For most of us, cleaning isn't exactly something that we ever really enjoy doing. But what we do enjoy is the feeling of having a clean home, with sparkling floors and gleaming countertops, so we scrub, mop and soak anyway.
That's why whenever we find a product that can make the process easier, we want to make sure that you know about it, too. And here at Shop TODAY, we've spent hours upon hours trying bestselling and trending products, to help you discover the cleaning finds that can actually help you tackle even the toughest messes.
Below, we're sharing some of the best cleaning products that we've written about, from a cleansing powder loved by restaurant workers to a spray that will help you tackle shower grime without requiring any extra elbow grease.
Best multipurpose cleaning products
When writer Shannon Garlin tested five different multipurpose cleaners, this all-purpose option was named the best overall. She had been using the affordable product for years, so it’s been a longtime favorite of hers. “When compared to the other multipurpose cleaners, it performed the best for coffee stain cleanup test (one swipe!) and second best in the honey cleanup test. I found it worked well on most surface types and getting up dried-food messes from my stoves and countertops.”
The Pink Stuff is a TikTok favorite — and it really does live up to the hype. I’ve used it on everything from grease-stained pans to wall scuffs and sneakers and it does a great job at getting out even the toughest of stains.
Look in the review section for this powder cleanser and you'll find that it's filled with everyone from restaurant workers to chefs who say that it's the secret to keeping professional kitchens clean. I used it as a last-ditch attempt to try and save some of my dirtiest pans and couldn't believe how well it removed baked-on stains. It does require a little elbow grease, but the results are worth it.
One writer shared that this mold and mildew remover gel did a great job of removing gunk from the corners of her shower with just one application. "I’ve since applied it to a few areas around my sink and the rest of my shower and remain impressed with how effortless and easy it is to use," he shared. "I’ve also gone back to my regular cleaning habits and haven’t had any other problems with mold or mildew regrowing. And the best part? You don’t have to scrub it off. It essentially does all the cleaning for you as you wait or sleep."
One writer said she "was impressed" by how well Blueland's cleaning products worked on different surfaces in her home. "A couple of spritzes of the bathroom cleaner obliterated some pesky mold in the same way a traditional cleaner would. The glass cleaner never leaves any streaks and the multi-surface cleaner truly lives up to its name by working everywhere. Better yet, the hand soap left my skin feeling fresh but not too dry. The cleaners also smell great, with scents like iris agave, fresh lemon and eucalyptus mint."
The kit comes with three different targeted cleaning formulas and hand soap. You'll get Blueland's signature reusable bottles and refill tablets — all you have to do is add each one to its bottle with some water and you'll be ready to clean. Then, when you're out of product, you can order additional refill tablets for as little as $5.
Wet & Forget Shower Cleaner
According to the brand, this weekly spray can help eliminate the need for elbow grease.
$20.98
$29.99
Amazon
$20.98
Home Depot
Clorox Plus Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover
This cleaner promises to remove stains without scrubbing.
$4.68
$6.75
Walmart
$5.49
Target
Coralpearl Utility Brushes (Set of 2)
Hard to reach areas are now easier with these brushes.
$13.99
Amazon
The Pink Stuff The Miracle All Purpose Cleaning Paste
Editors love this easy-to-use paste for all kinds of messes.
$5.97
Amazon
$5.97
Home Depot
$7.49
Target
Mr. Clean Small Reusable Latex Gloves (Set of 2)
Protect your hands with these gloves on cleaning days.
$7.25
Amazon
Oxo Wiper Blade
Keep mirrors, windows or showers streak-free with this tool.
$10.99
Amazon
$10.99
Target
$10.99
The Container Store
Bar Keeper's Friend Soft Cleanser & Foam Spray
For all surfaces, this cleaner will be your best friend.
$15.00
$19.99
Amazon
Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater Spray
Treat fresh or dried stains with this formula, says the brand.
$9.99
The Container Store
$7.97
$12.00
Walmart
Best cleaning tools
Writer Danielle Murphy tried 10 different kitchen sponges and compared them based on durability, texture, air drying and more and this Scrub Daddy sponge came out on top. “This thing can take down any mess,” she shared. “This is the only sponge out of the 10 that I can confidently use on any surface, from delicate glass to pots and pans. All I need to do is turn the sponge over from the more abrasive side to the softer cellulose side, depending on what needs cleaning."
One thing you’re likely forgetting to clean? Your earbuds. But this nifty cleaning tool made clearing out gunk and dirt from my AirPods so easy. It has two sides, a pointed pick and a soft scrubber. I couldn’t believe how clean I was able to get the buds. Plus, as an added perk, I found that it significantly improved the sound quality!
Sometimes, there's nothing you'd rather do less than push around a mop or scrub your floors on your hands and knees. But these silly-looking mop slippers can make cleaning your floors actually feel fun.
"I can see these solving an entire list of common issues," Murphy says. "Have back or neck pain that prevent you from bending down to clean spills? Mop slippers. Washing dishes and suddenly see soapy water all over the floor? Mop slippers! And yes, they can absorb water! I swiped one slipper across my hardwood floor to pick up a small spill, and although it spread out the liquid a little more than a paper towel would, it got the job done."
