I’m a cleaning editor, and these are the best cleaning products that *actually* work – and the ones I use in my own home

There are many things you may not have known you can clean with white vinegar, and this natural, non-toxic cleaning solution is ideal for gently breaking down dirt, grime, and even hard water deposits. And while the Unscented Miniml Eco White Vinegar, £8.25 at Amazon, is a solid choice for that, I personally find the unscented version a little harsh on the nose. The lemon-scented alternative is so much nicer and leaves my home smelling fresh and clean.

I swear by all Scrub Daddy products, but the Damp Duster is by far my favourite. I stumbled across it while testing out the best blind cleaning tools, and now use it for dusting and cleaning every single room in my house as it collects and traps dust in one quick wipe. Then, you can simply wash it clean under a tap to use time and time again. A bonus is that you can also use it to remove pet hair from carpet.

Bar Keepers Friend deserves way more credit for its cleaning abilities, as the whole Ideal Home team is obsessed with using this oxalic acid-based cleaner to tackle mineral deposits, grease and even rust from our homes. In fact, our Editor-in-Chief, Heather, swears by using Bar Keepers Friend to not only clean her sink, but also give her patio a refresh for the summer months.

Often slipping under the radar, soda crystals are a versatile cleaning agent that can be used around the house. The naturally occurring minerals are gentle but effective, cleaning everything from burnt pans to toilets. I mostly use soda crystals to clean my washing machine, and have found it way more effective than alternative methods - including washing-machine-specific cleaners you can buy from the supermarket.

Although cleaning grout in tiles can make a big difference to your bathroom, most methods are also incredibly time-consuming. But the Skylarlife Home Mould & Mildew Stain Remover is simple: apply the gel on the mould, leave for six hours, and then wipe it off! Our news writer, Kezia, tried this product in her own bathroom and was amazed by the results and would recommend it to anyone struggling with mould.

In my opinion, every home should have a bottle of this stuff in their cleaning cupboard because it really is a miracle worker - especially if you don't have the space to store one of the best carpet cleaners. The Dr Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover is also one of the top-rated cleaning products on Amazon, and can help to remove all kinds of stains from a carpet, including red wine, chocolate, tea and more.

Bicarbonate of soda is one of my all-time favourite cleaning products to use, as there are so many ways to use it around the house. As the alkaline substance is mildly abrasive, it's ideal for tougher stains and grease, as well as neutralising odours that threaten to take over your home. And while you can buy any brand of bicarbonate of soda and achieve the same results, I tend to stick to this Arm and Hammer offering as I find the box easy to store in my cleaning cupboard.

This stuff from Method not only does a brilliant job at cleaning your surfaces – from the kitchen to the bathroom – but it smells amazing, too. I personally love the Wild Rhubarb scent and this fragrance actually lingers! It's also poured inside a bottle that's made from recyclable bottles, is cruelty-free, and the formula is plant-based. You can now buy refills too, or opt for the Method concentrates, which you can dilute yourself at home.

If you haven't bought a tub of The Pink Stuff yet, I'd advise you to do so immediately. And while it may look like wallpaper paste, this cleaning paste is one of the best things you can use for an abrasive clean around the house. Our news writer Kez recently used it to clean the dirt and grime off her oven door, and the pictures really do speak for themselves. Plus, a little goes a long way, so the tub should last you ages.

I've made the conscious choice to swap from microfibre cloths to bamboo ones recently, and these are undoubtedly the best you can buy. Unlike microfibre cloths, which I often find leave a trail of fluff behind them, these bamboo cloths offer a streak-free finish no matter what you're cleaning. Plus, they last for months before you need to replace them! And even then, they're fully compostable.

Popular and for good reason, Mrs Hinch's beloved Elbow Grease is the cleaning spray to use on stubborn dirt. She uses this trusty solution to clean her UPVC windows, but it's also a powerful degreaser. This means you can spray it in your oven for a sparkling result or even on your BBQ. Plus, it's suitable for use on fabrics so that you can lift stains with ease. The best part? It leaves behind a lovely lemon scent. Just don't use it on wood!

I always find cleaning my toilet to be a chore, but these toilet tabs make it so easy. Aptly named because they do an Astonish(ingly) good job, simply take the tablet out of its packaging and throw it in your loo. It'll foam up, and you'll want to leave it for a few moments to do its magic. Then, come back and give your toilet a good brush, and you'll instantly be able to see the difference.

You can't beat a bottle of trusty Zoflora, right? This versatile disinfectant can be used on all types of surfaces, indoors and out, and I always couple mine with one of the best mops to clean my floors. After all, it kills bacteria like there's no tomorrow. And, don't even get me started on the scents they leave behind. There are so many amazing ones to choose from, but my favourite is the Midnight Blooms.

Although you'd think cleaning an induction hob would be easy, it can be harder than you think - especially if one of your pans overflows. But our Managing Editor, Thea, says that this Delphis Eco Ceramic and Induction Hob Non Scratch Cleaner is undoubtedly the best induction hob cleaner she's ever used for getting burnt-on food off her hob, and she loves the fact that it's also free from nasties. Plus, it won't leave behind any scratches.

You know something is one of the best cleaning products when literally every member of the Ideal Home team uses it, and that's the case for this Method Floor Cleaner. Everyone agrees that the Wild Rhubarb scent is the best of the best, and the fact that it can be used on all types of sealed floors makes it perfect for every home. It's also made from naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients, which is a major bonus.

One thing I've learned over the years is that washing-up liquid is so much more than just washing-up liquid - especially the eco kind. I use this Ecover Washing-Up Liquid across my whole house, whether it's for cleaning my windows in two minutes or making Nancy Birtwhistle's 'Pure Magic' recipe. And while I've used other eco options in the past, none have quite offered the same soapy power as this one.

Another one of the best cleaning products out there are these MR.SIGA Multi-Functional Eraser Sponges - and they're ultimately magical. I use them all the time to clean my walls without removing the paint, but these melamine sponges are also ideal for removing stains elsewhere, including on your toilet seat. Simply add water and use them wherever needed. It's that easy!

As I'm lucky to have a garden, I also have to spend my days cleaning my outside space too - and I've tried many of the best patio cleaners out there. But my honest opinion? You can't beat this Algon Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner. It's completely non-toxic (so safe to use around pets, children, and wildlife) and doesn't require any scrubbing or rinsing to get the job done, which is a major plus in my book.

I'm very much part of the no-need-to-iron club, and, in fact, I don't even own an iron. But I still like my clothes and my bed to look wrinkle-free, and when our tester tried out this Lenor Crease Releaser Spray and recommended it to all of us, I knew I had to try it. Now, I'm completely obsessed and use it on everything - and it's a major perk that it smells delicious, too.

Mould spray is a must-have for any damp home. And if you want to get rid of damp and condensation, whether it's your bathroom, kitchen or bedroom, a good spritz of this will kill spores immediately. It's strong, so you'll need to open windows and use it accordingly, but boy, does it work. And if you don't believe me, just check out the 40,000+ positive reviews on Amazon about it.

The trusty Seep Sponge is 100% plastic-free and also 100% compostable. I use it for cleaning dishes or surfaces around the home literally every single day, and there's the advantage that this cleaning sponge is long-lasting. In fact, I haven't swapped out my old one for months, and it still looks as good as new. I won't ever go back to a plastic alternative now.