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ALDI Power Force wipes rival brands in sponges & cleaning cloths review
Whether it’s the kitchen bench, bathroom sink or windows, keeping surfaces in your home clean is hard, especially when you add kids, pets and messy houseguests into the mix. But even harder is finding the right tools for the job. Are cleaning cloths as effective on oil stains as with dust? What about scrubbing off dirt? It’s no wonder nearly half of our survey respondents (45%) have tried multiple brands of cleaning cloths, sponges and brushes.
To make it a little easier to navigate the supermarket’s cleaning aisle, Canstar Blue has produced a quick guide to the best-rated sponges and cleaning cloths. The results (in the table above) are based on the feedback of more than 1,500 Australian consumers who’ve purchased and used cleaning cloths, sponges and/or brushes in the last 12 months. Brands were rated on effectiveness, durability, packaging design, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those that received at least 30 responses are featured in our report.
ALDI Power Force was rated best for overall satisfaction, and also received five stars for effectiveness, packaging design, value for money.
Best Sponges, Cleaning Cloths & Wipes

Here are the best brands of cleaning sponges, cloths & wipes in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2021 review:
- ALDI Power Force
- Vileda
- Oates
- Coles Ultra
- Chux
- Scotch-Brite
- Sabco
- Woolworths Essentials
ALDI Power Force topped our cleaning sponges and cloths ratings, after earning the only five-star review for overall customer satisfaction. Most other brands achieved four stars overall, except Woolworths Essentials which got three stars for overall satisfaction.
Notably, Vileda and Oates managed to edge out ALDI Power Force on durability, both scoring five stars, with Oates also getting full marks for effectiveness.
About the Winner ─ ALDI Power Force

Cult discount supermarket ALDI is known for cheap groceries, Special Buys and has also recently earned a solid reputation for its household cleaning products, including bathroom cleaners, antibacterial surface wipes and more. The ALDI Power Force range includes scrubber sponges in bulk packs of 20, antibacterial thick sponges in packs of eight, that can be used for quick ‘wipe up’ and tough cleaning jobs, as well as assorted absorbent sponge cloths (10-pack).
- ALDI Power Force earned five stars for effectiveness, packaging design, value for money and overall satisfaction. It got four stars for durability.
How do you keep sponges and cloths clean?
Studies suggest there are upwards of 300 different species of bacteria on sponges, meaning kitchen sponges could have as much bacteria as a toilet bowl. Therefore, keeping sponges and cloths clean is crucial to avoid spreading more bacteria and germs on your surfaces. Here are some tried and tested methods to keep your cleaning gear in top condition.
- Microwaving is one of the easiest ways to clean your sponges. Just place your wet sponge or cleaning cloths in the microwave for one to two minutes (while keeping an eye on it of course) and then take it out.
- Use the washing machine and put your sponges in for a cycle on the hottest setting with some detergent.
- Soak the sponge in bleach in the kitchen sink for about five minutes. Be sure to wear gloves and not to splash bleach on your fabrics.
When should you throw away your sponges?
It’s recommended to throw away your sponges every two weeks at least, although some experts advise that you should change your cleaning cloths and sponges every week. As a general rule, if your cleaning wipes start to smell funky, it means they’re contaminated and you should get rid of them. That’s why it’s wise to buy those in bulk.
About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Lead, Megan Birot. She’s an expert on household appliances, health & beauty products, as well as all things grocery and shopping. When she’s not writing up our research-based ratings reports, Megan spends her time helping consumers make better purchase decisions, whether it’s at the supermarket, other retailers, or online, highlighting the best deals and flagging anything you need to be aware of.
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