Branch Basics is generally safe for use around babies. Its concentrate contains only seven ingredients, all plant-derived or mineral-based, and it carries both a MADE SAFE certification and an “A” (low hazard) rating from the Environmental Working Group. That said, there are a few practical details worth understanding before you use it on baby skin, laundry, or nursery surfaces.
What’s Actually in the Concentrate
The full ingredient list is short: water, decyl glucoside, coco-glucoside, chamomile flower extract, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium gluconate. Decyl glucoside and coco-glucoside are plant-based surfactants that lift dirt and grease. Sodium citrate softens hard water. Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda. Chamomile flower extract is included for its gentle, non-irritating properties. There are no fragrances, dyes, preservatives, or synthetic chemicals.
The EWG flagged a few ingredients at low levels of concern. Chamomile flower extract received “some concern” notes for potential nervous system and developmental effects, though these flags reflect trace-level theoretical risk rather than documented harm at the concentrations used in cleaning products. The surfactants received minor flags related to aquatic toxicity and eye irritation. None of these rose above the “some concern” threshold, and the product earned the EWG’s highest overall grade.
Surfactant Safety on Baby Skin
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, an independent body that evaluates ingredient safety, concluded that decyl glucoside and related alkyl glucosides are safe as currently used in cosmetics and personal care products, including baby products. Decyl glucoside already appears in at least 25 commercially available baby products.
There is one caveat. The CIR panel noted that decyl glucoside has the potential to cause mild skin irritation if a product isn’t formulated carefully. In clinical patch testing, it was “slightly irritating” at most, and repeated exposure tests showed no sensitization (meaning it didn’t trigger allergic reactions over time). For babies, the practical takeaway is that the diluted concentrate is unlikely to irritate skin, but you should still rinse surfaces and fabrics that will contact your baby’s skin. Undiluted concentrate sitting on skin is a different story than a properly diluted cleaning solution that’s been wiped or rinsed away.
Using It for Baby Laundry
Branch Basics recommends diluting the concentrate in their designated laundry bottle for washing baby clothes. For newborns specifically, they suggest either running small loads or using a double rinse cycle. This extra rinse helps ensure no surfactant residue remains on fabric that will sit against your baby’s skin for hours. This is good advice for any plant-based detergent, not just Branch Basics. Even mild surfactants can irritate sensitive newborn skin if they aren’t fully rinsed out.
For tough stains like spit-up, formula, or blowouts, the company suggests adding their Oxygen Boost powder to the wash. This product is also MADE SAFE certified and EWG Verified, but it deserves a closer look if you have a baby in the house.
A Note on Oxygen Boost
The Oxygen Boost is sodium percarbonate, which is a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide in dry form. It’s a common ingredient in “oxygen bleach” products and is far gentler than chlorine bleach. However, in its dry powder form, sodium percarbonate is classified as an irritant. It can irritate the respiratory tract if inhaled, cause serious eye irritation on contact, and mildly irritate skin.
The International Labour Organization and WHO note that “a harmful concentration of airborne particles can be reached quickly when dispersed, especially if powdered.” This matters if you’re scooping the powder while holding a baby or in a small laundry room with an infant nearby. Once dissolved in water and run through a wash cycle, the risk drops significantly. The practical advice: add the powder to your washing machine before bringing your baby into the room, and store the container well out of reach. Ingestion is harmful, and even a small amount in a baby’s eyes could cause pain and blurred vision.
Cleaning Nursery Surfaces and Toys
Branch Basics works through surfactant action, meaning it physically lifts and removes germs from surfaces rather than killing them chemically. The company is transparent that it is not a sanitizer or disinfectant. For everyday nursery cleaning, wiping down high chairs, crib rails, and changing tables, this approach is effective and avoids exposing your baby to chemical disinfectant residues.
For baby toys, wipe hard plastic toys with the diluted all-purpose solution, then rinse with clean water and dry. Toys that go in your baby’s mouth should always get a thorough rinse after cleaning. For plush toys, the concentrate in laundry dilution works well with cold or warm water. If your child is sick or you’re dealing with a situation that genuinely requires disinfection (stomach bugs, for example), you’ll need a separate EPA-registered disinfectant for that specific job, as Branch Basics won’t fill that role.
Certifications and What They Mean
Both the Concentrate and Oxygen Boost carry MADE SAFE certification, which screens products against known toxic chemicals, behavioral toxins, endocrine disruptors, flame retardants, heavy metals, pesticides, and other harmful substances. The Oxygen Boost is also EWG Verified, which requires meeting strict health and transparency standards. These certifications don’t guarantee zero risk for every baby, but they do represent a higher bar than most cleaning products clear.
No cleaning product is risk-free when a baby is involved. The concentrate should never be used undiluted on skin or left where a baby could drink it. Even with a simple ingredient list, concentrated surfactants can cause stomach upset if swallowed. Store the concentrate and Oxygen Boost the same way you’d store any cleaning product: sealed, out of sight, and well beyond a curious toddler’s reach.