If you’re trying to live more sustainably, cleaning products are often one of the trickiest areas to tackle. Most homes are filled with sprays, creams, bleaches and wipes — many of them wrapped in plastic, scented with strong fragrances, and packed with chemicals you wouldn’t want anywhere near your skin.
So when I first came across Koh Universal Cleaner, which claims to replace over 20 different household products, I’ll be honest… I was sceptical.
Could one cleaner really do all that? And more importantly — could it do it well?
This is my honest, experience‑based review of Koh, from someone who tried it reluctantly and ended up completely changing how they clean their home.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
What Is Koh Universal Cleaner?
Koh is a multipurpose, non‑toxic household cleaner made from purified water and potassium mineral salts. Unlike conventional cleaning products, it contains no fragrances, solvents, dyes or harsh chemicals.
The idea is simple: instead of buying separate products for ovens, surfaces, glass, tiles, bathrooms and kitchens, you use one cleaner for almost everything.
From a low‑waste perspective, that immediately caught my attention — but only if it actually worked.
Why I Was Initially Sceptical
I first saw Koh advertised on Facebook towards the end of 2018. The videos were slick, the claims were bold, and frankly… it all sounded a bit too good to be true.
I ignored it at first. But the ads kept appearing, review after review popped up, and curiosity slowly crept in. By mid‑February, after reading countless customer experiences and watching YouTube demos, I decided it was time to put it to the test.
When my order arrived on 19th February, I unpacked it with equal parts excitement and dread. Had I just wasted money I didn’t really have — or was this genuinely going to replace a cupboard full of cleaners?
There was only one way to find out.
The Ultimate Test: My Oven Door
I decided to start with the toughest job in the house.
My oven was installed when I bought the house back in 2008, and the glass door had always had a stubborn red‑brown stain. Over the years I’d tried countless products — sprays, pastes, and heavy‑duty cleaners — and nothing had worked properly.
I filled the Koh spray bottle, sprayed the oven door, waited around 30 seconds (purely to see if it matched the videos), and wiped it with the microfibre cloth — using the scrubby corner for the edges.
O.M.G.
Years of baked‑on grime that I had fully accepted as permanent were gone in less than a minute.
At that moment, Koh had my full attention.
Everyday Cleaning Wins (Even in Two Minutes)
After that, I found myself using Koh constantly — sometimes without even planning to. While waiting for the kettle to boil or my coffee to brew, I’d quickly tackle something else:
- Plug sockets
- The cooker hood
- The hob
- Light switches
Those tiny two‑minute cleans added up quickly, and before long my kitchen was cleaner than it had ever been — without harsh smells or gloves.
And perhaps the biggest surprise of all?
I actually started enjoying cleaning.
An Unexpected Benefit: Cleaning With Arthritis in Mind
One of the moments that really cemented my opinion of Koh had nothing to do with my own home.
I gave some of the liquid to my mum in a jam jar, along with a grout brush. She’d been struggling to clean the grout on her kitchen and bathroom floor tiles, and because she has arthritis in her hands, heavy scrubbing is painful and difficult.
The message I received the next morning said it all:
“OMG — one swipe with the brush and the grout is clean!”
For me, this highlighted something really important: Koh doesn’t just make things cleaner — it makes cleaning more accessible, reducing physical effort and strain.
Is Koh Actually Zero‑Waste Friendly?
From a strict zero‑waste perspective, no product is perfect — but Koh does tick a lot of important boxes.
✅ What It Does Well
- Replaces multiple cleaning products
- Reduces plastic consumption over time
- Long‑lasting and highly concentrated
- No need for disposable wipes
Using one product instead of 10–20 separate cleaners massively simplifies your home and cuts down on waste.
❌ Honest Limitations
- The upfront cost is higher than supermarket cleaners
- Packaging isn’t entirely plastic‑free
- You’ll still need reusable cloths (microfibre works best)
That said, in terms of waste reduction over time, Koh performs far better than constantly buying single‑use plastic bottles.
Ingredients & Safety Breakdown
Koh Universal Cleaner is made from:
- Purified water
- Potassium mineral salts (less than 0.5%)
Once sprayed, it converts into a harmless carbonate mineral water that’s near pH‑neutral and inert. This makes it:
- ✅ Septic‑safe
- ✅ Grey‑water safe
- ✅ Pet‑friendly
- ✅ Allergy‑friendly
Certifications & Testing
- Kills 99.9% of foodborne pathogens (including E. coli and Salmonella)
- Allergy UK Seal of Approval
- Asthma‑friendly (Sensitive Choice Program)
- Cruelty‑free certified
- Vegan
- Palm‑oil free
It’s also completely fragrance‑free, which is ideal for sensitive households — though you can add essential oils if you prefer a scent.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
✅ Pros
- Replaces multiple cleaning products
- Non‑toxic and gentle
- Effective with minimal effort
- Allergy & asthma friendly
- Long‑lasting and versatile
❌ Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Not scented by default
- Requires reusable cloths for best results
Final Verdict: Is Koh Worth It?
If you’re looking to:
- Simplify your cleaning routine
- Reduce plastic and chemical exposure
- Move towards a more sustainable home
…then yes — Koh is absolutely worth it.
It won’t magically make cleaning fun for everyone, but it does remove many of the barriers: harsh chemicals, heavy scrubbing, and endless plastic bottles.
For me, Koh has earned its place as a long‑term staple in a low‑waste home — and it’s one of the few cleaning products I genuinely recommend based on real experience.
Key Takeaways
- Koh Universal Cleaner is a multipurpose, non-toxic cleaner that replaces over 20 separate products.
- The reviewer was initially sceptical but found it highly effective, tackling tough stains and everyday cleaning tasks easily.
- Koh simplifies cleaning, reducing plastic use and making the process more accessible for those with physical limitations.
- While it has a higher upfront cost and isn’t entirely plastic-free, it offers significant waste reduction over time.
- Overall, Koh Universal Cleaner review shows it’s a valuable choice for those aiming for a low-waste, sustainable home.
