Walk into any Target or grocery store and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products are right there in the “natural” cleaning section, wedged between Seventh Generation and Method. The lavender and basil scents smell like a farmer’s market, the packaging has a wholesome, farmhouse feel, and most people picking up a bottle assume they are buying something safe. I did too, for years. We dig into the research in are air fresheners toxic? what’s actually in that spray.

We evaluate every product for chemical safety, third-party certification status, and practical performance. Read about our testing and evaluation process for the full picture. Then I started reading ingredient lists.

Mrs. Meyer’s is one of those brands that lives in the space between conventional cleaning products and genuinely non-toxic ones. It is better than Clorox or Fabuloso by a wide margin. But “better than the worst options” is a low bar, and the ingredient analysis I did on 12 of their products tells a more complicated story than the charming labels suggest. For the safety breakdown, read are dryer sheets toxic? what those fragrance chemicals.

What Mrs. Meyer’s Gets Right

Before getting into the concerns, credit where it is due. Mrs. Meyer’s does several things well:

No chlorine bleach, ammonia, or phosphates. These are common in conventional cleaners and absent from Mrs. Meyer’s formulations.

Plant-derived surfactants. The primary cleaning agents in most Mrs. Meyer’s products are plant-based (typically from coconut or corn), which are less environmentally harmful than petroleum-derived alternatives.

Ingredient transparency. Mrs. Meyer’s lists all ingredients on their website, including fragrance components. This level of disclosure exceeds what US law requires and puts them ahead of most conventional brands.

Cruelty-free. The products are Leaping Bunny certified and not tested on animals.

The Fragrance Issue

Here is where Mrs. Meyer’s reputation starts to unravel for health-conscious consumers. Every Mrs. Meyer’s product is scented. They do not offer an unscented line. And the fragrance formulations are the most concerning part of their ingredient profiles.

Mrs. Meyer’s scented products contain blends of essential oils and fragrance compounds including linalool, limonene, citronellol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, and other terpene and aromatic compounds. These are disclosed on their website (though not always fully detailed on the product label).

Here is why this matters:

Allergen potential. The European Union has identified 26 fragrance allergens that must be declared on product labels due to their sensitization potential. Mrs. Meyer’s products contain several of these, including linalool, limonene, citronellol, and geraniol. For the roughly 2-4% of the population with fragrance sensitivities, these compounds can trigger skin reactions, headaches, and respiratory irritation.

Indoor air quality. When you spray a scented cleaner or use scented dish soap in hot water, fragrance compounds become airborne. Dr. Shanna Swan’s work on environmental exposures has noted that fragrance chemicals, including some found in cleaning products marketed as natural, can function as endocrine disruptors at low concentrations. The research is still evolving, but the precautionary principle suggests minimizing unnecessary fragrance exposure, especially in homes with children.

The “natural fragrance” problem. Mrs. Meyer’s uses what they call “essential oils and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients” for scent. The word “natural” is not regulated in cleaning products, and a compound being naturally derived does not automatically make it safe. Formaldehyde is natural. Arsenic is natural. What matters is the specific compound, the concentration, and the route of exposure.

Product-by-Product Breakdown

I analyzed the ingredients of their most popular products against the EWG database and published toxicology literature.

Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner (Lavender)

Key ingredients:

  • Water
  • Decyl glucoside (plant-derived surfactant) - EWG: A
  • Sodium methyl 2-sulfolaurate (surfactant) - EWG: A
  • Fragrance blend (including linalool, linalyl acetate, limonene, geraniol)
  • Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) - preservative

EWG Overall Rating: C

The cleaning base is fine. The fragrance blend contains multiple EU-listed allergens. The preservative methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is the biggest red flag. MIT has been restricted in leave-on cosmetic products in the EU since 2016 due to skin sensitization concerns. It is still permitted in rinse-off and cleaning products, but its inclusion in a “natural” product is notable.

Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap (Basil)

Key ingredients:

  • Water
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (plant-derived)
  • Lauramidopropyl betaine
  • Fragrance blend (including linalool, eugenol, limonene, citral)
  • Methylisothiazolinone

EWG Overall Rating: C

Again, a decent cleaning base paired with a complex fragrance blend and MIT preservative. Eugenol, one of the fragrance compounds, has been flagged as a skin sensitizer by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.

Since you wash dishes with hot water, the fragrance compounds aerosolize more readily, increasing inhalation exposure. This is the product where I would be most concerned about fragrance content, as you are literally standing over a sink of hot, scented water.

Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent (Lemon Verbena)

Key ingredients:

  • Water
  • Sodium laureth sulfate
  • Lauramine oxide
  • Protease and amylase (enzymes)
  • Fragrance blend
  • Methylisothiazolinone

EWG Overall Rating: D

The D rating from EWG is notable. It reflects the combination of fragrance compounds, MIT preservative, and lauramine oxide (which has some toxicity concerns at higher concentrations). This is one of their lower-scoring products and one I would recommend replacing first.

Laundry detergent fragrance transfers to your clothes, which then sit against your skin all day. For children, whose skin surface area is proportionally larger relative to body weight, this creates ongoing low-level exposure to whatever fragrance compounds are in the formula.

Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap (Various Scents)

Key ingredients:

  • Water
  • Sodium laureth sulfate
  • Cocamidopropyl betaine
  • Fragrance blend
  • Methylisothiazolinone

EWG Overall Rating: C

Hand soap is a product you use multiple times daily, and it stays on your skin briefly before rinsing. The repeated exposure to MIT and fragrance compounds is the primary concern here. If you are going to keep one Mrs. Meyer’s product for the scent you enjoy, hand soap is the lowest-risk option since exposure time is short.

The Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) Problem

MIT appears in nearly every Mrs. Meyer’s product I analyzed. This single ingredient deserves focused attention.

Methylisothiazolinone is a synthetic preservative that prevents microbial growth in water-based products. It is effective and inexpensive, which is why it is so widely used. The problem is that clinical evidence has linked MIT to allergic contact dermatitis, and the incidence of MIT sensitization has increased significantly as its use in consumer products has grown.

The American Contact Dermatitis Society named methylisothiazolinone “Allergen of the Year” in 2013. The EU restricted its use in leave-on cosmetics in 2016, though it remains permitted in rinse-off products and cleaning products.

Mrs. Meyer’s is not unique in using MIT. Many mainstream and some “green” brands include it. But genuinely non-toxic brands like Branch Basics, Dr. Bronner’s, and Force of Nature formulate without it. Its presence in Mrs. Meyer’s products is a real differentiator between their “green-ish” approach and the stricter standards of dedicated non-toxic brands.

Dr. Philip Landrigan’s research group has examined how repeated low-level exposure to sensitizing chemicals in household products can trigger inflammatory responses over time, particularly in children. While MIT in any single product at any single moment poses minimal acute risk, the cumulative exposure from using Mrs. Meyer’s across multiple product categories (hand soap, dish soap, countertop cleaner, laundry detergent) adds up.

Mrs. Meyer’s vs. Actually Non-Toxic Brands

FeatureMrs. Meyer’sSeventh Generation (Free & Clear)Branch Basics
FragranceAll products scentedUnscented options availableUnscented only
MIT PreservativeYes, in most productsYes, in some productsNo
EWG Rating (typical)C-DAA
EPA Safer ChoiceNoYes (many products)No (MADE SAFE instead)
Price$4-$7$4-$6$55 (concentrate)
AvailabilityEverywhereEverywhereOnline only

For more on alternatives, see our non-toxic cleaning products roundup and our complete non-toxic cleaning guide.

The gap between Mrs. Meyer’s and a dedicated non-toxic brand is larger than most people realize. The gap between Mrs. Meyer’s and conventional cleaners like Clorox or Pine-Sol is also large. Mrs. Meyer’s sits in the middle, and depending on where you are in your transition to non-toxic cleaning, that middle ground might be exactly where you are.

