The Classic Cleaning Products Grandma Used That Still Get the Job Done
Sometimes, the old stuff is the best stuff!
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As the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, I'm always excited to put the latest cleaning hack to the test or try a innovative new product. But sometimes, the old products are the best ones. These old-fashioned grandma-approved cleaning products have stood the test of time. They've continued to perform well in our laboratory tests, and they're generally affordable. What's not to love?
These are my favorite classic cleaning products that prove grandmother knows best when it comes to cleaning up the house. (Well, not always). Plus, some tips and tricks for how to use each product effectively.
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A household staple since about 1908, Parsons' Ammonia (now part of the Brillo family) calls itself the original all-purpose cleaner. Well known as an ingredient in glass cleaners, ammonia cuts through grime quickly and eliminates streaks, but there's so much more it can do. Use it to dissolve grease on surfaces, even concrete, strip waxy build-up from floors, help remove stains—like blood or felt-tip marker—from fabrics and laundry, clean combs and brushes, and more.
Ammonia comes clear or cloudy (with detergent added), and Parson's has a lemon scent to minimize ammonia's signature pungent smell. You can't beat it for value as a little goes a long way when diluted with water in a spray bottle, sink, or bucket.
For safety, be sure to keep ammonia away from natural protein fibers, like silk and wool, and delicate surfaces, like tech screens, and never, ever mix it with bleach or other bleach-containing cleaners, as it will produce toxic fumes.
Long before spray and gel laundry stain pre-treaters came along, there was Fels-Naptha, a soap bar that you rubbed into a stain before putting a garment in the wash. Launched in 1893 as a heavy-duty laundry stain soap by Fels & Company, the original bar contained naptha, a solvent that made it especially effective on grease and oil stains. As time went on and the safety and health concerns associated with naptha came to light, the ingredient was replaced, but the name stuck.
Now under the Zout brand, it's still an effective way to remove heavy-duty stains, like grease, and dried, set-in stains, like blood, perspiration, or ring-around-the-collar. I used it to remove blood stains from a child's blanket when nothing else could. Simply wet the bar, rub it into the stain, and wash. The bar comes wrapped in paper, and you can't beat it for value, but it can be tricky to store once the wrapper is opened.
Invented in 1886 by the J.T. Robertson Soap Company, Bon Ami's (which means good friend in French!) key ingredient is feldspar, a mineral mined along with quartz that was originally discarded as waste. Luckily, Robertson found it to be an effective—yet gentle—cleaner that didn't scratch surfaces like the quartz cleansers of the day did. Originally, it came in both cake and powder form, but now only the powdered cleanser remains and contains only five simple ingredients.
Bon Ami is the perfect choice when you need some gentle abrasion to remove stuck-on grime from a surface. Think cookware, sinks, cooktops, and even bathtub rings. Simply wet the sponge or surface, sprinkle on Bon Ami, and rub. While safe for most household surfaces (except windows and mirrors), it's always best to test it in a hidden spot on any new surface you are cleaning. Always wet the surface first before applying it and rinse well afterward.
Borax is a naturally occurring compound made up of sodium, oxygen, and boron that was discovered in the dry areas of Death Valley, California, in 1881. To haul it from the remote mines to the railroads for processing, it literally took teams of 20 mules 10 days to trek across the desert. By 1891, the Pacific Coast Borax Company took the 20 Mule Team as its brand.
Borax is a salt and, therefore, very helpful in removing the minerals from hard water that cause spotting and residues. One half cup added to the washing machine's wash cycle helps boost the performance of the detergent. And one quarter cup added into the dishwasher helps eliminate spotting and filming inside the machine and on your glasses. There are lots of other uses for 20 Mule Team Borax, too, like cleaning shower doors and ridding your home of mildew or pet odors. And if you have kids, you may have even used it to make slime!
Borax is a chemical, though, and should be handled carefully. No matter what TikTok says, it should never be ingested and is not the same product as boric acid, baking soda, or washing soda.
Borax is a naturally occurring compound made up of sodium, oxygen, and boron that was discovered in the dry areas of Death Valley, California, in 1881. To haul it from the remote mines to the railroads for processing, it literally took teams of 20 mules 10 days to trek across the desert. By 1891, the Pacific Coast Borax Company took the 20 Mule Team as its brand.
Borax is a salt and, therefore, very helpful in removing the minerals from hard water that cause spotting and residues. One half cup added to the washing machine's wash cycle helps boost the performance of the detergent. And one quarter cup added into the dishwasher helps eliminate spotting and filming inside the machine and on your glasses. There are lots of other uses for 20 Mule Team Borax, too, like cleaning shower doors and ridding your home of mildew or pet odors. And if you have kids, you may have even used it to make slime!
Borax is a chemical, though, and should be handled carefully. No matter what TikTok says, it should never be ingested and is not the same product as boric acid, baking soda, or washing soda.
Of the products here, Tide powder is one of the new kids on the block. Brought to market in 1946, it was the first laundry detergent to enter America's laundry rooms. Before that, laundry soaps were all the rage, but they didn't rinse out completely, especially in hard water, and left residues behind. Tide solved all those problems. So, while not as old as some products on this list, Tide was a breakthrough invention that has certainly earned its place in cleaning product history.
Originally only available as a powder (which is why I chose the powder here), liquid Tide was introduced in 1984, and the convenient pods came along in 2012. The formulas have changed—and improved—through the years, but Tide continues to be a top-performing detergent in our GH Cleaning Lab tests and carries our Good Housekeeping Seal.
Coming to market soon after Tide, Jubilee Kitchen Wax was a product of the 1950s when new surfaces, like laminate countertops and new appliances, were making their way into America's kitchens. Jubilee was temporarily discontinued for a period of time and then brought back thanks to popular demand.
Jubilee is an easy-to-use liquid cream that both cleans and leaves surfaces with a brilliant, protective shine. Use it on greasy wood kitchen cabinets and banisters, chrome fixtures, laminate countertops, tile backsplashes, and more. Both a cleaner and a polish in one, Jubilee not only cuts grease and removes stains but puts down a protective coating that both shines and helps repel future soil, so you'll likely be cleaning less often.
Jubilee has such a beloved following that the internet is filled with testimonials from fans who once used it, haven't been able to find it, and want to get their hands on it again. While safe for many surfaces, Jubilee is not recommended for stainless steel appliances or granite countertops.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
With more than 40 years under her belt heading up Good Housekeeping's Home Care & Cleaning Lab, overseeing all the print and digital cleaning content for the brand, and authoring numerous Good Housekeeping cleaning and organizing books, Carolyn Forte has seen many cleaning products come and go. She has personally used all of the products recommended here, and many were staples in her mother's cleaning cabinet.
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