Is there any worse feeling than spending money, time, and effort on a cleaning product to scrub away a mess in your home — only to be left with the same stains or odors afterward? For those with limited mobility, limited time, or limited interest, hardcore scrubbing just isn't in the cards anymore. I was in the same boat, losing a battle against mold stains in my shower. Then I heard about Active.
Active is a small cleaning product company you can shop right on Amazon, and all of their products are made in the United States. I learned about their mold stain remover gel from my colleagues' previous coverage and decided to grab a bottle for myself. The results wowed me, and I've been taking note of the strong reviewer testimonies for other Active products ever since.
From tablets that can clean just about any appliance to wipes, sprays, detergents, and more, Active offers so many items for keeping your home clean without a ton of elbow grease. Each of these products is under $30, too, sometimes for a year-long supply. Curious? Keep scrolling to see what else Active has to offer, whether you're a pet owner, parent, coffee drinker, or all or none of the above.
1. Mold Stain Remover Gel — I Can Personally Vouch For It
Active's mold stain remover gel is currently Amazon's top seller in the household mold and mildew removers category, yet it still felt like something of a hidden gem when we first wrote about it. Now, it sells like hotcakes every time we cover it, having even earned a coveted HuffPost Shopping Award this year.
Influenced by our own reporting, I bought a bottle of the highly concentrated stuff to test on my shower. Black stains were growing along the edge of the tub where it met the wall on one side, so I applied the gel and left it to do its magic for the recommended five hours.
I was pretty amazed to see how much the stains faded when I returned to remove the gel — they weren't gone completely and would need another round or two, but the difference was night and day without almost any effort on my part. The stains also haven't returned since, which is a relief because nothing else I'd tried had been working. (Just be careful; it does contain bleach.)
$16 at Amazon (regularly $20)
2. Enzyme Laundry Booster That Targets Stubborn Stains and Smells
In April, we covered Active's enzyme laundry booster, which works hard to get rid of stains and odors (rather than just masking them, like baking soda or other laundry remedies), and then it became a bestseller among HuffPost readers. The plant-based formula is gentle, without harsh chemicals or dyes, and is fragrance-free, but still does the job on stinky, dirty laundry — even activewear. All you have to do is add one to two scoops to the drum of your washing machine before tossing in clothes and detergent.
Promising review: "I have tried all kinds of laundry booster products over the decades and not been very impressed with the results... until this product. 100/10 I am surprised at how well it works. I gave it a real run for the money by gathering all of the things that are stained, never feel fully clean after washing and have resisted everything including laundry-stripping. The package size is great and very economical. It comes with a premeasure scoop and is so easy to put into the washer when the water if filling before adding the clothes. It is fragrance-free and makes what used to be crusty laundry soft again. I'll be putting this on Subscribe and Save because I do not ever want to be without this. For really clean laundry like you expect... buy this enzyme laundry booster to add to each load. It is a game changer." — SusanK25411
$20 at Amazon
3. Toilet Bowl Cleaning Tablets So You Never Have to Scrub Again
$20 can get you a one-year supply of these toilet bowl cleaning tablets, which you drop right in the tank and let dissolve with each flush of the toilet — no more scrubbing at the bowl. Each tablet lasts about 30 days or 300 flushes and can remove that ring of hard water around the bowl, as well as keep things smelling fresh. As one reviewer said, "These pods have CUT my cleaning time nearly into a 3rd of how long it would take me to deep clean my toilet. I also went from cleaning the bathroom once every week to every other week (and even then, it's not a pressing priority)."
12-pack: $20 at Amazon
4. Tablets to Clean and Deodorize Your Dishwasher
Boasting 4.6 stars across more than 32,000 ratings, these Active tablets work with most residential dishwasher brands and models and have a fresh lemon scent that eliminates yucky odor. The tablets deep clean and descale your appliance, removing hard water, lime, stains, and more, as well as unclog the jet, tubes, and filter to help your machine do its job more effectively. About once a month, all you need to do is place a tablet inside the empty dishwasher and run a self-clean or regular cycle.
