The Best All-Purpose Cleaners to Make Your Entire Home Sparkle, Tested

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The best all-purpose cleaners tackle germs, grease, and grime on a variety of surfaces. Here are the best ones on the market.

Versatile and effective, all-purpose cleaners save money by performing multiple cleaning functions. The best ones are environmentally safe and sustainable, removing grime and germs from countertops, walls, windows, floors, bathroom surfaces, and upholstery without posing any health risks.

With so many options available, finding the right product can be tricky. To take the guesswork out of picking the best all-purpose cleaner, we researched 20 popular options and tested the top 10. In this guide, we look at all the features to consider when shopping for an all-purpose cleaner and offer a list of options that quickly dissolve grime and work on a myriad of surfaces.

1. BEST OVERALL: Mr. Clean Clean Freak Multi-Purpose Cleaner
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
3. BEST FOOD-SAFE: Puracy Everyday Surface Cleaner Packettes
4. BEST DEGREASER: Krud Kutter Original Cleaner & Degreaser
5. BEST DISINFECTANT WIPES: Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Wipes
6. BEST PLANT CONCENTRATE: Biokleen All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
7. BEST DISINFECTING SPRAY: Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach
8. BEST SCENTED CLEANER: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner
9. BEST STAIN REMOVER: Puracy Natural Laundry Stain Remover
10. BEST FOR PET MESSES: Rocco & Roxie Pro Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator

Before You Buy All-Purpose Cleaner

Soap and water is an effective cleaner for many everyday messes, but for a deeper or more convenient clean, an all-purpose cleaner is a good choice. When looking for an all-purpose cleaner, shoppers will want to consider a product’s purpose, form, ingredients, and ease of use. Whether the product is environmentally sustainable and safe should also be a chief concern.

Commercial and industrial settings typically need strong disinfectants that contain harsh chemicals proven to kill germs. But households with young children and pets benefit more from all-purpose cleaners made with natural, chemical-free ingredients that don’t pose health risks. Many of these sustainable, all-purpose cleaners display the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice certification on their labels.

Regarding sustainable options, aside from product packaging, we also encourage shoppers to consider the effect an all-purpose cleaner has on the environment after its empty bottle or container, for example, is placed in the trash.

How We Tested the Best All-Purpose Cleaners

Before selecting which all-purpose cleaners to test, we researched more than 20 popular options, looking at ingredients, customer ratings, and prices. We chose 10 cleaners that can meet a variety of needs. Eight of these products work on hard, nonporous surfaces, and two treat stains on laundry and upholstery.

To test cleaners intended to wipe away dirt and grime from hard surfaces, we used each product in our home for 2 weeks. We also performed tough-mess tests by smearing pasta sauce and oil on our countertops, stovetop, dining table, and wall. We let the substances dry and then used each cleaner to see which could best cut through grease and grime. We also evaluated versatility by using each cleaner on bathroom soap scum.

We applied our stain remover spray on a dirty white sports uniform with makeup stains and a shirt splattered with tomato sauce and oil. Finally, we tested our upholstery cleaner on a rug and sofa in a pet-filled household to assess its ability to remove lingering odors and stains.

Testing Stats

Products tested: 10
Hours spent testing: 5
Tests performed: 16
Average price: $12.80

Our Top Picks

Our top picks have passed rigorous hands-on cleaning tests. These products are among the best all-purpose cleaners available for multiple cleaning tasks around the home.

Best Overall

Mr. Clean Clean Freak Multi-Purpose Cleaner

See It

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Kitchen Messes 5/5; Bathroom Messes 4.5/5; Dirt 5/5; Value 4.5/5 

Product Specs

• Purpose: General-purpose cleaning
• Form: Spray
• EPA Safer Choice certified: Yes (lavender)

Pros

• Convenient Power Nozzle sprayer allows for targeted coverage or a large continuous mist
• Multisurface cleaning formula is safe for kitchen surfaces, bathroom surfaces, stainless steel, and more
• Pleasant lavender scent leaves the room smelling fresh and clean without being overpowering

Cons

• Comes in multiple scents, but only the lavender-scented option is EPA Safer Choice certified

This spray from Mr. Clean is a safe and effective multisurface cleaner. Available in a spray bottle that’s equipped with Mr. Clean’s manual Power Nozzle, this product creates an easy-to-disperse large-coverage mist that coats surfaces from any angle. Users can pull the trigger to activate short or medium sprays or pump it for a continuous spritzing.