Who Mrs. Meyer’s Works For

Mrs. Meyer’s makes sense if:

  • You are transitioning from conventional cleaning products and want something better that is easy to find in stores
  • Nobody in your household has fragrance sensitivities or chemical sensitivities
  • You enjoy scented cleaning products and accept the trade-off of fragrance compounds for the sensory experience
  • Budget is a priority and dedicated non-toxic brands feel too expensive

Who Should Switch to Something Cleaner

Consider replacing Mrs. Meyer’s if:

  • You or your family members have skin sensitivities, eczema, asthma, or fragrance reactions
  • You are pregnant or have young children and want to minimize unnecessary chemical exposures
  • You have already switched other household products and cleaning supplies are the next category to upgrade
  • You want products with EPA Safer Choice certification or MADE SAFE certification

If you enjoy the Mrs. Meyer’s experience and just want something cleaner, Seventh Generation Free & Clear is a direct swap that is equally available in stores. For the best-in-class option, Branch Basics concentrate replaces every cleaner in your home with a single unscented, MADE SAFE-certified formula.

Our Take

Mrs. Meyer’s is not the villain some non-toxic influencers make it out to be. The cleaning agents are plant-derived, the formulas avoid the worst conventional chemicals, and the ingredient transparency is better than most. If you are comparing Mrs. Meyer’s to Lysol or Fabuloso, Mrs. Meyer’s is the clear winner.

But if you are comparing Mrs. Meyer’s to brands that genuinely earn the “non-toxic” label, it falls short. The fragrance load is unnecessary. The MIT preservative is avoidable. The EWG ratings reflect real ingredient concerns that separate Mrs. Meyer’s from the cleanest options on the market.

The most honest assessment I can give: Mrs. Meyer’s is a “better” product, not a “best” product. It is a step in the right direction, not the destination. If the scent brings you joy and you have no health sensitivities, keep using it without guilt. If you want the cleanest possible home, there are better options at similar price points.

What People Ask

Is Mrs. Meyer’s actually safe?

Mrs. Meyer’s is safer than conventional cleaning products like Clorox, Lysol, or Fabuloso. However, it is not as safe as dedicated non-toxic brands. The fragrance blends contain EU-listed allergens, and most products contain methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a preservative linked to skin sensitization. For people without sensitivities, the risk is low. For sensitive individuals, children, or those prioritizing the cleanest possible products, there are better alternatives.

Why does Mrs. Meyer’s have a low EWG rating?

Most Mrs. Meyer’s products receive C or D ratings from EWG due to fragrance compound content and the methylisothiazolinone (MIT) preservative. The cleaning agents themselves rate well, but the fragrance and preservative ingredients bring down the overall score. Their Free & Clear products would likely score higher, but Mrs. Meyer’s does not offer an unscented line.

Is Mrs. Meyer’s better than Seventh Generation?

It depends on the specific product. Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear line rates higher on EWG and carries EPA Safer Choice certification, making it the cleaner choice. For scented products, both brands carry similar concerns about fragrance compounds. If you must choose between the two and want the safest option, Seventh Generation Free & Clear wins. If you prioritize scent and both brands’ scented lines are on the table, the difference is marginal.

Does Mrs. Meyer’s contain phthalates?

Mrs. Meyer’s states that their products do not contain phthalates. Phthalates are sometimes hidden within generic “fragrance” listings in conventional products, but Mrs. Meyer’s discloses their fragrance components and phthalates do not appear. This is one area where their ingredient transparency provides useful assurance.

Is Mrs. Meyer’s safe for babies?

I would not recommend Mrs. Meyer’s scented products for use around babies or for washing baby items. The fragrance compounds and MIT preservative are unnecessary exposures for infants, whose systems are more vulnerable to sensitization. For baby-safe cleaning, stick with unscented products from brands with stronger safety certifications, such as Branch Basics or Seventh Generation Free & Clear.

Why does Mrs. Meyer’s smell so good?

The signature scents (lavender, basil, lemon verbena, etc.) come from blends of essential oils and naturally derived fragrance compounds. These are genuinely plant-sourced and smell markedly better than synthetic fragrances. The trade-off is that these natural fragrance compounds still include allergens and volatile compounds that contribute to indoor air quality concerns, even though they smell pleasant.

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