greenspecs
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Cleaning products: what the labels actually prove
Cleaning is the aisle where one certification does most of the work: EPA Safer Choice screens every ingredient. Powder and tablet formats also beat liquid on shipped water and plastic, which is why format shows up in the score.
- Cleaning products graded
- 92
- Brands covered
- 43
- Median GreenSpecs score
- 58/100
- Grade A or B
- 51 of 92
- Highest scoring
- Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap — A+ 96/100
- Assessments updated
- 21 July 2026
Source: GreenSpecs label assessments, 21 July 2026. Figures cover the 92 cleaning products items graded to date, one entry per product.
Where this number comes from. GreenSpecs scores the evidence a product puts in front of you: the wording of the claim, what the packaging discloses, and whether an independent certifier stands behind any of it. Each score is a GreenSpecs assessment generated by our scoring model from the product label and public claim text on the date shown. It is not a laboratory test, not a lifecycle assessment, and not a safety rating. The full method is published here.
How do cleaning products compare on GreenSpecs?
51 of 92 graded cleaning products reach a B or better, and the median score is 58 out of 100. The table below is every one we have assessed, strongest first.
| Product | Brand | Grade | Score | What the label proves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap | Seventh Generation | A+ | 96/100 | Seventh Generation really shines here! They back up their claims with specific numbers and strong third-party certifications, which is fantastic to see. While being truly sustainable is a journey for everyone, they're clearly putting in genuine effort where it counts for a cleaning product. |
| ECOS Hypoallergenic Plant Powered Laundry Detergent Magnolia & Lily | ECOS | A+ | 89/100 | EPA certified clean. Big bottle, less waste. |
| Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablets | Blueland | A | 83/100 | A category leader. The full stack of certifications. |
| Blueland Laundry Detergent Tablets | Blueland | A | 82/100 | Plastic-free and certified. A category leader. |
| Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid | Seventh Generation | A | 80/100 | Seventh Gen has receipts. Ingredients are solid. |
| Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets | Blueland | A- | 80/100 | A top performer. Packaging is the next step. |
| Seventh Generation Sensitive Skin Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent Packs | Seventh Generation | A | 78/100 | Strong ingredients, good certs. Packaging is still conventional. |
| Seventh Generation Biobased Deep Clean Laundry Detergent | Seventh Generation | A | 78/100 | Seventh Gen has receipts. The supply chain is still the blind spot. |
| EcoClean Laundry Powder, Unscented | EcoClean | A- | 78/100 | A top-tier powder. Ingredient transparency leads the way. |
| V48 Verify Refill Concentrate | V48 Verify | A- | 75/100 | A real step forward for packaging. Ingredients are next. |
| ECOS Climate Positive Clean Laundry Detergent | ECOS | A- | 75/100 | A solid pick! Plant-based with strong certifications. |
| ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear, 210 Loads | ECOS | A- | 74/100 | A solid choice. Packaging and ingredients are ahead. |
| Seventh Generation Lavender Flower & Mint Dish Liquid | Seventh Generation | A- | 73/100 | Seventh Gen has receipts. The supply chain is still the blind spot. |
| Kirkland Signature UltraShine Platinum Performance Automatic Dishwasher Detergent | Kirkland Signature | A- | 72/100 | A solid choice. Ingredients are leading the way. |
| ECOS Hypoallergenic Plant Powered Laundry Detergent, Magnolia & Lily | ECOS | B+ | 71/100 | EPA Safer Choice is the real deal here. |
| all free & clear PLUS+ Superior Whitening & Brightening Detergent | all | B+ | 71/100 | EPA certified. Still a big plastic jug. |
