I Tried This Wildly Popular Cleaning Concentrate — And It Finally Got My Sink and Vitamix to Sparkle

Over the years there have been two notable moves in the world of household cleaning supplies: a call for more non-toxic products, and a concerted effort to reduce waste and packaging. And while both of those things are important to me — especially after bringing a baby home this year — I’ve only really had success with the former.

You see, I used to buy several cleaners for different tasks. And when I’d run out, I’d just buy more. When I think about all of the plastic bottles I’ve gone through (and all the money I’ve spent on them), it’s a little disheartening to say the least. That’s why I was so excited to try out Branch Basics, a direct-to-consumer company with a really smart premise: They have one concentrate for five different cleaning solutions.

Everything starts with Branch Basics’ Concentrate, which is touted as human-safe, plant- and mineral-based, and free of harmful preservatives, among other things. I personally love that the Concentrate is also fragrance-free, as I’m sensitive to scents. (Scensitive? Sorry.)

In addition to the Concentrate, with their Starter Kit you get bottles for five specific cleaning tasks: Laundry, Foaming Wash, Bathroom, All-Purpose, and Streak-Free (for glass). All you have to do is fill each bottle first with water, then top off with the Concentrate, and shake. There are handy fill lines on each bottle to ensure your solution is perfectly calibrated. When you run out, you simply order more Concentrate but reuse your bottles again and again.

They also have an Oxygen Boost powder that can be added to loads of laundry, applied directly on stains (hello, broccoli purée on my son’s white onesie!), and scrubbed into grout. And, if you’ve seen on Instagram, it’s wildly popular for its magic ability to work wonders on stained Vitamix blender containers.

Buy: Starter Kit + Oxygen Boost, $69

I’ll start by saying I’ve been using “natural” cleaners for years, and I know that sometimes they don’t yield as satisfying results as some of their counterparts that contain harsh chemicals. But that’s a tradeoff I’ve accepted, turning a blind eye to streaks of residue on my glass stovetop or living with a few stains that just seemed permanent.

But I don’t have to make any small concessions with Branch Basics, because truthfully it’s proven to be an effective cleaner. I’ve been using the All-Purpose spray on my kitchen counters during my nightly wipe-down after dinner; if there are any particularly stubborn, sticky messes on there I leave the spray on for about 15 minutes, as the packaging suggests, and it comes right up. I also use the AP spray on my son’s high-chair tray — which, since he’s started solids, feels like a full-time job to keep clean! The foaming wash sits next to my kitchen sink and gets a lot of use these days, as I’m washing my hands more than ever. It foams up nicely and doesn’t leave my hands raw, like some other unscented, natural options I’ve tried lately.

But what I really want to talk about is the Oxygen Boost: I am in love with the stuff. Since buying our home a little over two years ago, I have felt like I could never get my stainless steel sink to look clean. I’d scrub it with soap and water, or spray a little cleaning spray in and get to work, but it still always looked so dingy.

So as soon as I got my hands on the Branch Basics products, I knew I had to try them out on my sink. I sprayed the All-Purpose spray in my sink, sprinkled a scoop full of the Oxygen boost on top, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then I scrubbed lightly with a scrub brush and some warm water and all the yellow gunk that had been there for years lifted right up.

I’m still working on my first bottle of concentrate, as most of the bottles only require a small amount, but it’s worth nothing that the Laundry detergent bottle does call for a lot more of the Concentrate than the others. Because we do an absurd amount of laundry in our house these days (have I mentioned that I have a new baby?), I might stick with my usual detergent for now in order to make my Concentrate last a bit longer.

I have yet to explore all the ways to put Branch Basics to use (bathroom grout, I’m coming for you!), but as we face a fall and winter spent mostly at home, I know I’ll have plenty of time to continue to test it out. And speaking of not going anywhere, I also have to give major points for the convenience factor here. While I’m still avoiding stores, I really appreciate the fact that I can get a bottle of Concentrate sent right to my door.

Have you tried Branch Basics? Or any other new cleaning supplies that you’re obsessed with? Tell us in the comments below!