The 10 Best All-Purpose Cleaners Worth Buying For Your Kitchen, According To Reviews
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Using an all-purpose cleaner to tackle everyday messes or to deep clean your kitchen will make your life easier. Or, so you think. Not all products are safe for food-related surfaces. Plus, a few might not even cut through tough grease stains, and some could even damage your kitchen's surfaces. Considering these points, you must pick a product after carefully examining every facet and going beyond a manufacturer's claims.
But since this can be a time- and effort-consuming activity, we decided to do the hard work for you, and we didn't cut any corners. We made sure to include cleaners across categories, like disinfecting, fragrance, stain-removing power, and value for money. We also weighed different formulas like pastes, wipes, and concentrates. After gathering a list of all-purpose cleaners from multiple sources, we checked their online customer reviews to recommend the best of the best. To narrow down our list, we only included 10 products that have a minimum of 2,200 reviews and an average star rating of 4.5 and higher. For a more detailed explanation of how we chose the listed cleaners, check out our methodology at the end.
Best for eco-conscious individuals: Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaning Spray
If you're looking for an all-purpose cleaner that's eco-friendly, try out Seventh Generation's All Purpose Cleaning Spray. Although it's formulated to be tough on grease and grime, it contains 95% plant-based ingredients. This makes it biodegradable and septic-safe. Plus, it comes in a variety of scents without any artificial fragrances. Instead, the company states that it uses only botanical extracts and essential oils to make its cleaners fragrant. There's also a non-scented variety if you'd rather not subject your family to potential VOCs. Plus, the entire spray bottle is recyclable, with the bottle made of 100% recycled plastic and the nozzle manufactured out of #2 HDPE plastic. The cleaner is safe to use on multiple kitchen surfaces like laminate, aluminum, stainless steel, and granite — both sealed and unsealed. However, keep it away from concrete and sealed or unsealed marble.
The cleaner has been reviewed over 10,000 times and has an average star rating of 4.6 with 78% of those being 5-star reviews. A satisfied customer wrote, "What a great grease cutter. It removed caked-on grease from my range hood ... It has a faint aroma of lemon but not overpowering. I totally recommend this product." That being said, keep in mind that this cleaner is not a disinfectant, so it won't eliminate all of the germs lingering on your cooking surfaces.
Best value for money: Great Value Bleach-free All Purpose Cleaner
An easy tip to save more money on household essentials is to steer clear of name brands and give economical offerings a fair chance. Case in point, Great Value's Bleach-free All Purpose Cleaner. The 32-fluid-ounce bottle costs under $3. This means you pay less than a penny per fluid ounce. You can use it to get rid of stubborn stains and disinfect your countertops, appliances, sinks, chrome fixtures, glazed ceramic tiles, stainless steel features, and floors. Available in a lemony scent, the cleaner is bleach-free and doesn't require rinsing.
The multi-purpose cleaner has over 3,400 reviews with a 4.7 average, with 83% of users giving it 5 stars. Drawing from their experience, a pleased customer mentioned, "I tried the lemon scent for my kitchen in the name brand and then I saw this for 1/2 the price so I tried it. It cleans and smells exactly the same. Every night after I make dinner, I clean up the counters and the kitchen with this. Has a light lemon scent which makes my kitchen smell and feel clean. I love it for countertops and small spills."
Best budget-friendly green cleaner: Method All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
Although green cleaning products may be friendlier to the environment, they're seldom nice to your wallet. But Method intends to change that with its All-Purpose Cleaner Spray. It's relatively cheaper than other bio-based cleaners, so you can tackle dust, grease, and stains while sticking to your budget. Containing plant- and mineral-based components, the cleaner is biodegradable and non-toxic. Plus, the brand states that it's a cruelty-free cleaning product so you can remain guilt-free while using it. Better yet, the bottle (sans the spray head) is manufactured using recycled plastic. The only caveat is you can't use it on porous surfaces. It's safe for non-porous areas, like tile, stone, and glass.
The green cleaner has over 2,800 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7. A happy customer opined, "The plant-based, biodegradable formula effectively cuts through grease and grime on various surfaces like countertops, tiles, and glass. The scent is refreshing without being overpowering, leaving a pleasant aroma after cleaning. I appreciate that the bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic, aligning with eco-friendly practices." The cleaner is available in varied fragrances, including French lavender, lime + sea salt, pink grapefruit, and sandalwood + cedar, so you can pick your favorite per your tastes. That being said, as one reviewer points out, this cleaner doesn't double as a disinfectant.
