18 Cleaning Products That Earned Good Housekeeping's Seal Of Approval

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Finding top-performing cleaning products can feel like a chore in itself, especially when there are so many options out there. The Good Housekeeping Institute helps you refine your selection with its annual Cleaning Awards. Harnessing the expertise of the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab pros and consumer testers, GH evaluated 200 cleaning products. Top-rated picks for this year are featured in Good Housekeeping's 2026 Cleaning Awards.

Showcasing 60 products in total, Good Housekeeping's Cleaning Awards 2026 list is substantial and can be a bit overwhelming. Here, we've narrowed the selections down to the most useful soaps, sprays, detergents, and wipes. This list omits cleaning accessories and appliances. Each product we've chosen is under $25, so these are affordable, well-reviewed finds that you can easily add to your cleaning arsenal. We've also included some insights from retailer reviews to further show how these products perform in real homes. 

Dishwashing liquid is one of the most fundamental cleaning items to have in your home: There are so many ways to use dish soap around the kitchen besides handwashing crockery. You can even use dish soap to clean your bathroom. Dawn is one of the top brands, but even amongst Dawn products, the Platinum Plus PowerSuds Liquid Dish Soap is a cut above the rest, according to Good Housekeeping testers. This dish soap is an excellent performer, tackling grease and grime with long-lasting suds.

The packaging of this product is ultra-convenient. It comes in an EZ-Squeeze bottle, which allows you to readily dispense the soap from the bottom, without needing to turn the bottle over or pop open a lid. Amazon reviewers also love this product, rating it 4.9 stars across over 2,400 reviews, with over 90% of these reviewers giving it 5 stars. One says, "The EZ-squeeze bottle makes dispensing effortless — no messy spills or over-pouring. The formula cuts through grease like a champ, even on stubborn baked-on pots and pans, leaving dishes sparkling clean."

Dawn dish soap works well, but it can feel harsh at times, leaving your hands dry with a lingering fragrance. Those who prefer a gentler product might want to consider Method Super Shine Liquid Dish Soap. It's still a powerful cleaner, using enzymes to break down food residue, but it's formulated to be gentler on skin.

The Good Housekeeping testers say this soap performed well, removing charred residue from cookware and left glassware crystal clear. Even better, the product is cruelty-free and made without parabens, phthalates, phosphates, DEAs, or dyes. It's also highly rated on Amazon, receiving an average of 4.7 stars from over 100 reviews, with several customers noting they prefer the subtle scent of this soap compared with other brands. One commenter explains, "This is my first try using a dish soap with enzymes after loving how well enzymes work for washing clothes ... The smell is incredible, and it leaves dishes looking cleaner."

For cleaning up spills and grime, a good all-purpose cleaner is a must-have cleaning item for your kitchen. The Laundress Surface Cleaner is a recommended pick from Good Housekeeping. The publication describes it as "indulgent," and it's exactly that: This spray is sleekly packaged and has a perfumer-crafted scent, with notes of eucalyptus, lilac, jasmine, oakmoss, and lavender.

While these features improve user experience, they don't matter if the product can't clean. Luckily, The Laundress surface cleaner can, leaving a greasy glass stovetop clean and streak-free in GH testing. Reviewers elsewhere have similar positive sentiments, rating this product 4.4 stars from nearly 200 reviews, with around 72% rating it 5 stars. One happy shopper writes, "I absolutely love this surface cleaner. Not only does it clean well, but the scent is chef's kiss — fresh, light, and luxurious without being overpowering."

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Pet Multi-Surface Cleaner is a pet-safe and slightly more affordable alternative to the Laundress Surface Cleaner. It shares many of the same positive attributes, though, including an appealing scent. Shoppers can choose from coconut leaf or orange blossom fragrances. Both have active probiotics and odor-neutralizing ingredients to deal with everyday messes. The cleaner is safe to use on hard surfaces like floors and tiles, but also pet areas like crates and artificial turf. The USDA biobased formula is made without bleach, hydrogen peroxide, phosphates, parabens, phthalates, and glycol solvents, and is cruelty-free, too.

Good Housekeeping testers praise this spray's cleaning power, saying it effectively clears grease and grime and banishes bad odors. With over 550 reviews on Amazon, it also has a 4.7-star rating with over 85% of reviewers giving 5 stars. One reviewer says, "It smells great, still works like a normal cleaner, and definitely helps eliminate the cat smell. I use it on basically everything except carpet, and it's fantastic."

Cascade is known for high-performing dishwasher detergent, so it's no surprise that the Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pods made this list. They just work. Enzymes help to break down dried-on food, and the brand uses Dawn inside the pod to banish grease.

Good Housekeeping testers say that these pods perform wonderfully, even cleaning off dried-on residue left to sit for days. Amazon reviewers agree, giving this product 4.8 stars overall from more than 100,000 reviews. One repeat customer says, "I have been using these pods for several years. They dissolve every time, are very convenient, and do a great job getting the dishes clean." To ensure you get the absolute best clean, avoid common mistakes people make with dishwasher pods, like failing to store them correctly or handling them with wet hands.

