Branch Basics Review: Should You Be Making The Switch (2023)

If you’re anything like us, you’ve used every brand name household cleaner out there over the years without really knowing what chemicals were being used throughout your home, especially the ones with the overpowering smell that literally takes your breath away. I’ve learned over the years the stronger the smell does not mean things are cleaner! Thankfully, we now have options to choose from as safer and cleaner alternatives so you can avoid using the harmful ones! One brand in particular that has been quickly emerging on the list is Branch Basics. Their products offer a unique all-in-one cleaning solution with full ingredient transparency so you confidently clean your your home knowing you are using products that are not only safe but also effective. Let’s dive in below!

For some quick background, I started using Branch Basics more than six years ago while living in downtown Chicago. Every day as I would walk my building’s halls and lobby areas, I would be hit with the smell of intense cleaning chemicals used by custodians cleaning the building. This was an everyday occurrence and felt detrimental to my health knowing that I was inhaling these everywhere throughout my building. This was the start of a concern I began to have and lured me into checking out what I was breathing and touching in my own unit.

Over the next few weeks, I took a deep dive into the products I used every day in my own home and began learning how they were affecting the health of me and my family and down the rabbit hole I went.

I wanted to find an easy switch as an initial step to begin swapping out toxin-filled chemicals I used every day and felt a household cleaner was a good place to start. I had come across Branch Basics and researched what they were doing and what values they stood by. It became clear that their products were that “good place to start” as their original product was an all-in-one solution to begin using right away for several different cleaning uses.

Get this, just one bottle of their Concentrate makes an all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, hand soap, fruit and veggie wash, a streak-free window cleaner, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner, and can even be used as a gentle baby wash and pet soap. Honestly, it was a no-brainer for me to try Branch Basics and see if it worked as advertised. Fast forward 6 years later and now it’s all we use in our home and I am even more at peace knowing my baby is around safe cleaning products.

BELOW IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!

What is Branch Basics and how does it work?

In short, Branch Basics is a non-toxic cleaning product company created by three women founders who experienced major chronic illnesses leading them to create a better solution from the harsh chemical cleaners used in the majority of households today. Their solution led them to create a multi-purpose nontoxic cleaning brand that is a one-stop shop. Branch Basics’s main product is called “The Concentrate”, which is an all-purpose, sugar-based cleaner that you easily dilute into a few separate bottles to use for cleaning nearly everything in your house. With the empty bottles you receive, you will see the fill lines on the bottle’s label for the concentrate and water. All you need do is pour water up to the water fill line and then add The Concentrate to the correct line and mix. Each bottle has its own specific ratio and once you mix your bottles you’re good to go!

What are the ingredients in Branch Basics?

The Simple Concentrate consists of only 7 ingredients:

1. Purified Water: Reverse Osmosis
2. Decyl Glucoside: This is a mild, natural, vegan, plant-derived biodegradable, nontoxic and sustainable surfactant suitable for the most delicate skin types. It is sourced from glucose and is commonly used as a nontoxic and eco-friendly alternative to conventional sulfates like SLS and SLES.
3. Organic Chamomile Flower Extract: An organic flower extract with Allergen (IFRA) Certifications, which certifies it is nonallergenic and is not a fragrance. From its anti-irritant, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties to its nourishing and skin-soothing characteristics, this is their star ingredient!
4. Coco-Glucoside: A naturally derived surfactant derived from coconut. It’s one of the most gentle cleansing agents available and is a natural alternative to the harsher Cocamidopropyl betaine and sulfates. Its chemical nature and production process result in a surfactant free of impurities like ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, making it suitable for baby and pet products.
5. Sodium Citrate: A plant-derived, biodegradable sodium salt that acts as a water softener. It’s also used as an acidity regulator in food and drinks (think club soda!) and as an emulsifier (it enables cheeses to melt without becoming greasy).
6. Sodium Bicarbonate: A mineral-based water softener, also known as baking soda!
7. Sodium Phytate: A natural chelator, phytic acid is found in plant seeds and is often used commercially as a preservative due to its antioxidant properties.

Branch Basics’ Concentrate Formula is:

• Fragrance-free
• Plant and mineral-based
• Non-GMO
• Alcohol-Free
• EWG certified
• Biodegradable

**It’s completely free from harmful preservatives and toxic chemicals found in most cleaning products like sulfates, phthalates, phosphates, parabens, and chlorine/bleach.

