Universal Stone Cleaner is safe, non-toxic, and works great on outdoor gear like camping cookware, running shoes, and cars and boat trailers. In this review, I tested it on real outdoor grime to see if it lives up to the hype.
With a little sponge and a few swipes of this indoor/outdoor cleaning stone you can cleaning everything from algea on a jet ski or boat, and even mildew or leaf stains from your car. We’ve all spent our precious time scrubbing or power washing only to be frustrated that the stubborn stain is still there. Universal Stone lets you spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your favourite pastimes.
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- How I Discovered Universal Stone Cleaning Stone
- How Universal Stone Works
- Alternatives to the Universal Stone All-Purpose Cleaner
- What is Universal Stone Cleaner Used For
- Does Universal Stone Destroy Surfaces?
- How To Use Universal Stone
- Using Universal Stone Cleaner Video
- Tips for Best Results
- Price
- Where to Buy Universal Stone Cleaner in Canada?
- Universal Stone FAQs
- Final Verdict: Why Universal Stone is in My Gear Kit
- Disclosure
Universal Stone is essentially a 'detox' for your hard-used outdoor gear. This eco-friendly, biodegradable paste replaces a cabinet full of harsh chemicals, working wonders on everything from stained camp dishes and fiberglass boat hulls to oxidized car paint and plastic patio furniture. It doesn’t just clean; it polishes and leaves a protective finish that keeps grime from sticking the next time you're in the field.
- Space-Saving Hero: Replaces almost every other specialized cleaner in your kit.
- 100% Non-Toxic: Safe to use around the campfire, kids, and pets.
- Massive Longevity: One 650g tub often lasts a household for a few years.
- Surface Safe: Works on metal, plastic, glass, and even jewelry.
- Sponge Shortage: Only includes one sponge (we recommend buying a backup pack).
- Rinse Required: Heavy grime needs a quick water rinse to reveal the shine.
How I Discovered Universal Stone Cleaning Stone
Our family, mostly me, has been using Universal Stone for what seems like forever. I remember walking into a European Delicatessen in Oakville and seeing the stone care cleaner on the shelf – before natural cleaning products became a thing.
I was tired of using the everyday brands of smelly, toxic products that made me lightheaded and nauseous to clean a bathroom, polish some jewellery or even scrub the nasties off our boat.
Intrigued by this multi-surface cleaner and thinking why not give it a shot. About 10 years later, we still use the Universal Stone Cleaner for pretty much everything indoor and outdoor-related. This one multi-purpose cleaner replaced the toxic chemicals we used to use.
How Universal Stone Works
Let me start by saying that Universal Stone is biodegradable, eco-friendly, acid-free, and non-toxic! This already scores some points. There are only 6 natural ingredients in the Universal Cleaning Stone, and guess what – you can pronounce them all!!! These six are soap flakes, green soap, vegetable oils, glycerine, polishing clay earth and natural lemon oils.
Breaking Down Universal Stone’s Ingredients
- Soap Flakes are a mild cleaner, free from chemicals. It’s primarily used for cleaning, bathing and laundry. It’s also an ingredient perfect for those with skin sensitivities and pets.
- Green Soap is based on olive oil and is known for its disinfecting properties. It’s an effective cleaner as it can remove blood, ink, and soil stains.
- Vegetable Oils are used as a light lubricator for metal to reduce friction and prevent further corrosion. You can also use it to polish oil-rubbed or varnished wood. Vegetable oil wouldn’t be my first choice, but if you have no other oil available, it’s good to know it works.
- Glycerine is the all-around cleaner. Not only is it an amazing stain fighter, but it also helps clean, polish and protect a multitude of surfaces. Everything from glass, leather goods, laminate, linoleum, refrigerator doors, and rubber seals to removing rust, coffee, tea, etc.
- Polishing Clay Earth is the all-around cleaner. Not only is it an amazing stain fighter, but it also helps clean, polish and protect a multitude of surfaces. Everything from glass, leather goods, laminate, linoleum, refrigerator doors, and rubber seals to removing rust, coffee, tea, etc.
- Natural Lemon Oils are also known as a fantastic all-purpose cleaner and deodorizer.
These natural cleaning agents combined create a powerful cleaner that removes stains, grime, and buildup effectively without harsh chemicals.