If you're searching for a more eco-friendly dishwasher pod, the Seventh Generation Triple Action Clean Dishwasher Packs are an excellent option. They use a bio-enzyme formula to tackle grease and stuck-on grime. The formula isn't harsh, though: It's 73% USDA Certified Biobased and free of dyes, fragrances, phosphates, and chlorine bleach. It's also Leaping Bunny Certified and never tested on animals.

Good Housekeeping testers say dishes came out of the dishwasher clean and dry. Many Amazon reviewers agree, rating this product 4.4 stars from over 800 reviews. Over 70% of reviewers rate it 5 stars, with one saying, "These capsules clean just as well as the big-name brands, without any of that unnecessary fragrance. That alone is a huge win for me, and I appreciate that they feel like a better choice for both our health and the environment." Many reviewers also appreciate that these packs leave dishes smelling clean, but without a chemical scent.

Crocodile Cloth PowerSCRUB Cleaning Wipes are convenient to reach for when tackling heavy-duty cleaning jobs. The wipes are extra-large, measuring 15 by 10 inches, and are designed to clean up after DIY, construction, and repair jobs. One side is textured for scrubbing, and the other is smooth to polish plastic, vinyl, metal, wood, leather, and even fabric surfaces.

Good Housekeeping testers say these wipes offer great cleaning power without making hands feel irritated or dry. Amazon shoppers also rate this product 4.7 stars across more than 450 reviews, with around 83% giving 5 stars. One commenter explains, "I've tried a lot of cleaning wipes, but these are definitely stronger and tougher than the usual household brands. They don't tear easily, and they pick up grease, dirt, and even dried-on food really well."

Lysol is well-known for its disinfecting products, so it's not surprising to see the Lysol Brand New Day Lavender & Cotton Blossom Disinfecting Wipes on this list. These wipes smell nice, are stronger than paper towels, and kill 99.9% of common viruses and bacteria when used correctly. They're the wipe of choice for many households when it comes to banishing germs.

Good Housekeeping testers particularly liked the lavender scent and said that the wipes felt strong and substantial. On Amazon, this product has 4.8 stars from over 34,000 reviews, with around 90% of reviewers rating it 5 stars. One commenter writes, "They're convenient, disposable, and effective on most surfaces. I've found them especially useful for disinfecting high‑touch areas quickly."

The Clorox ToiletWand System is for anyone who is a little grossed out by a standard toilet brush. This system uses disposable pads, so the part that touches the toilet is thrown out after use. The kit includes a storage caddy, cleaning wand, and 16 pad refills that are pre-loaded with Clorox cleaner. Once you're done, just press the release button on the wand to drop the cleaning pad into the bin.

Good Housekeeping testers say it is very hygienic and easy to use. Amazon reviewers agree, rating this product 4.7 stars from over 140,000 reviews, with over 80% giving it full marks. As one reviewer puts it, "[This system] makes cleaning the toilet quick and easy. The disposable heads are super convenient and help keep things more hygienic." It's definitely not a mandatory swap from a toilet brush, but it is a more hygienic one.

The Blueland Toilet Bowl Cleaner Tablet is one of our recommended picks as a sustainable cleaning product for a fresh-smelling home. These are plastic-free, zero-waste cleaning tablets that you just drop into the toilet before scrubbing and flushing. They are septic-safe, EPA Safer Choice Certified, and 100% USDA Certified Biobased. The lemon cedar scent is a nice, natural-smelling alternative to the strong chemical fragrance of most toilet cleaners.

In Good Housekeeping testing, these tablets dissolved fully and left the toilet bowl clean. This cleaner is also highly rated by Amazon customers, with 4.1 stars from over 3,500 reviews (over 60% giving it 5 stars). While some negative reviews say the product arrived broken, though still usable, many shoppers say it is especially handy for removing hard water marks. As one commenter explains, "This is a great product. We have very hard water, and these easy-to-use tablets remove stains and leave toilets clean."

Scrubbing Bubbles Easy Clean Multi-Purpose Foam is a foam formula in a spray bottle. The foam sticks onto bathroom surfaces rather than dripping or running off. This contact time allows the formula to work away at stains, soap scum, limescale, and water marks, making them easier to clean off.

Testers at Good Housekeeping recommend this product as a versatile and effective cleaner, suitable for the whole bathroom. It has equally positive ratings on Amazon, with 4.6 stars overall out of 2,500 reviews, with around 79% of reviewers giving it 5 stars. Happy commenters really appreciate the ability to clean without much elbow grease. As one reviewer puts it: "[The spray] works great in the bathroom for cleaning the tub, sinks, and faucets. Shines them up without much rubbing."

You may have seen Scrub Daddy PowerPaste before, when it went viral on TikTok for its ability to remove stains from white sinks. Well, it turns out this product was worth the social media hype. It's an all-purpose paste cleaner, made of a mildly abrasive clay formula, that's strong enough to remove stuck-on grime but gentle enough to use on a range of hard surfaces. This kit also comes with a Scrub Mommy sponge for rubbing away stains.

