Our top pick is the Mr. Clean Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist, which can tackle just about any surface—we’re talking everything from counters, cabinets, tables, and appliances to sinks, tubs, and toilets.
Here, the best all-purpose cleaners to keep your home in tiptop shape.
Mr. Clean’s Clean Freak spray is our number one pick because it’s a multi-purpose solution available in a handy spray bottle that can be used everywhere from your kitchen to your bathroom. The spray is designed to coat your surfaces in an even mist from any angle. Smudges on the wall? Splatters on the ceiling? Those are no problem for Mr. Clean Clean Freak. To use this spray, you can use a short pull on the handle to spray the product in small bursts. Use a long pull on the handle for a medium amount of product, or pump the handle for a continuous mist.
This cleaner meets EPA safety standards as a Safer Choice certified product, which means it uses ingredients that are safe for human health and the environment. This cleaner powers through grease, grime, dirt, dust, and even tough, sticky residues. You can use it all over your kitchen, including on your appliances, anywhere in your bathroom, and on almost every other hard surface in your home. Not only that, but it also leaves a light lavender or lemon zest scent in its wake.
While this cleaner is fit for stainless steel, it is not considered safe for food-contact surfaces. We recommend either rinsing those surfaces before putting food on them and after using this cleaner, or choosing a different cleaner for those spots in your home. Overall, we think this product is a great option for any who’s looking for a cleaner that can truly clean anything and leave a streak-free finish and pleasant scent.
Price at time of publish: $20 for 3 pack
This formula is best for non-porous materials, like acrylic, quartz, brass, stainless steel, glass, and glazed tile. Like many other all-purpose cleaners, you’ll need to rinse any food-exposed materials with water if you use this product to sanitize or disinfect them. Although we love the multipurpose design of this formula, we wish the bottle had a spray trigger or application tool to make cleaning slightly easier.
Price at time of publish: $3
It can be used in your kitchen, dining room, bathroom, living room, and home office on a variety of surfaces. We love this cleaner’s clean formula, however we wish it was safer to use around pets and kids. The product description does note to keep it out of your little one’s reach. The convenient spray bottle makes it easy to quickly clean your kitchen’s or bathroom’s countertops. You can also purchase separate refill bags of their cleaning formulas.
Price at time of publish: $14 for 3 pack
This cleaner can be used in other areas of your home, too, including kitchen appliances, countertops, and outdoor furniture. The non-abrasive formula will leave your countertops shiny and free of germs, plus the spray bottle is designed with Smart Tube technology, which ensures you can spray every last drop of product without having to tip the bottle. Just be careful not to use this cleaner in the same area you use vinegar or ammonia to clean, as those combinations can create dangerous chemical reactions.
Price at time of publish: $13 for 2 pack
No rinsing is required with this formula, but we recommend wiping down any surfaces that often come in contact with food. It’s important to keep in mind that this formula is not a virucide, so it might not kill all of the germs and bacteria on your home’s floors and other surfaces. While specific flooring and surface types are not listed, we recommend using this formula on hard, non-porous surfaces.
Price at time of publish: $5
While this slightly abrasive formula is not best for all surfaces—the company recommends testing a small spot for plastic, fiberglass, and brushed metals—you can feel good about using its non-bleach formula to tackle stubborn stains on your home’s non-porous surfaces.
Price at time of publish: $7
Plus, this paste is non-toxic, according to the manufacturer and vegan and cruelty-free. We love that it leaves behind a pleasant rhubarb scent that isn’t too overpowering. Be sure to store this paste in a cool dry place to avoid drying it out.
Price at time of publish: $6
Although this cleaner is more expensive than other options, the extra bottles you receive, and the added bonus of a laundry booster, make this kit worth the splurge. The concentrate is also EWG verified and certified with the MADE SAFE seal, meaning it has avoided over 6,500 harmful substances in its creation process. You can also subscribe and receive a refill bottle of Branch Basics’ concentrate regularly.
Price at time of publish: $75
Aside from their Leaping Bunny and Cradle to Cradle certifications, we love that this brand offers a customizable subscription experience, where you can choose the frequency at which you receive six additional cleaning tablets. While the upfront cost of the starter kit is slightly more expensive than other cleaning solutions, you end up saving money with the subscription service because each tablet (creates a 24 ounces of solution) costs just $2.25. Keep in mind that this cleaning solution is not disinfecting or antibacterial because those ingredients do not align with Blueland’s standards. While a subscription service may not be for everyone, we appreciate Blueland’s minimal packaging and basic design.