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Different ways you can use Branch Basics products to clean in your home

• All-Purpose Cleaner: Appliances, toys, countertops, stains, stoves, pots & pans, highchairs, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, baby bottles, dishes etc.
• Bathroom Spray: soap scum, showers and tubs, shower mats, sinks, drains, grout, toilets, tile floors, mold, and mildew
• Streak-Free Spray: mirrors, windows, glass doors/surfaces, picture frames, electronic screens, eyeglasses, stainless steel, inside the car
• Laundry Solution: sheets, whites, colors, baby clothing, delicates, and more!
• Foaming Wash: body wash, eye makeup remover, face wash, hand wash, jewelry, cleaning makeup brushes, shaving, and dishes too!
• Oxygen Boost: burnt pots and pans, carpets, laundry, stove top, tile, grout, toilets, stain remover, soap scum
  • It is not recommended to use Branch Basics Oxygen Boost on the following materials: wool and wool blends, silk and silk blends, leather or fabrics labeled dry clean only.
  • **I have not personally used Branch Basics for this specific method but you can also use it as a more gentle baby wash and/or pet soap.

Which Branch Basics Kit should you start with?

When I was looking to purchase my first Branch Basics Kit, I wanted to make sure I was getting the best bang for my buck all while being able to try everything they had to offer! This is why I chose the Premium Starter Kit and will always recommend this one for first timers looking to make the switch to a cleaner home. I have had the same plastic bottles since I first bought my kit 6 years ago! They now offer a Premium Starter Kit (Glass Bottle Option) which wasn’t an option at the time I purchased my kit, but I plan to switch to glass when it’s time to replace them.

The Premium Kit Includes ($75):

1. The Concentrate (33.8 fl oz) – a multipurpose, eco-friendly cleaning solution used for any cleaning job when diluted with water.
2. Oxygen Boost (2lb) – Pairs with the Concentrate for an all-natural way to tackle laundry, stains & grout.
3. Reusable Plastic Bottles
   • All-Purpose Bottle (24 fl oz) – everyday cleaning including countertops, dishes and stains.
   • Bathroom Bottle (24 fl oz) – Tackles tiles, toilets, grout, sinks and showers
   • Streak-Free bottle (24 fl oz) – Leaves mirrors, windows and glass sparkling
   • Foaming Wash Bottle (10 fl oz) – For handwashing, dishes, pets and bubble bath
   • Laundry Bottle (32 fl oz) – Works for standard and high-efficiency washing machines

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How long does the Branch Basics Concentrate last?

On average, one bottle of Concentrate lasts 5-7 months in our home. Ours may last a little longer as we are always testing out new nontoxic cleaning products to see which ones meet the hype! For purposes of your purchase decision, I would bet on the Concentrate lasting 4-6 months. This may vary with how often you clean and how big of a space you’re using it to clean with.

My favorite tips for using Branch Basics

I use the all-purpose cleaner way more than I’d like to admit. This bottle is always within reach throughout the home especially now with my toddler touching everything. I use it to clean my son’s highchair, toys, changing table, you name it, it’s being cleaned with the all-purpose cleaner. Just a few sprays and an easy wipe down is all it takes. It works so well and I am always at peace knowing there are no toxic ingredients that could ever harm him.

I like to pair the laundry detergent with the Branch Basics Oxygen Boost. I definitely see a difference when using the two products together when washing a larger load or if you have heavier items to clean. This comes with the Starter Kit but you can also buy it separately here: Branch Basics Oxygen Boost

I use the Branch Basics Handsoap made specifically with The Concentrate, but with the release of their new fragrance-free Gel Handsoap, I have just gifted one of these to my parents who are using it in their bathrooms as a more aesthetic hand soap to make the bathrooms feel a little more decorative while receiving the benefits of a cleaner and effective handsoap.

Other products Branch Basics offers

• Oxygen Boost (a multi-purpose cleaning powder)
• Dishwasher Tablets
• Wool Dryer Balls
• Natural Scrub Brush
• Variety of bottles (glass, plastic, travel-size)
• Beeswax Candle
• Gel Hand Soap