cleaning awards

See the 26 Cleaning Solutions Featured in Our 2026 Cleaning Awards

Stephanie NguyenLifestyle Director
Stephanie NguyenLifestyle Director
I oversee all our coverage of lifestyle topics, which include cleaning, organizing, wellness, entertaining, real estate, travel, and more. I’m based in Honolulu, Hawaii.
published about 4 hours ago
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Cleaning products including Lysol, Meyer's Clean Day, Windex, Dawn Powerwash, Cascade, and Bar Keepers Friend on a blue background.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Prop Styling: Vicky Wasik and Maya Borrero

We asked Apartment Therapy editors to tell us all about the cleaning solutions — aka formulas, sprays, and other types of cleaners — that they use in their home on a daily basis. The results? They picked out 26 cleaning solutions, calling them their favorites. From tried-and-true staples to brand-new discoveries, see below for our top picks, as chosen by our editorial team for the 2026 Cleaning Awards program, our guide to the cleaning essentials everyone needs in their home. 

Our Favorite All-Purpose Cleaner
Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner
$4

Designed to clean, sanitize, and disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces, Lysol All Purpose Cleaner is a favorite of Cleaning & Organizing Editor Savannah D. Lebreton, who loves to use it to clean bathroom messes — especially soap scum on her shower walls and tub.

$4 at Walmart
Our Favorite Multisurface Cleaner
Pledge Antibacterial Multisurface Cleaner Spray
$6$6

Pledge Antibacterial Multisurface Cleaner Spray is gently formulated to use on any hard nonporous surfaces (like granite, marble, quartz, glass, mirrors, etc.) and kills 99.9% of bacteria, including E. coli. Lifestyle Director Stephanie Nguyen loves that “it’s a continuous spray” and “leaves behind a lovely citrus scent.”

$6 at Amazon
Our Favorite Dish Soap
Dawn PowerWash Dish Spray
$9$544% off

Numerous AT editors and contributors love the Dawn PowerWash Dish Spray. They note how effective it is at removing grease and grime, without needing to soak dishes overnight.

$5 at Amazon
Our Favorite Hand Soap
Method Foaming Hand Soap
$4

We love that the Method Foaming Hand Wash is gentle enough not to dry out your hands, but strong enough to clean them thoroughly. The lemon + freesia and sandalwood + cedar scents are popular picks among our team.

$4 at Target
Our Favorite Cleaning Paste
The Pink Stuff The Miracle Squeezable Cleaning Paste
$6$517% off

The Pink Stuff’s signature miracle cleaning paste just got even better. It’s now available in a softer formula and squeezable tube! “It’s one of my favorite cleaners to use — and it smells so good too!” shares Lifestyle Director Stephanie Nguyen.

$5 at Amazon
Our Favorite Powder Cleanser
Bar Keepers Friend
$2

BFK might just become your new BFF. Trust us — we use it all over our homes! Bar Keepers Friend is an oxalic acid-based powder cleanser that's super strong, so be sure to use it according to the instructions.

$2 at Walmart
Our Favorite Air Sanitizer
Lysol Air Sanitizer
$7

Neutralize odors and eliminate germs that linger in the air with Lysol Air Sanitizer. It’s EPA-approved and scientifically tested to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria in the air. Plus, it comes in six scents, so your home will smell great too.

$7 at Target
Our Favorite Disinfectant
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
$3

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are popular for a reason — they are extremely effective at killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, leaving your surfaces truly clean. Plus, they’re safe to use on over 100 types of surfaces.

$3 at Target
Our Favorite Laundry Sanitizer
Lysol Laundry Sanitizer
$5

It’s important to sanitize hard and soft surfaces in your home, including clothes. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is a bleach alternative that effectively kills 99.9% of bacteria while still remaining gentle on fabrics. Just add it to your rinse cycle (cold water is best) and it’ll help keep your items free of bacteria and odor.

$5 at Target
Our Favorite Stain Remover
Oxiclean Max Force Stain Remover
$4

We’ve pitted stain removers of all sorts against each other to finally discover the best store-bought option: Oxiclean Max Force Stain Remover. It’s a versatile cleaning solution that works on even the most stubborn stains — tomato, grease, wine, grass, ink, you name it!

$4 at Target
Our Favorite Activewear Laundry Detergent
Persil Activewear Clean Liquid Detergent
$21

Never deal with stinky workout clothes again! Wash them with Persil Activewear Clean Liquid Detergent, which is designed to thoroughly clean activewear and get rid of bad smells.

