Skip to main content

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

An honest review of Brandless refillable cleaners

In a twist of irony, Brandless is quickly becoming its own powerhouse brand. The minimalist aesthetic and upfront labels resonate with purchasers looking to avoid cabinets full of flashy graphics, and the squircle-with-text-inside is reminiscent of iPhone apps from one of the most iconic brands around: Apple.

Apple isn’t the only brand Brandless has borrowed from. A quick dip through its website shows – let’s call it inspiration – from Vitamix, Wusthoff, Crate & Barrel, All-Clad, Anthropologie, Dollar Shave Club, and more. With its refillable cleaners, Brandless has jumped on the bandwagon made popular by Tide Pods (still not a snack, kids); rather than purchasing bottles of stuff over and over, why not buy dissolving cleaner pods as refills?

Brandless sent us two of its cleaners – the multi cleaner and its tub and tile cleaner – for a test drive. Sure, I care about how clean it got my home, but what else is there to consider?

Delivery and unboxing

When you first order your Brandless refillable cleaners , the company will ship you a plastic bottle and one refill packet for six dollars. Delivery comes via UPPS or FedEx. No issues here.

What users say

Brandless cleaners are well reviewed on its site. The multi surface cleaner has 42 reviews with a 4.5-star rating at the time of publication. Most poor reviews relate to the bottle Brandless delivers – more on that in a bit.

The tub and tile cleaner has 110 reviews and 4.5-star rating at the time of publication. Poor reviews touch on its ineffectiveness on fiberglass (the review calls it “plastic”) tub inserts popular in many production homes, inability to clean stubborn stains, and of course the bottle itself.

The item is not sold on Amazon, so we can’t compare and contrast on-site reviews. There’s no reason to doubt the overall positive things Brandless reviewers say, though.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Initial impressions

A few things stand out immediately:

  • Plastic bottles are on-brand for Brandless but miss the mark. The bottles aren’t quality. At least they’re recyclable.
    Packaging was overkill. Two plastic bottles came in a box 4x their size with tons of packaging materials.
    Packet refills are clever – and work. I was dubious they’d dissolve fully, but a few minutes in the water and the cleaner was ready to use.
    This is an ecosystem. Brandless wants you to buy into its ecosystem and order direct. That’s nothing new for Brandless, and it knows cleaners are low-hanging fruit for that consumer-base.

After a week of use (and a few cleanings)

The cleaners did an equitable job to any other I’ve used. My go-to, store-bought cleaner are Method brand, and do just as good a job. All things being equal, what’s Brandless’ real pitch, here?

I’ll say this much: it’s clever to sell dissolving packets of concentrated cleaner people can just slip into a bottle and fill with water. Brandless wants you to believe you’re saving the environment by buying less plastic and saving money by using its packets.

Brandless bottles only tell you how much fluid each packet has, obfuscating whether or not you’re saving money. We found each bottle holds roughly 950 milliliters of water, or 32 ounces. The bottle-refill packet combo sell for six dollars. Two refill packs are also six dollars. This tells us Brandless is charging three dollars for each fill, and three dollars for the bottle.

The bottle is simply not worth three dollars. Like many reviewers on the Brandless site, I’d suggest buying your own 32 ounce bottle if you are dedicated to using Brandless refill pods.

Further, as a money-saving proposition, there’s not much here. Method cleaners sell for around three dollars for similarly sized bottles and have refills you can buy. It’s impossible to parse the environmental impacts of drop-shipped refill packets from Brandless or large bottles of refill cleaner from Method, but we’re sure dissolving packets are more environmentally conscious than plastic bottles.

A better path forward may be to sell larger boxes of dissolving packets; say, a 50-pack for $100.

Conclusion

Compared to other popular cleaners, Brandless holds its own.

If reducing your use of plastic is why you’re interested in these cleaners, just buy the refill packets and use a glass bottle. It’s that simple. Brandless’ bottle is serviceable, but not worth three bucks.

