Branch Basics Vs. Thieves: Which Natural Cleaner Is Better?
A few years ago when I first started switching to natural cleaning products, I remember standing in my kitchen wondering something simple.
Which cleaner is actually better: Branch Basics or Thieves?
There are so many products that claim to be “natural.” But when you flip the bottle over and read the ingredients, you sometimes still see things that are hard to pronounce.
Two cleaners that come up over and over again are Branch Basics and Thieves Household Cleaner.
I’ve used both of them in my own home. I’ve cleaned kitchen counters, bathroom sinks, sticky floors, and plenty of mystery toddler messes with them.
So today I want to walk you through the differences.
We’ll talk about:
- Ingredients
- Cleaning power
- Cost
- Smell
- Safety for families
And by the end you should have a pretty good idea which one fits your home best 🙂
If you’re short on time, I’ll say this right away. My personal favorite is Branch Basics. It’s simple, extremely versatile, and I love how transparent they are with their ingredients. If you want to try it, you can grab a starter kit and use my Branch Basics coupon code TOTALLYKATEABLE for 15% off (with my affiliate link).
Some of these links are affiliate links meaning if you purchase from these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything I share is my own opinions and things I personally use and love. You can learn more by reviewing my disclosure. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Quick Comparison: Branch Basics vs Thieves Cleaner
| Feature | Branch Basics | Thieves Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Main Base | Plant-based surfactants | Essential oil blend + surfactants |
| Scent | Unscented | Strong cinnamon/clove scent |
| Concentrate | Yes | Yes |
| Uses | All-purpose, laundry, soap, glass | All-purpose cleaner |
| Membership Required | No | Yes for discounts |
| Best For | Sensitive households | People who love essential oil scents |
Both cleaners are considered non-toxic alternatives to conventional cleaners, but they approach cleaning a little differently, let me break down each further for you.
If you’re trying to reduce toxins in your home, switching to natural cleaners is one of the easiest places to start. I actually share 23 simple recipes in my DIY Natural Cleaners eBook if you ever want to make your own from scratch.
What Is Branch Basics Cleaner?
According to EWG.org, Branch Basics is considered a great cleaner!
Branch Basics is a plant-based cleaning concentrate designed to replace almost every cleaner in your home.
One of my favorite things about it is how simple it is. You start with the concentrate, then dilute it with water depending on what you’re cleaning.
You can make:
- All purpose cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Foaming hand soap (my favorite switch I made!)
- Dish soap (dishwasher detergent only currently)
- Laundry detergent (I LOVE their Oxygen Boost for stains!)
It’s actually pretty amazing how many products you can make with just one bottle! And if you’re new to natural cleaning, this is such an easy place to start!!
With Branch Basics cleaning products, you will find your whole house clean, and be extremely safe for little ones to run around in!
Branch Basics Ingredients
Branch Basics is very open about what goes into their products, which I always appreciate.
The Branch Basics concentrate contains ingredients like:
- Organic chamomile flower extract
- Coco-glucoside (plant-derived surfactant)
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
- Sodium phytate
- Decyl-glucoside
- Water
These ingredients are commonly used in plant-based cleaners and are designed to break down grease and dirt without harsh chemicals.
They are also Made Safe certified, which is a big reason many families choose them.
If you enjoy learning how to make your own household products, you might also enjoy making homemade natural cleaners with ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.
Pros of Branch Basics
Very simple ingredients
I love that you can actually read the ingredient list and understand what you’re looking at! That alone makes it feel much more trustworthy.
Multipurpose cleaner
One bottle can replace several cleaners in your home! This helps reduce clutter under the sink and simplifies your cleaning routine. And is extremely budget-friendly for when you are just starting to be more natural.
The all purpose spray is my favorite what I use all day long. The formula is better than anything else I found!
Great for sensitive households
Branch Basics has almost no scent. If you are sensitive to fragrances or essential oils, this is a really nice option!
Affordable starter kits
They have multiple starter kits, which is honestly a great way to test it before committing.
Spray bottle
My absolute favorite thing is their spray bottle. It is amazing. It is so powerful compared to most others. Its intense power saves me cleaner as I don’t need to spray as much on a surface. I also love their new glass bottles!
Cons of Branch Basics
No scent
Some people really enjoy their house smelling fresh after cleaning. Since Branch Basics is unscented, you won’t get that traditional “clean smell.” This is both a pro and a con as some people love to have a house smell good after they clean.
Slightly higher cost per bottle
Compared to Thieves concentrate, Branch Basics can cost a little more per diluted bottle depending on how you mix it. I think it is worth it for all the different products and household cleaners you can make with it!
Where to Buy Branch Basics
Just head to the Branch Basics website and order if you want. Use code TOTALLYKATEABLE to get 15% off all starter kits.
What Is Thieves Household Cleaner?
Thieves Household Cleaner is made by Young Living and is built around their well known Thieves essential oil blend.
