Even in the modern era of innovation, many old-school products available on the market still outperform their contemporary competitors, which makes them that much more impressive. We’ve previously applied this theory to items such as beauty products and home goods, and now, cleaning products.
Throughout our research on retro cleaning goods, we learned that most (if not all) of the formulas from yesteryear prove to be not just more affordable, but also incredibly multi-purpose, making them an extra smart buy.
Keep reading to see which cleaners have withstood the passage of time and proven their worth in efficacy and performance. It’s a vintage roster containing an economic laundry bar that hails back to the late 1800s, a heavy-duty mult-purpose cleaner that’s tough enough for oil stains and gentle enough for fabrics, or one Kelly green dishwashing liquid that reviewers claim is better than Dawn — plus tons more.
Originally introduced to market in 1933 as a dry cleaning laundry fluid, Lestoil is a heavy-duty concentrate that magics away stains on a variety of household surfaces, from grimy countertops to oil-stained garage floors to even grease and ink stains on fabrics (white fabrics and metallic surfaces excluded). One reviewer who claims to be a general contractor said that this old-fashioned formula even removes difficult substances like tar from clothing, “like nothing else.” Just spot treat, give it a scrub, let it sit, and place the item in a normal wash cycle.
This very retro-looking bottle looks entirely unchanged from when it could be seen on television commercials in the 1960s. Several decades later, Jubilee kitchen wax still promises to polish as it cleans when swept across a variety of surfaces, like stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic tile, chrome fixtures, and even wood. It also puts down a hard protective wax finish to make cleaning up future messes easier and prevent stains from settling in.
Promising review: “i live in a 27 year old building and the counter tops are original. This wax works like a miracle, it prevents stains from coffee or other drinks. they just wipe right off. I used something different when i first moved here that was worthless. this product is superior.” — Betty Knudson
Since 1882, this powder cleanser has been trusted to power through grease, rust, hard water stains and grime. Using a powerful blend of degreasing agents, Bar Keepers Friend manages to be gentle enough for surfaces like porcelain but tough enough to be used on grills or oven racks covered in cooked-on grease or remove stains on pots and pans, without scratching surfaces. The non-bleach formula is also useful for bathroom surfaces and even outdoor jobs. According to one reviewer, this “magical powder” was the only product that managed to whiten their tub after all other products had failed.
For over 100 years, the Murphy wood cleaner and soap has conditioned and restored wood flooring and furniture without the use of chemicals, bleach, or toxins. This 99% naturally derived formula also works on non-wood surfaces such as laminate flooring, vinyl, and ceramic tiling and has earned 4.8 out of 5 stars. Reviewers claim that it penetrates wood well enough to remove dirt while adding shine, and others swear that it works well without leaving any sticky residue, no rinsing required.
With a trademark dating back to 1896, this cleaning product has a name that you're most likely already familiar with: Old English. This iconic, time-honored, and lemon-scented formula uses a light mineral oil base that nourishes wood surfaces back to their former glory, while also protecting them from everyday stains. “Old English,” wrote one reviewer. “What can you say? [B]een the standard for 40+ years.”
If you've ever wanted to get your whites bright and refresh clothing that's gone dingy or yellowed — without the risks associated with bleach — Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing has been a trusted bleach-free alternative since 1883. This laundry additive essentially uses its blue hue to “tone” white fabrics, in the same way you might use a toner to neutralize brassy hues in blonde hair. Just be sure to follow directions and dilute the liquid properly before adding it to your load of laundry.
Promising review: “Have used for years!!! Great to make whites more whiter!! Takes yellow out of white garments,,, just be sure to dilute and not pour directly on garments when using. Wonderful product !!!” — wfr
Brillo soap pads first came on the cleaning scene in 1913 and were initially intended to clean aluminum cookware, which tends to blacken easily with use. Since then, "the original soap pad" has proven to be effective at deeply cleaning and restoring more than just dishes, but also stovetops, oven interiors, grills, tools, glass shower doors, and much more. Each long-lasting pad is made with scratch-resistant steel wool infused with a grease-fighting soap that also prevents the formation of rust.
Dating back to the 1950s, the makers of Scotch-Brite came up with the genius idea of combining nonwovens with abrasive compounds such as aluminum oxide and titanium oxide to create these versatile scour pads that are perfect for scrubbing away stuck-on messes. These durable and long-lasting pads work on non-coated cookware, grills, oven racks, and even tough outdoor jobs.
Although Fels-Naptha has been around since 1894, this versatile laundry bar went viral on TikTok a few years ago incredible ability to remove old, difficult stains, perspiration, and oil marks from clothing and other soft surfaces. Made of a blend of animal fats and coconut oil, the Fels-Naptha bar works as a pre-treatment for clothing that's been marred with sweat stains, blood, grass stains, and grease. You can also make your own budget-friendly and highly effective laundry detergent by combining a grated Fels-Naptha bar, which smells like fresh linen, with Borax and baking soda. One TikTok user claimed that this concoction costs her a fraction of the cost of normal gallon detergents and lasts much longer.
Pine-Sol is one old-school cleaner that needs no introduction – it's possible you can already smell that recognizable pine-infused scent just by looking at a bottle of the stuff, which was invented in 1929. This bleach-free disinfectant kills allergens and 99.9% of germs, including those that cause COVID-19. Dilute this powerful concentrate and use it to clean any number of surfaces, without needing to rinse them after, thanks to Pine-Sol's residue-free promise.
Borax, an all-natural powder, has been trademarked since the 19th century. Fast forward to present day, where nearly 26,000 Amazon shoppers have awarded this classic multi-purpose cleaner with 5 stars for several reasons. Initially marketed as a laundry booster, Amazon reviewers say that adding Borax to their loads of laundry has made their laundry smell fresher, while others swear their clothing comes out “softer, cleaner, and somehow more comfortable.” And it's not just for laundering purposes that Borax can come in handy. Use this to deodorize musty carpets, remove stains, or make into a paste that cleans ovens, stovetops, counters, tile grout, and more.
First introduced in 1898 as a mild soap bar with an olive oil-based formula, Fairy soap has evolved into this classic dishwashing liquid that reviewers are calling "the best dish detergent" that's reminiscent of soaps from the 1960s. " It is not watered down like the detergents today. It really cuts grease and it cleans my dishes and everything so well. It gets subsy and quickly creates bubbles," the same reviewer wrote."
Another claimed they prefer this nostalgic-smelling formula to Dawn and that they even use it to remove stains from clothing pre-washing.