The average American home contains dozens of cleaning products — many of them formulated with ingredients that EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning rates as a concern. Synthetic fragrances, chlorine bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds, and optical brighteners are all common in conventional cleaners, and EWG has flagged many of them for respiratory, allergic, or endocrine-disruption concerns. This roundup covers the non-toxic cleaning products that score best in EWG’s database — across the categories families use most.
Want to understand how EWG rates cleaning products vs. personal care products? See our explainer: EWG VERIFIED® vs. Conventional: What the Score Means
Why EWG-Rated Cleaning Products Matter in Your Home
Cleaning products often don’t get the same scrutiny that personal care products do — but they deserve it. Unlike food or drugs, household cleaners in the U.S. are not required to disclose every ingredient on the label. “Fragrance” can mask dozens of undisclosed chemicals; surfactants and preservatives used for cleaning effectiveness can off-gas into indoor air and leave residues on surfaces.
Children are especially vulnerable because they spend more time on floors, touch more surfaces, and put hands in mouths at higher rates than adults. For families with young children, pets, or members with respiratory sensitivities, the ingredient profile of household cleaners is directly relevant.
EWG evaluates household cleaners through its Guide to Healthy Cleaning database (separate from Skin Deep, which covers personal care products). The cleaning guide assigns letter grades A through F based on ingredient hazard, ingredient disclosure, and overall formulation concern:
- A or B: Lower-hazard ingredients, good disclosure; EWG considers these the best options for home use
- C: Moderate concern in one or more areas; consider alternatives if health priorities are high
- D or F: Significant ingredient concerns or poor disclosure; EWG recommends avoiding these where alternatives exist
Products that carry the EWG VERIFIED® mark for cleaning meet EWG’s strictest criteria: no ingredients on the Unacceptable list, full ingredient disclosure (including fragrance), and independent review by EWG.
Browse all EWG-rated cleaning products in our shop: cleaning products
Top EWG-Rated Cleaning Products by Category
All-Purpose Cleaners
ATTITUDE All-Purpose Cleaner
ATTITUDE is a Canadian brand built around EWG VERIFIED® formulations — their all-purpose cleaner is among the most widely recognized EWG VERIFIED® choices in the household cleaning category. It uses plant- and mineral-derived surfactants, avoids synthetic fragrance (offering naturally scented and fragrance-free options), and has been independently reviewed through EWG’s VERIFIED program. Concentrated and refillable options are available.
EWG Status: EWG VERIFIED®
Key Free-Froms: Synthetic fragrance-free options, paraben-free, phosphate-free
Best For: General household surfaces, families with young children or allergies
ATTITUDE All-Purpose Cleaner — Buy on Amazon ↗
Branch Basics All-Purpose Spray (from Concentrate)
Branch Basics produces a single concentrate that dilutes into several household cleaners — all-purpose, laundry, bathroom, and more. The concentrate is EWG VERIFIED®, MADE SAFE certified, Leaping Bunny certified, and made in the USA. The refillable model reduces plastic waste. Branch Basics has become a go-to for EWG-conscious households because one product covers multiple use cases.
EWG Status: EWG VERIFIED® (concentrate)
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, dye-free, phosphate-free, glycol ether-free
Best For: Whole-home switch to EWG VERIFIED®, refillable/low-waste households
Branch Basics Starter Kit — Buy on Amazon ↗
Meliora All-Purpose Home Cleaner Refill Tablets
Meliora Cleaning Products is a small-batch, Chicago-based brand that produces cleaning products designed for minimal environmental footprint. Their All-Purpose Home Cleaner Tablets are rated in EWG’s cleaning database and use a short list of simple, mineral-derived ingredients. Sold as dissolvable tablets for a plastic-free, low-waste format.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Synthetic fragrance-free, plastic packaging-free
Best For: Zero-waste households, simple ingredient priority
Meliora All-Purpose Home Cleaner Refill Tablets — Buy on Amazon ↗
Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner
Better Life is a plant-based cleaning brand that has earned positive ratings on EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Their all-purpose spray uses a plant-derived surfactant base and is free of chlorine, ammonia, and petroleum-based ingredients. Available in scented and unscented options.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Chlorine-free, ammonia-free, petroleum-free
Best For: Everyday surfaces, EWG-aware households seeking broad retail availability
Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner — Buy on Amazon ↗
Dish Soap
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid
Seventh Generation has a large presence in EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning, and their Free & Clear dish liquid is one of their best-rated formulas — free of synthetic fragrance, dye, and triclosan. Seventh Generation discloses its full ingredient list voluntarily, which EWG credits in its rating. The Free & Clear variety performs better in EWG’s database than the scented versions.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, dye-free, triclosan-free
Best For: Daily dishwashing, fragrance-sensitive households
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid — Buy on Amazon ↗
We’ve also rounded up the best non-toxic dish soap top-rated by EWG in a dedicated guide.
ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid
ATTITUDE’s dish soap line extends their EWG VERIFIED® commitment into the dishwashing category. Plant-derived surfactants, fragrance-free and naturally scented options, and full ingredient transparency make it a consistent choice for EWG-conscious households.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Synthetic fragrance-free options, paraben-free, phosphate-free
Best For: Daily dishwashing, EWG VERIFIED® priority shoppers
ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid — Buy on Amazon ↗
Ecover Zero Dish Soap
Ecover Zero is the fragrance-free, dye-free line from the Belgium-based Ecover brand. It uses plant-based surfactants and has been rated positively in EWG’s database. A widely available option for households wanting a clean dish soap without the premium price of specialty brands.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, dye-free, phosphate-free
Best For: Budget-conscious EWG shoppers, widely available
Ecover Zero Dish Soap — Buy on Amazon ↗
Laundry Detergent
Branch Basics Laundry (from Concentrate)
The same Branch Basics concentrate used for all-purpose cleaning dilutes into a highly effective laundry detergent. EWG VERIFIED®, fragrance-free, works in all temperatures and machine types. One of the cleanest laundry options for EWG-aware households.
EWG Status: EWG VERIFIED® (same concentrate as all-purpose)
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, dye-free, optical brightener-free, 1,4-dioxane-free
Best For: Whole-home cleaning system, HE machines, sensitive skin
Branch Basics Concentrate (Laundry use) — Buy on Amazon ↗
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
One of the most accessible EWG-reviewed laundry detergents on the market, Seventh Generation Free & Clear is fragrance-free and dye-free, and has earned ratings in EWG’s cleaning guide. Available in liquid, powder, and pack formats.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, dye-free, optical brightener-free
Best For: Everyday laundry, families with sensitive skin, broad retail availability
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent — Buy on Amazon ↗
For a full comparison of EWG-rated laundry options, see our best EWG-rated laundry detergent guide.
Meliora Laundry Powder
Meliora’s laundry powder is a concentrated, low-waste alternative to liquid detergents. It uses a short list of simple ingredients — sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and a plant-derived surfactant — with a plastic-free cardboard packaging. EWG rates Meliora products on its cleaning platform.
EWG Status: Check EWG Skin Deep for current rating.
Key Free-Froms: Fragrance-free, optical brightener-free, plastic-free packaging
Best For: Zero-waste households, simple-ingredient priority
Meliora Laundry Powder — Buy on Amazon ↗
What Makes a Cleaning Product EWG VERIFIED®?
The EWG VERIFIED® program for cleaning products operates on the same framework as for personal care products, with requirements tailored to the cleaning category:
No ingredients on EWG’s “Unacceptable” list. For cleaning products, this includes ingredients like nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), certain quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) linked to antimicrobial resistance, 1,4-dioxane (a contaminant found in some cleaning product surfactants), and synthetic musks and fragrance components EWG flags.
Full ingredient disclosure. U.S. cleaning product manufacturers are not required by law to disclose all ingredients on the label. EWG VERIFIED® cleaning products disclose all ingredients — including fragrance — directly to EWG. This is one of the most significant distinctions between VERIFIED products and those that just score well in EWG’s public database.
No prohibited marketing claims. EWG VERIFIED® products cannot make misleading health claims or “greenwashing” statements.
A cleaning product with a good EWG grade (A or B) in the public Guide to Healthy Cleaning database is a meaningful signal, but it is not the same as EWG VERIFIED®. See our explainer for the full breakdown. EWG VERIFIED® vs. Conventional: What the Score Means
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are EWG VERIFIED® cleaning products as effective as conventional cleaners?
Yes, for everyday household cleaning tasks. Plant-based and mineral-derived surfactants used in EWG VERIFIED® products clean effectively under normal conditions. For heavy-duty tasks (e.g., stripping grease from commercial equipment, heavy disinfection), some conventional formulas may outperform, but for typical home use, EWG VERIFIED® alternatives perform comparably.
Q: Do I need to disinfect surfaces, or is cleaning enough?
EWG distinguishes between cleaners (which remove dirt, grease, and residue) and disinfectants (which kill pathogens). Most EWG VERIFIED® products are cleaners, not disinfectants. For healthcare-level disinfection, you may need a registered disinfectant — but for routine household surfaces, regular cleaning is sufficient for most families according to general public health guidance.
Q: Why do some “green” or “natural” cleaning brands still score poorly on EWG?
“Green,” “natural,” and “eco-friendly” are unregulated marketing terms. EWG evaluates the actual ingredient list, not the marketing. Brands that use these terms while including synthetic fragrances, certain preservatives, or undisclosed ingredients will still receive lower EWG grades.
Q: Is there a difference between EWG Skin Deep and EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning?
Yes — these are two separate EWG databases. EWG Skin Deep (ewg.org/skindeep) covers personal care products and uses a 1–10 numerical score. EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning (ewg.org/cleaners) covers household cleaners and uses letter grades (A–F). The EWG VERIFIED® mark applies to products in both categories.
We also have a dedicated guide to EWG-rated all-purpose cleaners with more detailed product comparisons across the top VERIFIED picks.