Does it feel like you’re constantly restocking your paper towels? Switch to these, which can be used over and over again. According to the brand, one sheet replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. Associate editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson says that “they easily cleaned up every stain — including especially sticky ones, like honey — and rinsed easily after wiping up darker substances, like ketchup.”
The Pink Stuff does a good job of cleaning sneakers on its own, but this scrubber kit makes it even easier. It completely revived my years-old white sneakers. And it's not just for sneakers — it comes with four different scrubbing brush heads that are designed to be used on everything from tiles to cooktops.
From crumbs to pet hair, this cordless vacuum is perfect for picking up all of your smaller messes. Stewart-Jackson tried out five different vacuums and shared that this one is "worth every penny." "It’s powerful yet quiet, handles various messes with relative ease and is easy to both clean and store when not in use. All of these factors together have earned it the title of best overall handheld vacuum cleaner."
"This mop is super versatile because it’s basically three mops in one: the regular steam mop, a steam rod and a handheld steamer," says social media editorial assistant Annie Shigo. "The steam rod can easily be taken off the mop base with a step on the back of the mop, so it is hands-free! The smallest steamer is able to be detached from the base and rod with a push of a button. The long steam rod is great for hard-to-reach areas like door frames, cabinets and more. The smaller hand-held device is great for in-depth cleanings like sinks, toilets, showers and more."
Best targeted cleaning products
"From the first spray, I was impressed by how well this cleaner worked," said editorial operations manager Jill Ortiz. "It released an ample amount of product and was easy to grip. It only took four wipes to reveal a completely clean, streak-free mirror. Admittedly, I was initially under the impression that it would only be suitable for auto glass due to the image of the car on the packaging, but it worked well on mirrors, too! It required little to no elbow grease to be effective."
When compared to other carpet cleaners, Murphy said that this was the best for testing all kinds of stains, from coffee to wine. "When I’m in a panic over a sudden stain, nothing calms my nerves more than a cleaning spray that offers immediate visual confirmation that it’s working," she shared. "This OxiClean spray foamed up on contact, getting deep into the rug almost instantly."
Best kitchen cleaning products
Yes, your garbage disposal needs cleaning too and this cleaner and freshener makes that easy to do. All you have to do is run your sink, drop the packet in and start your disposal. "The ease of dropping a single packet into my garbage disposal is unmatched — especially because I’m comparing it to measuring out baking soda and vinegar, and running ice through my disposal," one writer shared. "The first time I used this, I was hesitant to drop a full paper packet into my disposal. But the packet materials are biodegradable and all of its contents are disposer, drain, and septic safe, so my hesitations were unfounded!"
Best laundry products
Garlin used this stain remover on a coffee mishap to leave her white ottoman looking as good as new. "I did not have to break a sweat to get this stain to disappear, the coffee vanished after less than a minute of wiping," she shared. "I think I audibly gasped at how quickly and adequately this stain remover worked — I had a white ottoman again!"
After using these dryer balls, one writer said her "clothes came out static- and wrinkle-free and just as soft as they felt after a turn with my regular dryer sheets." She adds, "Some Amazon reviewers claim that these dryer balls make their clothes even more soft and fluffy than dryer sheets as a whole."
Sealegend Dryer Vent Cleaner Kit
A lint buildup in your dryer can be dangerous. And while you're probably used to scooping out the lint you can see before starting a new load, there might be some leftover lint and dirt that you're not catching. This dryer vent cleaner — which attaches to your vacuum — helps you suck everything out from the crevices and cracks of your dryer. "After a few minutes, I looked to see what was in my vacuum’s dust compartment and was blown away," one writer shared. "It was nearly full! The clogs I pulled were tiny compared to all of the dust, lint, bobby pins and earrings trapped inside the vacuum. I couldn’t believe all of that had been trapped in my dryer."
Best bathroom cleaning products
Cleaning your toilet is one of those necessary evils that people often put off for as long as possible. While Shigo surprisingly loves many cleaning tasks, she says, unsurprisingly, that toilet cleaning is one of her least favorite. However, this tool makes it easy.
"I found that I could get very deep into the ridges of the toilet without having to worry about a bottle touching the rim or how gross the brush would potentially be after," Shigo said. "It took me all of three minutes to thoroughly clean my toilet, and the best part was that the pad was easily released from the wand with a push of a lever directly into the trash can. To me, it seems like they took all the best elements of multiple toilet cleaners to create this perfect one."
Your shower needs a rinse too and this multi-surface spray is just the tool you need, as it's said to help you remove stains with minimal scrubbing. And according to one writer, it really does the trick. "Now that I’m satisfied with my tub and the stains are way less noticeable, I’m going to use the cleaning solution once a week as recommended — and finally enjoy those no-scrub perks. With weekly use, I’m confident I’ll be able to keep the soap scum and grime at bay. Anyone who is looking for the same will also enjoy all of the benefits that come with using this product."
How we chose
To pick the products in this article, we combed through our old content to find the cleaning must-haves that our editors have raved about through the years. In many cases, our editors spent hours and even weeks testing these products, often comparing them to other similar products in the category. We wanted to include a mix of items, so we chose to feature everything from laundry helpers to multi-purpose cleaners.
