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Lysol is the leading household disinfectant brand in the U.S. and EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning rates its flagship products among the lowest on the scale. If you've been reaching for Lysol Disinfecting Spray or Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner and started wondering about the ingredients, here's what EWG's published data actually says.
EWG grades are published by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org). Verify current grades at ewg.org/cleaners before purchasing, ratings can change when formulations change.
What EWG Rates About Lysol
| EWG Guide Grade | Product | Flagged Concerns (per EWG) |
|---|---|---|
| F | Lysol Disinfecting Spray | Quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorinated compounds, synthetic fragrance |
| F | Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner | Quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorinated compounds, synthetic fragrance |
Source: EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning (ewg.org/cleaners). Grade F = highest hazard tier in EWG's scale. These grades belong to EWG; NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with EWG.
What Do These EWG Grades Actually Mean?
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades products A through F based on two things: ingredient transparency and ingredient hazard profiles. Grade F means a product received EWG's lowest score. It is not a government safety finding or a product recall, but it signals that EWG's analysis flagged multiple ingredient concerns that the brand has not addressed to EWG's standard.
For Lysol, EWG's concerns center on three ingredient categories:
- Quaternary ammonium compounds ("quats"): The active disinfecting ingredients in Lysol products. EWG flags these for concerns about respiratory effects, reproductive toxicity at high exposures, and potential contribution to antimicrobial resistance. These compounds do the disinfecting, which is why replacing them means choosing between EPA-registered kill power and lower-concern formulas.
- Chlorinated compounds: Used as solvents or active ingredients in some Lysol formulations. EWG documents concerns about these for environmental persistence and potential health effects at high exposures.
- Synthetic fragrance: A single ingredient label that can cover dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including potential allergens and hormone-disrupting phthalates. EWG cannot fully evaluate what is not disclosed, so undisclosed fragrance consistently drives low grades across cleaning products.
These are EWG's published findings. We do not translate them into health outcome predictions. For guidance on individual health questions, consult a qualified medical professional.
Is Lysol Toxic? The Short Answer
The question "is lysol toxic" is best answered by EWG's own data rather than a yes-or-no: EWG rates Lysol Disinfecting Spray and Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner grade F, its lowest rating, for the ingredient concerns listed above. EWG grades are not regulatory findings, government advisories, or safety certifications: they reflect EWG's independent assessment of disclosed ingredients and transparency. Families who follow EWG's guidance use Grade A or EWG VERIFIED® products as lower-concern alternatives.
Lower-Hazard Alternatives Rated by EWG
The products below are rated Grade A on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning or carry the EWG VERIFIED® mark. One important distinction: only the first product is an EPA-registered disinfectant. The other two are all-purpose cleaners: they clean surfaces but do not carry EPA-certified kill claims for specific pathogens. The right choice depends on whether you need certified disinfection or everyday cleaning.
See also our full guide to EWG-rated disinfecting wipes alternatives and our roundup of non-toxic all-purpose cleaners rated by EWG for more options in this category.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Spray, Eucalyptus & Thyme, 13.9 oz (ASIN: B0756MDSJX, ~$12.59): EWG Guide Grade A
The closest like-for-like replacement for Lysol Disinfecting Spray. This is an EPA-registered disinfectant with thymol (a naturally derived compound from thyme oil) as its active ingredient. The EPA recognizes thymol as an effective disinfectant. Seventh Generation's Eucalyptus and Thyme formula is rated Grade A on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning for a closely matching formulation, documented at ewg.org/cleaners/products/6966. Grade A = lowest hazard tier in EWG's scale. Spot-check the current grade before purchasing, as formulation changes can affect EWG grades.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Spray, Eucalyptus & Thyme, 13.9 oz : Buy on Amazon ↗
ATTITUDE All Purpose Cleaner Spray, Citrus Zest, 27 fl oz (ASIN: B00MNW4LW6, ~$6.75): EWG VERIFIED®
The most budget-friendly option on this list. ATTITUDE's All Purpose Cleaner Spray carries the EWG VERIFIED® mark, EWG's most rigorous designation, which requires products score A or B in the Guide, pass EWG's full ingredient screening, and disclose all ingredients on the label. ATTITUDE is confirmed in the EWG VERIFIED® program directory at ewg.org/ewgverified, and the Amazon listing explicitly states "EWG Verified" in the product title. At $6.75 for 27 oz, it is the most accessible replacement for routine surface cleaning.
