2019 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards: Top Picks

If you’ve ever stood in the cleaning aisle staring at 47 bottles that all promise “SHINE,” “POWER,” and
“UNSTOPPABLE,” you’ve met the modern paradox: we have more choices than ever… and somehow less certainty than a
toddler holding a juice box over a white rug.

That’s why the 2019 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards matter. Instead of “my cousin’s neighbor
swears by this spray,” these awards lean on lab testingreal performance, real messes, real results. The winners
cover the stuff you clean the most (kitchens, bathrooms, floors, laundry) plus a few “why didn’t I buy this years
ago?” tools that make chores feel less like punishment and more like a weirdly satisfying before-and-after video.

What Makes These Awards Different (A.K.A. Not Just a Popularity Contest)

The Good Housekeeping Institute’s cleaning experts don’t hand out trophies because a bottle has cute typography.
The 2019 list pulled together 50 winning products across key categoriesdishwashing, laundry,
stain removal, floor care, disinfecting, and morebased on how well they performed where it counts: on grease,
grime, spills, scuffs, and mystery gunk that appears the second you sit down.

In plain English: these picks aren’t “nice in theory.” They’re designed to work in the real worldwhere your
floors have pet hair, your sink has coffee grounds, and your shower has opinions about soap scum.

The Biggest Standouts From the 2019 Winners (By Room and Real-Life Problems)

Kitchen MVPs: Grease, Gunk, and the “How Is There Always Another Dish?” Era

The kitchen is where grime goes to become a lifestyle. The best award winners here aren’t just strongthey’re
smart about how they clean.

Dawn Ultra Dish Washing Liquid The legendary standard-bearer. It’s a dish soap, yes, but it’s
also the Swiss Army knife of suds: strong grease-cutting power, reliable lather, and handy for pre-treating oily
spots when laundry drama strikes.
Tovolo Magnetic Soap Dispensing Dish Brush and In-Sink Holder A tidy little genius. The
magnet-and-holder setup helps cut down on sink-side chaos (and that soggy sponge smell that haunts your dreams).
Brillo Estracell No Scratch Scrub Sponge with Wedge Edge The “dries fast, rinses clean”
concept is a big deal. A sponge that doesn’t stay swampy is a sponge that’s less likely to turn into a biology
project.
Cascade Platinum Action Pacs Detergent Dishwasher detergent has a brutal job: baked-on
lasagna, cloudy glasses, and whatever happened to that one spoon. This pick was recognized for clearing
stuck-on messes and leaving glassware bright.
Brillo Cameo Aluminum & Stainless Steel Cleaner When cookware loses its shine, you don’t
want a product that scratches. A gentle powder cleanser can restore luster with less risk to finishes.
Miele Dishwasher with Hidden Controls and Clean Touch Steel Panel “Quiet + fast + actually
dries the dishes” is the holy trinity. This award winner was praised for strong cleaning performance and a
quick cycle designed to get dishes clean and dry faster.

Pro tip: For greasy kitchens, the fastest win is pairing the right chemistry with the right tool.
Dish soap handles grease; a good brush/scrubber speeds up contact and lift; and a dishwasher detergent that
performs well saves you from re-washing “clean” glasses (which is a special kind of heartbreak).

Laundry & Fabric Care: Where Stains Go to Lie About What Happened

Laundry isn’t just cleaningit’s negotiating with physics, pigment, and whatever that “mystery smear” is. The 2019
winners emphasize performance (stain removal) and convenience (because nobody has time for a 14-step pretreating
ritual).

Persil ProClean Stain Fighter Laundry Detergent A liquid standout recognized for top-tier
stain removal performance (including tough everyday offenders like coffee) in testing.
Tide PODS 3 in 1 Convenience can still be powerful. Detergent packs that score well on both
warm and cold cycles are a big deal for modern, energy-conscious laundry habits.
Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam Grease is not “just another stain.” It clings. A targeted
foam pretreatment helps break that bond before the wash.
Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover Because life is short and red wine happens. This kind of
specialist product is most valuable when you act fast (before the stain sets and starts paying rent).
Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner Not technically “laundry,” but it
lives in the same universe: spills + fabric + panic. A portable spot cleaner is a game-changer for upholstery
and carpet mishaps.
Electrolux Perfect Steam Washer with Luxcare Wash and Smartboost The innovation angle here is
smart dispensing designed to help detergent mix effectively for better cleaning, which is exactly where many
“my clothes still smell weird” complaints begin.

Laundry reality check: Stain removal is a three-part story: (1) what the stain is (oil, protein, dye),
(2) the water temp and cycle, and (3) whether you pretreat in time. Award-winning detergents help, but timing and
technique still matter.

Floors & Big Tools: The “Why Is This Room Dusty Again?” Department

Floors are where everything eventually ends upcrumbs, hair, pollen, glitter from a craft project you regret, and
the occasional Lego lying in ambush.

Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet Floor Mopping and Cleaning Starter Kit Lightweight, fast, and
easy to deploy. Disposable cloths make quick cleanups feel doable (especially for high-traffic areas).
Bissell CrossWave Floor and Carpet Cleaner The appeal: transition between picking up dry mess
and washing hard floors/area rugs without swapping tools every five minutes.
iRobot Roomba i7+ A major convenience win thanks to a self-emptying base concept and smart
features that reduce daily maintenance. For busy households and pet owners, “less emptying” is practically a
love language.
Miele Complete C3 Vacuum for Soft Carpet Plush carpet can humble weaker vacuums. A canister
model designed for deep pile plus effective filtration helps with both dirt pickup and allergen control.
Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Spray Hardwood is durable, but it’s not invincible. A dedicated
wood-floor cleaner that cleans without trashing the finish is the safe move.

Floor strategy that actually works: Use “dry first, wet second.” Vacuum or sweep up grit before you mop.
Otherwise, you’re basically making a dirt smoothie and spreading it lovingly across your home.

Bathroom & High-Touch Surfaces: Where Soap Scum Lives to Fight Another Day

Bathrooms demand two different superpowers: cleaning (removing grime/soap scum) and disinfecting (reducing germs on
high-touch spots). The 2019 winners highlight both.

CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner The “grout glow-up” category. A clinging foam can help tackle
hard-water stains and soap scum with less scrubbing.
Lysol Disinfecting Wipes The quick-hit choice for handles, switches, faucets, remotes, and
the other “everyone touches this constantly” surfaces.
Clorox ToiletWand System A cleaner toilet experience (emotionally and physically) thanks to a
hands-free disposable pad system.
Casabella Clip-on Silicone Squeegee Daily squeegeeing is boring, but it keeps glass and tile
from collecting water that encourages buildup. Clip-on storage makes the habit easier to maintain.
Invisible Glass Glass Cleaner A fine mist helps reduce drips and streaks, which is most of the
battle with mirrors and shower glass.
Clorox Scentiva Disinfecting Wet Mopping Cloths The “bathroom floors can be disinfected too”
reminder, in an easy format.

Safety + effectiveness note: If you’re disinfecting, label directions matter. Disinfectants work
best when the surface stays wet for the listed contact time. If it dries too fast, you may be cutting the
effectiveness short. (Yes, your disinfectant has a timer. No, it doesn’t care that you’re in a hurry.)

Everyday Helpers: Small Tools With Big “Why Didn’t I Do This Sooner?” Energy

Not every cleaning win comes from a strong chemical. Sometimes it’s the right accessory that makes a task easier,
faster, or less gross.

Mr. Clean Clean Freak Deep Cleaning Mist A mist that clings can help degrease without flooding
the surface (and your sleeves).
Parker & Bailey Kitchen Cabinet Cream Great for that invisible sticky film cabinets love
to collect.
Affresh Stainless Steel Cleaning Spray Because fingerprints are basically stainless steel’s
hobby.
Affresh Cooktop Cleaning Kit The scraper + pads + cleaner combo helps with burned-on spills,
and “combo” matters when you’re trying to avoid scratching.
Toryen Microfiber Towels A strong microfiber can clean well with less product and can be
washed/sanitized appropriately, making it a reusable powerhouse.
OXO Long Reach Dusting System Extendable reach helps you actually remove dust instead of
redistributing it like confetti.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable A scuff-removal legend, but use it wisely: it’s gently
abrasive, so test first on delicate finishes.
Bounty Paper Towels Strong when wet matters for window wiping and big spills. (No one enjoys
a paper towel that gives up mid-mess.)
simplehuman Rectangular Sensor Can with Voice and Motion Sensor Touch-free trash is a tiny
luxury that feels surprisingly meaningful when your hands are gross.

How to Shop Like a Cleaning Lab (Without Owning a Lab Coat)

1) Match the product to the problem

Grease? You want surfactants (dish soap, degreasers). Mineral deposits and hard-water stains? You want the right
acid-based cleaner for the correct surface. Germ concerns? You want a disinfectant used correctly.
Different messes require different solutions“all-purpose” is great, but it’s not magical.

2) Disinfecting isn’t the same as cleaning (and your counter wants you to know that)

Cleaning removes dirt and lowers germs by physically lifting grime off a surface. Disinfecting uses chemicals to
inactivate pathogens. Ideally, you do both: clean first if a surface is visibly dirty, then disinfect if needed.

3) Respect contact time (yes, it matters)

If your disinfecting wipe dries in 20 seconds but the label calls for longer wet time, you may need to use enough
product to keep the surface wet for the full duration. The goal is not “wipe and sprint away.” The goal is “wet
long enough to work.”

4) Don’t mix products (unless you enjoy unpleasant chemistry)

Mixing cleaners can create dangerous fumes. Follow label instructions and keep it simple: one product at a time,
rinse if needed, ventilate, and store safely.