If you’re looking to this scheme as a means of “going green,” there are better options. We still advocate for making your own app-purpose cleaner with water and vinegar, which can be customized with essential oils (hey, Brandless sells those, too) to get the fragrance you want. Now that’s going green.

Editors' Recommendations

Nate Swanner
Nate is General Manager for all not-Digital-Trends properties at DTMG, including The Manual, Digital Trends en Espanol…
11 bad ideas for your front yard that will kill your curb appeal
Avoid these mistakes for your front yard
A front yard with xeriscape landscaping

You may be thinking about all the projects you want to tackle outdoors thanks to the warmer weather. While you may have grand plans to improve your curb appeal, taking the time and patience to properly land on a front yard design is important. If you want to ensure you're staying on trend and not dating your home, there are some common mistakes to avoid. These will help with the resale value of your home and leave you the envy of all your neighbors.
Landscaping mistakes
These are some common mistakes you'll want to avoid when thinking about landscaping your front yard.
Not having a game plan
One of the biggest mistakes is not having a plan when it comes to the design and layout of your landscaping. This can leave your yard feeling disjointed and your plants at risk of looking overgrown and out of place. Meet with a local garden expert or map out your front yard, including where all plants, trees, rocks, water features, and flowers will live. This will help ensure things don't look too busy or sparse, and it will make your yard feel well thought out.
Using the wrong plants
Understand which plants work for your exact yard. If they need full sun or partial shade, or require a lot of maintenance, it may be a disaster waiting to happen. Not only do you need to consider placement in terms of sunlight, but different flowers and plants have varying schedules of watering, so you want to know exactly what's expected before you plant them.
Too many decorations
Everyone loves a yard that changes with the season in terms of decor, but you can overdo it. You want to avoid garden decor that makes your front yard look tacky or cheap (we're talking to you, plastic deer), so keep decorations to a minimum.

Color pitfalls
We love color, but you need to be careful how and where you use it.
Choosing all one color
We love a monochromatic look as much as the next person, but your home should be welcoming and warm from the first glance. If you prefer having your house the same color as outdoor furniture and plants/flowers, use it as a backdrop. Add one or two pops of color with chair pillows or your front door to breathe a little life into your home.
Choosing too many colors
While it's good to have a little variety, you don't want to overwhelm the outside of your home. Bright colors may work in some parts of the country, but go easy on the rest of your choices. Picking one primary color and one contrasting color that complements it is the safest approach, especially if you're planning to sell your home.

Read more
How to prepare for an exterminator visit to your home to get the most bang for your buck
Follow these steps to prepare for your exterminator before they arrive
Exterminator spraying roaches in a home

Everyone spots a bug or two in their home from time to time, but when you find a cockroach in the corner or a mouse in the basement, it's time to set up an appointment with a professional pest control operator, also known as an exterminator. These pros have the knowledge and tools to quickly rid your home of pests, but a quick and lasting fix requires some action on your part as well.

Preparing well for pest control treatment can make the service more effective and keep your family safe from these unwanted house guests for longer. Keep reading to find out what to do before the exterminator comes.

Read more
How to soundproof windows so you can finally get a good night’s sleep
Noisy neighbors keeping you awake? Here's how to soundproof your windows
three vertical windows with a view of nature

There's a lot of racket out there in the world, and if that noise is seeping in through your windows at night, it can really disrupt your life. Maybe you're hearing the noisy street down below, your loud next-door neighbors, or even the sounds of a long-term construction project nearby. Sometimes there's just a pesky flock of geese living on your lawn that love to honk the day away.

Whatever the source and level of noise you're hearing, it can really disrupt your days, and especially your nights. The good news is that we can help you navigate some home improvement ideas for window soundproofing based on the level of noise you're hearing and your budget. Here's a guide for how to soundproof windows so you can live and sleep in wonderful silence.

Read more