11 Dollar Tree Cleaning Products To Avoid, According To Pro Cleaners

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Dollar Tree has become a popular destination across the United States that's known for its discounted prices and wide array of common household items. Here you can find a variety of essentials, including affordable Dollar Tree cleaning products that will keep your home organized and tidy. While some of the necessities are highly rated and can be purchased for a fraction of the price compared to other major retailers, some experts suggest there are deals that are better off skipping, especially when it comes to cleaning products. 

Some professional cleaners have taken to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to warn frugal followers about the potential downsides to selecting the bargain option from Dollar Tree. While some of Dollar Tree's products may save you a couple of dollars upfront, in the long run, using some of these items is less effective, and could result in more headaches than it's worth. Sometimes, these discounted products are less concentrated, effective, or practical. From dish soap to toilet bowl cleaners, some of the low-cost finds lurking in the store's aisles underperform or are a waste of money. 

If you're questioning whether an item is worth adding to your cart, you might want to consider these experts' opinions. Here are 11 Dollar Tree cleaning products to avoid, according to professional cleaners and firsthand reviews from verified buyers, plus some alternatives for you to consider instead.

A 24-ounce bottle of The Works basic deodorizing toilet bowl cleaner only costs $1.50; however, it has a less-than-stellar rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars. Some professional house cleaners warn that the liquid is thin and doesn't properly coat the toilet like other brands do. Multiple dissatisfied reviewers agree, even comparing the consistency and effectiveness of the product to scented water. You can find an affordable and highly rated alternative online, like CLOROX Toilet Bowl Cleaner Clinging Bleach Gel, which is $2.64 a bottle on Amazon.

Drop-in toilet tank cleaning tablets are another type of toilet cleaner from Dollar Tree you might want to avoid. According to some professional cleaners, the tablets have been known to leave behind a blue tint or residue that can become extremely hard to remove from the bowl, especially over time. Despite the cheap price tag of $1.50 a pack, others agree this product isn't worth it considering the stain it leaves behind. Instead, cleaners recommend using scented gel toilet stamps, plain dish soap, and other scented disinfectants without dyes. 

Dollar Tree's Essentials 13-Gallon Scented Trash Bags are not worth it when you consider the cleanup you'll have to do after, when the bags inevitably break. This product has a low rating of 3 out of 5 stars, with several reviewers reporting that the bags are paper-thin and tear extremely easily. One reviewer reported that even after double-bagging their trash, the trash bags still tore to shreds. Some professional cleaners recommend the Hefty Ultra-Strong trash bags instead, which you can also find at Dollar Tree. 

At first glance, the 30-ounce jug of OxyDol Ultra Lemon-Scent Liquid Dish Soap may seem like a steal at $1.50 a bottle; however, experts warn that this Dollar Tree dish soap underperforms. Reviewers agree the soap doesn't produce an adequate amount of suds, even with the help of a sponge and running water, which is why it's only rated 2.5 stars. It's clear that the Dollar Tree brand is overdiluted. Brands like Dawn EZ-Squeeze Ultra Dish Soap cost just a few more dollars and have higher ratings.

Even though Homebright's "country scent" disinfectant spray has good reviews online, one professional cleaner warns that some people may find the smell overpowering or unpleasant. "This spray smells like your grandmother's house. It's disgusting and nobody's going to like it, so don't waste your money," professional house cleaner and TikTok creator @franklin_thebulldog warns in one video. If you're sensitive to smells, it may be best to opt instead for a disinfectant that's unscented, like the Clorox Free & Clear Disinfecting Mist from Amazon, which is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars.

While some people think that Dollar Tree's affordable aerosol air fresheners smell nice, professional cleaners advise that there are alternatives that offer more benefits. Air freshener does not actively disinfect or clean surfaces; it's simply meant to make rooms smell better. Experts suggest using multi-purpose sprays that actively sterilize and deodorize the surfaces you spray them on. You can find OdoBan Disinfectant Spray at Dollar Tree for $3, which is recommended by industry professionals and has higher ratings than other plain air fresheners. 

Some experts advise that the Oxydol foaming bathroom cleaner underperforms, much like the brand's dish soap. According to some housekeepers, the Dollar Tree brand of foaming cleaner does very little to actually clean the toilet bowl and fails to foam up well when sprayed. Reviewers appear to agree with this claim, as the cleaner has a low rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, with several reviews noting a lack of foam and effectiveness. Instead, you can find the highly-rated Lysol Power Foaming Bathroom Cleaner for $4.26 on Amazon.

Pinalen multipurpose cleaner is another essential you should never buy from Dollar Tree. Some cleaners say this product is known to leave behind an unpleasant sticky residue, instead of leaving surfaces clean and smooth to the touch. Despite the product's low price, there are better, highly rated alternatives that can get the job done without breaking the bank. Pine Sol's CloroxPro Multi-Surface Cleaner has a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon and is reliable and better concentrated than Dollar Tree's off-brand version. 

When it comes to cleaning products that keep your home sparkling, vinegar is a common and popular staple. However, pro cleaners report that Dollar Tree's brand of cleaning vinegar is extremely diluted, and if you look at the first ingredient on the back of the label, the formula is mostly made up of water. The Dollar Tree has a low rating of 3 stars. Other reviewers also noted this difference, reporting that the vinegar has less than half the strength and acidity of common, distilled white vinegar, which is a better, inexpensive option. 

Though Fabuloso is extremely popular, many professional cleaners warn that it may not be the best product to keep in your home, due to the chemicals and overall toxicity of the multi-purpose cleaner. The chemicals in Fabuloso can pose a threat to pets and loved ones. If you prefer to keep products with clean ingredients in your household, you can opt for a multipurpose cleaner with a more natural formula, such as MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY All-Purpose Cleaner Spray, which has a stellar rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

House cleaners warn that Dollar Tree's Awesome Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner is not as effective as other competing brands' formulas. One reviewer also reported noticing strange growths in their bottle after a few months. Instead, cleaners suggest trying reliable, foam-type window cleaners, such as the Windex brand, which is priced at $3.48 a bottle on Amazon and is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars. Alternatively, you can also try your hand at simple DIY solutions that will get your windows and mirrors sparkling clean. 

When selecting items to feature on this list, we referenced social media videos from professional cleaners that compared the Dollar Tree products to other brands. We also looked at firsthand reviews from verified buyers online, as well as public forums such as Reddit, to corroborate the claims with others' experiences. We prioritized highlighting low-rated products that experts claimed were less effective than alternatives. To select alternatives to suggest, we used the recommendations from the professional cleaners' social media videos, or other highly rated options from Amazon with a rating of at least 4.5 stars.