Everspring, Target’s plant-based cleaning and household brand, is not technically “non-toxic” in the strict sense, but its products are formulated with relatively mild, plant-derived ingredients that rank far below conventional cleaners in toxicity. The official safety data sheet for Everspring All Purpose Cleaner states the product is “not acutely toxic,” though it is classified as an eye irritant and a potential skin sensitizer. So while Everspring is a safer alternative to bleach- or ammonia-based cleaners, calling it completely non-toxic oversimplifies things.
What’s Actually in Everspring Products
Everspring formulas lean heavily on ingredients derived from corn, coconut, and palm kernel oils. The all-purpose cleaner in Lemon & Mint, for example, lists purified water, lactic acid (from corn), sodium gluconate (a corn-derived chelating agent that helps the cleaner work in hard water), and two plant-based surfactants derived from corn and coconut oils. Citric acid, lemon oil, and mint oil round out the formula. There are no synthetic dyes, chlorine bleach, ammonia, or phosphates.
The laundry detergent is more complex. It contains sodium lauryl sulfate (a common plant-derived surfactant), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), and a suite of seven enzymes that break down specific types of stains: proteins, fats, starches, and plant fibers. It also contains two preservatives, methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone, which are worth noting. These are effective antimicrobials used at low concentrations, but they’re known skin sensitizers, and some people with sensitive skin or eczema may react to them. The laundry detergent carries USDA Certified Biobased status, meaning a verified percentage of its ingredients come from renewable biological sources.
How Everspring Scores on Safety Databases
The Environmental Working Group rates Everspring hand soaps in the “moderate hazard” category across its entire lineup, from Lemon & Mint to Pomegranate & Cranberry to seasonal scents like Black Pepper & Balsam. That’s not a failing grade, but it’s not the lowest-risk tier either. The moderate rating likely reflects two things: the use of generic “fragrance” on the label and the inclusion of certain preservatives.
On the cleaning product side, Target’s own safety data sheet classifies the all-purpose cleaner as a Category 2 eye irritant (meaning it can cause temporary eye irritation but not serious damage) and a Category 1 skin sensitizer (meaning it could trigger an allergic skin reaction in some people with repeated exposure). It is not classified as hazardous by any other physical or health measure. For context, many conventional all-purpose cleaners carry additional hazard classifications for respiratory irritation, corrosion, or acute toxicity that Everspring does not.
The Fragrance Transparency Gap
One area where Everspring falls short of full transparency is fragrance. Despite marketing itself as a cleaner, greener brand, Everspring uses the generic term “Fragrance” on its labels rather than disclosing the individual chemical components that make up its scents. This is legal and extremely common in the industry, but it means you can’t verify exactly what volatile compounds you’re breathing in when you spray these products. The formulas do include named essential oils like lemon and mint, but the catch-all “Fragrance” listing could contain additional synthetic or natural aromatic chemicals that aren’t individually disclosed.
If you’re specifically trying to avoid undisclosed fragrance ingredients, look for Everspring’s “Free & Clear” versions, which skip added scents entirely.
Safety Around Pets and Children
Everspring doesn’t contain the most dangerous household cleaning chemicals (ammonia, bleach, phenols), which makes it a lower-risk option in homes with pets or small children. That said, “lower risk” isn’t the same as “safe to ingest.” The lemon and mint essential oils used in several Everspring products can be irritating or harmful to cats in particular, since cats lack certain liver enzymes needed to metabolize citrus and some plant-based compounds. Dogs are generally less sensitive but can still experience digestive upset if they lick freshly cleaned surfaces.
The practical approach: let surfaces dry completely and ventilate the room before letting pets back in. Store concentrates and pods out of reach of children and animals, just as you would with any cleaning product.
How It Compares to Truly Non-Toxic Brands
Everspring sits in a middle tier between conventional cleaners and brands that pursue the strictest safety standards. Products from brands that earn EWG’s “A” rating or carry certifications like EPA Safer Choice or Made Safe typically avoid generic fragrance listings entirely, skip isothiazolinone preservatives, and disclose every ingredient at the sub-component level. Everspring doesn’t meet that bar across its full product line.
That said, for a brand available at a mainstream retailer at a mainstream price point, Everspring represents a meaningful step down in chemical exposure compared to what most people have under their kitchen sink. Its core cleaning agents are plant-derived, it avoids the harshest conventional chemicals, and its acute toxicity profile is essentially negligible. The trade-off is that it’s not as fully transparent or as rigorously certified as the cleanest options on the market. If your goal is reducing exposure without overhauling your entire routine, Everspring is a reasonable choice. If you want the most transparent formulas available, look for products that skip generic fragrance and carry third-party safety certifications beyond biobased sourcing.