Mrs. Meyer’s Ultra Concentrated Liquid Laundry Detergent

“This detergent ticks all the boxes for me: It’s made with natural ingredients, works wonders at getting out stains, has a light fresh scent, dispenses in pre-measured squeeze-out doses, is easy to find in stores and online, and doesn’t cost a fortune. What’s not to love?”

-Monika Eyers, East Coast Editor

Dish Duo: Dawn EZ-Squeeze and Once Again Home Co. Reusable Sponges

“Dawn was already the best dish soap (in this editor’s humble opinion), but the Dawn EZ-Squeeze no-flip bottle has been a game-changer. In my years of using this new bottle format, I’ve yet to have a single leak on my countertop, and I love not having to fumble with flipping the bottle with sudsy hands to get more.

The Once Again Home Co. sponges are so durable, and truly reusable—I can toss them in the wash and get them good as new for another round of scrubbing. They’re cute, have two sides for better cleaning, and don’t smell; I really don’t know what else I could hope for from a sponge.”

-Lauren Phillips, Senior Editorial & Strategy Director

Method All-Purpose Cleaner

“From dust to spills to grime, this all-purpose cleaner makes cleaning up so easy, even enjoyable—and you can’t beat the price! I love the fresh lemon scent.”

-Bryce Jones, Associate Editor

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ultra Bath

“This thing is a cleaning God-send. I use this Magic Eraser on my hardest-to-clean surfaces and it cuts through the worst of it with minimal elbow grease. Hard water on the shower glass? No problem. Hazy tile? Not anymore. Grimy stainless-steel kitchen sink? See ya later. Toddler scuffs on baseboards? Bye bye. I don’t know how I ever survived my cleaning regimen without it. Dramatic? Yes. But this eraser is a must-have addition to my cleaning cart.”

-Lauren Bengston, Senior Market Editor

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

“I didn’t understand the Dyson hype until I used this vacuum. In fact, I wanted to be a Dyson hater because of the price tag. But I love this so much that I use it literally every day. It’s a true two-in-one: It comes with all of the Dyson Detect vacuum attachments, plus a detachable mophead, which means you only have to store one machine, versus both a vacuum and a wet floor cleaner.

The Dyson Detect technology is a game-changer—the laser reveals every single speck of dust and, in my case, cat hair on the floor. My favorite thing about the mophead is everything is expertly contained in the attachment, so cleanup is easy, unlike many other wet/dry vacuums. I can’t recommend this enough!”

-Ella Field, Copy Editor

DedCool Laundry Detergent

“SCENT SCENT SCENT. The DedCool detergent is one of my ‘cool girl’ favorites for its ability to remove stains and smell amazing. One wash with this detergent and your clothes exude this feminine and calming aura. When I wear my clothes post-wash, people have stopped me on the street to ask what perfume I’m wearing. Little do they know, I didn’t put any on, I just washed my clothes! And the scent lasts 4-5 wears before rewashing.”

-Ginger Perra, Senior Social Media Editor

SimpleHuman Paper Towel Pump

“I find myself reaching for this paper towel holder and cleaner more often than I care to admit. The fresh grapefruit scent of the cleaning tabs smells great in my kitchen and I love how many bottles of cleaner it has eliminated from my routine. I use this product daily and still love it.”

-Sarah Martens, Senior Food Editor

Scrigit Scraper Wide-Blade

“It works like a dream to peel up stickers, tape, labels, or basically anything with an adhesive back. It seems like a silly tool but somehow it magically can peel up stickers in seconds when it’d take me much longer. It saves my fingernails and sanity from stubborn stickers and residue. It also works as a reusable crevice cleaner since it’s small enough to get into those tough spots with just a rag or sponge.”

-Maggie Goldsmith, Associate Art Director

Dirt Devil 7-in-1 Handheld Steamer

“I’ve been testing Cleaning Awards products since we started five years ago, and this is hands-down my favorite cleaning gadget. It’s so simple to use, and I love that you don’t need any additional products or soap refills—it leaves my bathroom sparkling with just water! I especially love it for cleaning the bathroom (I’ve used it on the sink, shower, tub, and even on the base of the toilet), but I’ve also used it in the kitchen and the laundry room. If I wasn’t personally filling the device with water, I’d totally believe there’s a magic grime-fighting solution inside because it works that well!”

-Emily Williams, Senior Home Editor

Black + Decker Pet Hair Remover

“For owners of furry friends, this pet hair remover picks up all those rogue strands off your clothes and, better yet, you don’t have to keep re-purchasing sticky lint roller sheets. Simply pop open the back to empty it once full and it’s ready to use again. It still works like day one to get long Great Pyrenees fur off my clothes and linens.”

-Caitlin Sole, Associate Editorial Director

The Bare Home Solid Dish Soap

“After using liquid dish soaps all my life, I didn’t think I’d like the stuff in solid block form. But I’ve found it to be more convenient, less messy, and extremely long-lasting (going on 2 years now). Not to mention the minimal packaging (read: no plastic) it came in. I keep the block in a little dish next to my sink, swipe a wet brush or dishcloth over it a few times, and start scrubbing. I just swipe a few more times when the suds dwindle. Plus I like the gentle scent.”

-Viveka Neveln, Senior Garden Editor

Tineco Floor One S7 Steam

“This product never fails to amaze me—after testing multiple other wet vacs, this one still stands out. It’s easy to use, produces steam quickly, and does a great job at removing stuck-on floor messes. It has lasted two years and has never had an issue. We use it weekly on all of our hard floors and it makes our cleaning routine a breeze. Plus, the dirty water tank is always full of disgustingly murky water, which tells me it did a great job!”

-Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Associate Editor

Best-Loved Brand: Morton Pro

There was one brand we discovered that consistently receives high marks—Morton Salt’s line of cleaners. It’s a commercial-strength salt-based HOCI cleaner (short for hypochlorous acid) that’s super powerful, but non-toxic and eco-friendly. Every product that’s won had at least one rave review of why it deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame. Here are a few quotes from our testers:

Kitchen and Counter Cleaner: “This product is when we originally fell in love. I still use it every day! I love its ingredients, ease of use, and effectiveness. I reorder by the gallon.” -Ella Field, Copy Editor

Floor and Carpet Cleaner: “It has continued to be the cleaner that works best to make my rugs and floor look like there isn’t a 65-pound German Shepherd, who loves to play in the mud, walking all over them. It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a recent stain or if it’s been sitting for a few days (or weeks, let’s get real). It’s like the USPS: come sand, muck or mud, this cleaner delivers.” -Maggie Goldsmith, Associate Art Director

Bathroom Cleaner: “My bathroom has never looked cleaner. This spray is the solution for those hardest-to-clean problem areas, like shower or countertop caulk, calcium build-up, the grime around the base of the sink faucet—you name it.” -Lauren Bengston, Senior Market Editor