I’ve used this product without gloves and have never encountered any skin irritations.
Alternatives to the Universal Stone All-Purpose Cleaner
A similar product to Universal Stone would be The Pink Stuff. Honestly, I have not used the new variation, but I did buy the bucket of paste from Costco when it first came out – let’s just say, I pawned it off to my mom. 🙂
In terms of traditional cleaners for multi-surface tough stains, I’d probably say Comet. Great cleaner – however, it would linger in your throat for what seemed like forever!! The ingredients, let’s just say the container comes with its set of health warnings.
Bon Ami is the natural solution to an all-purpose home cleaner with only 5 ingredients. The first four are natural, but the last ingredient, c10-c16 alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, is not. When I think ‘natural’, I think every ingredient in the product derives from the earth and has not been modified or tampered with by humans.
Nowadays, natural seems to mean that out of x amount of ingredients, half is natural, and the other is there for your pleasure, like scents, colour and foaminess. I think you would agree that we do not need our cleaning products to be pretty – we need them to do their job, which is to help clean grime faster.
As to traditional cleaners, most of us can’t even pronounce half of what’s in there, and if you look up each ingredient, the side effects on your body are horrifying. These ingredients cause everything from cancer to neurotoxicity. Great, just what we need more of. 🙁
What is Universal Stone Cleaner Used For
As mentioned earlier, the Universal eco-friendly multi-purpose cleaning & polishing stone cleaner can tackle all kinds of surfaces. From everyday household cleaning, as a stone care cleaner, a silver polish substitute to cleaning discoloured pots and pans, but did you know, it also works wonders for your outdoor items as well?
Being an outdoors blog, this is the area we will focus on. We all have outdoor gear and toys that could use some sparkle. So, how does Universal Stone help you in the outdoors?
Camping Pots, Pans, Dishes
Easy. Do you know those melamine plates and cups you use for camping or entertaining guests during an outdoor BBQ? Well, some of you will notice your camp dishes yellowing from your dishwasher or the lake water you use to clean them. There might even be a layer of grime like in the photo below.
Universal Stone removes gross, unsightly stains and makes your melamine look brand new with little effort, saving you embarrassment and the cost of new dishes. 🙂
You know those nasty marks on your ceramic or stone dishware? They’re from the silverware that has gone through the same cleaning cycle as your dishes in the dishwasher. Universal Stone Cleaning Stone can remove those marks, leaving your dishes looking brand new.
BBQ’s, Vehicles, Sports Equipment, etc.
It also works amazingly well on camping pots and pans, on that gnarly BBQ you’ve been avoiding, removing mould from PWC trailers, cleaning the mud from hiking boots, to even using Universal Stone Cleaner for shoes – it will brighten up your runners and make them look white again.
It even removes mildew and leaf stains from cars, cleaning ATV’s and car rims, brightening up your headlights, cleaning engine parts and sports equipment, even tackling all the surfaces on your boat! The list of things it can clean is virtually endless, which I’m pretty sure you get by this point.
Whatever you want it to clean, it can clean. The Universal Stone multi-surface cleaner is quite versatile in cleaning different materials. It can help tackle everything from metals (silver, gold, stainless steel, copper, etc.), grout, and stone (marble, granite, etc) to smooth surfaces to even delicate surfaces, like glass, plastic, crystal, acrylic, etc.
Does Universal Stone Destroy Surfaces?
When we first bought Universal Stone, it was more abrasive than it is now. There would be light scratches on the more delicate surfaces. Throughout the years, Universal Stones’ formulation has changed and is less abrasive.
During the last few years of using this Universal Stone Cleaning product, I haven’t noticed any scratches. That said, I would recommend performing a small patch test before you go full-out cleansing mode.
The abrasion in Universal Stone is mild, unlike the Magic Erasers that destroy anything it touches. I’m not sure what’s in it, but its ingredients fade whatever surface it cleans, and the sponge disintegrates after the first use. I must say it is effective at removing mildew stains from boat seats, but at the price of destroying your precious items.
How To Use Universal Stone
Universal Stone cleaning is so easy and only takes 5 simple steps.
- Step 1: Wet and squeeze the Universal Stone cleaner sponge until completely saturated, then wring out the excess water.