Best for disinfecting surfaces: Lysol All Purpose Cleaner Spray
Want a cleaner to cut through the grease stains and simultaneously eliminate lingering germs? Lysol All Purpose Cleaner Spray's label mentions that it can eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including the notorious COVID-19 virus, within two minutes. The same goes for Salmonella, E. coli, Avian, and Influenza A viruses. Since the cleaner is bleach-free, you don't have to worry about it being too harsh on a variety of surfaces. However, the cleaner comes with two caveats. One, you must use it per the manufacturer's directions (wipe the chosen surface before spraying the cleaner) to kill germs at the promised speed. Two, you must only spray it on hard, non-porous surfaces.
With around 25,000 reviews, the all-purpose cleaner has an average rating of 4.8 and 88% 5-star reviews. Although the secret to a germ-free home is right on the label of the cleaner, a user loves the product for its non-sticky formula. They mention in their review, "Seriously the best product to clean your countertops with. It doesn't cause any stickiness residue left over. It smells wonderful & not the mention, it is a fantastic price!"
Best scented cleaner: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner Spray
While there are lots of genius tips and tricks to deodorize your smelly kitchen, a scented all-purpose cleaner can do the heavy lifting for you. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner Spray is a good candidate for this. But you don't have to worry about phthalates or formaldehyde lowering your home's indoor air quality. The brand states that it uses essential oils to scent its formulas. Sticking with the natural theme, their product range is inspired by garden scents and includes fragrances like lemon verbena, lilac, geranium, basil, rosemary, bluebell, honeysuckle, lavender, and rosemary. Just keep the cleaner away from any non-sealed natural stone surfaces in your kitchen.
The fragrant all-purpose cleaner has been reviewed nearly 37,000 times, with 85% 5-star reviews. Consequently, it boasts an average star rating of 4.7. Singing the product's praises, one reviewer noted, "I just started using Mrs. Meyer's Spray Cleaner, but I think it will become a staple in my home. It cleans really well, leaves surfaces looking great, and I love that it's made with more natural ingredients. Plus, the price is great! The scent is fresh and pleasant—but I do wish it were a little stronger or lingered a bit longer. A strong scent may not be for everyone, but I love it!" However, another reviewer noted that the cleaner's scent isn't too potent and doesn't perfume a room for a long time.
Best for not leaving streaks and residue: Better Life All Purpose Cleaner
Ideally, you'd want an all-purpose cleaner that cleans well and isn't too harsh on any of the surfaces you spray it on. However, if you have glass-fronted cabinets or reflective appliances (think stainless steel) in your kitchen, you might want a product that will add a little shine to your surfaces and won't leave behind unsightly streaks. If so, consider Better Life All Purpose Cleaner. The surface and glass cleaner excels in cutting through grease and removing stains without leaving behind any residue or film. The manufacturer asserts that all their cleaners contain plant-based elements and that they don't test on animals.
After being reviewed by about 20,000 customers, the all-purpose cleaner has an average star rating of 4.6. Remembering Better Life cleaning products from Shark Tank season 5, a customer said, "Saw this product on Shark Tank. Immediately ordered on Amazon when I saw how well it eliminated bacteria (compared ]to] bleach-based products) and it was plant-based and no fumes. Fast delivery and I used it in [the] kitchen (counters and stove) and it did a great job." Although some reviewers mention that the product might leave streaks behind, another wrote that spraying a reduced amount can help with this issue.
Best for getting rid of food stains: Clorox Clean-Up Multi-Surface Cleaner with Bleach
It's a given that an all-purpose cleaner will help clean your kitchen, with some even sanitizing it. But if you need a product to specifically target stubborn food stains, you might want to try Clorox Clean-Up Multi-Surface Cleaner with Bleach. The brand claims that the cleaner can handle tea, coffee, and wine stains with panache. It's also tough against mold and mildew growing in forgotten cabinets and shelves. However, you can't use the bleach-containing cleaner on all types of surfaces. While sealed granite, glazed ceramic, stainless steel, enamel, and fiberglass are fair game, you have to exercise caution when using it on porcelain. Also, all porous surfaces are a no-go.