Mr. Clean Clean Freak is recommended for bathrooms, kitchens, stainless steel appliances, and (thanks to the Power Nozzle) other large hard surfaces. We first used it to cut through grease on kitchen surfaces, and it did a fantastic job. Its powerful cleaning ability and the fresh lavender scent made this one of our favorite cleaners that we reached for repeatedly. Aside from freshening up the kitchen, it broke down light soap scum in the bathroom, making it easy for us to wipe our showers clean.

This spray is available in a lavender, lemon, or Original Gain scent, though the lavender-scented one is the only option that has EPA Safer Choice certification. Rinsing is required on surfaces that come in direct contact with food. (Wiping clean with a damp/dry cloth or paper towel is appropriate for nonfood contact surfaces.)

This product isn’t available as a concentrate. Refill bottles are available to cut down on waste.

Get the Mr. Clean all-purpose cleaner at The Home Depot or Target.

Best Bang For The Buck

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Kitchen Messes 5/5; Bathroom Messes 4/5; Dirt 5/5; Value 4.5/5 

Product Specs

• Purpose: Heavy-duty and general-purpose cleaning, degreasing, and stain removal
• Form: Concentrate/spray
• EPA Safer Choice certified: Yes

Pros

• Can be used full strength as a heavy-duty cleaner or diluted for general purpose or light cleaning
• Suitable for many hard and soft surfaces, including carpets and vehicles
• Economical option when diluted; 1:10 dilution ratio for general-purpose cleaning

Cons

• Not safe for all surfaces, including suede, leather, opals, or pearls, and only safe for light cleaning on wood furniture, floors, and glass
• A separate, empty bottle is required to make a diluted general-purpose cleaning spray

The Simple Green all-purpose cleaner is suitable for both hard and soft surfaces, including counters, floors, appliances, carpets, and fabrics. This concentrate, which comes in a spray bottle, can be used at full strength for really tough cleaning jobs or diluted to create a general-purpose or light-duty cleaner. Though it isn’t safe to use on certain materials such as suede, leather, opals, or pearls, it’s suitable for most surfaces.

Beyond just cleaning, this versatile product can also degrease surfaces and remove stains. We used it to tackle dried-on cooking oil on several surfaces, including a wall with semi-gloss paint, a wood table, a glass induction stovetop, and a laminate countertop. It cut through grease quickly, allowing us to wipe it off every surface with a paper towel. This cleaner performed just as well on food splatters, leaving our kitchen counters clean and streak-free.

Simple Green was also able to cut through soap scum. We sprayed it undiluted on a dirty shower surround and let it sit for a minute. When we wiped the shower, all the light soap scum came off with minimal scrubbing. Though powerful, this cleaner is a safe choice for most households: it’s biodegradable, septic-safe, and is EPA Safer Choice certified.

It’s available in sassafras, lemon, and lavender scents that leave a pleasant smell after cleaning.

Get the Simple Green all-purpose cleaner at Amazon (pack of 3) or The Home Depot.

Best Food-Safe

Puracy Everyday Surface Cleaner Packettes

See It

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Kitchen Messes 4.5/5; Bathroom Messes 3/5; Dirt 5/5; Value 5/5 

Product Specs

• Purpose: General-purpose cleaning
• Form: Concentrate/spray
• EPA Safer Choice certified: No

Pros

• Safe for almost all household surfaces, including plastic, wood, metal, and glass
• Natural formula is safe around kids and pets and for use on food-contact surfaces
• Pleasant green-tea-and-lime or organic-lemongrass scents available in the concentrated packettes

Cons

• Must purchase Puracy’s Infinity glass spray bottle separately (or use a different 16-ounce bottle)
• Can be difficult to empty packets into a spray bottle without spillage

Puracy’s plant-based formula is safe for use around kids and pets. It’s biodegradable, vegan, hypoallergenic, nontoxic, and never tested on animals. It’s intended to work on most solid surfaces in a home, including kitchen countertops, appliances, showers, toilets, floors, toys, smartphones, and tablets.

