A good all-purpose cleaner doesn’t just get rid of crumbs and spills—it also makes cleaning feel faster and easier, whether you’re wiping down the counters after dinner or scrubbing the bathroom sink on a Saturday morning. After researching and comparing dozens of formulas, we found Clorox Free & Clear Multi-Surface Spray Cleaner to be the best all-purpose cleaner overall. It’s strong enough to handle everyday household messes but doesn’t include dyes, added fragrance or other common irritants, making it safer to use around kids, pets and food prep areas.
The best all-purpose cleaners make it easier to tackle everyday messes and keep your home feeling … More fresh.
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Depending on what matters most to you, though, another option might be a better fit, whether that’s a natural cleaner, something refillable or a formula that leaves a stronger scent behind. After all, different types of cleaners work better for different needs. “Natural cleaners are effective for light cleaning, while conventional ones perform better for tough stains or grease,” says Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid. “Natural is best for daily use; conventional is needed for heavy-duty cleaning.” With that in mind, we narrowed down the very best all-purpose cleaners to fit different cleaning routines and help keep your home fresh.
Walmart
Clorox Free & Clear Multi Surface Cleaner
Size: 32 ounces | Scent: Fragrance free | Safe for: Most sealed surfaces including countertops, bathroom fixtures, high chairs and pet areas
Best for:
Households with kids, pets or sensitive skin
Everyday messes in kitchens, bathrooms and common areas
Skip if:
You want something with added disinfecting power
You prefer a scented cleaner
Ideal for everyday cleaning, Clorox Free & Clear is just as effective on a greasy kitchen counter as it is on a smudged bathroom faucet. It’s also formulated without harsh ingredients found in a lot of conventional sprays, which can irritate the skin or throat, plus it’s EPA Safer Choice–certified, meaning it meets strict standards for ingredient safety without losing effectiveness.
This spray is easy to reach for on a daily basis: It goes on evenly and doesn’t leave streaks or residue, no matter what you’re cleaning. What’s more, there’s no overpowering scent that lingers in the air or on your hands, and it doesn’t require rinsing. It also works well with different cleaning tools; paper towels, microfiber cloths and sponges all leave a streak-free finish.
Size: 27.1 ounces | Scents: Citrus zest, unscented, grapefruit and lavender | Safe for: Most indoor and outdoor surfaces including counters, appliances and sealed floors
Best for:
Anyone who wants a natural formula with real third-party backing
Everyday cleaning in kitchens, bathrooms and busy areas
Skip if:
You need something that disinfects or tackles heavy grease
You prefer a cleaner that’s widely available in stores
Attitude is one of the few natural cleaners that’s been thoroughly vetted and actually backs up its claims. It’s EWG Verified and EcoLogo certified, meaning it meets some of the strictest third-party standards for both health and environmental safety. Unlike many “green” cleaners that only sound good on the label, this all-purpose cleaner has actually gone through independent testing and ingredient audits.
The formula uses 94% naturally derived ingredients, including saponin, which is a plant-based cleansing agent that helps break down dirt without leaving streaks behind. It’s available in multiple scents (including unscented), but even the fragranced options avoid harsh additives that can cause irritation. The bottle is recyclable, and Attitude offers concentrated refills if you want to cut down on plastic use. It also doesn’t require rinsing, so you can spray and wipe without thinking twice.
Anyone who wants industrial-strength cleaning power at home
Skip if:
You’re cleaning natural stone, mirrors, carpet or glass
You want a gentle or plant-based formula
Zep’s all-purpose cleaner is made for the messes that less powerful options would struggle with. It’s a commercial-grade spray that works well on surfaces like tile, fiberglass and stainless steel—especially when you’re dealing with heavy grease or stuck-on dirt. Spray it directly onto the surface, wait about a minute, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
Keep in mind that it’s not designed for delicate materials. In particular, you want to avoid using Zep on natural stone, mirrors or glass; it should be tested in a small spot first if you’re unsure. And while the scent isn’t overpowering, it’s not designed for sensitive noses either. If you’re using it in a smaller space, cracking a window can help with ventilation.
Size: 22 ounces | Scent: Sunrise Memories or Opulence Bloom | Safe for: Kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, floors and tiles
Best for:
Those who want a cleaning spray that leaves a pleasant, intentional scent
Deep cleaning kitchens, bathrooms and high-traffic areas
Skip if:
You prefer fragrance-free or lightly scented products
You need a cleaner safe for delicate stone surfaces
Pinalen Luxury Scent Spray is made for people who actually want to smell their cleaner after they use it. Crafted by master perfumers, it smells more like a home fragrance or room spray than a typical cleaning product. It’s available in two versions, both of which are intentionally strong and lingering, so your space smells freshly cleaned even hours later.
Of course, this spray still functions as a proper all-purpose cleaner; it cuts through grease, lifts everyday grime and works across kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces and floors. But the scent is the reason to buy it. If you like the idea of your home smelling polished and scented after you clean, Pinalen leans into that. If you prefer something lighter or more neutral, it might be too much.
