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Forbes
07-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
The 6 Best All-Purpose Cleaners To Conquer The Toughest Messes
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. 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 Size: 32 ounces | Scent: Fragrance free | Safe for: Most sealed surfaces including countertops, bathroom fixtures, high chairs and pet areas Best for: Skip if: 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. Amazon 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: Skip if: 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. Walmart Size: 32 ounces | Scent: Unscented (has a light chemical scent) | Safe for: Tile, stainless steel, porcelain, fiberglass, countertops, painted surfaces Best for: Skip if: 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. Amazon Size: 22 ounces | Scent: Sunrise Memories or Opulence Bloom | Safe for: Kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, floors and tiles Best for: Skip if: 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. Branch Basics Size: 33.8 ounces | Scent: Fragrance free | Safe for: Most sealed surfaces including countertops, bathrooms, glass and dishes Best for: Skip if: 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: Skip if: 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. 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. 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. Every home needs at least one all-purpose cleaner to tackle stains, messes and more. Here's what to consider as you shop. 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Get the 'dirt' out of your laundry with these nontoxic detergents
Who doesn't love the smell of clean laundry? Well, for one, the experts who study the chemicals often used to create those "fresh clean scents." Yes, there can be potentially harmful ingredients lurking in your linens — particularly when it comes to fragrance. "Fragrances in laundry products can contain hidden chemicals — phthalates, parabens, among other compounds — and those hidden chemicals can impact human health, from [triggering] allergies to [causing] endocrine disruption,' says Courtney Griffin, director of Consumer Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America. That's because "laundry products are subject to a patchwork of federal and state regulations,' says Griffin. "There is no mandatory pre-market approval for products." Which means that you can be exposed to potentially harmful ingredients, including: Boron compounds, including boric acid, sodium borate and disodium tetraborate. Used to balance pH and stabilize the enzymes that break up stains, these chemical compounds "are linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity," says Griffin. However, these links are typically only found at high levels of exposure and are generally considered safe for use in cleaning products. Optical brighteners — used to make your clothes "sparkling white" — are really just fluorescent chemicals added to detergents to give the appearance of a brighter white. Some research connects them to skin sensitization and reproductive health concerns, but the main issue is that "they get into the water supply and are toxic to aquatic life," says Samara Geller, senior director of cleaning science for the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit that certifies and rates cleaning and other products based on the risk they pose to human health and the environment. Fabric softeners almost always contain chemicals called quaternary ammonia compounds — frequently referred to as "quats" or QACs — which have been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals and may cause asthma, although long-term effects on wider human toxicity are unknown. It's not easy to read through and decipher the, um, laundry list of ingredients in laundry products. And potentially hazardous ingredients can be listed under many different (and long) names. The good news is that independent organizations and agencies, including EWG and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have created reliable databases of products that meet certain standards for human and environmental safety. "To choose laundry products that are less likely to be toxic or irritating, first, consumers can look for fragrance-free options that will eliminate some of the potentially hazardous chemicals," says Griffin. "It's important to note that 'Unscented' is not the same as fragrance-free, because those products can still contain masking fragrance. Second, they can look for labels that signify stricter safety standards, like EPA Safer Choice or EWG Verified." If you're really attached to the lavender-scented towels, the Safer Choice label will help you find products with healthier ingredients. "Consumers grow really attached to fragrance," says Jennie Romer, a former EPA appointee and author of Can I Recycle This? "But there are ways to achieve fragrance without potentially harmful chemicals." Safer Choice maintains a "safer chemical ingredient list" that includes a safer fragrance palette for manufacturers to use. "Before a product can carry the Safer Choice label, EPA scientists review all chemical ingredients, regardless of their percentage in the product," says Molly Vaseliou, associate administrator of public affairs for the EPA. "Every ingredient must meet safety criteria for both human health and the environment, including carcinogenicity [whether it's been associated with cancer risk], reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment." The Safer Choice label guarantees that a product: Does not contain chemicals that are linked to cancer, fertility problems or other human health problems, especially from frequent use. Is better for indoor air quality and associated respiratory concerns. Meets pH standards that minimize the potential for skin and eye injury. Meets low environmental toxicity limits and/or biodegrades quickly. EWG has some of the strictest health and safety standards of all certification programs, requiring that any product it certifies as "EWG Verified" not contain any "unacceptable ingredients, which include ingredients with health, ecotoxicity and/or contamination concern," says Geller. For that reason, there are fewer products that pass their muster, but they also rank other products by level of concern, with "A" being "low-concern" to "F" signifying "worst." Here's a guide to widely available products that are either certified Safer Choice or EWG Verified or carry the EWG low-concern rank of "A." It is tough to find a safe alternative to fabric softeners, so Geller recommends "skipping fabric softener if you can" until companies are able to come up with a less potentially harmful alternative. Dryer balls are a safe option that can soften clothes and decrease drying time. If you just can't skip the softening step, check out these less harmful options: Courtney Griffin, director of Consumer Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America Samara Geller, senior director of cleaning science for the Environmental Working Group Jennie Romer, a former EPA appointee and author of Can I Recycle This? Molly Vaseliou, associate administrator of public affairs for the Environmental Protection Agency Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Get the 'dirt' out of your laundry with these nontoxic laundry detergents
