You Just Can’t Beat These Cleaning Products (According to Our Highly Opinionated Staffers)

O-Cedar Microfiber Spin Mop

$40 $35 at Amazon View on Walmart $35 at Target

Maybe I'm biased because I reviewed mops, but O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop really is a fantastic cleaning tool to have in your arsenal. The microfiber strands absorb faster than any other mop I've used, and it's even proficient at scrubbing out mysterious stains on my linoleum floors. What really sets the O-Cedar apart from other mops, though, is its wringing bucket: Just pump the pedal with the mop in the spinner, and it wrings it out magnificently. — Grace Kelly, senior editor

O-Cedar Multi-Use No Scratch Scrunge

$13 at Amazon View on Walmart $7 at Home Depot

I can't say enough good things about the Scrunge! The scrubby side is textured but not rough, so it doesn't scratch my pots and pans. The cellulose sponge is strong and doesn't shed. It's cheap. "Scrunge" is a fun word. — Rochelle Bilow, editor

Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser

$10 $7 at Amazon View on Home Depot View on Lowe's

For cleaning stainless steel cookware, sinks, and Dutch ovens, this is my go-to cleanser. I prefer the liquid (soft) cleanser over the powdered version, as I find it more convenient than the powdered one that has to be mixed with water after sprinkling it on. However, both versions of Bar Keepers Friend work exceptionally well. — Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director

Stardrops The Pink Stuff Miracle Scrubber Kit

$44 at Amazon

I use The Pink Stuff to clean so many things, and I was thrilled when I learned that they have an electric scrubber! Their electric scrubber comes with different attachments and is great for getting into nooks and crannies. The scrubber and the cleaning paste make a killer combo! — Genevieve Yam, senior culinary editor

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ultra Thick Multi Purpose Cleaner

$9 at Amazon

I have white kitchen cabinets, which attract dirt and grime like magnets. While cleaning spray and elbow grease can get the job done, I swear by the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for removing tough stains. I like the extra thick ones, which last longer and don't fall apart quite as quickly as the originals. — Grace

Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner

$5 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Target

Easy-Off is potent stuff—it's basically lye in a foaming, aerosolized form—but that's exactly what makes it so useful for any major cleaning task. I use it not just to clean the interior of my oven, which is more or less its stated purpose (I think?), but to also clean oven cooktops and exteriors when all else fails. It eats through burnt-on grease and crud, stripping neglected surfaces back to being as good as new. Just be careful—you don't want it on your skin or in your eyes, and the fumes can be rough, so open those windows and ventilate well when using. — Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

Skoy Scrub

$5 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Crate & Barrel

This $8 Skoy scrub is my favorite tool for tackling gunky sourdough jars, stubborn sink stains, and browned stainless steel pans. My mother-in-law gave me one years ago, and I've since bought myself plenty more. I've even gifted some to friends and family! I love that it's tough yet gentle on surfaces, and its flexible nature really helps with getting into tight corners in the sink or crevices in cookware. — An Uong, former writer

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Baking Soda Cream Cleanser

$7 $6 at Amazon $7 at Target View on Mrsmeyers.com

If you like Mrs. Meyers' scents, you'll L-O-V-E this cream cleanser, which smells like apple blossoms. It's made with baking soda and has a smooth consistency that's perfect for stainless steel. I clean my sink with it every night. — Rochelle

PLAYTEX Fresh Comfort Medium Gloves

$21 $20 at Amazon

After testing dishwashing gloves, I bought about a zillion pairs of the Playtex Fresh Comfort gloves. They're lined with moisture-wicking foam, which means I never get sticky, sweaty hands while washing dishes. I'll never go back to cotton-lined gloves! — Rochelle

Urnex Cafiza Professional Espresso Machine Cleaning Tablets

$23 at Amazon

For removing stubborn coffee oils and stains from my coffee gear, I always have a container of Cafiza around. I like to soak my drip coffee carafe at least once a month with it. — Riddley

simplehuman Steel Frame Dish Rack

$100 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Sur La Table

I've owned this dish rack since 2019 and it works fabulously. It still looks pretty great, it has removable, easy-to-clean parts, it's very spacious, and I love its wine glass rack and cup prongs. Plus, in my experience, simplehuman has really great customer service. — Riddley

Windex Glass & Window Spray

$4 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Target

Old habits die hard, and my attachment to Windex is no exception. It was the go-to all-purpose cleaner in all the restaurants where I used to work. We used Windex to clean all sorts of surfaces, not just glass, and its scent is burned into my brain as the scent of a clean space. The dishwashers and porters would use harsher cleaners to get the really stubborn grease and grime off ovens and vents, but Windex was more than enough for almost everything else. Sometimes I feel guilty for not using supposedly Earth-friendlier products like distilled vinegar to clean, but I just can't shake my dependence on the blue stuff. — Daniel

OXO Soap Dispensing Dish Brush

$25 at Amazon View on Macy's View on Bloomingdales

I'm convinced OXO's dish brushes are superior, and I've owned many of their bottle brushes and soap-dispensing brushes over the years. The bottle brush fits perfectly into water bottles, coffee carafes, and other hard-to-reach vessels. The dish brush has replaceable heads and a button that pushes soap out—no need to grab a bottle of dish soap and pause washing dishes to do so. (I even know people who keep one of these in their shower and use it to clean the shower while also, uh, showering.) — Riddley

Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner

$21 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Drbronner.com

This is my go-to all-purpose soap: I use it for dishes and scrubbing down my kitchen, bathroom, and floors. This soap gets real sudsy and you don't need much per use: I usually dilute a drop or two into a quart of water when cleaning and it leaves my surfaces and dishes squeaky clean. — Genevieve

Wettex Swedish Dishcloths

$10 at Amazon View on Walmart View on Etsy

I haven’t bought paper towels in forever thanks to Swedish dishcloths, which are like a cross between paper towels and sponges. I use them to wipe down counters, dry dishes, mop up spills, etc. — Riddley