The stain-removing cleaner has around 7,000 reviews and a 4.8-average star rating, with 89% of users giving it 5 stars. Impressed by the cleaner, a customer wrote "This is the only product that I have found that gets tomato sauce stains out of my Corian sink." That being said, only bring this cleaner home if you don't mind the smell of bleach (although it's not too strong).
Best all-purpose cleaning concentrate: Advanage 20X All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
Go for cleaning concentrates, like Advanage 20X All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, when you want your purchase to last longer than a few months. This is because these products contain more concentrated ingredients than regular sprays and need to be diluted with water before use. Case in point, the brand states that you can prepare 20 quarts of cleaning solution with 1 quart of Advanage. Plus, you can tailor the cleaner's strength per your preferences. Although the product is concentrated, it uses environmentally friendly ingredients and meets PETA's stringent standards.
The concentrate has garnered over 2,200 reviews, with an average star rating of 4.5. Talking about the product, a reviewer wrote, "What sets this cleaner apart is its versatility. It truly lives up to the "All Purpose" label. I've used it on various surfaces, from countertops to kitchen appliances, and it has effectively removed grease, grime, and stains. The fact that it's suitable for multiple surfaces simplifies my cleaning routine and reduces the need for multiple cleaning products." With that said, another customer mentioned that the cleaner doesn't eliminate stains in one go. You'll have to scrub them or use another product to get them out.
Best all-purpose cleaning paste: Stardrops' The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste
If you follow cleaning-related content on TikTok, chances are you have come across Stardrops' The Pink Stuff's Miracle Cleaning Paste. The vegan and cruelty-free paste is a multi-purpose cleaner that's formulated to tackle stains, grease, limescale, and rust. Besides being safe to use on glass, tiles (including grout), and stainless steel, you can apply the abrasive cleaner on your dirty or burnt cookware and appliances to turn them new again. However, you'll have to put in some effort to scrub your grimy surfaces. However, be gentle as scrubbing too hard may lead to scratches. Also, the manufacturer advises against using it on marble and granite.
The Pink Stuff has about 225,000 reviews and a 4.4-average star rating with 69% 5-star reviews. Relating their experience with the paste, a reviewer said, "I have always had an electric cooktop, but our new home has a gas range with cast iron grates and I was having a terrible time trying to clean them. There was so much grease caked on the grates and burners, I couldn't use anything abrasive like steel wool, and regular kitchen degreasers weren't doing anything. A little bit of this stuff on a sponge and bam grease gone. My cooktop looks new again. I can't believe how well this works without scratching the cast iron."
Best all-purpose cleaning wipes: Amazon Basics Disinfecting Wipes
In case you aren't a big fan of cleaning and don't like lugging cleaning supplies around your kitchen, keep a few canisters of Amazon Basics' Disinfecting Wipes handy. The thick wipes can be used to wipe and sanitize multiple surfaces, like countertops, sinks, and stovetops. Simply wipe the area thoroughly and let it air dry. However, you might have to pull out a few wipes and some elbow grease to tackle tough messes or greasy stains. Similarly, you'll require a couple for cleaning and disinfecting an area since you have to keep it wet for four minutes. Also, don't use it on porous, food-related, painted, or plastic surfaces. Unfinished wood should be avoided, too.
After being reviewed around 82,000 times, the all-purpose cleaning wipes have an average star rating of 4.7 with 83% 5-star reviews. Praising the disinfecting wipes, a customer mentioned, "I was pleasantly surprised by how well these Amazon Basics Disinfecting Wipes perform. The lemon and fresh scents are both clean and refreshing without being overpowering. What really impressed me is how well the wipes retain moisture, even after multiple uses, they don't dry out like some name-brand wipes I've used in the past. They clean effectively, cut through messes easily, and don't leave behind lint or residue, which is a huge plus." Most reviewers like the mild lemon fragrance, but a fresh variant is also available for individuals who don't like citrusy scents.
Methodology
To curate this list of 10 best all-purpose cleaners for your kitchen, we looked at products across categories. Even though we considered a manufacturer's claims and cautions, we trusted user reviews more to provide authentic recommendations. This helped us better understand each cleaner's pros, cons, and probable pain points for certain situations. To further filter out our search results, we set a strict parameter for the products that made the list. We hand-picked all-purpose cleaners with a minimum of 2,200 organic reviews and an average star rating of 4.5 on popular retail sites like Amazon and Walmart.