Method All-Purpose Spray

Method is a design-forward cleaning brand with generally solid surfactant chemistry. The base cleaning performance of Method All-Purpose Spray is comparable to other plant-based cleaners — corn-derived ethanol and plant surfactants are biodegradable and effective at cutting through everyday kitchen and bathroom soil. The brand has been transparent about its ingredient philosophy and has moved away from the most problematic conventional cleaning chemicals.

The central limitation of Method's product line is fragrance. Method is explicitly a fragrance-forward brand — the signature scents (lavender, eucalyptus, pink grapefruit, and others) are a primary product differentiator, not an afterthought. The fragrances are a blend of synthetic and essential oil compounds, and the brand does not disclose the specific fragrance chemicals. This lack of fragrance transparency is the primary reason Method falls below fragrance-free alternatives in EWG scoring for most SKUs.

For people without fragrance sensitivity, Method is a serviceable upgrade over conventional cleaners. The surfactant chemistry is meaningfully better, and the absence of quat disinfectants, optical brighteners, and phosphates is an improvement over mass-market options like Windex or Fantastik. The fragrance exposure, while not trivial, is lower than heavily scented conventional products and shorter-duration than fabric softeners or dryer sheets that leave residue on skin-contact surfaces.

If the appeal of Method is its plant-based chemistry rather than its scents, a fragrance-free alternative like Seventh Generation Free and Clear or Branch Basics delivers the same surfactant quality without the fragrance exposure. Method does offer a fragrance-free version in some product lines — if available, that is the recommended choice for households with any sensitivity concerns.