Price at time of publish: $18
Some abrasive formulas, such as powders and pastes, aren’t best for delicate surfaces like brushed metals, or mirrored and painted objects. Most manufacturers recommend testing an inconspicuous spot of a surface, if you are unsure of the products compatibility.
“All purpose cleaners are generally safe to use on all surfaces and are handy for those everyday messes that are bound to happen,” says Christine McNerney, Senior Director of Merchandising, Non-Food, at Thrive Market. “If you are more concerned about protecting specific surfaces like granite or stainless steel, then I would recommend buying a targeted product which will be specifically formulated to keep those surfaces safe while effectively cleaning.”
Type
Just as how the formula of a cleaner dictates its use, the type of cleaner you choose also determines which surfaces it can used on and how it can be used. Many of the all-purpose cleaners listed in this roundup are liquid-based and come in spray bottles. However, powders and pastes are great options for heavy-duty cleaning jobs. You’ll also find some formulas that are concentrates, meaning they should be diluted with water before being used. Spray cleaners are a great option if you’re looking for an easy, everyday cleaner. It’s not a bad idea to also have an all-purpose powder or paste in your cleaning cabinet for tough stains or greasy messes. But be mindful of what surfaces you use abrasive cleaners on. We recommend spot testing a surface before fully cleaning it, just to ensure it won’t be scratched or damaged. Concentrates are a cost-effective alternative to normal spray bottles, but they require mixing, and don’t always come with separate spray bottles or application tools.
Ingredients
The ingredients list, which varies among all-purpose cleaning products, should also receive a decent amount of attention when you’re shopping for a cleaner. Surfactants are must-haves, as they do most of the cleaning, and they can be naturally derived or synthetic. Then there are deodorizing ingredients, such as baking soda and essential oils. Some cleaners also have disinfecting ingredients, like bleach, benzalkonium chloride, pine oil, or phenols. Disinfecting and antibacterial ingredients should not come in contact with food surfaces, which somewhat limits their daily use. These disinfecting ingredients should always be used in conjunction with protective materials, such as gloves and glasses, if you have sensitive eyes. If you have sensitive skin, McNerney says to watch out for products with chlorine and/or hydrochloric acid, as they can be very irritating.
Amount
While the amount of cleaner you receive is mainly pre-determined by packaging options, there are some ways that you can make your cleaners more cost-effective. As mentioned above, concentrates will last much longer than their diluted counterparts. Concentrates are also sometimes designed to serve as multi-purpose cleaning solutions, like the Branch Basics Concentrate, which can be used to create hand soap, laundry detergent, and all-purpose cleaner, among other things. You’ll also want to keep in mind the amount of product you spray or dispense. Most spray bottles eject enough product after two or three spritzes to clean a decent-sized surface. You should not over-use product or completely saturate an area as this may lead to staining, deterioration over time, and eye or nose irritation.
Scent
While scented cleaning products are a matter of personal preference, formulas with extra-strong fragrances can affect your guests, pets, and other people living in your home. Don’t get us wrong—we’re all for a good smell. That said, the best all-purpose cleaners are lightly scented, usually with natural ingredients like essential oils or plant extracts. They should be refreshing yet not overbearing. You can also find unscented options if you prefer to keep it simple.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, refreshed this roundup’s product list to reflect the latest product developments for all-purpose cleaners. Emma has covered a variety of topics for the appliances, cleaning, and organization column at The Spruce. She has also previously interviewed cleaning experts, whose expertise helped inform Emma’s background understanding for this topic. Because every product brand is slightly different, be sure to read the label carefully. However, most cleaners can be used on kitchen and bathroom counters, sinks, and fixtures. Some products can also be used for cleaning glass surfaces and hard surface floors. Theresa Holland is a freelance writer for The Spruce, and she originally researched and wrote this roundup. She’s covered home improvement, cleaning, bedding, and more in the home space. She has personally gone through multiple bottles of Mr. Clean, Mrs. Meyers, Method, Lysol, and Clorox, and can speak to their effectiveness. Additional research for this article comes from Mary Marlowe Leverette, a nationally recognized cleaning expert. For additional background on all-purpose cleaners, we spoke to Christine McNerney, Senior Director of Merchandising, Non-Food, at Thrive Market, who spoke about ingredients to look for and how to use all-purpose cleaners.
