The 10 Trader Joe’s Cleaning Products We Swear By (Is There Anything They Can’t Do?)

Just so you know, I live 55 blocks from the closest Trader Joe’s. Gone are the days when I could just waltz through on a whim to pick up my favorite snacks or a quick microwave-and-eat dinner—my Trader Joe’s runs now involve very precise planning, and hauling as many groceries as I can possibly carry onto the 6 train.

We all know Trader Joe’s is the land of magical snacks, affordable wines, and super giftable flowers. But did you know they also have a smaller but excellent selection of cleaning products—all of which are cruelty-free? Plus, several are substantially more eco-friendly than most brands from our local supermarkets.

So, the next time you’re at TJ’s, head to the cleaning aisle (via the freezer section, naturally), and grab your housekeeping arsenal. Here are 10 products to look out for.

1. Multi-Purpose Cedarwood Wood & Sage Cleaner

This multi-purpose cleaner is biodegradable, and you can use it on any water-safe surface in your home. That means tiles, mirrors, windows, glass, walls, countertops, the list goes on. So yeah, everything.

2. Super Amazing Reusable Kitchen Cloth

Looking to cut down on paper towel usage? This is the product for you. You can wash and reuse these absorbable kitchen cloths, and some Amazon reviewers even recommend cutting them down to smaller sizes for easier use—making it even better value for money.

3. Liquid Dish Soap

A little bit of this clear soap, which comes in citrus and lavender tea tree, gets you a lot of suds. It's a "plant-based, grease-cutting, kitchen-cleaner-upper’s dream" (their words). It’s also biodegradable and hypoallergenic, and therefore a great choice if you have sensitive skin.

4. Pop Up Sponges

These vegetable cellulose sponges come in packs of 12, and completely flat-packed—perfect for tucking away into a crowded under-sink cabinet. When it’s time to break out a new sponge, just dip it in water to hydrate it before using. The sponges are also biodegradable, making them an eco-friendly (and affordable) staple for your dishwashing needs.

5. Trader Joe's Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Giving your fresh produce a quick rinse under the tap may not always be enough to remove all dirt, pesticides, and wax. Enter specialty fruit and veggie washes like this one. You can apply a few drops to items and wash them individually, or soak produce in bulk in a solution of one tablespoon of the wash in 32 ounces of water.

6. Next to Godliness Automatic Dishwasher Detergent

These fragrance-free dishwashing pods will make short work of your dishes, and they are perfect for anyone sensitive to harsh scents.

7. Dishwasher Detergent Gel

This nontoxic formula, free of phosphates and chlorine, has the most pleasant lemon scent. Trader Joe’s says the product is a USDA certified biobased product: “Whereas most dishwasher detergents are mainly petroleum based, this detergent is made with 65% biobased products.”

8. Liquid Laundry Detergent

This laundry detergent, scented with lavender essential oils, is made with soy-based softeners and programmed for high efficiency.

9. Dr Bronner’s Liquid Soap

This is one of the few name-brand cleaning products you’ll find at TJs, and may well become the only soap you’ll ever need. This biodegradable, concentrated soap can be used on everything from your face to your pets to your dishes and your wooden floors. Plus, the quasi-religious text on the bottle makes for interesting reading material.

10. Grapefruit and Lemon Hand Sanitizer Spray

If you hoard hand sanitizers, this fresh-scented option is a must-have for your collection. It contains aloe and vitamin E to avoid drying out your hands, making it perfect for germ-fearing frequent spritzers.

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What Trader Joe's non-food products are you currently obsessed with? Tell us in the comments.