Brandwave

Ajax vs Barkeepers Friend:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Barkeepers Friend had more branded searches than Ajax among household cleaning brands worldwide. Barkeepers Friend had about 246,000 branded searches, while Ajax had 22,200. Barkeepers Friend made up 15.8% of all household cleaning brand searches we track, and Ajax accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about household cleaning brands, Barkeepers Friend appeared in three of the five answers and Ajax in none.

Among household cleaning brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Barkeepers Friend, about 11 searches for every 1 for Ajax

Barkeepers Friend 246K searchesAjax 22.2K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Barkeepers Friend, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Ajax in 0

Barkeepers Friend in 3 of 5Ajax in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Barkeepers Friend, the only one of the two named

Barkeepers Friend first in 3Ajax never named

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Top household cleaning brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Barkeepers Friend was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Ajax did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Clorox1st
  2. Lysol2nd
  3. Simple Green3rd
  4. Mr Clean4th
  5. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day5th
  6. Barkeepers Friend6th
  7. Method7th
  8. Ecover8th
  9. Dettol–
  10. +2 more
  11. Ajax–
  12. +3 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Clorox5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lysol4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Mr Clean3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Barkeepers Friend3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Simple Green2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Method2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ecover1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Dettol0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ajax0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+5 more

See every answer about household cleaning brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Ajax or Barkeepers Friend more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Ajax and Barkeepers Friend by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 household cleaning brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Ajax and Barkeepers Friend among household cleaning brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Barkeepers Friend, Ajax. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMr CleanBarkeepers FriendDettolCloroxHarpicLysolDomexSimple GreenMrs. Meyer’s Clean DayEcoverAjaxMethodFlashWhite KingPine O Cleen
Oct 202528.5%10.4%15.6%10.4%10.4%8.5%4.7%3.1%3.1%2.1%1.1%1.1%0.52%0.28%0.04%
Nov 202521.9%12%17.9%12%9.8%8%5.4%3.6%3.6%2.4%1.3%1.1%0.53%0.32%0.03%
Dec 202522%12.1%18%9.9%9.9%9.9%6.6%3.6%3%2%1.1%1%0.53%0.32%0.04%
Jan 202620.8%13.9%17%11.4%9.3%9.3%5.1%3.4%3.4%2.8%1.2%1.2%0.83%0.3%0.05%
Feb 202622.8%12.5%15.2%10.2%10.2%10.2%5.6%3.8%3.1%2.5%1.4%1.2%0.82%0.33%0.04%
Mar 202623.8%13%15.9%10.7%10.7%8.7%4.8%3.9%3.2%2.1%1.2%1.1%0.7%0.28%0.05%
Apr 202620.7%13.8%16.9%11.3%11.3%7.6%5.1%4.2%3.4%2.3%1.2%1.1%0.67%0.3%0.05%
May 202620.4%13.6%16.6%11.2%11.2%9.1%5%4.1%3.3%2.2%1.2%1.1%0.66%0.3%0.06%
Jun 202617.7%14.4%17.7%11.9%11.9%7.9%5.3%4.3%2.9%1.9%1.9%1%0.65%0.32%0.07%
Jul 202616.8%16.8%16.8%11.2%11.2%9.2%5%4.1%3.4%1.8%1.5%1.2%0.67%0.3%0.06%
Aug 202616.2%16.2%16.2%10.9%10.9%10.9%4.9%4%4%1.8%1.8%1.2%0.65%0.29%0.06%
Sep 202619.3%15.8%15.8%12.9%10.6%8.7%4.7%3.9%3.2%1.7%1.4%1.1%0.63%0.28%0.06%

How has the Ajax and Barkeepers Friend comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for household cleaning brands worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Mr Clean overtook Barkeepers Friend and Dettol to become the leader among household cleaning brands worldwide, with 19.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Ajax fell from 10th to 11th among household cleaning brands worldwide.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Barkeepers Friend worldwide rose 49.1% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 246K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ajax’s and Barkeepers Friend’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Ajax

1 branded search term

  • ajax cleaner

Barkeepers Friend

1 branded search term

  • bar keepers friend

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among household cleaning brands

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