- Step 2: Wipe your Universal Stone cleaning sponge across the stone a few times.
- Step 3: Squeeze the sponge until it foams.
- Step 4: Clean the surface.
- Step 5: Use a dry or damp cloth to wipe.
Using Universal Stone Cleaner Video
Tips for Best Results
I find that the Universal Stone is an amazing cleaner and can tackle most stains with ease. As with anything, the more stubborn the stain, the more elbow grease is needed. You may even need to run through the above steps a few times.
This non-toxic cleaning solution leaves behind a film/residue on your hands and the surface you are cleaning. I will guess and say that this residue is from the soap. When bathing with traditional soap, this same film is on your body, and if you don’t clean your tub, it too will eventually build up with soap scum.
Depending on the item you are cleaning, you will need to rinse more thoroughly. Doing so will remove this whitish film or you can polish it out with a dry cloth. The end result is a shiny surface that will stay protected for some time.
How long will the polish last depends on how much use the item sees. Our BBQ’s exterior has stayed clean from tree droppings and water stains for about a month.
For those of you who suffer from a knock-off stainless steel kitchen sink like I do, you’ll be happy to know that Universal surface cleaner can make that crummy stainless steel sink shine. These sinks become gross-looking after one use! I use the Universal Stone to clean it, and the shine seems to last a few days. This is the same film that protects my car’s paint from decomposing leaf markings. Not only does it make kitchen cleanup a breeze – Universal Stone makes stainless steel cleaning that much easier!
For those that wear nail polish, wear gloves when cleaning metal surfaces. The bubbly film turns grey and can make your nails look unsightly.
Price
The Universal Stone all-natural cleaner comes in 3 sizes: 650 g, 900 g and a 4 kg bucket. The smaller-sized containers include one Universal Stone Applicator Sponge, while the bucket size has five. The price ranges from $39.95 to $169.95.
At first glance, $40 seems expensive, but that 650 g container of Universal Stone lasts for 6 months with regular use. The best part is Universal Stone does not expire because of its natural basic ingredients!
I wish both smaller tubs of Universal Cleaner came with an extra sponge, allowing you to keep a bathroom sponge separate from outdoor use, but at least Universal Stone does give you the option of buying extra sponges.
Where to Buy Universal Stone Cleaner in Canada?
We always look to support local businesses as much as possible, which feels good to know that Universal Stone is a Canadian-owned company. The product itself is made in Germany.
Universal Stone Cleaner is sometimes available at retailers like Canadian Tire, but for the best online deal, check out Amazon.ca where you can purchase directly.
Universal Stone FAQs
Absolutely! Universal Stone is made with non-toxic ingredients, making it a safe for daily use around children and pets.
Being non-abrasive, you can use the super versatile cleaner for house, vehicles, sports equipment, etc and it can be used on a variety of smooth to hard surfaces.
Yes! Since it’s a gentle cleaner, you can safely use it on delicate surfaces like glass or painted wood. As always, make sure to spot test!
One tub can last quite a while depending on usage, typically several months if used regularly!
Not at all! Universal Stone Cleaner has a mild lemony scent.
Final Verdict: Why Universal Stone is in My Gear Kit
After years of using Universal Stone, I’ve stopped looking for ‘better’ alternatives. In the outdoors, gear gets abused—leaf stains on the truck, burnt-on mess on the camp stove, and dullness on the boat. This is the only product I’ve found that actually restores that original shine without making me breathe in toxic fumes or worry about the runoff near a campsite.
It’s rare to find something that is tough enough for a boat hull but safe enough for your coffee mug. If you’re looking to declutter your cleaning supplies and want a product that actually lives up to its ‘universal’ name, this is it. It’s an investment upfront, but considering one tin can last you years, the value is unbeatable.
Disclosure
Let’s disclose that Universal Stone provided a sample to review at no cost. However, we have been using this product for a long time and did not need a sample, but it is always appreciated and nice to be thought of.
We also must acknowledge that they did not pay or sponsor this review. We receive a small commission on our affiliate links, but frankly, our reviews are always brutally honest and based on our findings.
👉 Have a stubborn stain on your gear that just won’t budge? Give this a shot and let me know how it goes in the comments!
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