10 Powerful Cleaning Products that Actually Do their Job

 

Have you ever heard social media friends rave about a cleaning product … only to pick up a bottle yourself and experience disappointing results?

I have … on multiple occasions.

Flashy packaging that promises a magical cleaning experience sucks me in, but all too often I find that after I fork over my hard-earned money and scrub until I sweat, the stain is still there.

So I set up my own version of a Consumer Reports testing and research program.

I tried a LOT of different brands, specialty cleaners, and even mixed up my own DIY versions in order to find the best of the best.

This list of my top ten best household cleaning products are the result of years of experimentation and the best part is: they actually do what they are supposed to do … CLEAN!

The Best Household Cleaning Products You Need to Try

NOTE: While I would love every one of these products to over-deliver on function and be environmentally-friendly, my criteria was function first. Although you’ll be happy to find I slipped a few environmentally-friendly products in this list because they were the best of both worlds!

Looking for non-toxic products that ARE good? These are the best natural products I’ve found—from cleaners to beauty products and more.

1. Homemade Window Cleaner

Move over Windex, this homemade glass cleaner leaves a streak-free shine on all your glass surfaces. This solution is super easy to make with just white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water—all products you probably have on hand—and is budget-friendly, too!

2. Homemade Bathroom Cleaner

This homemade bathroom cleaner works better than any bathroom cleaner I’ve tried in the past, scouring through soap scum in seconds. The power lies in the cleaning ability of Dawn dish soap mixed with white vinegar. Your tub and sinks will be squeaky clean in no time!

3. Lysol Toilet Cleaner

I have never found a homemade toilet bowl cleaner I love, so I stick with a well-known brand for this job. Lysol Toilet Cleaner gets rid of any hard water residue and is a must-have staple under the bathroom sink.

Side note: Now that we live in an RV, we can’t use this cleaner as it’s too abrasive for our speciality plumbing. So we use the Homemade Bathroom Cleaner above.

4. Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap

Mrs. Meyer’s sells the most delicious smelling cleaners and soaps. Her dish soap cuts through greasy pots and pans in no time! Plus, they come in multiple fragrances and keep yours hands nice and soft.

5. Cascade pacs

When I have a dishwasher again (we don’t while living in the RV!), I’ll immediately add these convenient Cascade pacs to my Subscribe & Save order. A little pricey, yes, but you don’t have to rinse all the junk off your plate before adding it to the dishwasher. That’s how powerful this detergent is!

These pacs come in Original, Complete, and Platinum. If you want the most bang for your buck, go with the Complete version. The Original doesn’t work as well, and you get great cleaning power with Complete without having to pay Platinum pricing.

6. Gain flings

I never do a load of laundry without a pac of Gain Flings at the ready. They are so easy to throw in the washing machine and leave my clothes smelling clean and fresh. On their own, they are great at eliminating odors, but if you want to up the fresh factor, a couple drops of Purify essential oil will do the trick.

Related: How to Remove Odor from Funky Smelling Clothes

7. Bar Keeper’s Friend

One of my top favorites on this list of the best household cleaning products is this can. It’s a kitchen staple. No puddle of grease can withstand it! Anytime my all-purpose cleaner struggles with a mark on the countertop or in the sink, Bar Keeper’s Friend removes it in no time at all.

Plus, it even works on shower heads and epoxy sink surfaces!

8. Clorox OxyMagic Stain Remover

I’ve never met a stain that doesn’t disappear with this remover—blueberries, chocolate, even pet urine (yuck, but it happens!) doesn’t stand a chance. It really is the holy grail of all cleaners! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find it in-store or online in a while. It may have been discontinued, so let me know in a comment if you know where I can find some or with your top recommendation for a replacement!

9. Method All Purpose Cleaner

For a good cleaner that can do all the things, I reach for Method’s All-Purpose Cleaner in Grapefruit scent. This non-toxic cleaner is good for kitchen counters and floors and smells so fresh! You can even use it on tile and stone.

10. Baking soda & vinegar

For a deadly combo (in a good way!), mix together baking soda and white vinegar for clogged drains. We use this in the shower drain at least once a month. Just add a scoop of baking soda in the drain and pour vinegar over top (the resulting suds are so satisfying!). Then rinse with hot water.

Bonus: microfiber cloths

If you want scrubbing power that works even better than paper towels, keep a stack of microfiber cloths next to your cleaning supplies. The ribbing make a huge difference!

Of course, I still use paper towels for the extra gross stuff…like cleaning the outside of the toilet bowl. 😝

Get Home Essentials Delivered Right to Your Door

Many of the best household cleaning products I use are available online at Grove Collaborative.

What I love about Grove is you can do a one-time purchase or subscribe and change up your order every month. They deliver products right to your door and you’ll often find they slip in additional freebies as well!

Any time I’m camping at a spot that accepts packages, I put in a Grove order so I can nab my favorite products. The pricing is about the same as in-store, but I prefer staying home rather than elbowing people crowding the cleaning aisles.

With cleaners that actually do the job they claim to do, your days of wasting time with extra scrubbing and frustration are over! Spend the extra time admiring your sparkly clean space … from the couch with a good book in hand.

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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