To get a feel for its versatility, we tried this cleaner on numerous surfaces. It cleaned countertops (even greasy ones), kitchen cabinets, and a dirty dining table without issue. We were most impressed, however, by this product’s ability to clean stainless steel and glass. We sprayed it on our stainless steel appliances, wiped it in the direction of the grain, and buffed it with a soft towel. It left our appliances looking pristine, cleaning better than most specialty stainless steel cleaners we’ve tried. It also worked well on glass, including a toothpaste-splattered mirror.

Unfortunately, Puracy Everyday cleaner didn’t fare quite as well in the bathroom. It was suitable for light cleanup but wasn’t able to remove soap scum from our shower. Since it’s not a disinfectant, we didn’t use it on our toilets. Overall, the pleasant scent and versatile cleaning power make Puracy a great eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner. However, you may need something stronger to tackle tough bathroom messes.

Get the Puracy Everyday all-purpose cleaner at Amazon and Puracy.

Best Degreaser

Krud Kutter Original Cleaner & Degreaser

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Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Kitchen Messes 5/5; Bathroom Messes 4/5; Dirt 5/5; Value 3.5/5 

Product Specs

• Purpose: Heavy-duty and general-purpose cleaning, degreasing, and removing stains
• Form: Concentrate/spray
• EPA Safer Choice certified: Yes

Pros

• 3 concentration levels make it suitable for a variety of indoor and outdoor surfaces
• Water-based, nontoxic, and biodegradable formula is EPA Safer Choice certified
• Cuts through grease and oil; works as a laundry presoak and as an all-purpose spray

Cons

• Still requires a bit of scrubbing for tough messes or heavy soap scum

It can be hard to clean grease and oil off surfaces, but Krud Kutter’s all-purpose cleaner does the job without a long list of harsh solvent ingredients. It wiped away dried-on cooking oil from our test surfaces, leaving them clean and streak-free. It’s also suitable for tough soils, including grime, wax, adhesives, and stains.

We used it to clean the kitchen and were impressed with its ability to cut through cooking messes and stuck-on food. It also fared well in the bathroom, leaving our chrome faucets and shower heads sparkling clean. Unfortunately, it wasn’t able to tackle the heavy soap scum in our shower, but it did remove light layers.

This product is safe for use indoors and outdoors on most hard surfaces, carpets, fabrics, and even concrete and metal. It can be used at full strength to remove grime, buildup, and grease or diluted to use as an everyday general-purpose cleaner. It’s also suitable as a laundry presoak when diluted at an all-purpose strength. The lightly scented water-based formula is EPA Safer Choice certified, using gentler biodegradable ingredients to get rid of crud.

Get the Krud Kutter all-purpose cleaner at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best Disinfectant Wipes

Seventh Generation Lemongrass Citrus Wipes

See It

Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Kitchen Messes 4/5; Bathroom Messes 4/5; Dirt 5/5; Value 3.5/5 

Product Specs

• Purpose: General-purpose cleaning and disinfecting
• Form: Wipes
• EPA Safer Choice certified: No

Pros

• Natural active ingredient cleans and disinfects against germs and viruses
• No rinsing required; safe for food contact surfaces like kitchen counters and cutting boards
• Wipes are convenient for cleaning up quick messes and wiping down bathrooms

Cons

• Strong, distinct scent that not everyone will like; smell lingers on hands

These wipes from Seventh Generation are one of the few products on the market that offer natural disinfecting. Instead of a harsh active ingredient such as bleach, its active disinfecting ingredient is thymol, a component of essential oil extracted from thyme. Thymol is one of the only natural disinfectant cleaner ingredients present in EPA-registered disinfectants. This product itself is EPA registered as a disinfectant, which means the EPA validates its disinfectant claims. These wipes kill 99.9 percent of the germs identified on the product label, which include influenza A, H1N1, and salmonella enterica.

We appreciated how convenient it was to reach for one of these wipes when we needed to clean something in a pinch or disinfect germy areas, like the toilet. Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes don’t require rinsing and are safe for food preparation surfaces, which made them handy for wiping down our cutting boards and kitchen counters.

The biggest drawback was the scent. Since the active ingredient comes from thyme, these wipes smell similar to store-bought Italian seasoning, and our home (and hands) carried this smell after use.

Get the Seventh Generation all-purpose cleaner at Amazon (3-pack) or Target.

Best Plant Concentrate

Biokleen All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate