Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Review
Quick Take
Overall Score: 8.4/10
Better Life represents what happens when parents with chemistry backgrounds create cleaning products. The EWG Verified mark means every ingredient has been individually screened and approved—not just rated after the fact, but pre-approved as meeting EWG's strictest standards. The cleaning power genuinely impresses, performing closer to Branch Basics than typical plant-based alternatives.
The Verdict: One of the cleanest, most effective ready-to-use non-toxic cleaners available. The EWG Verified certification provides extra assurance for ingredient-obsessed parents. Performance exceeds most competitors in this category. A strong choice for families wanting pre-mixed convenience without sacrificing safety or efficacy.
What We Tested
I purchased Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (32 oz, $7.99) and tested over 5 months across:
- Kitchen surfaces including stubborn stovetop messes
- Bathroom cleaning including soap scum challenges
- General household surfaces
- Head-to-head comparison with Seventh Generation, ECOS, and Puracy
The Better Life Origin Story
Better Life was founded by Tim Barklage and Kevin Tibbs—two fathers who became concerned about the chemicals their children were being exposed to through cleaning products. Tim, a former pharmaceutical product developer, and Kevin, who had a background in chemical engineering, decided to create what they couldn't find: cleaners that actually worked without concerning ingredients.
This origin matters because it explains the product philosophy: engineer for performance AND safety, not one or the other.
What "EWG Verified" Actually Means
Let me clarify an important distinction. EWG has two designations:
EWG Rated (A, B, C, D, F): EWG evaluates existing products and rates them based on their ingredient analysis. The company didn't submit for this; EWG rated them.
EWG Verified: The company proactively submitted their formulation, demonstrated full ingredient transparency, and had every ingredient pre-approved by EWG. This is a higher bar.
Better Life products are EWG Verified—they actively pursued and achieved the stricter certification.
What EWG Verified Requires:
- Full ingredient disclosure: Not just what's in the product, but the source and processing of each ingredient
- Individual ingredient screening: Every ingredient evaluated against EWG's database of concern
- No EWG ingredients of concern: Zero tolerance for flagged ingredients
- Manufacturing verification: Production practices verified for contamination prevention
- Ongoing compliance: Regular audits and reformulation reviews
Safety Analysis
The Ingredient Profile
Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner (Unscented) contains:
- Purified water: Base
- Sodium carbonate: Washing soda (mineral-derived cleaning agent)
- Decyl glucoside: Coconut-derived surfactant
- Coco glucoside: Additional plant-based surfactant
- Quillaja saponaria bark extract: Natural soap from soapbark tree
- Sodium citrate: Plant-derived water softener
What's NOT in the formula:
- Synthetic fragrances or dyes
- Petroleum-based ingredients
- SLS/SLES
- Ammonia or bleach
- Parabens, phthalates, or formaldehyde
- Animal-derived ingredients
- Glycol ethers
- Triclosan
The Clean Difference
Comparing Better Life's ingredient list to Mrs. Meyer's or even some "natural" brands reveals why certification matters:
- Fewer total ingredients: Simpler formulas with less potential for interaction
- Traceable sources: Each ingredient sourced from verified suppliers
- No "fragrance" loophole: If there's scent, it's from disclosed essential oils
- Biodegradable surfactants: Break down quickly, no environmental persistence
Cleaning Performance
Kitchen Testing (8.5/10)
This is where Better Life surprised me.
Daily cleaning: Excellent. Countertops, tables, and appliances wipe clean with no residue.
Grease test: Better than expected. I let bacon grease sit on the stovetop for 24 hours, sprayed with Better Life, waited 2 minutes, and it wiped up with moderate scrubbing. Not as instant as Branch Basics concentrate, but better than Seventh Generation or ECOS.
Stainless steel: Impressive. No streaking, no film. Works well on refrigerator doors, appliances, and sinks.
The difference: Better Life uses a dual-surfactant system (decyl glucoside + coco glucoside) combined with sodium carbonate that provides more cleaning power than single-surfactant formulas.