5) Microfiber is your quiet superpower

High-quality microfiber grabs dust and grime efficiently, often reducing how much cleaner you need. It’s also
reusablejust wash it properly (and separate it from lint-heavy laundry so it doesn’t turn into a fuzzy mop).

6) “Natural” isn’t always “safe for everything”

Pantry staples like vinegar and baking soda can be useful, but they’re not universal. Vinegar is acidic and can
harm certain surfaces (like some natural stone and finishes). And vinegar is not a reliable disinfectant. Use
specialty products where it matterslike a wood cleaner for wood floors, or an EPA-registered disinfectant when
you need true germ-killing power.

Build a 2019 Awards-Inspired Cleaning Kit (Simple, Not Scary)

You don’t need every product on the list to clean like a pro. Start with a small “core kit” and add
specialists only when you actually face that problem.

The Core Kit (covers 80% of household messes)

Dish soap: Dawn Ultra (grease, general cleanup, pretreating oily spots)
Disinfecting wipes: Lysol Disinfecting Wipes (high-touch surfaces)
Microfiber cloths: Toryen Microfiber Towels (streak-free wipe downs)
Floor quick-clean: Swiffer Sweeper kit (fast dust + light mopping)
Laundry detergent: Persil liquid or Tide PODS (depending on your preference)
Bathroom help: CLR Bath & Kitchen Cleaner (soap scum, hard water)

Specialists Worth Adding (when your house demands them)

Robot vacuum: iRobot Roomba i7+ (especially for pet hair and daily maintenance)
Hardwood cleaner: Bona spray (for wood floors and finish-friendly cleaning)
Grease pretreatment: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
Spot emergencies: Wine Away (wine), Bissell Pet Stain Eraser (carpet/upholstery)
Toilet tool upgrade: Clorox ToiletWand (less gross, more efficient)

Bottom Line: Why These 2019 Winners Still Hold Up

The real lesson of the 2019 Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards isn’t “buy 50 products.”
It’s that performance comes from the right match of tool + formula + technique. A great dish soap should cut
grease without drama. A strong detergent should remove stains without requiring a chemistry degree. A disinfectant
should work when used correctly (contact time included). And a floor system should make it easy enough to do the
job before the mess becomes a permanent resident.

Choose a few award-winning staples, learn the basic rules (don’t mix chemicals, disinfect with proper wet time,
protect delicate surfaces), and you’ll spend less time fighting grimeand more time enjoying the radical luxury of
a clean kitchen sink.

Field Notes: of Cleaning Experiences (Because Life Is Messy)

The first time I really got cleaning awards was the day I tried to “save time” by using one product for
everything. I sprayed an all-purpose cleaner on a greasy stovetop, wiped it once, and congratulated myself like a
genius. Ten minutes later, the surface looked like it had been polished with a slice of pepperoni. That’s when I
learned the difference between “cleaning” and “moving grease around.”

Now I keep a short list of reliable winners and use them like a sensible adult who has learned things the hard
way. Dish soap is the prime example. When a pan is slick with oil, a dedicated grease cutter feels like a cheat
code. A few drops, hot water, and the mess stops clinging like it has emotional attachment issues. It also doubles
as an emergency helper for oily stains on fabricbecause the universe loves spilling salad dressing on white
shirts five minutes before you leave the house.

The second big “aha” moment: disinfecting wipes are only magical if you use them like the label expects. I used to
wipe a doorknob, watch it dry instantly, and assume I’d defeated all germs everywhere. Then I learned about
contact timehow the surface needs to stay wet long enough for the disinfectant to do its job. That’s the day my
cleaning routine stopped being theater and started being effective. It’s also the day I stopped using one sad wipe
for an entire kitchen. (Economical? Maybe. Effective? Not so much.)

Floors are where my optimism goes to die. You can clean in the morning and still hear a suspicious crunch under
your foot by lunch. That’s why quick systems matter. A lightweight floor tool that’s easy to grab means you’ll
actually do the “two-minute cleanup” before crumbs become the foundation of a new civilization. And when life
gets busierwork deadlines, guests, pets with a personal vendetta against cleanlinessrobot vacuums earn their
reputation. The best part isn’t even the cleaning; it’s the mental relief of knowing the floor is being handled
while you do literally anything else.

My final lesson is the one nobody wants to learn: some tools are powerful and should be treated with respect.
Melamine “eraser” sponges can remove scuffs like magic, but they can also dull delicate finishes if you go at them
like you’re sanding a deck. The grown-up move is testing in a hidden spot and using a light touch. Cleaning is not
a grudge match.

In the end, the best cleaning products aren’t the fanciest. They’re the ones that make you think, “Oh. That’s
easier.” The 2019 award winners are full of those momentsless scrubbing, less guesswork, and fewer chores that
feel like a personal insult.