Who doesn't love the smell of clean laundry? Well, for one, the experts who study the chemicals often used to create those "fresh clean scents." Yes, there can be potentially harmful ingredients lurking in your linens — particularly when it comes to fragrance. "Fragrances in laundry products can contain hidden chemicals — phthalates, parabens, among other compounds — and those hidden chemicals can impact human health, from [triggering] allergies to [causing] endocrine disruption,' says Courtney Griffin, director of Consumer Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America. That's because "laundry products are subject to a patchwork of federal and state regulations,' says Griffin. "There is no mandatory pre-market approval for products." Which means that you can be exposed to potentially harmful ingredients, including: Boron compounds, including boric acid, sodium borate and disodium tetraborate. Used to balance pH and stabilize the enzymes that break up stains, these chemical compounds "are linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity," says Griffin. However, these links are typically only found at high levels of exposure and are generally considered safe for use in cleaning products. Optical brighteners — used to make your clothes "sparkling white" — are really just fluorescent chemicals added to detergents to give the appearance of a brighter white. Some research connects them to skin sensitization and reproductive health concerns, but the main issue is that "they get into the water supply and are toxic to aquatic life," says Samara Geller, senior director of cleaning science for the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit that certifies and rates cleaning and other products based on the risk they pose to human health and the environment. Fabric softeners almost always contain chemicals called quaternary ammonia compounds — frequently referred to as "quats" or QACs — which have been linked to birth defects in laboratory animals and may cause asthma, although long-term effects on wider human toxicity are unknown. It's not easy to read through and decipher the, um, laundry list of ingredients in laundry products. And potentially hazardous ingredients can be listed under many different (and long) names. The good news is that independent organizations and agencies, including EWG and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have created reliable databases of products that meet certain standards for human and environmental safety. "To choose laundry products that are less likely to be toxic or irritating, first, consumers can look for fragrance-free options that will eliminate some of the potentially hazardous chemicals," says Griffin. "It's important to note that 'Unscented' is not the same as fragrance-free, because those products can still contain masking fragrance. Second, they can look for labels that signify stricter safety standards, like EPA Safer Choice or EWG Verified." If you're really attached to the lavender-scented towels, the Safer Choice label will help you find products with healthier ingredients. "Consumers grow really attached to fragrance," says Jennie Romer, a former EPA appointee and author of Can I Recycle This? "But there are ways to achieve fragrance without potentially harmful chemicals." Safer Choice maintains a "safer chemical ingredient list" that includes a safer fragrance palette for manufacturers to use. "Before a product can carry the Safer Choice label, EPA scientists review all chemical ingredients, regardless of their percentage in the product," says Molly Vaseliou, associate administrator of public affairs for the EPA. "Every ingredient must meet safety criteria for both human health and the environment, including carcinogenicity [whether it's been associated with cancer risk], reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment." The Safer Choice label guarantees that a product: Does not contain chemicals that are linked to cancer, fertility problems or other human health problems, especially from frequent use. Is better for indoor air quality and associated respiratory concerns. Meets pH standards that minimize the potential for skin and eye injury. Meets low environmental toxicity limits and/or biodegrades quickly. EWG has some of the strictest health and safety standards of all certification programs, requiring that any product it certifies as "EWG Verified" not contain any "unacceptable ingredients, which include ingredients with health, ecotoxicity and/or contamination concern," says Geller. For that reason, there are fewer products that pass their muster, but they also rank other products by level of concern, with "A" being "low-concern" to "F" signifying "worst." Here's a guide to widely available products that are either certified Safer Choice or EWG Verified or carry the EWG low-concern rank of "A." It is tough to find a safe alternative to fabric softeners, so Geller recommends "skipping fabric softener if you can" until companies are able to come up with a less potentially harmful alternative. Dryer balls are a safe option that can soften clothes and decrease drying time. If you just can't skip the softening step, check out these less harmful options: Courtney Griffin, director of Consumer Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America Samara Geller, senior director of cleaning science for the Environmental Working Group Jennie Romer, a former EPA appointee and author of Can I Recycle This? Molly Vaseliou, associate administrator of public affairs for the Environmental Protection Agency Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
