The 9 Best Kitchen Surface Cleaners, for Any Surface

Kitchens require regular cleaning.

After all, that’s where many food preparations happen — and you wouldn’t want the surfaces crawling with anything that could make you and your family sick.

As such, it’s important to keep cleaning spray bottles or wipes around the kitchen to handle everyday cleaning.

There are also multi-surface products that will help you tackle those stubborn stains when it’s time to deep clean.

Understanding the Importance of a Clean Kitchen

Much of our food prep happens in the kitchen, so maintaining a hygienic kitchen ensures that our food remains clean and safe to consume.

A deep clean every once in a while can prevent stubborn stains and grime. It stops pests from nesting in your kitchen too. However, regular cleaning after kitchen use is important since it stops bacteria and germs from spreading.

Homemade Vs. Commercial Cleaners

Homemade and commercial cleaners both work as all-purpose cleaners.

However, I found that commercial cleaners tend to get the job done easier and faster than homemade cleaners.

If you prefer an eco-friendly cleaner that you’re sure won’t contain harsh chemicals, you can make your own cleaner.

If so, baking soda and vinegar are two common natural household cleaning products that you can use. Or, I highly recommend finding a good recipe to ensure you have a cleaner that can cut through soap scum and other grime.

Choosing the Best Kitchen Surface Cleaner

There are many different kitchen cleaners on the market.

You might be tempted just to get the cheapest one or the one with the most reviews. However, there’s a time and place for every cleaner.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Cleaner

Even the best all-purpose cleaners can’t be used for everything.

Below, I’ve listed factors you should keep in mind to find the kitchen cleaner for you.

1. Form

Most cleaning products come in liquid form in spray bottles. These are popular as multi-purpose cleaners since they’re easy to use.

Powders and pastes are good for heavy-duty cleaning. Meanwhile, wipes are better for small-scale cleaning.

A concentrated cleaner needs to be diluted in water before you put it in your own spray bottle.

2. Purpose

All-purpose cleaners are good for just about any surface. However, they might not necessarily be the best for deep cleaning or all surfaces.

An abrasive all-purpose cleaner, for instance, isn’t good for delicate or soft surfaces. Or, if you have hard surfaces that are porous and made of natural stone, don’t use anything acidic.

Match ingredients with the surface you’ll use them on for the best results.

Some products are specially made for various purposes — so you can find one for your stainless steel appliances or sealed stone countertops.

3. Size

The size of your cleaning products should ideally complement the scale of your cleaning.

For instance, if you want just one product to deep clean everything, an industrial-sized all-purpose cleaner would be good.

A multi-surface everyday cleaner is great for regular cleaning after every kitchen use.

This also applies if you have products for different uses. So, you won’t need too much of a floor cleaner since you’ll just be using it on the floor.

4. Scent

Scents are a matter of preference — but anything with strong smells can affect everyone at home.

The best all-purpose cleaners tend to have a light scent to help mask the smell of their other ingredients. Most of them have a citrusy or fresh lemon scent, but some will really smell like a household cleaner.

Evaluation of Effectiveness

I’ve seen people complain that their chosen all-purpose cleaner isn’t as effective as advertised — and it turns out they didn’t use it correctly.

The surest way to ensure your all-purpose cleaner is effective is to use it properly.

Usually, this means your surface should remain wet with the formula for a few minutes before you rinse or wipe clean.

Read and follow the instructions carefully, otherwise it’ll be quite a while before you can eliminate that stubborn stain you’ve been eyeing.

Types of Kitchen Surface Cleaners

From an all-natural floor cleaner to a multi-surface cleaner, there are actually many types of kitchen cleaners.

Let me present the three main types.

Disinfecting Cleaners

Disinfectants kill viruses and bacteria. Disinfectant cleaners are dual-purpose products that remove grease, dirt, and such while also killing microorganisms on any surface.

All-purpose Cleaners

All-purpose cleaners can be used on most surfaces, depending on the surfaces’ material. These can also be used on laundry room and bathroom surfaces.

DIY Cleaners

DIY cleaners are homemade cleaners.

As I’ve mentioned, you might need a bit more elbow grease when using these.

However, they may be a better option if you want to ensure you’re using a safe and eco-friendly product. After all, DIY cleaners are sometimes also natural cleaners.

Best Kitchen Surface Cleaner

Even if you already know what you want in a kitchen cleaner, choosing one can still be difficult.

So, below, I’ve listed down 9 of the best all-purpose cleaners that you can use on both hard-to-reach and frequently-touched surfaces.

1. Mr. Clean Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist – Best Overall Kitchen Cleaner

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Specifications

• Amount: 16 fl oz
• Form: Liquid
• Scents: Lavender, lemon
• List price at time of publishing: $31.95 (pack of 3)

Mr. Clean’s Clean Freak Mist is my favorite all-purpose cleaner. It can coat your surfaces evenly from any angle and power through even the toughest and stickiest residues.

