LA’s Totally Awesome All-Purpose Cleaner
Comparable to: Simple Green, Krud Cutter
The top dollar store cleaning product recommended by our experts is this concentrated, surfactant-based, degreasing cleaner. Use it on trash cans, baseboard trim, backsplashes, outdoor furniture, grills, workshop tools and more.
“This is the dollar store legend that professionals quietly stock up on,” says master plumber Steven Morgan. “I keep a spray bottle of it, diluted 3:1, in my service van. At full strength, it’ll lift twenty years of baked-on oil from a furnace blower housing.”
Available at most dollar store franchises.
Multi-Purpose Cleaning Paste
Comparable to: The Pink Stuff
The mild abrasives and surfactants in this generic paste are ideal for cleaning stubborn areas, like burnt-on food from oven doors, gunk from sink basins, soap scum and residue on walls. Since it’s a paste, it clings to vertical surfaces, plus is generally safe for most finishes, says professional cleaner Isabella. Just avoid it on high-gloss acrylic tubs, non-stick cookware and any delicate metals.
“Opt for this when you want a major-power, non-liquid scrub that leaves behind a polished, streak-free finish,” says real estate expert Mary Sullivan.
Available at Dollar Tree.
Brillo Basics Dishwashing Soap Spray
Comparable to: Dawn Powerwash
This cleaner’s foamy lather is made for ridding grease from pots and pans, even when it’s baked on. “Bring it out for fast cleanups, when you don’t want to soak,” says Sullivan. “It works as a pretty solid substitute because the surfactant’s force is strong enough to break up oils in one swipe and rinse.”
Pro-tip: it can also be used as a pre-treatment for stains on kitchen linens, says Flores.
Available at Dollar Tree. Similar product: True Living Diamond Foaming Spray, at Dollar General.
Chase’s Home Value Lemon Cream Furniture Polish
Comparable to: Pledge Furniture Polish
For dusting and polishing wooden tables, cabinets and similar surfaces, this spray gives the same high-gloss shine as Pledge. “It easily picks up dust, while depositing a residue that acts as a barrier and smells of oranges,” says Sullivan. “It’s a good alternative, as it gives us a nice shine that isn’t greasy or sticky.”
Available at Dollar Tree.
Pumice Stone Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Comparable to: brand-name pumice stone products
Dollar stores sell various versions of these porous volcanic stone cleaning products, usually for around $1. They’re essential for removing stubborn mineral rings and calcium deposits that acid-based bowl cleaners won’t touch. Just wet the stone and gently rub the stain. “It’s physically abrasive enough to grind down hard water scale, but softer than porcelain, so it won’t scratch,” says Morgan. “I’ve rescued antique fixtures with these that were destined for replacement.”
Available at most dollar store franchises.
The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Comparable to: Scrubbing Bubbles
The highly concentrated cleaning agents in this toilet bowl cleaner remove tough scaling from heavily soiled bathrooms more quickly than most expensive and diluted gel cleaners, says Sullivan. “This powerful solution is a force against rust and hard water build up,” she says. “It’ll even beat brand-name cleaners in the fight against mineral-heavy deposits.”
Available at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar.
Oxydol Laundry Pre-Wash Stain Remover
Comparable to: OxiClean
“Off-brand oxygen cleaners are stellar dupes,” says Beatty. “These are great for soaking your dirty gym clothes or grouting.” Flores also recommends generic cleaners like Oxydol for soaking stained dish towels, cleaning white loads in the washer and sprucing up outdoor cushions.
Their secret ingredient is sodium percarbonate, which helps brighten fabrics and get rid of organic stains. Before using it, test for color fastness— and never combine it with chlorine bleach.
Available at Dollar Tree.
Melamine Foam Sponges
Comparable to: Magic Eraser
“Our favorite dollar store cleaning product substitute by far and away is melamine foam sponges,” says cleaning expert Adriana Aziz. “They’re perfect for removing stains from walls, especially for our move-out cleans.”
Off-brand melamine foam sponges are often just $0.20 or $0.30 compared with $1 to $1.50 for the name brands. “And there is no difference between the two products apart from marketing gimmicks,” says Aziz.
Available at most dollar stores.
White Vinegar
Comparable to: Heinz white vinegar
Instead of buying branded cleaning vinegars, health care expert Kyle Sobko likes the dollar store generics. Just look for ones that contain 5% acetic acid, which is the active ingredient that kills bacteria and cuts through mineral deposits.
“I pay $1 for a gallon of white vinegar at Dollar Tree vs. $4.50 for a smaller bottle of a name brand at the grocery store, and they work exactly the same for cleaning glass and removing hard water stains,” he says.
Available at most dollar stores.
Other Cleaning Accessories
Dollar stores excel with deals on plastic cleaning caddies, spray bottles and small bins. “Saving money makes sense on these functional organizational tools,” says Flores. “Their scrubbing sponges and small scrub brushes also work as effectively as the expensive versions.”
Flores also recommends buying microfiber cloths from dollar stores. “They’re as effective as expensive counterparts for dusting, glass, countertops and bathroom fixtures,” she says.
FAQ
How are dollar store cleaning products so cheap?
In general, dollar store products are less expensive because the manufacturers devote minimal money to advertising, plus use less-expensive and lighter-weight packaging. For cleaning products specifically, they also save money by selling smaller portions and using more basic chemical formulas.
“They strip away premium fragrances and sleek packaging to keep costs down, using simple, effective chemistry so you can stay fresh without emptying your wallet,” says Beatty.
Does a cleaning product being cheap mean it’s low quality?
Not necessarily. Some contain the same active ingredients as brand names, which means they offer similar effectiveness. But sometimes they are less concentrated, which means you need to use more for name-brand results.
“In addition, other cheaper ingredients are used in their composition, which does not always mean lower quality, just a different formula,” says cleaning expert Justin Carpenter. “They are ideal for large homes with high consumption.”
Flores also gives this safety note: Avoid heavily scented products and choose those with the simplest ingredient list. “Some dollar store goods may contain chemicals of concern,” she says. “‘Green,’ ‘natural’ or ‘eco-friendly’ does not automatically make a product safer.”
About the Experts
- Isabella Flores is a professional cleaning expert and organizer at Sparkly Maid San Diego.
- Adriana Aziz is operations manager at MaidForYou.
- Shannon Beatty is a home renovator and founder of House Buying Girls in Texas.
- Steven Morgan is a master plumber from 24hr.supply, an online supplier.
- Kyle Sobko is CEO and founder of SonderCare hospital beds for home healthcare.
- Justin Carpenter is a residential house-cleaning and home-care expert, and owner of Modern Maids, which operates across several major cities.
- Mary Sullivan is founder of Company That Buys Houses in Fort Worth, Texas.
The post Dollar Store Cleaning Product Dupes That Actually Work appeared first on Family Handyman.
Article source here:
Dollar Store Cleaning Product Dupes That Actually Work
