Citrus, Lavender, Green Apple, or Clear/Odorless: Which ADVANAGE 20X Formula Should You Buy?

That makes the buying decision simpler than the shop page suggests, and also a little more personal. A scent you like makes you clean more often. A scent you dislike ends up under the sink. Below we show what the data sheets say, how Advanage positions each formula on its product pages, which one we would put in each room, and what the sizes cost. Disclosure: Advanage publishes this blog.

Pick Your Formula in Six Lines

• Cleaning power is the same. The FAQ says so, and the four safety data sheets list identical disclosed ingredients

• For grease, any of the four works, because the formula is the same

• Choose Clear/Odorless if anyone in your home is sensitive to fragrance, or you clean light carpets and fabrics, since it has no added fragrance and no dye

• Lavender brings a floral, calming finish, Green Apple a crisp fruity one, and Citrus a fresh orange-fruity one

• All four cost the same: $39.95 a quart, $99.95 a gallon, and $164.95 for a 5-Quart Special

• Easy to test: the starter mix is about 1 ounce of concentrate per 20-ounce bottle, roughly $1.25 a bottle

What Scents Does ADVANAGE 20X Come In?

ADVANAGE 20X comes in four formulas: Citrus, Lavender, Green Apple, and a fragrance-free Clear/Odorless. Each is sold as a quart, a gallon, and a 55-gallon drum, and each has its own 5-Quart Special. Here is how Advanage describes each one.

Every quart page also adds a free mixing applicator automatically while gift stock lasts, so the starter setup is covered whichever scent you pick.

Are the Four Formulas Really the Same?

Yes, and you can check it yourself. We compared all four safety data sheets.

The same cleaning chemistry sits behind every scent. As Advanage's FAQ page puts it, performance never changes between formulas, so the scent and color are the only things you are really choosing. As with any cleaner, test a hidden spot before using a new formula on something delicate.

Which ADVANAGE Formula Is Best for Grease?

Any of the four. All four share the same formula, so no scent has a stronger grease-cutting recipe than the others, and strength comes from how you mix it. Advanage's Cleaning Tips chart gives 20:1 for general cleaning, 10:1 for stubborn stains, 3:1 for ovens, and 1:1 for heavy oil, and those mixes apply to all four. So pick the scent you can live with in a kitchen. Some people like a fresh citrus note over cooking smells, and others prefer Clear/Odorless so nothing competes with dinner.

Room by Room: Which Scent Goes Where

This is our scent-and-fit guide, not a performance ranking. It follows how each page positions its formula, plus plain practicality.

If you are treating pale fabric or white grout at a strong mix, Clear/Odorless is the no-dye option, and a hidden-spot test is always a smart first step.

What Reviewers Say About the Scents

Advanage's quart and gallon pages each show 4.9 out of 5 across roughly 50 reviews, and customers talk about scent as much as cleaning power. One longtime user calls the orange scent pleasant. Another, who is sensitive to chemical smells, says the scent is barely perceptible and does not irritate. A reviewer who bought lavender calls it calming, and others say the house smells wonderful afterward. 

Scent is personal, which is why a small first order is the sensible way in. 

Same Mix, Different Scent

The starter mix is almost identical on every page. Citrus, Clear, and Green Apple call for about 1 ounce of concentrate in a 20-ounce spray bottle topped up with water, and Lavender says 1 to 2 ounces with 18 to 19 ounces of warm water. At 1 ounce, one bottle costs about $1.25 of concentrate from a quart, and a quart fills roughly 32 bottles. A mixing applicator keeps the ratio accurate, and labeling each bottle by scent keeps a multi-scent household organized.

Sizes and Prices Are the Same for Every Scent

The gallon works out about 37% cheaper per ounce than the quart, and the 5-Quart Special is about 17% cheaper. The specials collection also lists a MultiPack with three quarts, a mixing applicator, and a Foamer for $104.75. To sample more than one scent, order single quarts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fragrance-free the same as unscented?

Not necessarily. EPA's Safer Choice program defines fragrance-free as having neither fragrance materials nor masking scents, while unscented generally means a product may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask other ingredients' odors. EPA's own criteria note that many fragrance materials may be associated with sensitization and allergic responses. If anyone at home reacts to scents, look for the words "fragrance-free," as Advanage uses for Clear/Odorless, and test it before switching the whole house.

Can a Green Apple cleaner kill mold and mildew?

Advanage's Green Apple page describes cleaning mold and mildew stains and related odors. If you are dealing with mold growth itself, EPA's mold guide says to scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and dry completely, and it advises against routine use of biocides such as bleach. The lasting fix is controlling moisture, so repair leaks and ventilate the bathroom. Large areas need the extra steps in that guide.

Does a scented cleaner remove odors or just cover them?

Cleaning removes odor by removing its source, such as grease and soil, while fragrance only adds a competing smell. That is a handy way to think about scent: pick the one you enjoy, and let the cleaning do the odor work. Advanage lists "Bad Odor Eliminator" on all four product pages, including the fragrance-free Clear formula. If a smell returns, look for the cause, such as damp fabric, a drain, or a hidden spill.

Made Since 1980, Scented Your Way

ADVANAGE has made this concentrate since 1980 and sells it direct, so questions about which formula suits your household go to the team that makes it. You can contact Advanage directly and describe the rooms, surfaces, and sensitivities you are working with.

Ready to pick your formula? Shop the Quarts collection, all four formulas, $39.95 each →