This product is a multi-surface cleaner, not an EPA-registered disinfectant. For everyday household cleaning where EPA-certified pathogen kill rates are not required, it is an excellent lower-concern alternative to Lysol. Where certified disinfection matters (illness in the home, high-touch surfaces during sick season), use an EPA-registered product such as the Seventh Generation option above. EWG VERIFIED® covers ingredient safety and disclosure standards, not disinfection efficacy. Spot-check the current VERIFIED status for this specific SKU at ewg.org/ewgverified/products.php?brand=ATTITUDE before purchasing.
ATTITUDE All Purpose Cleaner Spray, Citrus Zest, 27 fl oz: EWG VERIFIED® : Buy on Amazon ↗
Branch Basics All-Purpose Cleaning Kit (ASIN: B0H9V5LX9F, ~$19.99): EWG VERIFIED®
A concentrate-based system for households that want one product to handle multiple cleaning tasks. The kit includes an 8 oz concentrate and a 16 oz refillable spray bottle; a single concentrate bottle produces multiple spray bottles of all-purpose cleaner when diluted, making the per-use cost lower than single-use products despite the $19.99 starter price. Branch Basics is confirmed in the EWG VERIFIED® cleaning products directory at ewg.org/ewgverified/products_cleaners.php?brand=Branch+Basics, last updated July 2026.
Same caveat as ATTITUDE above: this is a multi-surface cleaner without EPA disinfection claims. EWG VERIFIED® reflects ingredient transparency and hazard requirements, not surface pathogen kill rates. Spot-check VERIFIED status for this kit ASIN at ewg.org/ewgverified before purchasing.
Branch Basics All-Purpose Cleaning Kit (8 oz concentrate + refillable bottle) : Buy on Amazon ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I stop using Lysol around kids based on EWG's grade?
EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades Lysol Disinfecting Spray and Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner an F, flagging quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorinated compounds, and synthetic fragrance. EWG grades are not government safety findings, and NonToxicFinder makes no independent health claim about Lysol. For families who follow EWG's guidance, the Grade A and EWG VERIFIED® alternatives above represent lower-concern options per EWG's published data.
Q: Does Lysol have any products that rate better on EWG?
Lysol Disinfecting Spray and Lysol Power Bathroom Cleaner both score F on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning. We have not independently confirmed whether other Lysol product variants score higher. Verify current EWG grades for all Lysol products at ewg.org/cleaners: grades can change when formulations change.
Q: What is the difference between EWG Guide Grade A and EWG VERIFIED®?
These are two distinct assessments. EWG Guide grades (A through F) score cleaning products in EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning database by ingredient transparency and hazard profile: Grade A is the best score. EWG VERIFIED® is a separate, stricter certification mark: products must score A or B in the Guide, pass additional EWG ingredient screening, and disclose all ingredients on their labels. Seventh Generation in this article holds a Guide Grade A for its Eucalyptus and Thyme formula. ATTITUDE and Branch Basics carry the EWG VERIFIED® mark.
Q: Can I use an all-purpose cleaner instead of Lysol when I need to disinfect?
Not equivalently. EPA-registered disinfectants carry verified kill claims for specific pathogens; all-purpose cleaners without EPA registration do not. Lysol Disinfecting Spray is EPA-registered. The Seventh Generation Eucalyptus & Thyme spray is also EPA-registered and is the like-for-like disinfecting replacement on this list. ATTITUDE and Branch Basics are all-purpose cleaners: appropriate for everyday surface cleaning, not for situations requiring EPA-certified disinfection.
EWG Disclaimer: All product ratings, grades, and the EWG VERIFIED® mark are the independent work of the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org). NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with EWG. EWG ratings reflect EWG's assessment methodology and are not government safety findings or health guarantees. Verify current ratings at ewg.org before purchasing.
