The Best Cleaning Products

Buying Guide

Housecleaning is a necessary part of life. Whether you clean daily, weekly, monthly or only when you’re expecting company, the right cleaning products can make all the difference. A powerful household cleaner can make your job a little easier, letting you get back to relaxing and binge-watching your favorite TV series sooner.

One thing you’ll likely notice as you start to shop for household cleaners is that many are marked as multipurpose. But can one product effectively clean your countertops, bathroom surfaces and floors? The truth is, some can, but not all will be equally efficient. With some products, you’re sacrificing cleaning power to reduce the number of products under your bathroom sink.

Vinegar can work well on a variety of surfaces, so if you want a multipurpose solution, look for one that has vinegar as an active ingredient. Keep in mind, though, that vinegar can emit an odor that’s unpleasant to many people. Look for a cleaner that’s formulated to neutralize that odor.

Today’s consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever. For that reason, you’ll find most cleaners offer some form of eco-safety, advertised directly on the label. Perhaps most important is that the cleaner strives to be healthy for your family, eliminating noxious fumes and harmful chemicals.

The search for cleaning products can be challenging, but there’s good news. Once you find a product that works well for you, you can likely continue to buy that brand. If you choose a product where a little goes a long way, you might even be well stocked for the coming months, with no need to worry about buying additional household cleaners, particularly if you’ve chosen an all-purpose cleaner.

• You can buy some household cleaners in bulk, with multiple bottles. If you clean often, or you clean houses professionally, stocking up can help you save money.
• Scent is a top criterion in choosing a household cleaner. Lemon is a popular fragrance because it leaves behind a clean scent. But you can find other scents as well, including a calming lavender. Some people find that they prefer unscented cleaners, especially if they have sensitivities to artificial scents.
• Some cleaners advertise that they’re cruelty-free, which means they aren’t tested on animals.
• For tougher cleaning jobs, you may find that spraying cleanser and letting it soak for a while before wiping it off does a better job at removal. Some cleaners are formulated specifically for those tough jobs.
• If you’re vegan, look for cleaning products that eliminate animal testing and don’t have animal-derived products. The following non-vegan-friendly ingredients can be found in some household cleaners: caprylic acid (derived from cow’s milk), oleyl alcohol (derived from fish), tallow (derived from beef fat), lanolin (derived from sheep’s wool), beeswax (derived from bees) and animal lecithin (derived from animals’ nervous tissue).
• Some household cleaners can leave behind residue. The sign of a top-quality cleaner is that it not only cleans your surfaces, but there’s also no sign that it was ever there, leaving everything squeaky clean.
• Many multipurpose cleaners claim to be safe for all floor types. Some flooring can be sensitive, though, especially certain types of hardwoods. Avoid vinegar on wood floors. The acidity will dull the finish. If you’re trying out a new floor cleaner, test a small area of flooring before wiping it over the entire area.
• Household cleaners can be deadly if ingested. Even if you have cabinets that fasten, if there are vulnerable people in your household, a child safety cap can provide an additional safeguard.
• How the cleaner is dispensed is important. Some have spray nozzles, while others pour. Consider the convenience of each method. You can buy spray bottles that you can fill from a pour-spout bottle if you want a cleanser that doesn’t come in your desired format.