$21 at Persil
Our Favorite Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
Dropps Free & Clear Laundry Detergent
$29$22

Every time Cleaning & Organizing Editor Savannah D. Lebreton uses Dropps Free & Clear Laundry Detergent her towels come out "soft, fresh, and genuinely odor-free." These unscented pods are “biobased” formulated, which means they’re made of 58% renewable resources.

$22 at Dropps
Our Favorite Laundry Detergent
Tide evo
$20

The Tide evo is not a powder, liquid, pod, or sheet — it's a laundry detergent tile (the first of its kind!). The compact tile packs a punch by delivering a concentrated, stain-fighting detergent that activates in hot or cold water and is safe to use in all machines and with any fabric type.

$20 at Amazon
Our Favorite Laundry Booster
Dropps Odor Eraser Biobased Laundry Additive
$36$29

Looking to boost your laundry experience? Lifestyle Director Stephanie Nguyen likes to use Dropps Odor Eraser Biobased Laundry Additive to combat any odors (she pairs it with laundry detergent). “Just one wash cycle with it took care of any bad smells,” she says.

$29 at Dropps
Our Favorite Fabric Spray
The Laundress Classic Fabric Spray
$19

“The first thing I noticed about [The Laundress Classic Fabric Spray] was the scent; it truly smells like perfume for your clothes,” shares Shopping Writer Alexa Casanova. She loves that it smooths out wrinkles while leaving a touch of luxury behind.

$19 at The Laundress
Our Favorite Air Freshener
Febreze PLUG Scent Booster
$10

Senior Home Editor Zee Krstic is a big fan of the Febreze Scent Booster Plug, noting that it’s great for continuous freshness and works especially well in spaces where odors tend to linger.

$10 at Walmart
Our Favorite Pet Odor Eliminator
Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover
$15

A must-have for pet owners, Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover is an enzyme-based cleaner that’ll eliminate not just stains, but odors too!

$15 at Target
Our Favorite Kitchen Cleaner
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Spray
$5

Shopping Director Katie Maguire says that Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Multi-Surface Spray “smells so good and cleans everything really well without leaving a sticky or gross residue.” She particularly loves the honeysuckle scent.

$5 at Target
Our Favorite Dishwasher Detergent
Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pods
$21

Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pods are a favorite among editors and plumbing experts, as they deeply clean dishes without leaving residue behind.

$21 at Amazon
Our Favorite Bathroom Cleaner
Scrubbing Bubbles Easy Clean Multi-Purpose Foam Trigger
$5$4

Cleaning your bathroom just got a whole lot easier with the Scrubbing Bubbles Easy Clean Multi-Purpose Foam Trigger. The spray works on bathroom and shower surfaces, and removes dirt, grime, and limescale with a fast-acting clinging foam.

$4 at Walmart
Our Favorite Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Clorox ToiletWand
$13

This all-in-one toilet bowl cleaning system has become a staple in Shopping Writer Alexa Casanova’s household. It thoroughly cleans your toilet, and gets rid of those pesky hard water and lime stains.

$13 at Amazon
Our Favorite Drain Cleaner
Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver
$12

Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver is perfect for tackling slow-moving drains (whether it’s clogged by things like hair, soap scum, grease, or toilet paper). It’s made of a bleach-free solution and is safe to use in pipes, toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, and septic systems.

$12 at Walmart
Our Favorite Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
$8

The Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover works wonders on set-in and fresh stains or spots on carpets, rugs, or upholstery. Shopping Director Katie Maguire calls it a “miracle worker,” and has used it on wine spills, pet messes, and more.

$8 at Target
Our Favorite Stainless Steel Cleaner
Weiman Stainless Steel 3-in-1 Wipes
$5

To transform your stainless steel appliances from smudgy and messy to shiny and polished, use Weiman Stainless Steel 3-in-1 Wipes. These super-convenient wipes clean, shine, and protect stainless steel with ease.

$5 at Amazon
Our Favorite Window & Glass Cleaner
Windex Fast Shine Foam Cleaner
$3

Windex’s Fast Shine Foam Cleaner became a “fast favorite” for AT editors and contributors. The no-drip foam clings to the glass instead of running down it, which allows for a streak-free, flawless finish.

$3 at Walmart
Our Favorite Eco Cleaning Brand
Blueland Clean Suite Kit
$110

We are big fans of Blueland, an eco-friendly cleaning brand that’s been around since 2019. A good introduction to the brand is to pick up its Clean Suite Kit. It includes some of Lifestyle Editor Lizzy Francis’ favorite picks, including the toilet bowl cleaner, powder dish soap, and glass and mirror cleaner.

$110 at Blueland

See the full list of the 50 winners of Apartment Therapy’s Cleaning Awards here.

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