We tried 21 cleaning products this month — here are the 8 we'd buy again

I typically keep a bottle of Dawn Powerwash Free & Clear Spray on hand for when I need to call in reinforcements while washing dishes, especially now that I use mostly stainless steel pots and pans. So I was intrigued to hear Dawn was launching a collection of limited-edition winter scents.

My current go-to, Fresh Pine, transports me to an enchanted forest with one spritz. I l also like how the scent lingers — it smells like my Christmas tree, and I plan to use it well into the new year to keep the holiday mood alive.

I picked up a pack of Scrub Mommy sponges a few years ago and now can't imagine everyday cleaning without them. They're dual-sided — the sponge is soft enough to glide over flat surfaces and the scrubber is tough enough to get grime off pans and tubs. And they're gentle enough not to scratch up surfaces, which is particularly important to me as someone who rents a newly renovated apartment.

The bright colors make cleaning (at least a little bit) fun. I have some limited-edition seasonal shapes and they look so cute sitting in the soap tray on my kitchen counter.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products are another staple in my home, so I've been eager to try the brand's limited-edition Gingerbread scent as a way to spice things up for the winter season. I'm not exaggerating when I say I use this multi-purpose spray to clean everything.

It's effective, doesn't streak and is not overwhelmingly fragrant, key for a cleaning spray I use regularly. It's so convenient that it works on everything from glass windows and mirrors to stone countertops and tiles — even wood tables and consoles — so I don't have to lug several products around with me. I especially love the Gingerbread scent for cleaning the kitchen because it smells like I'm baking cookies!

I've been using Seventh Generation products for a while now and recently decided to try the brand's EasyDose Laundry Detergent as a way to save laundry room space (and use less water! And plastic!).

The super-concentrated formula contains 50% less H2O than the average laundry detergent, so you get 66 loads without having to store and maneuver a huge bottle (it also uses 60% less plastic than the average laundry soap container — a win for the environment).

Thanks to the measured, controlled spout (hence the EasyDose), I don't need to worry about pouring too much liquid in or spilling anything. And it gets my clothes clean! I tend to use the Free & Clear, but also really like the Fresh Lavender scent.

Can a bottle brush be stylish? It turns out the answer is yes — just look at the elegant copper trim and baby-blue handle on this find, which is part of Scotch-Brite's new, aesthetically driven Brite brand. Beyond its good looks, I've found it works wonders getting into every crevice of my insulated water bottles and even my blender jar.

But what I like most about this little helper is that it hides a straw brush inside the handle. I'm a big metal straw user, but they can be a pain to wash, and those flimsy cleaners always seem to magically disappear like socks in the laundry. This straw brush screws to the handle, so it's always there. Smoothie cleanup has never gone so, well, smoothly.

As a devoted user of Poo-Pouri, I didn't think I needed another bathroom spray in my life. But one spritz of this "toilet tamer" changed my mind. The citrus scent is just strong enough that it effectively masks less-than-pleasant odors but doesn't give me a headache.

It smells just like the orange and clove oils advertised on the bottle — which smells festive in the winter and fresh in the summer. 

I've been using a Swiffer WetJet for ages but had yet to try this newer model, which came out about a year-and-a-half ago. I only wish I had give it a shot sooner: For about the same price, the PowerMop packs all the cleaning prowess of the original — and then some. 

The pads have hundreds of little scrubbers so they pick up dirt more quickly and easily than my beloved WetJet. They're disposable, which I don't love, but they last longer and seem more durable than other pads. I mostly use a Swiffer to clean my kitchen and bathroom, and I've been able to reuse the pads several times. 

I should also mention that the PowerMop comes with the two batteries you need to operate it, so you can get scrubbing right away.

Yes, this is soap for your hands, not your dishes. And yes, it is expensive. But it's also the absolute nicest thing I've added to my bathroom this past year, and it smells remarkably like that pricey santal perfume every cool person you know wears.

The bottle, which was recently designed by French artist Tomalater to celebrate Compagnie de Provence's 25th anniversary, feels heavy and substantial and adds a lovely pop of color to my vanity. And at over 16 ounces, it's also massive — I suspect this soap will take me well into 2025!