Quick answer

Dish soap is designed to cut grease on dishes and rinse away completely, while multipurpose cleaner is formulated for hard surfaces like counters and can include disinfectants. Use multipurpose cleaner for general surface cleaning and dish soap only for dishwashing or spot-treating grease stains.

What Makes Each Product Different

Dish soap relies on surfactants that break down grease and food residue, but it often leaves a film on porous surfaces like granite or unsealed wood. Multipurpose cleaners, on the other hand, use a balanced blend of solvents and detergents that evaporate cleanly and are safe for most sealed surfaces, including kitchen counters and bathroom tiles.

The key trade-off is that dish soap is excellent at removing oily messes but can dull finishes over time. Multipurpose cleaners are versatile for everyday wiping but may struggle with heavy grease compared to dedicated dish soap.

When Dish Soap Works Well

Dish soap is ideal for cleaning greasy stovetops, oven hoods, and as a spot stain remover on laundry. However, it should be diluted and rinsed thoroughly to avoid residue. For routine counter wiping, a multipurpose cleaner is faster and safer for most surfaces.

Trade-offs at a glance

  • Surface safety: Multipurpose cleaner is safe for sealed stone, laminate, and finished wood. Dish soap can dull unsealed surfaces over time. Stick with multipurpose cleaner for most countertops.
  • Grease cutting: Dish soap excels at breaking down cooking grease and food residue. Multipurpose cleaner handles light grease but may need more scrubbing for heavy buildup. Use dish soap for greasy stovetops and oven hoods.
  • Convenience: Multipurpose cleaner sprays on and wipes off with no rinsing. Dish soap requires dilution and thorough rinsing to avoid streaks. Multipurpose cleaner is faster for daily wipe-downs.

Product facts

  • Multipurpose Surface Cleaner: L'AVANT Multipurpose Surface Cleaner provides a powerful clean to remove grease, grime, and the uninvited house guests living on your surfaces. It's safe for kitchen and bathroom surfaces and comes in a recycled plastic bottle with a modern trigger sprayer. This cleaner is formulated for daily use on counters without leaving residue, making it a better choice for routine surface cleaning than dish soap.
  • Mini Travel Multipurpose Cleaner: The Mini Travel Multipurpose Cleaner is a 2oz bottle that fits in your bag, allowing you to wipe down surfaces on the go. It also works as a spot stain remover for clothes. For travel or quick touch-ups, this portable option lets you clean surfaces without needing dish soap and water.

Which one should you choose?

Best for

  • Daily counter and surface cleaning — choose a multipurpose cleaner
  • Travel or on-the-go cleaning — choose a mini multipurpose cleaner

Not ideal for

  • Heavy grease removal on cooktops — dish soap works better
  • Cleaning unsealed natural stone or wood — avoid dish soap residue