It’s good for stainless steel and sealed granite but unsafe for food contact surfaces, so you’ll have to rinse those surfaces after using this all-purpose cleaner.

Clean Freak Mist is a Safer Choice-certified product, meaning it meets the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA’s) standards.

I appreciate how it’s refillable too, reducing your plastic waste.

Once you’ve given this all-purpose cleaner a try, I’m sure it will be one of the top cleaning products for your kitchen that you’ll also want to recommend to other people!

Pros

• Refillable
• Allows for more control over spray amount
• Safe for granite and marble countertops

Cons

• May cause skin and eye irritation if used improperly
• Unsafe for food contact surfaces

2. Windex Multisurface Disinfectant Cleaner – Best Budget Kitchen Cleaner

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Specifications

• Amount: 23 fl oz
• Form: Liquid
• Scents: Citrus
• List price at time of publishing: $4.77

You don’t need to break the bank to have a spotless kitchen!

Windex offers a cheap all-purpose cleaner that can disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces. However, I’ve noticed it can slightly smudge mirrors. But it works well on other surfaces, like stainless steel.

Windex can eliminate 99.9% of germs — including salmonella, streptococcus, and E. coli.

The product has a slight vinegar smell, but I don’t find it overwhelming.

I do like how this all-purpose cleaner is refillable too.

Pros

• Extremely versatile
• Kills 99.9% of germs
• Refillable

Cons

• Might slightly smudge mirrors
• Has a slight vinegar smell

3. The Pink Stuff The Miracle Cleaning Paste – Best All-Purpose Cleaner

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Specifications

• Amount: 17.63 oz
• Form: Paste
• Scents: Rhubarb
• List price at time of publishing: $5.97

If you don’t mind a bit of elbow grease, then I highly recommend this all-purpose cleaner that lives up to its name. It has a pleasant scent that isn’t too overpowering.

The Pink Stuff is a thick and mildly abrasive paste that can easily cut through grease and grime. That also means you can use it on outdoor furniture and items!

But because of that, this all-purpose cleaner might scratch delicate surfaces — so test it on those surfaces first.

However, even though this is a thick and mildly abrasive paste, use it with a soft cloth. Then let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it with warm water.

Pros

• Can get rid of tough stains
• Can be used on outdoor items
• Scent isn’t too overpowering

Cons

• Might scratch delicate surfaces
• Needs a bit of elbow grease

4. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

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Specifications

• Amount: 80 wipes
• Form: Wipes
• Scents: Lemon and lime blossom, crisp linen, mango, and hibiscus
• List price at time of publishing: $14.97 (pack of 4)

It doesn’t get more convenient than this!

Lysol disinfecting wipes are very easy to use, and they’re stronger than paper towels. You can keep a pack in your bag or your car, so you can grab one whenever you need it.

However, this all-purpose cleaner isn’t the most environmentally friendly option. On top of that, they’re only good for cleaning small objects — like doorknobs and phones.

Pros

• Convenient to use
• Safe for hard nonporous surfaces
• Stronger than paper towels

Cons

• Not good for large cleaning jobs
• Not environmentally friendly

5. Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach

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Specifications

• Amount: 24 fl oz
• Form: Liquid
• Scents: Original Clorox scent
• List price at time of publishing: $21.99 (pack of 3)

Ever wondered why you should “pre-clean” surfaces before using bleach? It’s because bleach is great at disinfecting, but not so much at cleaning.

Fortunately, Clorox for their Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach combines cleaning and disinfecting for the ultimate multi-purpose cleaner!

However, I highly recommend not using this with other cleaners (like ammonia and vinegar). If you use all of these in the same area, they may create dangerous chemical reactions.

Clorox is non-abrasive, though I suggest wearing gloves while handling this all-purpose cleaner and using it in a well-ventilated area.

The Smart Tube technology in the spray bottle is great. After all, it ensures that you can spray every last drop of the product without needing to tip it, unlike other disinfectant sprays.

Pros

• Non-abrasive
• Smart Tube spray bottle ensures all of the product is used
• Combines cleaning and disinfecting

Cons

• Can’t be used with other cleaning solutions
• Relatively strong scent

6. Bon Ami Powder Cleanser

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Specifications

• Amount: 14 oz
• Form: Powder
• Scents: Unscented
• List price at time of publishing: $11.00 (pack of 2)

Bon Ami is a natural all-purpose cleaner made of feldspar, calcium and sodium carbonate, and limestone.

This makes a great scratch-free powder that can remove food residue and scuff marks on any washable surface. However, I wouldn’t recommend using it on mirrored surfaces or windows.

The eco-conscious and hypoallergenic formula makes it a great choice for homes with kids and pets.

This multi-purpose cleaner contains baking soda too, so it also absorbs odors.

Though Bon Ami is a great all-around cleaner, it comes in a smaller amount than other cleaners.

