Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner Review

By Katie Barton

Katie Barton Senior Editor

Katie Barton is a home improvement freelance writer. For as long as she can remember, she's had a passion for making homes beautiful. She specializes in cleaning, organizing, and home improvement projects.

Learn more about Homedit's Editorial Process

| Published on Oct 12, 2022

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Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner Review

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In an effort to find the best all-purpose cleaners, we put Better Life’s version to the test.

We tried this cleaner on numerous surfaces and rated it based on its cleaning power, scent, and more. Overall, it’s a good choice if you want a natural, plant-derived cleaner or are sensitive to fragrance. But the cleaner had its fair share of downsides too.

Find out how it ranked in our Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner review.

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner Overview

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner claims to have a clary sage and citrus smell, but when I clean with it, I don’t smell anything. Occasionally I’ll get a whiff of citrus, but it’s so faint this might as well be an unscented cleaner.

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner Directions: Spray and wipe. Safe for any non-porous surface or fabric marked water-safe or “W/S.”

Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner Review

I tested Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner on laminate counters, concrete counters, tile backsplash, wood, and stainless steel. It did an okay job. It cleaned fine but is not a cleaner I’d purchase again.

My biggest gripe about the cleaner (besides the non-existent scent) is its soapy consistency. It foams up like soap in a bottle, and when you wipe it off your countertops, it seems to get even soapier.

Here’s what it looks like:

But despite the dish soap and water consistency, it dried on most surfaces without streaks or leftover residue. 

Here’s a look at how it did on numerous surfaces.

• Countertops – I used this product on laminate and concrete countertops. It left them clean, similar to if I had wiped them with dish soap and water.
• Stainless Steel – I cleaned my stainless steel appliances with Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner. It removed all dirt and left minimal streaking behind. 
• Wood – I wiped down my kitchen table with this product, and it cleaned up dirt and grime.
• Cabinets – I have stained wood cabinets, and this cleaner was very gentle and didn’t lift any of the finish.

Who is Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner For?

If you’re looking for a cleaner that’s gentle enough to use on your stone counters or other delicate surfaces, Better Life is a top contender. You can even use it on water-safe fabric. It’s gentle with a similar consistency and cleaning power to dish soap and water.

It’s a great choice for anyone sensitive to fragrance and that wants a plant-derived cleaner.

Final Thoughts

After testing multiple multi-surface cleaners, I think Better Life All-Purpose Cleaner is just “okay.” It’s an excellent choice for delicate surfaces but cleans about the same as a simple mix of dish soap and water. 

Try Method if you’re looking for a more powerful (and better smelling) natural cleaner. But if you’re sensitive to fragrance, stick with Better Life.