| Kirkland Signature Platinum Performance UltraShine Automatic Dishwasher Detergent 115 Pacs | Kirkland Signature | B+ | 70/100 | A solid EPA Safer Choice pick. Great for everyday dishwashing. |
| Ingredients Matter Ultra Concentrated Powder Laundry Soap | Ingredients Matter | A- | 70/100 | A genuine win for packaging and ingredients. The supply chain is next. |
| ECOS Plant Powered Laundry Detergent Magnolia & Lily | ECOS | B+ | 69/100 | A solid choice. Packaging is the next step. |
| Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent 100 oz | Seventh Generation | B+ | 68/100 | A solid pick. EPA Safer Choice is the real win here. |
| Seventh Generation Free & Clear Laundry Detergent | Seventh Generation | B+ | 68/100 | A solid choice. The formula is doing the work. |
| Seventh Generation Dish Soap | Seventh Generation | B+ | 68/100 | A solid, certified choice. Packaging is the next step. |
| Papaya Reusable Paper Towels | Papaya | B+ | 68/100 | A genuine step forward. More transparency is next. |
| Package Free The Simplest Powder Laundry Detergent, Unscented, 300 Loads, 158 oz | Package Free | B+ | 68/100 | Powder format is a win. Ingredient transparency is still developing. |
| Kirkland Signature UltraShine Plant-Based Dish Soap | Kirkland Signature | B+ | 68/100 | Certified ingredients, conventional packaging. A solid choice. |
| Ecover Zero Laundry Liquid | Ecover | B+ | 68/100 | A solid pick with EPA Safer Choice. Packaging is the next step. |
| ECOS Plant Powered Dishwasher Detergent Packs Free & Clear | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | A solid pick for ingredients, with good packaging. |
| ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent, Magnolia & Lily, 210 Loads | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | Plant-based and concentrated. Supply chain transparency is still developing. |
| ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear, 210 Loads, 210 fl oz, 2-count | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | Solid plant-based ingredients. Packaging is still the next step. |
| ECOS Liquid Laundry Detergent, Free & Clear | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | Plant-based ingredients, standard packaging. A solid choice. |
| ECOS Laundry Detergent Packs, Free & Clear, 112-count | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | A solid choice. Supply chain transparency is the next step. |
| ECOS Hypoallergenic Plant Powered Lemongrass Laundry Detergent | ECOS | B+ | 68/100 | Better ingredients, conventional packaging. A good start. |
| Dropps Odor + Stain Biobased* Power Laundry Detergent Pacs, Crisp Breeze, 128-count | Dropps | B+ | 68/100 | Concentrated format is a win. Ingredient transparency is still developing. |
| 365 Whole Foods Market Dish Soap Unscented | 365 Whole Foods Market | B+ | 68/100 | Biobased ingredients, conventional packaging. A good start. |
| 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Concentrated Laundry Detergent Citrus Geranium Scent | 365 by Whole Foods Market | B+ | 68/100 | Organic ingredients, conventional packaging. A good start. |
| Kirkland Signature Dish Detergent | Kirkland Signature | B+ | 67/100 | A solid choice with real certifications. |
| Molly's Suds Laundry Detergent, Lavender | Molly's Suds | B+ | 65/100 | Great ingredients, good concentration. Packaging is the next step. |
| Arm & Hammer Baking Soda | Arm & Hammer | B | 62/100 | Simple ingredients, developing packaging. |
| Verdant Concentrated Laundry Detergent | Verdant | B | 60/100 | A good start with packaging and company values. Ingredients could go further. |
| Pinalen 2X Concentrated Fresh Pine Multipurpose Cleaner | Pinalen | B- | 58/100 | A good step forward in concentration and biobased ingredients. |
| Nellie's Laundry Detergent Cubes, Unscented, 128 Loads | Nellie's | B- | 58/100 | Plastic-free is a real win. Ingredient details are still developing. |
| Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Lemon Verbena Laundry Detergent | Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day | B- | 58/100 | Plant-derived goodness in a conventional bottle. A good step! |
| Method Laundry Detergent, Concentrated | Method | B- | 58/100 | A solid plant-based pick, with room to grow. |
| Method Dish Soap | Method | B- | 58/100 | Better than conventional. Still developing on full transparency. |
| Method All-Purpose Cleaner, Pink Grapefruit | Method | B- | 58/100 | Plant-based ingredients, conventional bottle — a good start. |
| method all purpose cleaner | method | B- | 58/100 | Plant-based formula, company-wide impact. Product certs are the next step. |
| Field Day Single Packs Dishwashing Detergent | Field Day | B- | 58/100 | A great start on ingredients. Packaging is the next step. |
| Clean Cult Toilet Bowl Cleaner Sheets Fresh Lemon | Clean Cult | B- | 58/100 | Plastic-free packaging is a win. Ingredient details still developing. |
| Boulder Clean Power Sport Liquid Laundry Detergent, Arctic Blast, 100 Loads, 100 fl oz | Boulder Clean | B- | 58/100 | Better ingredients, conventional packaging. A solid start. |
| Nellie's Laundry Soda, 800 Loads | Nellie's | B- | 55/100 | Concentrated powder is a win. Ingredient transparency is still developing. |
| Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent Sheets | Earth Breeze | B- | 55/100 | Lightweight format, but the real story is still developing. |
| Kirkland UltraShine Plant-Based Dish Soap | Kirkland | C+ | 53/100 | A plant-based start, but the full ingredient story is still developing. |
| Tide Simply Clean & Fresh Detergent | Tide | C+ | 52/100 | The 10x concentration is a real product change, reducing plastic per load and lowering shipping emissions. However, the claim doesn't address the broader chemical footprint of the detergent or the total plastic volume from a brand this large. |
| Tide Free & Gentle Liquid Laundry Detergent | Tide | C+ | 52/100 | A better choice for sensitive skin. Packaging is still the next step. |
| Nellie's Baby Laundry Soda, 500 Loads | Nellie's | C+ | 52/100 | Concentrated powder is a win. Ingredient details are still developing. |
| Kirkland Signature UltraClean Laundry Detergent Pacs | Kirkland Signature | C+ | 52/100 | Concentrated helps. Ingredients are a black box. |
| Tide Ultra Concentrated Original Liquid Laundry Detergent | Tide | C+ | 50/100 | Less plastic. Same old ingredients. |
| Tide Pods Free & Gentle | Tide | C+ | 50/100 | Pods cut plastic. Ingredients are still Tide. |
| Tide Pods HE Laundry Detergent Pods, Spring Meadow, 156-count | Tide | C | 48/100 | Convenient format, but ingredients and packaging are conventional. |
| Spruce Weed & Grass Killer | Spruce | C | 48/100 | Better than conventional. Ingredient transparency is next. |
| Roma Laundry Detergent Powder | Roma | C | 48/100 | Powder format is a win. More ingredient detail is next. |
| Phill Laundry Detergent | Phill | C | 48/100 | A good start on ingredients. Packaging and transparency are next. |
| Kirkland UltraClean Premium Laundry Detergent Pacs | Kirkland | C | 48/100 | A bulk buy, but conventional ingredients and packaging. |
| Kirkland Signature UltraClean Premium Laundry Detergent Pacs | Kirkland Signature | C | 48/100 | A step up on ingredients. Packaging is still conventional. |
| Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Free & Clear HE Liquid Laundry Detergent | Kirkland Signature | C | 48/100 | Better for sensitive skin. Not yet leading on planet. |
| Kirkland Signature Oxi Powder | Kirkland Signature | C | 48/100 | Powder format is a win. Ingredient transparency is still developing. |
| Colgate-Palmolive Dish Soap | Colgate-Palmolive | C | 48/100 | Better ingredients, conventional format. Still developing. |
| Kirkland Signature Laundry Detergent Multipurpose Powder | Kirkland Signature | C | 46/100 | Powder format is a win. Ingredients are still conventional. |