Pros

• Scratch-free formula
• Eco-conscious formula makes it safe for kids and pets

Cons

• Can’t be used on mirrored surfaces and windows
• Comes in a smaller amount than other kitchen cleaners

7. Everneat Soft Scrub

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Specifications

• Amount: 16 oz
• Form: Paste
• Scents: Peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon, tea tree
• List price at time of publishing: $17.99

Everneat is a relatively new multi-surface cleaner. However, I love how it doesn’t look or smell like a cleaning product!

For one, it’s a natural all-purpose cleaner that contains a therapeutic blend of essential oils — which is why it smells wonderful.

Everneat is a soft scrub and non-scratch paste that’s still powerful enough to cut through grease and grime. Despite that, it’s gentle on your hands and safe to use around pets and kids!

However, it’s relatively expensive for a small jar.

Pros

• Non-scratch formula
• Made of plant-based ingredients
• Containers are reusable and recyclable

Cons

• Relatively expensive
• May take a bit of elbow grease

8. Lysol Kitchen Pro

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Specifications

• Amount: 22 oz
• Form: Liquid
• Scents: Citrus
• List price at time of publishing: $3.97

You can leave it to Lysol Kitchen Pro to degrease surfaces while keeping them food-prep-safe. That’s because this all-purpose cleaner cuts through grease and grime without leaving behind harsh chemicals.

The product will work well on stainless, sealed stone and wood, and other non-porous surfaces.

It can fully clean and disinfect surfaces as long as they’re pre-cleaned and the product is applied for the right amount of time.

However, I’d say that this all-purpose cleaner might smell a bit unpleasant or too strong for some users. The smell doesn’t really bother me — especially since I’d say it’s worth the sparkling clean finish it gives your kitchen.

Pros

• Doesn’t leave chemical residue behind
• Cuts through tough grease and stains
• Safe to use on non-porous surfaces

Cons

• Smell might be too strong or unpleasant for some

9. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

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Specifications

• Amount: 75 wipes
• Form: Wipes
• Scents: Lemon, fresh scent
• List price at time of publishing: $14.99 (pack of 3)

These may be small wipes, but they’re powerful enough to kill bacteria and viruses.

Clorox disinfecting wipes are bleach-free, so you can use them anywhere except on food-contact surfaces.

This everyday cleaner is a great alternative to spray cleaners if you really prefer wipes. However, I’d still say this all-purpose cleaner isn’t the best option for large-scale cleaning.

I’ve also noticed that not all canisters have the same amount of wetness. Because of that, you might find that you can clean more with your first canister than the next one.

Pros

• Convenient to use
• Powerful and effective
• Bleach-free

Cons

• Not made of recyclable or sustainable materials
• Not all canisters have the same amount of wetness

Homemade Kitchen Surface Cleaners

Some people prefer homemade cleaners since they want to know exactly what goes in their cleaners. This is especially true for those who’re eco-conscious or concerned about kids and pets inhaling fumes.

Homemade cleaners can also be a better option for those on a budget.

DIY All-purpose Cleaner

Mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle:

• 1 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1 cup water
• Optional: Essential oils

Shake the mixture, and you now have a vinegar-based all-purpose cleaner.

This all-purpose cleaner is safe to use on most surfaces — even inside stainless steel microwaves and fridges. However, avoid unsealed wood, stone, and grout since the acidity can corrode these surfaces.

DIY Disinfecting Cleaner

You can make your own disinfecting cleaner without using bleach. Combine the following ingredients below.

• 1 ½ cups of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• ½ cup of white vinegar
• 50-60 drops of an essential oil

You can put the mixture in spray bottles or soak a paper towel roll to make wipes.

How to Clean Kitchen Surfaces Effectively

When cleaning your kitchen, you can’t just spray your all-purpose cleaners everywhere, wipe everything down, and call it a day.

Generally, you should start cleaning from top to bottom and from left to right to ensure you’re getting everything.

Best Practices

Everyone has their own kitchen cleaning routine. If you want to make your own, here are some steps you can start with.

1. Clear all the counters.
2. Wash the dishes and sink.
3. Clean the stove.

4. Start cleaning everything else from top to bottom and left to right.
5. Don’t forget to clean your dining table or kitchen island.
6. Clean the kitchen floor. Doing so will prevent dust accumulation

You can follow this comprehensive kitchen cleaning checklist if you want to ensure you don’t miss anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still, have some questions about your all-purpose cleaner? I’ve answered a few of them below.

Conclusion

All-purpose cleaners are ideally great for every surface — they’re even great as toilet bowl cleaners!

However, you should choose the right product to ensure your surfaces are cleaned and remain safe for use. For instance, products like bleach shouldn’t be used on a food contact surface.

Store-bought all-purpose cleaners are convenient and tend to be more effective. However, a homemade multi-surface cleaner can be safer and more cost-effective.