Promising review: "We were having dishwasher issues with our dishes coming out very dirty after washing. After taking the entire unit apart and scrubbing down all the nozzles, checking water pressure, circulation pumps.. our dishes still were dirty. I was so close to just buying a new unit until I tried these tablets. I figured maybe there was extra calcium deposits and grime somewhere in the sprayers that I wasn't able to reach. I used 2 pods and did 2 consecutive washes. My dishwasher is sparkling clean and the best part is my dishes are actually being cleaned now. I really think this product got the last bit of calcium that was blocking the spray arms from working right. Definitely adding this to my monthly routine for maintenance." — Deep
24-pack: $20 at Amazon
5. Garbage Disposal Tablets That 'Brought My New Home Back to Life'
One reviewer (who posted before and after photos) said that these garbage disposal cleaning and deodorizing tablets removed gunk, rust, and odors with ease. The tablets are compatible with all disposals and designed to be used once or twice a month. Their foaming cleaning action penetrates residue, breaks down grime and odors, and adds a nice citrus scent to make this unpleasant chore a little nicer. Plus, they're safe on septic systems.
24-pack: $17 at Amazon (regularly $20)
6. Real-Deal Appliance Wipes That Can Cut Through Mold, Limescale, and More
Regularly wiping down your fridge, faucets, and other appliances can sometimes feel like playing a fruitless game of catch-up, since streaks, dust, and even mold stains can build up without the right products. Enter: these cleaning wipes, which are heavy-duty with an enzymatic solution that can cut through buildup on grout, glass, appliances, and more. $19 for a 24-pack can seem like a lot, but these wipes are 8-by-10 inches, providing a huge surface area to cover a lot of ground with a single wipe.
Promising review: "These are a new cleaning staple for our family!! Great to clean any appliance! These will even get mold off fridge seals! Very large cloth! Very durable- built to scrub! Great value for the price! Leaves things looking fresh and smelling good!!" — The Honest Reviewer
24-pack: $19 at Amazon
7. The Brand's Original Product: 'Best Laundry Detergent on the Market' for Activewear
The brand's first product was this activewear laundry detergent that's ready to deodorize your (and your family's) smelly gym socks, athleisure, and other sports wear. The formula is free of bleaches, dyes, fragrance, phosphates, and SLS, using plant-based enzymes to dissolve odors. The detergent gets rid of smells rather than layering over them to mask them. For a deeper clean, you can also soak clothes in the detergent before washing like normal.
Promising review: "THE BEST LAUNDRY DETERGENT I HAVE EVER USED! I'm in the gym 5 days a week, I sit in the sauna for about 30 minutes. Also, I am in menopause so I am sweating a lot. I started to use the product for only my gym clothes. Then I read some of the reviews, and one review said they used the products for all of their clothing. I used it for all of my clothes..OMG! It took out the sweat smell and cleaned with no powdery residue. This is a GREAT product! I will no longer buy that flowery smelling non cleaning detergent. Also, a little goes a long way." — Dana
$25 at Amazon (regularly $30)
8. Pet Owner Version of the Laundry Detergent
Maybe it's not your activewear that's the issue, but your furry friends. If your pets are making laundry day a struggle, this detergent is similar to the activewear one but its bio-enzymes can specifically tackle pet odors and stains. Use it for dog beds, harnesses, and any blankets, clothing, and upholstery that have urine, vomit, or other pet-related messes on them. The detergent is fragrance-free and safe on pet skin, while working overtime to clean and deodorize.
$20 at Amazon
9. Tablets to Clear Out Oily Buildup in Your Espresso Machine
Reviewers note that these espresso machine cleaner tablets are comparable to name-brand options from Breville, KitchenAid, and more at a much cheaper price. They're also backed by baristas. The tablets tackle grime, oils, calcium, and other buildup to keep your machine working for longer. According to the brand, you might benefit from using these in addition to their coffee maker cleaning and descaling tablets (more on those in a second).
