closely are those rated D by EWG — meaning high concern based on likely exposure and hazard — and C-rated sensitizers with specific risk relevance for pregnant women and young children.
Is Sodium Phytate in Branch Basics a Problem?
Yes. Sodium Phytate is rated D by EWG, meaning high concern based on likely exposure and hazard assessment, and it's present in a product that otherwise markets an overall "A" rating.
Sodium Phytate is a chelating agent that binds to minerals and metals to stabilize a formula. The EWG Sodium Phytate profile rates it D. The concern specific to Branch Basics is that The Concentrate's overall EWG rating is "A," a number many readers reasonably interpret as an all-clear. It's not. The D rating on Sodium Phytate is absorbed into the aggregate score, and EWG Verification, which would flag this ingredient as disqualifying, is not in place.
What this means for your family: An "A" rating label doesn't guarantee every ingredient is low-concern — check individual ingredient ratings, not just the overall score.
What Makes Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in Mrs. Meyer's a Concern?
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a synthetic preservative that EWG rates D — its highest concern level — citing strong evidence of skin sensitization and contact dermatitis.
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has restricted MIT from leave-on cosmetic products. A surface cleaner that dries on countertops, high chair trays, and stovetops functions much like a leave-on product: residue stays on the surface between uses. For families with young children or anyone with sensitive skin, that's a meaningful consideration, particularly for a product positioned as a household staple.
What this means for your family: MIT dries on the surfaces your family touches daily — look for preservative-free or naturally preserved formulas to reduce repeated skin contact.
What's Hidden Behind "Fragrance" on the Mrs. Meyer's Label?
"Fragrance" is a single ingredient-label word that can legally represent hundreds of individual chemical compounds, none of which are required to be individually disclosed under current US law.
The FDA doesn't require manufacturers to list fragrance components, which means allergens, endocrine disruptors, and synthetic sensitizers can all appear under that one word without the consumer knowing. EWG rates Fragrance as D and flags it for skin sensitization and potential systemic effects. Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Concentrate lists "Fragrance" as an ingredient alongside two other D-rated ingredients in the same formula.
What this means for your family: If an ingredient label says "fragrance" or "parfum," there's no way to know what's actually in it — fragrance-free formulas are the only way to know what you're getting.
Are Essential Oil-Based Cleaners Like Dr. Bronner's and Young Living Safe?
Essential oils are natural, but EWG rates the specific oils in both Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds and Young Living Thieves as C — indicating moderate concern — and several are well-documented skin sensitizers.
Dr. Bronner's contains White Spruce Leaf Oil and Siberian Fir Oil (both C-rated). Young Living Thieves contains six essential oils, including Cinnamon Bark Oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), a well-documented contact allergen. A 2020 review published in Dermatitis identified cinnamon compounds among the most common causes of fragrance-related allergic contact reactions. Sensitization risks are heightened for pregnant women, whose immune response and skin permeability are altered, and for young children whose skin barrier is still developing. Lemon Peel Oil in Young Living Thieves can also cause photosensitization with UV exposure.
What this means for your family: Essential oil-based cleaners may be marketed as natural, but C-rated sensitizers — especially cinnamon bark oil — are worth avoiding during pregnancy and around young children.
Why Is Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate Different From the Other Four?
Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate is the only cleaning concentrate in this comparison that holds EWG Verified™ certification — an independently audited standard that requires full formulation disclosure, manufacturing transparency, zero ingredients of concern, and ongoing compliance.
No averaging. No algorithm gaps. No D-rated ingredients hiding behind a favorable overall score. The ingredient that makes EWG Verification possible without synthetic preservatives is Musa Sapientum (Banana Leaf/Trunk Extract), the formula's C-rated natural preservative. Most cleaning concentrates rely on synthetic preservatives like MIT or benzisothiazolinone to maintain shelf stability. Banana Leaf/Trunk Extract enables the same stability without the ingredients that generate the most concern.
One dilution (1 part concentrate to 11 parts water) removes dirt and grime from every surface in your home: glass, counters, stovetops, sinks, and baby gear, streak-free. Most concentrate systems require four to five different dilution ratios; Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate handles all of them at a single ratio, yielding approximately 24 refill bottles from one 32oz bottle. Free of quats (quaternary ammonium compounds), synthetic fragrance, essential oils, alcohol, dyes, bleach, and ammonia. Made in America with global components.
If you clean surfaces that your baby, toddler, or pregnant body comes into contact with daily and you want one EWG Verified cleaning concentrate that handles every surface at a single dilution: Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate →
FAQ
Q: Is Branch Basics EWG Verified?
Branch Basics is not EWG Verified. It holds an overall EWG rating of "A," generated by EWG's algorithm based on the brand's disclosed ingredient list, but it hasn't undergone the independent formulation audit, manufacturing review, and full transparency process that EWG Verification requires. The Concentrate's ingredient list includes Sodium Phytate, which EWG rates D (high concern), per the EWG Sodium Phytate profile. Because the overall EWG rating averages across all ingredients, the D-rated Sodium Phytate is absorbed into the "A" score without disqualifying the product from that rating. EWG Verification wouldn't permit this. That's one reason the two designations aren't equivalent.
Q: What ingredients in Mrs. Meyer's have a D rating from EWG?
Mrs. Meyer's Multi-Surface Everyday Concentrate (Lavender Scent) contains three D-rated ingredients per EWG's Cleaners database. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a synthetic preservative rated D by EWG and associated with skin sensitization and contact dermatitis; it's been restricted in leave-on cosmetic products in the EU. PEG-5 Cocoate is a PEG compound rated D by EWG, with concerns including possible contamination with 1,4-dioxane (a likely carcinogen) during manufacturing. Fragrance is rated D by EWG and represents an undisclosed blend of chemical compounds; under US law, manufacturers aren't required to list individual fragrance components, which means the label provides no information about what specific chemicals are present. All three appear in a product sold and marketed to households as a "clean" alternative.
Q: Are essential oil-based cleaners safe for pregnant women and kids?
Essential oils are natural, but EWG rates the specific oils in both Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds and Young Living Thieves as C, indicating moderate concern. Young Living Thieves contains six essential oils, including Cinnamon Bark Oil, a documented skin sensitizer and contact allergen. A 2020 review published in Dermatitis identified cinnamon compounds among the most common causes of fragrance-related allergic contact reactions. During pregnancy, skin permeability and immune sensitivity can be altered, which may increase susceptibility to sensitization. For young children, whose skin barrier is still maturing, repeated exposure to known sensitizers carries similar considerations. Fragrance-free and essential oil-free cleaning concentrates are generally the safer choice during pregnancy and around young children.
If you've been hand-checking ingredient labels on every cleaning concentrate and still aren't sure what's actually been independently verified: Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate →
About the Author
Jenn Smith, RN BSN, is a registered nurse, mom, and co-founder of Scrunchy Living. She writes evidence-based guides to non-toxic living, pregnancy-safe products, and clean home practices for modern families.
Disclosure: Scrunchy Living is the brand behind Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate. This article contains promotional content. EWG ratings cited are sourced from EWG's publicly available Cleaners database.