This blend contains:
- Clove
- Lemon
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
These oils give the cleaner its signature warm cinnamon smell.
Many people love the scent because it makes the house smell like fall while you clean! It is one of my favorite smells.
Thieves Cleaner Ingredients
Thieves cleaner includes:
- Clove essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Cinnamon bark oil
- Eucalyptus radiata oil
- Rosemary oil
- Water
- Disodium 2-sulfolaurate
- Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate
- Sodium 2-methyl sulfolaurate
- Alykl polyglucoside
The essential oils give the cleaner its scent, while the surfactants do the actual cleaning work.
Pros of Thieves Cleaner
Strong scent
If you love essential oils, the smell of Thieves cleaner is hard to beat! It has a warm cinnamon scent that many people find comforting.
The essential oils in the cleaner make for a great disinfectant and have many antibacterial properties. It is a great one to help with germs along with the nice smell!
Highly concentrated
One bottle of concentrate will last almost a year. It makes around 30 16oz spray bottles. That comes down to around .78 cents a bottle. That is super cheap and better than most store-bought cleaners! You do need your own bottles for it though.
Essential oil blend
Many people enjoy using products with essential oils because of their aromatic benefits. The Thieves cleaner is that it can help your immune system all while you clean, with the essential oil blend.
Cons of Thieves Cleaner
Strong smell for sensitive people
While many people love the scent, it can be overpowering for some households. Others might have little kids and pets that the essential oils are not safe around.
Membership required for best price
To get the lowest cost, you typically need a Young Living membership, which isn’t ideal for everyone. Biggest drawback for me and why I personally chose Branch Basics.
Fewer uses than Branch Basics
Thieves cleaner works well as an all-purpose cleaner, but it isn’t designed to replace as many household products as Branch Basics.
Branch Basics vs Thieves Cleaner: Which Is Better?
Both cleaners are good options if you want to avoid harsh chemicals in your home! But they work best for different situations.
Choose Branch Basics if you want:
- Unscented cleaning
- Extremely simple ingredients
- One product that replaces many cleaners
- No membership requirements
Choose Thieves if you want:
- A strong essential oil scent
- A very concentrated cleaner
- Essential oil based products
Personally, I reach for Branch Basics most often. I have used it for cleaning grout, mold, as a laundry soap, for my dirty dishes, cleaning my kitchen sink, my showers, cleaning my hardwood floors, and the list goes on and on.
I like how simple it is, and I love that I can make almost every cleaner in my house with one concentrate.
Which Cleaner Works Better? My Real Life Test
Whenever I try a new cleaner, I like to test it on the same types of messes around my house. That way I can actually see how it performs instead of just reading what the label says.
So I used both Branch Basics and Thieves cleaner on three common areas in my home!
Kitchen Counters
Kitchen counters tend to get the most use in our house. Between cooking, spills, and sticky kid messes, they get dirty quickly.
Both cleaners handled the counters well. The Thieves cleaner did a great job cutting through grease, especially around the stove. Branch Basics cleaned just as well, but I noticed I needed slightly fewer sprays to wipe everything down!
Bathroom Sink
Bathroom toothpaste splatters are another good test.
Both cleaners removed buildup easily. Branch Basics wiped away toothpaste spots quickly, and since it has no scent, it felt very simple and clean.
Thieves worked well too, but the scent lingered longer in the bathroom. Not a negative to me but might be for some people.
Sticky Floor Spots
If you have kids, you know those mysterious sticky spots that appear on the kitchen floor.
This is where I really noticed a difference. Branch Basics broke down the sticky residue faster, and I didn’t have to scrub as much!!
Thieves cleaned it up too, but it took a little more wiping.
My Overall Cleaning Experience
Honestly, both cleaners did a good job.
But in my personal testing, Branch Basics felt slightly easier to clean with, especially for everyday messes like sticky counters and floors.
Do Natural Cleaners Actually Work?
Yes, they absolutely can!
Natural cleaners rely on ingredients like:
- Plant surfactants
- Baking soda
- Citric acid
- Essential oils
These ingredients break down grease, dirt, and grime just like conventional cleaners. The biggest difference is that they avoid harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances.
That’s actually why I created my DIY Natural Cleaners Recipe eBook, so beginners can start making simple cleaners at home without feeling overwhelmed!
Final Thoughts
Switching to natural cleaners doesn’t have to be complicated. Honestly, it usually just starts with replacing one product.
Branch Basics and Thieves are both great places to begin!
But if you’re looking for something simple, versatile, and gentle for the whole family, Branch Basics is the one I recommend most often.
And once you start making your own cleaners and learning more about ingredients, you realize something pretty encouraging: Natural living doesn’t have to be overwhelming!
It can actually be really simple!
I hope you enjoyed my honest Branch Basics review of their household cleaning supplies and of Thieves cleaner and comparing the two. Let me know what you prefer in the comments!