Promising review: "We're using these tablets for our espresso machine. SO MUCH CHEAPER for the same product! Works as they should. But, again, so much better value purchasing these as opposed to name brand for our machine." — Kars1
20-count: $20 at Amazon
10. Tablets to Clean and Descale Your Coffee Maker
Whether you have a Keurig, Nespresso, Ninja, or other brand of coffee maker, you'll probably want these bestselling descaling tablets that can deep clean your machine to help it operate more smoothly and keep your coffee tasting great. These work on both single- and multi-cup brewers, including espresso machines as mentioned before.
Promising review: "My Keurig is probably 3-4 years old and I only use it 1-3 times week, I was noticing that the coffee cup was not get near as full as when it was new and the taste was a little off. I'm not sure how I found this product? BUT... I was shocked with the first cleaning. It was so simple and after running the water with the tablet through the machine... I over flowed the coffee cup!!! Nice smooth flow out of the Keurig and I don't have to pick the largest cup on the machine!!! Highly recommend!!!! " — BryanLund
24-pack: $17 at Amazon (regularly $20)
11. Spot-Cleaning Odor and Stain Eliminator Spray Reviewers Want Gallons Of
This odor and stain eliminator spray is perfect for spot-cleaning hardwood, upholstery, carpets, and other sites of pet accidents that you can't just throw in the washing machine. The spray uses bio-enzymes and natural citrus oil to remove stains and smells after a soak of up to one hour. When it's ready, just blot the area to lift away the gross residue. The natural spray is safe to use around pets and kids, too.
Promising review: "We recently adopted a rescue cat who's been having some adjustment issues, so I needed something strong enough to tackle intact male urine, one of the toughest odors to remove. I first tried a well-known 'miracle' store-bought brand, and it only helped slightly. This product, on the other hand, made a noticeable difference in under 15 minutes. It tackled the odor on our vinyl plank flooring far more effectively than anything else I've used. Honestly, I just wish they sold it by the gallon!" — Esther
$24 at Amazon
12. Easy-Peasy Septic Tank System Treatment Pods
When it's time for monthly septic tank maintenance, try flushing one of these (non-plastic) pods down the toilet. Seriously, that's it: The pods contain natural live bacteria that can maintain the balance of your septic tank by digesting waste, preventing clogs and unpleasant smells. The pods are compatible with all septic systems and are completely water-soluble, meaning you don't have to worry about flushing something solid down the toilet.
12-pack: $21 at Amazon
13. Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets That Can Get Out Residual Odors
While we've shown you some Active products for getting pet odors out of clothes, regular wash cycles with pet urine, hair, and other gunk can lead to buildup of these odors in the drum itself. If you're noticing hair, smells, or sludge accumulating over time, you can toss one of these washing machine tablets in and run a clean cycle or regular cycle with hot water. The tablets are designed for pet owners and use enzymes to break down the grime and residue.
24-pack: $23 at Amazon
14. Tablets for That Ice Machine You Probably Don't Clean Often Enough
Ice getting cloudy? It may be time to buy some ice machine cleaning tablets that can descale your appliance and target hard water, limescale, and calcium buildup. You do have to empty your machine of all its ice, but then it's as easy as dropping in the tablet and running two cleaning cycles. When you're done, your ice should be clear once again and taste clean and refreshing.
Promising review: "This product is the best I've used. I've tried the liquid cleaners made specifically for ice machines. And I've used straight vinegar, thinking I just need something really strong to blast the crud out from inside. But nothing has worked for me as quickly and easily and, apparently, as effectively as these little tablets. They dissolve in a few minutes and I run a few cleaning cycles and the gunk comes out when I drain the water. And what really tells me it's working is that when I start the machine up again it doesn't scream like one of those weird YouTube goats and the new ice comes out clear. I'm sold." — D Rogers
24-pack: $17 at Amazon (regularly $20)
