Cleaning Products

September 30, 2020

Cleaning Products

I ran out of my Branch Basics and Dr. Bronners last week and considered seriously for a moment just grabbing any Lysol sprays from the store to tide me over until I put my order in. Then I remembered what I had researched and decided I will NOT compromise for convenience and will do with soap and water. Why?

One of the most common questions I get asked is what type of cleaning products do I use and find effective. This was a tough one as I was raised in a home where Lysol and Clorox meant “clean” and anything else felt pretty ineffective. So one of the toughest but most important switches for me was definitely the everyday cleaning products. This is why I use Branch Basics in Miami.

Read the ingredients in Miami

Why did I find it so important to stop using these popular cleaning products? The ingredients are awful!

Let’s take our favorite Lysol sprays (and of course I couldn’t find the list on their website, I needed to breakdown a label of the product from the EWG website):

  • ALKYL DIMETHYL BENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDES: general systemic/organ effects, respiratory effects; developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects
  • ALKYL DIMETHYL BENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDES: endocrine/developmental/reproductive effects
  • FRAGRANCE: respiratory effects, skin allergies/irritation/damage, known toxin
  • ETHANOLAMINE: respiratory issues, general systemic organ issues
  • FD&C YELLOW NO. 5: known human carcinogens, respiratory issues, reproductive issues
  • DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL BUTYL ETHER: can cause damage to your vision

These are just some of the ingredients listed, with the highest grade, besides an A for water, is a C

The same goes for any of their “free and clear” alternatives. They are terribly greenwashed and NOT worth it!

Branch Basics Has Transparent Ingredients

I personally love Branch Basics because it’s one of the cleanest products I can find and is effective. Their ingredients are transparent:

  • Purified Water
  • Coco-Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser)
  • Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract
  • Decyl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser)
  • Sodium Citrate (Food-Grade Emulsifier)
  • Lauryl Glucoside (Sugar-Based Cleanser)
  • Sodium Bicarbonate (Food-Grade Baking Soda)
  • Sodium Phytate (Plant-Based Antioxidant)

When asked whether the concentrate is effective against virus, bacteria, and mold, this is the statement made:

DOES BRANCH BASICS CONCENTRATE KILL BACTERIA, VIRUSES & MOLD?

In order to make claims of killing or sanitizing or being deemed an “antibacterial” formula, a product must contain a registered EPA pesticide. Because we are unwilling to jeopardize the integrity of our formula’s purity and safety such claims cannot be made. However, Branch Basics Concentrate falls under the CDC’s (Center for Disease Control) statement that the best way to get rid of germs is to wash your hands for 20 seconds with a pure soap or cleaning formula designed for handwashing such as ours. They are even recommending this procedure over a product with an EPA-registered pesticide because of the mounting problem of antibiotic resistance.”

I’ve had a wonderful experience with Branch Basics and they were extremely generous to offer my NewLeafWellness group (you all!) a $10 off coupon which is also redeemable on the trial kit!

Make sure to use THIS LINK for the coupon!