In the Good Housekeeping lab, they found this paste and sponge combo cleaned a sink with hard water stains and a dirty cooktop to a nice shine. On the Target website, reviewers give this product 4.7 stars from over 2,200 ratings, with around 85% awarding it 5 stars. One happy reviewer states, "I swear by this stuff. This is my go-to cleaning product for any area of the house, especially the kitchen and bathroom. Soap scum and even rust stains don't stand a chance."

Tide 6x Original Liquid Laundry Detergent is another one of those well-known products that's not surprising to see on this list. This big orange and blue bottle is easily recognizable to most. It's an effective, stain-fighting liquid laundry detergent in the original clean Tide scent.

Out of all the detergents tested, Good Housekeeping said this laundry liquid worked best for getting out tough stains. Plenty of Amazon reviewers also say it's a laundry room favorite, rating the product 4.8 stars from over 68,000 reviews. Around 88% of reviewers give it 5 stars, with one explaining, "This detergent has been quietly crushing laundry day for me — the original scent is clean without being loud, and it actually pulls dirt and funk out even on cold cycles, which saves energy without sacrificing results." It's one of those products that's well-known for good reason. 

Laundry detergents like the original Tide can be too harsh for sensitive skin, and All Sensitive Fresh Spring Breeze Hypoallergenic Liquid Laundry Detergent is an effective alternative according to Good Housekeeping's 2026 cleaning awards. This product is dye-free but scented, ideal if you want a gentler detergent but still like some fragrance. It's also EPA Safer Choice Certified.

Good Housekeeping testers reported enjoying the pleasant scent and excellent cleaning power of this product. On Amazon, this detergent also has a high 4.7-star rating out of 480 reviews, with over 85% giving it 5 stars. One reviewer comments, "We've tried a lot of "free and clear" detergents, and this one is by far the best. It actually gets clothes clean and leaves them smelling fresh, which many other options don't manage to do."

Clothing stains are just part of life, but they don't have to be permanent. The Puracy Stain Remover Spray received a Good Housekeeping cleaning award thanks to its impressive performance and natural ingredients list. It's a 92% USDA Biobased Product, but that doesn't make it less effective. It uses six enzymes to get rid of common clothing stains, without containing any sulfates, chlorine, phosphates, peroxide, parabens, salicylates, brighteners, or artificial fragrances.

Good Housekeeping's testers were impressed by this spray's stain-removal performance, which even surpassed some more traditional products. Amazon's reviews are a bit more mixed, though the product still has an excellent 4.3 rating overall out of over 11,000 reviews. Over 70% of reviews give it 5 stars, with one stating, "I've been using this for years, and it continues to impress me. When dealing with messes from kids' clothes — especially those tough, set-in stains — this is the only product that actually delivers." Negative reviews note this formula doesn't work quickly; it's advised to leave it on for a few hours to work on set-in stains.

OxiClean Stain Remover Powder is another cleaning staple in laundry rooms across the country. And this is a good call, according to Good Housekeeping's Cleaning Awards. This versatile stain-removing powder formula works for everything from brightening laundry to scrubbing carpets. This bulk 5-pound bin should last a while in most households.

In a stain swatch test by Good Housekeeping, OxiClean performed better than other stain removers. This product generally has a good reputation, receiving a 4.8-star rating on Amazon from over 28,000 reviews. Over 85% of reviewers give it 5 stars. One reviewer states, "I love this stuff. No, seriously. I trust this stuff. OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover has saved clothes I absolutely should have let go of and somehow made them socially acceptable again."

If you struggle to keep your cooktop looking clean, a daily spray like the Weiman Daily Cooktop Cleaner can help. The brand promises that this spray will clean, shine, and protect glass cooktops, and that its formula is strong enough to tackle burnt-on grime, but gentle enough to use every day. It's a degreaser, so it's better at breaking down oily splatters than all-purpose cleaners. 

The testers from Good Housekeeping liked that this product worked quickly, without leaving any smears, which can be a frustrating result of other cleaners. It's well-received by Amazon reviewers, too, earning 4.6 stars from over 4,600 reviews, with around 80% rating it 5 stars. One reviewer explains, "It easily removes burnt-on food, grease, and stains without much scrubbing. I was especially impressed with how it brought back the original shine of my glass cooktop — it looked almost brand new after just one use."

The Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner is another recommended Good Housekeeping product to grab if you're sick of seeing marks on your stainless steel appliances. It's formulated to break down grease and grime, leaving behind a streak-free finish that resists fingerprints, smudges, and water marks.

The lab results from Good Housekeeping reported that this spray wiped off and left stainless steel surfaces noticeably shinier, without leaving streaks, and with no extra buffing required. Based on 18,000 Amazon reviews, other shoppers agree with the product's claims, rating it 4.7 stars overall, with over 80% giving it 5 stars. A comment explains, "I have tried countless methods for cleaning stainless steel for years, and this is the only one that truly works. Cleans quickly and easily and prevents new fingerprints and smudges."