The Cleaners That Actually Clean (and Smell Good Too)
Some cleaners just smell clean. Others actually are. The best natural sprays and concentrates manage both—cutting through grease and grime without synthetic fragrances or harsh ingredients. Whether you’re mixing, refilling, or spraying straight from the bottle, the right cleaner can make everyday chores feel a little more intentional.
We tested the most popular natural all-purpose cleaners to find the ones that truly balance effectiveness, cost, and sustainability.
| SERVICE | STARTING PRICE | RATING | BEST FOR | PROS | CONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Branch Basics — The Concentrate (33.8 oz)
Best Overall
Basically Score: 93/100
|
$55 concentrate (dilutes into multiple bottles) | ★★★★☆4.7/5 | Whole-home refills & ingredient purity | MADE SAFE® certified; one bottle replaces many; fragrance-free option | Higher upfront cost; you mix dilutions yourself |
|
Blueland — Multi-Surface (tablet)
Best Low-Waste
Basically Score: 89/100
|
$16 starter; refills $5 (often $4 on sale) | ★★★★☆4.5/5 | Plastic-free refills & easy storage | 100-day money-back guarantee; compact tablets | Lighter cleaning “feel” vs some traditional sprays |
|
Grove Co. — Multi-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
Basically Score: 84/100
|
Concentrate bundles; price varies by set/retailer | ★★★★☆4.2/5 | Easy retail access to refill system | Reduced plastic via concentrates; pleasant scents | Pricing fluctuates; glass bottle usually sold separately |
|
Mrs. Meyer’s — Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner (16 oz)
Best Budget
Basically Score: 82/100
|
$4.99 (16 oz) | ★★★★☆4.1/5 | Affordable, widely available | Lots of crowd-pleasing scents; easy to find | Fragrance isn’t for everyone; not tablet/refill-first |
|
Method — All-Purpose Cleaner (28 oz)
Basically Score: 80/100
|
Varies by retailer (28 oz bottle) | ★★★★☆4.0/5 | Everyday wipe-downs & pleasant scents | Plant-based surfactants; bottle from recycled plastic | Not concentrate-first; refill availability varies |
Branch Basics Best Overall
- Pros: MADE SAFE® certified; replaces many products
- Cons: Higher upfront cost; DIY dilution
Blueland Best Low-Waste
- Pros: Compact tablets; 100-day guarantee
- Cons: Lighter cleaning “feel”
Grove Co.
- Pros: Concentrates; pleasant scents
- Cons: Price fluctuates; bottle sold separately
Mrs. Meyer’s Best Budget
- Pros: Easy to find; lots of scents
- Cons: Fragrance not for everyone
Method
- Pros: Recycled bottle; pleasant scents
- Cons: Not concentrate-first
Editor’s Take: If you want one product that truly replaces a cabinet full of cleaners, Branch Basics is the most convincing all-around pick: concentrated, effective, and ingredient-transparent. For low-waste refills, Blueland’s tablet system is the easiest to live with. On a tight budget or grabbing something at the store today, Mrs. Meyer’s is a dependable everyday cleaner with crowd-pleasing scents. Ultimately: pick a system you’ll actually stick with (concentrate vs. tablets vs. premixed). That’s what saves money and waste.
Natural cleaning sprays have leveled up. The best options combine effective plant-based surfactants, lighter packaging, and refill systems that cut plastic waste and cost per use. We tested today’s top all-purpose cleaners across real-life messes (grease, crumbs, bathroom splashes) and scored them on effectiveness, ingredients, ease, scent, and sustainability.
Branch Basics — The Concentrate: a 33.8-oz bottle that dilutes into multiple cleaners. Upfront price is higher, but value per ounce and ingredient transparency are standouts.
Blueland — Multi-Surface tablets: a plastic-free refill system that stores small and mixes quickly; great if you want fewer bottles at home.
Grove Co. — Concentrates: easy to find online; pleasant scents and a lighter footprint than single-use plastic.
Mrs. Meyer’s — Multi-Surface: the budget pick that’s widely available with a big scent library; simple and dependable.
Method — All-Purpose: a friendly everyday spray in a bottle made from recycled plastic, with broad surface compatibility.
Bottom line: choose the refill model that matches your routine. Concentrates are cost-efficient long-term; tablets are ultra-simple and low-waste; premixed is the easiest grab-and-go.
The Basically.co Verified Standard
All picks featured in this comparison were independently researched and meet the Basically.co Verified Standard for accuracy, transparency, and usability.