Which Cleaner Should I Use?

Tell us what you are cleaning and what the mess is, and we will match you to the gentlest cleaner that works, with a starting dilution and the mixing rules that go with it.

The wrong cleaner can etch stone, dull a finish, bleach a rug, or release a toxic gas when it meets something else under the sink. The right one is usually the mildest product that still handles your particular mess, used at the right strength and left on for the right amount of time.

This finder asks about the surface, the problem, your tolerance for fumes, who lives in the home and how much you want to spend. It then matches you to one of six options: a dish soap solution, a vinegar solution, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach, a degreaser, or a bleach sanitizing solution. Every result gives you a starting dilution, where not to use it, how to mix it without creating a hazard, and a link to the calculator that works out the exact amounts. If you are unsure what the surface is, the quiz plays it safe and points you to the gentlest option.

Result	Best for
Dish soap solution	The gentlest all-rounder: a few drops of dish soap in warm water for everyday dirt, light grease and delicate surfaces.
Vinegar solution	Mild household acid for hard-water spots, soap scum and streak-free glass on surfaces that tolerate it.
Hydrogen peroxide	Ordinary 3% hydrogen peroxide for light mildew stains, tile and grout and low-odor cleaning.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean-type)	Sodium percarbonate powder in warm water, good for stains and odors on carpet, fabric and many hard surfaces.
Degreaser	An alkaline kitchen degreaser, diluted per its label, for baked-on grease on tough, nonporous surfaces.
Bleach sanitizing solution	Diluted household bleach for sanitizing hard, nonporous surfaces, used with a set contact time and never mixed.

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Which Cleaner Should I Use?

All Cleaner Calcs tools

Dilution & Sanitizing

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Laundry

Mixing & Surface Safety

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