Testing Methodology
Last Updated: July 2026
At Scrunchy Living, we believe product claims should be supported by repeatable testing rather than marketing language. Every formula undergoes structured in-house evaluation throughout development to verify cleaning performance, ease of use, and compatibility with common household surfaces before release.
Our testing program is designed to simulate typical residential cleaning conditions and compare product performance against commonly available household cleaners where appropriate.
Purpose
The purpose of our testing program is to evaluate the real-world performance of Scrunchy Living cleaning products by measuring their ability to remove common household soils and stains while maintaining compatibility with a wide variety of household surfaces.
Testing is intended to evaluate cleaning performance only. Unless specifically stated elsewhere, our products are not evaluated or marketed as disinfectants, sanitizers, antimicrobial agents, or pesticides.
Products Evaluated
The following products are included in our standard cleaning performance program. The All-Purpose Cleaner and Foaming Hand Soap are the two dilutions of the Multi-Surface Concentrate included in the Non-Toxic Home Starter Kit.
- Scrunchy Multi-Surface Concentrate
- Scrunchy All-Purpose Cleaner — also referred to as the Multi-Surface Cleaning Spray (1:11 dilution)
- Scrunchy Foaming Hand Soap (1:4 dilution)
Each finished product is evaluated at its recommended consumer dilution.
Test Surfaces
Testing is performed on representative household materials, including but not limited to:
Additional materials may be evaluated during product development.
Soil and Stain Types
Products are challenged against a variety of common household soils, including:
Kitchen
Bathroom
General Household
Additional challenge soils may be evaluated as product development continues.
Stain Preparation
Whenever practical, soils are applied in a consistent manner using measured quantities.
Fresh soils are allowed to remain on the test surface for an appropriate dwell period before cleaning.
Certain challenge stains may be allowed to dry completely before testing to better represent normal household conditions.
Cleaning Procedure
For each evaluation:
- Test surfaces are inspected and documented before testing.
- Soil is applied consistently across comparison areas.
- Product is applied according to consumer directions.
- Product is allowed to dwell briefly when appropriate.
- The surface is cleaned using consistent wiping pressure and technique.
- The surface is visually evaluated immediately after cleaning.
Where practical, identical wiping materials (microfiber cloths or disposable paper towels) are used throughout testing. Fresh wiping materials are used between products to avoid cross-contamination.
Product Application
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 part concentrate : 11 parts waterThe finished spray is applied directly to the test surface until lightly wetted. Typical dwell time ranges from 15 to 60 seconds, depending on the soil type. The surface is then wiped clean using a clean microfiber cloth or low-lint paper towel.
For glass and mirrors, the surface is dried with a clean microfiber cloth or lint-free towel to evaluate streaking.
Foaming Hand Soap
1 part concentrate : 4 parts waterThe diluted formula is dispensed through a foaming soap pump. Testing evaluates:
- Foam generation
- Foam stability
- Ease of rinsing
- Skin feel after washing
- Removal of common skin soils such as cooking oils, dirt, and food residue
Comparative Testing
During development, Scrunchy Living products may be compared against commercially available household cleaning products commonly found in retail stores. Comparison products are selected based on product category and intended use.
Comparative evaluations may include:
- Cleaning effectiveness
- Number of wipes required
- Residue remaining
- Streaking
- Ease of rinsing
- User observations
Brand names may change over time as products evolve.
Evaluation Criteria
Products are evaluated using multiple performance criteria, including:
- Visible soil removal
- Residual staining
- Surface appearance
- Streaking
- Smearing
- Residue left behind
- Ease of wiping
- Foam quality (where applicable)
- Overall user experience
Observations are recorded throughout development.
Repeatability
Testing is repeated multiple times during product development.
If formulation changes are made, affected performance testing is repeated to verify that cleaning performance has been maintained or improved. Testing is also repeated whenever significant raw material changes occur.
Surface Compatibility
Products are evaluated on representative household materials to assess normal use compatibility.
Limitations
Our testing program is designed to represent normal household cleaning conditions. Actual performance may vary depending on:
- Surface material
- Soil composition
- Age of the stain
- Water hardness
- Cleaning method
- Temperature
- Contact time
- User technique
No cleaning product can remove every stain under every condition.
Product Claims
Scrunchy Living products are intended to remove common household soils and stains when used as directed.
Unless specifically stated on the product label, Scrunchy Living products are not intended to disinfect, sanitize, sterilize, or kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other microorganisms.
Continuous Improvement
Our formulations and testing protocols continue to evolve as new ingredients, technologies, and testing methods become available. We periodically review our procedures to improve consistency, repeatability, and overall product performance while maintaining our commitment to ingredient transparency and safer chemistry.
Curious what's actually in our formulas? See the full ingredient list for every product.