Bathroom Testing (7.5/10)
Sink and fixtures: Works well. Daily buildup cleans easily.
Soap scum: Adequate. Better than ECOS, comparable to Seventh Generation. For heavy buildup, you'll still want to spray and let sit.
Toilet exterior: Good for porcelain surfaces.
General Surfaces (8.5/10)
Toys: Excellent choice for anything that will be mouthed.
High chairs and play equipment: The no-rinse-needed formula makes baby gear cleaning practical.
Electronics: Low residue works well for remotes, controllers, and touchscreens (spray on cloth, not directly).
Scent Options
Better Life offers:
- Unscented (Clary Sage & Citrus is very light): Minimal scent, EWG Verified
- Pomegranate: Essential oil-based scent, still EWG Verified
- Lavender & Grapefruit: More noticeable scent, EWG Verified
All scented versions maintain EWG Verified status because they use disclosed essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance. For maximum safety margin, the Unscented version is best for very sensitive individuals.
Value Assessment
Pricing:
- 32 oz spray: $7.99
Cost per ounce:
- 32 oz: $0.25/oz
Comparison:
- Seventh Generation: $0.19/oz
- ECOS: $0.20/oz
- Puracy: $0.36/oz
- Mrs. Meyer's: $0.28/oz
- Branch Basics (diluted): $0.10/oz
Better Life sits in the middle of the pricing spectrum. More expensive than Seventh Generation or ECOS, cheaper than Puracy, significantly more than Branch Basics concentrate. The premium reflects the EWG Verified certification and higher cleaning performance.
How It Compares
Vs. Branch Basics
Branch Basics wins on: Overall cleaning power, versatility (one product does everything), long-term cost
Better Life wins on: Ready-to-use convenience, no learning curve, EWG Verified (different certification than Branch Basics' Made Safe)
Bottom line: Branch Basics is the more powerful, economical choice. Better Life is easier for those who don't want concentrate systems.
Vs. Seventh Generation
Better Life wins on: Cleaning power (noticeably better on grease), EWG Verified vs. EWG-A rating
Seventh Generation wins on: Price, wider retail availability
Bottom line: Better Life performs better; Seventh Generation is cheaper and easier to find.
Vs. Puracy
Better Life wins on: Price, EWG Verified certification (vs. Puracy's EWG-B)
Puracy wins on: Community reputation, more scent options, some prefer the texture
Bottom line: Similar products; Better Life has edge on certification and price.
Who Should Buy This
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Certification-focused parents: EWG Verified represents the highest readily available safety certification for ready-to-use cleaners.
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Those wanting ready-to-use with real performance: Better Life cleans better than most competitors in this format.
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Families upgrading from conventional cleaners: The familiar spray bottle format with dramatically safer ingredients makes switching effortless.
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People who read ingredient lists: The short, pronounceable ingredient list provides peace of mind.
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Gift buyers: An excellent choice for new parent gifts—safer than what they'd grab at the store.
Who Should Skip
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Budget-first shoppers: Seventh Generation or ECOS refills offer similar safety at lower cost.
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Maximum cleaning power needs: Branch Basics concentrate outperforms for serious messes.
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Disinfection requirements: Better Life cleans but doesn't kill germs.
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Those preferring concentrate systems: If you're willing to mix, Branch Basics offers better value.
The Bottom Line
Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner delivers what its name promises: cleaning that's genuinely better for your family. The EWG Verified certification provides the highest level of ingredient assurance in the ready-to-use category. Performance exceeds expectations, handling grease and grime better than most plant-based competitors. For families who want pre-mixed convenience without sacrificing safety or cleaning power, Better Life is a top choice.
My usage: Better Life is my go-to recommendation for friends who want something safer but aren't ready for concentrate systems. It bridges the gap between "whatever's at the store" and investing in Branch Basics—a genuine improvement that requires zero behavior change.
Sources
- Environmental Working Group (EWG). EWG Verified Program Requirements. Accessed January 2026.
- Better Life. Full Ingredient Disclosure. Accessed January 2026.
- EWG Verified Product Database. Better Life Products. Accessed January 2026.
