The 5 Best All-Purpose Cleaners The Spruce Has Tested

Best Overall Spray

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner

$5 at Amazon $5 at Walmart $6 at Target

Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner is a Spruce favorite for its powerful yet gentle cleaning formula that works as a grout cleaner, shower cleaner, and more. You can practically use it on every surface, which is why it's our best overall spray pick.

Along with being able to lift grime and dirt, we noticed it also adds a bit of shine (we suspect this could be from its essential oil ingredient). The essential oils are also what give the cleaner its natural garden-inspired fragrances. Side note: My favorite part about re-upping on Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner is picking a new scent, since there are so many to choose from.

And if green cleaning is more your speed, you’ll be pleased to know this all-purpose cleaner has a biodegradable, plant-based formula that’s Leaping Bunny certified.

Best Overall Wipes

Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes

$21 at Amazon $7 at Walmart $7 at Target

For those who prefer a container of all-purpose cleaning wipes, these Clorox compostable ones are worth keeping on hand. I love using these pre-saturated wipes on smaller countertop messes or when I don’t feel like pulling out my entire cleaning stash of cleaning supplies. They’re also great for quick spruce-ups when you don’t have time for deep cleaning. 

Wipes can feel a bit wasteful and short-lived, but these Clorox cleaning wipes are compostable and EPA Safer Choice certified, so they’re a great option if you want an all-purpose cleaner that’s gentle on the environment. (But note that, if you use them on non-compostable messes, you will have to dispose of them in your normal trash.)

For longer-lasting use, we recommend using them on smaller cleanups or on-the-go usage. And like most wipes, pulling these Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes from their cylindrical container can be tough, resulting in trapped wipes or a handful coming out at once. However, the cleaning results outweigh the complicated dispense. Just be sure to pull each wipe out slowly.

Best Disinfectant

Clorox Disinfecting All-Purpose Cleaner

$8 at Amazon $4 at Walmart $4 at Target

Clorox’s disinfecting all-purpose cleaner is my go-to pick whenever I need an all-in-one solution to thoroughly clean my entire bathroom and kitchen. It works exceptionally well at tackling grease, dirt, and grime, all while removing bacteria and viruses, too.

This disinfectant is formulated without bleach and is gentle enough to use on multiple hard, non-porous surfaces, including tubs and tiles. I even use it to deep clean my stainless steel kitchen sink.

While I’m a huge fan of the cleaner’s crisp lemon scent, some people on our team have voiced that it can be a bit overwhelming, and unfortunately, this all-purpose cleaner only comes in one scent. If you’re someone with scent sensitivities, I recommend opting for something more subtle, like our best overall spray.

Best Eco-Friendly

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner

$10 at Amazon $5 at Target View on Grove.co

Whether you’re looking for an all-purpose cleaner for your granite countertops or want a non-toxic one that won’t irritate little ones or furry friends, consider snagging Seventh Generation’s all-purpose cleaner spray.

While we haven’t tested this specific cleaning solution, we're huge fans of Seventh Generation’s eco-friendly laundry detergent for its cleaning power and gentle, plant-based formula. With that in mind, we felt confident about making this cleaner spray our best eco-friendly pick.

Like Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Cleaner (our best spray pick), this solution comes in various scents that are derived from 100 percent essential oils and botanical ingredients. But with 23 ounces of use, you get a bit more product with the Seventh Generation cleaner.

Not all spray cleaners come with a perfect nozzle, and the Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner Spray has been reported to cause problems for people. However, it’s a gentle formula safe to use on various surfaces and around those with sensitivities. We also love that there’s a Free & Clear option

Best Sanitizing

Lysol Disinfectant Spray

$7 $5 at Amazon $5 at Walmart $8 at Target

Lysol is the first brand that comes to mind when I think of the best sanitizing spray. This disinfectant spray stayed stocked in my childhood home and was always in use whenever someone was sick, or during flu season. 

This cleaner functions as a deodorizer, disinfectant spray, and sanitizer, as well as to prevent mold or mildew from forming. While this product can be used on its own, especially to sanitize surfaces or spray and deodorize your air, you may want to pre-clean any grime from your hard, non-porous surfaces with another cleaner prior to use.