Size: 33.8 ounces | Scent: Fragrance free | Safe for: Most sealed surfaces including countertops, bathrooms, glass and dishes
Best for:
Anyone looking for a simple, sustainable cleaning system
Shoppers who want one solution to replace multiple products
Skip if:
You prefer a ready-to-use spray without any mixing
You want a strong scent or disinfecting action
Branch Basics makes it easy to set up a refillable system without a lot of extra steps. You start with the Cleaning Essentials Kit, which includes the main concentrate and three reusable bottles for all-purpose cleaning, bathrooms and streak-free surfaces. Each bottle has simple fill lines to show exactly how much water and concentrate to add. Once you’re set up, you only need to reorder the concentrate, which most customers say lasts for months, even with regular use.
The formula itself is plant- and mineral-based, free from common irritants and gentle enough to use around kids and pets. While it’s not designed to disinfect, it can handle grease, dirt and other messes across most surfaces. Branch Basics also offers a discounted subscribe-and-save option if you want to automate refills, which can make the upfront cost feel more worthwhile over time.
Size: 32 ounces | Scent: Original | Safe for: Hard, nonporous bleach-safe surfaces including countertops, appliances, bathroom tile and outdoor furniture
Best for:
Deep cleaning and disinfecting kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor surfaces
Shoppers who want built-in bleach for stain removal and germ-killing power
Skip if:
You need a bleach-free cleaner for delicate or porous surfaces
You’re sensitive to strong scents or bleach fumes
Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach is what we grab when we need to clean and disinfect at the same time. It’s a strong spray designed to clean and disinfect and deodorize in one step, which makes it especially useful for places like bathroom sinks and kitchen counters, plus any other high-touch surfaces where grime and germs build up. The built-in bleach helps cut through tough stains, mold, mildew and more, while also killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.
That power comes with a few important caveats. It’s meant only for hard, nonporous surfaces that are bleach-safe, like tile, porcelain, sealed countertops and outdoor furniture. It’s not a good fit for natural stone, wood or anything prone to damage from harsh cleaners. You’ll also want to use it in a well-ventilated space and follow the label directions closely, letting the surface stay visibly wet for at least 30 seconds before wiping and rinsing. If you’re using it in a kitchen, make sure to rinse surfaces that come into direct contact with food.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and recommended hundreds of home and cleaning products, from the best vacuum cleaners to a lifechanging dish spray, to help our readers find solutions that make everyday life easier.
This story was written by Kelly O’Sullivan, a Forbes Vetted home and kitchen editor with extensive experience covering home care, organization and cleaning products. It was overseen by Amanda Arnold, a senior editor who specializes in home, kitchen and lifestyle content.
To help guide our picks, we consulted two cleaning experts: Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, who shared professional insights on what makes a cleaner truly effective and safe; and Rosa Picosa, a home cleaning expert with a large social media following, who provided practical advice on real-world cleaning mistakes to avoid.
We update this guide regularly to ensure our recommendations reflect the best options available. This version was last reviewed and updated in April 2025.
How We Chose The Best All-Purpose Cleaners
To find the best all-purpose cleaners, we looked at dozens of formulas across a range of types, strengths and cleaning styles. Some of the sprays on this list have been used firsthand by our editors, while others were selected based on strong expert recommendations and customer reviews.
We focused on trusted brands like Clorox, Branch Basics and Zep that have a proven track record for performance and safety.
We consulted two home-cleaning experts for advice on what makes an all-purpose cleaner effective for different types of messes.
We prioritized important features like ingredient transparency, refillable packaging, cleaning ability and ease of use across different surfaces.
We included a range of options—like natural sprays, bleach-based formulas and commercial-grade cleaners—to fit different cleaning routines.
We only included products with at least a 4-star average rating and strong real-world feedback from everyday users and cleaning professionals.
What To Look For In The Best All-Purpose Cleaners
Every home needs at least one all-purpose cleaner to tackle stains, messes and more. Here’s what to consider as you shop.
Cleaning Tasks
A good all-purpose cleaner should match the type of cleaning you do most often. For everyday messes like spills or fingerprints, a lighter natural formula is usually enough. For bigger jobs, like scrubbing out a greasy kitchen sink or deep-cleaning the bathroom, you may want something stronger. As Mock explains, heavy-duty cleaners are especially useful for cutting through grease or removing germs in high-traffic areas, but they typically contain harsher chemicals.
Type Of Cleaners
All-purpose cleaners come in a few different formats, including ready-to-use sprays and concentrated formulas. Concentrates offer the best value over time, since a single bottle can make multiple refills, but sprays are more convenient for grab-and-go use. Wipes are also handy for quick cleanups, though they can be less cost-effective if you’re covering larger areas. Mock recommends concentrates because they last a long time and reduce waste, especially if you clean frequently.
Ingredients
It’s smart to check the label if you’re cleaning around kids, pets or food prep areas. Mock advises avoiding cleaners with harsh ingredients like ammonia, bleach and phthalates, which can be irritating or harmful with frequent use. If you want a cleaner you can reach for every day, a plant- or mineral-based formula may be the better fit. For deeper cleaning or disinfecting, a conventional formula might make more sense; just be sure it’s safe for the surfaces you’re using it on.