| Kirkland Signature Dishwasher Pacs | Kirkland Signature | C | 46/100 | Convenient format, conventional ingredients. |
| CO Laundry Detergent | CO | C | 46/100 | Plant-based, recycled bottle — a good start, but certs are next. |
| Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Laundry Detergent Powder | Arm & Hammer | C- | 46/100 | A good packaging choice, but the ingredients are still conventional. |
| Tide Pods Ultra Oxi Laundry Detergent Pods, 100-count | Tide | C | 45/100 | Convenient pods, but ingredients and packaging still have room to grow. |
| Tide Plus Ultra Oxi Powder Laundry Detergent, Original, 143 Loads | Tide | C- | 42/100 | Powder is a step up. Ingredients and transparency are still developing. |
| Finish Ultimate Quantum Powerball Dishwasher Tabs | Finish | C- | 42/100 | Better format. Ingredient transparency still developing. |
| Dishwasher Pods | Generic/Kirkland (implied) | C- | 42/100 | Conventional cleaning power. Room to grow on ingredients. |
| Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Max HE Liquid Laundry Detergent, Fresh, 200 Loads, 200 fl oz | Arm & Hammer | C- | 42/100 | Concentrated formula helps. Ingredients and transparency still developing. |
| Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Detergent ActionPacs, Fresh, 82-count | Cascade | C- | 40/100 | Conventional cleaning power. Packaging is a small step forward. |
| Cascade Complete Dishwasher Detergent Powder | Cascade | C- | 39/100 | Powder format is a win. Ingredients are still conventional. |
| Tide Original Detergent | Tide | C- | 38/100 | Conventional for its category. No green claims here. |
| Pine-Sol Multi-Surface Cleaner, Original | Pine-Sol | C- | 38/100 | Conventional cleaning, bulk format is a small win. |
| Lysol Disinfectant Spray | Lysol | C- | 38/100 | Conventional ingredients. Recyclable can is a plus. |
| Cascade Platinum All-in-One Dishwasher Detergent | Cascade | C- | 38/100 | Conventional for its category. Ingredients are still a question. |
| Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent | Cascade | C- | 38/100 | A step up in format. Ingredient transparency is still developing. |
| Bounce Select a Size Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets, Outdoor Fresh | Bounce | D+ | 35/100 | Conventional dryer sheets. Better options are available. |
| Palmolive Ultra Strength Dish Liquid | Palmolive | D+ | 34/100 | Conventional cleaning, standard packaging. A better one's out there. |
| Foca Laundry Detergent Powder | Foca | D+ | 34/100 | Conventional powder. Packaging is the bright spot. |
| Finish Powerball Jet-Dry Rinse Aid Ultra Residue Removal | Finish | D+ | 34/100 | Conventional for its category. Ingredients are the next step. |
| Gain Ultra Concentrated OXI original | Gain | D+ | 32/100 | Less water, less plastic. Still a black box. |
| Clorox Clean-Up All-Purpose Cleaner with Bleach | Clorox | D+ | 30/100 | Conventional cleaning power, conventional footprint. |
| Roundup Dual Action Weed & Grass Killer Plus 4 Month Preventer Concentrate | Roundup | D+ | 28/100 | A conventional chemical approach. Better alternatives exist. |
| Kirkland Signature UltraClean Premium Laundry Detergent | Kirkland Signature | F | 15/100 | Just a big jug. Nothing green here. |
| Clorox 2 for Colors Stain Remover | Clorox | F | 15/100 | Bleach-free isn't a green claim. |
What separates a strong cleaning product label from a weak one?
Cleaning is the aisle where one certification does most of the work: EPA Safer Choice screens every ingredient. Powder and tablet formats also beat liquid on shipped water and plastic, which is why format shows up in the score. A claim scores well here when it is specific, when the packaging discloses enough to check it, and when an independent body has verified it. It scores badly when it is a mood rather than a measurement.
Brands graded in this category
Standing in this aisle right now? Scan the label and see the inside story before it goes in the trolley.