Brands that cleaned up in the 2020/2021 Finder Retail Awards

Australia's top-rated cleaning brands have been revealed across a range of categories in Finder's 2020/2021 Retail Awards.

From oven and cooktop cleaners to fabric softeners, Finder polled Aussie consumers on their recent purchases to identify the most popular cleaning brands across 16 categories.

Affordable household names were among the winners, with 98% of consumers recommending ALDI for fabric softeners, and 94% endorsing Woolworths Essentials for the toilet cleaner category.

Finder's analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics data shows Aussies spent an average of 17 hours on household work per week, or 876 hours per year, before the pandemic.

Kate Browne, retail expert at Finder, said the company's Retail Awards help consumers pinpoint the best products in the market, saving them time and money.

"With Aussies spending more time at home, and making more of a mess while we're there, the good news is you needn't clock up more hours cleaning.

"If you have the right products and know the best cleaning hacks, you can clean efficiently, which means more time for the things you love," she said.

Top-rated cleaning brands for 2020/2021 (and general cleaning hacks):

All-Purpose Cleaner – Ajax

"Voted the most effective all-purpose spray, Ajax was recommended by 94% of consumers and is the easiest to use."

Barrel Vacuum Cleaner – Dyson

"Aussies gave Dyson the top score for cleaning performance and storage."

"Put a small scoop of cinnamon into your machine to emit any bad odours while you vacuum."

Stick Vacuum Cleaner – LG

"Recommended by 97% of consumers, LG has won the best stick vacuum brand. It received the top rating for value for money, battery life and cleaning performance."

Bleach & Disinfectant – Sard

"The easiest bleach of the bunch to use, Sard was the best rated overall by Australians."

"Have white dishes that are looking worse for wear? Whiten them with bleach. Just add a small amount of bleach to your dishwasher and voila!"

Carpet & Floor Cleaner – Pine O Cleen

"If you're looking for a carpet or floor cleaner, look no further than Pine O Cleen. It was recommended by 94% of consumers."

"Before you dip your mop into the bucket, use the cleaning solution to also wipe down surfaces like window sills or counters. Multitasking works wonders."

Cloths, Scourers & Sponges – Scotch-Brite

"Easy to use, durable and high performance, if you're in the market for cloths, scourers or sponges, then Aussies recommend Scotch-Brite."

Dishwasher Detergent (Liquid or Tablet) – Shine

"Scoring best rated for odour and scent, Shine's dishwasher detergent and tablets were also top rated for their effectiveness."

"Try cleaning your oven door with dishwashing tablets. Dip a tablet in warm water, scrub your oven door and watch the grease dissolve!"

Fabric Softener – ALDI

"If you want a fabric softener that delivers, then 98% of Aussies recommend ALDI. Best rated for softness of clothes and value for money, it's the clear winner in this category."

Glass Cleaner (Liquid) – Windex

"Windex took out the glass cleaner award as the best overall rated brand."

"Want a shower screen with no watermarks? Spray glass or window cleaner on your shower screen while it's still wet."

Laundry Detergent (Liquid or Tablet) – Cold Power

"Cold Power had the highest rating for cleaning performance and was also recognised for its packaging design."

"If you're using a tablet, consider breaking it in half for smaller loads."

Oven & Cooktop Cleaner – Hillmark

"Recommended by 96% of Aussies, the most effective and easiest to use oven and cooktop cleaner was Hillmark, which also rated as having the best smell."

Air Freshener – Ambi Pur

"Ambi Pur is the top rated brand for air freshener scent and packaging design. It also scored well for effectiveness."

Air Purifier – Dyson

"Dyson air purifiers topped the list for quietness, design and value for money. Recommended by 90% of consumers, Dyson also rated highly for cleaning and maintenance."

"Remember to replace the filter so the air purifier works efficiently."

Carpet & Floor Cleaner Appliance – Kärcher

"Kärcher topped the list for carpet and floor cleaning features and functions and ease of use."

Solvent & Drain Cleaner – Momar (Mo-flo)

"Momar (Mo-flo) took out the award for the best solvent and drain cleaning brand, with top scores for effectiveness and smell."

Toilet Cleaner (Liquid or Block) – Woolworths Essentials

"Woolworths Essentials toilet cleaner took out the top spot for every metric, and was recommended by 94% of consumers."

Working with Kantar, a globally leading data and insights company, Finder analysed the results of 14,000 surveys from over 3,000 Australian consumers to determine the winning brands.