1. To start, clean every area from top to bottom so you don’t have to re-clean what you’ve already done. That means dusting from the ceiling down — no one wants to sweep TWICE after de-fuzzing your fan.
Amazon
Dust trimming, light fixtures, and furniture *before* working on your floors to cut down on work.
This extendable (it telescopes to over eight feet!) duster will get the job done in no time flat. It can rotate and bend at multiple angles, and it even has a microfiber head you can toss in the wash and reuse.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in six colors).
Promising review: “Works very well. The telescoping handle has a super long reach when extended all of the way. There is nowhere in my home I can’t reach with this. The duster really grabs and holds onto cobwebs and dust. I cleaned my ceiling fans without dust falling onto me and the floor below. There is also a rubber tip at the end of the duster that keeps it from scratching or marring surfaces which I thought was very nice. My only complaint is that I wish the rubber handle at the end was attached a bit better. It pulls totally off every time I extend the arm, but that’s a very simple fix and doesn’t really affect it’s performance.” —Julia Shafer
2. And get your trim (and more!) dust-free in no time flat with the Baseboard Buddy, an As-Seen-On-TV gadget that’ll come through for you if you’re TIRED of all the dust that accumulates on your trim and baseboard every. single. day. This guy is lightweight and has an extendable telescoping handle and 360° swivel so you can wipe surfaces clean with the contoured microfiber head *without* having to bend over or get down on your hands and knees.
The kit comes with one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads which can be used wet or dry. And when the microfiber pad is dirty, just rinse and reuse!
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Promising review: “Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can’t wait to do the rest of the house!” —artgirl
3. After dusting every surface in your home, ~keep~ your baseboards dust-free by rubbing a dryer sheet along them. It’ll repel dust (and even pet hair) for a surprisingly long time!
flickr: sitkaprojects / Amazon
Check out the tip at The Krazy Coupon Lady.
Get a box of 240 Bounce dryer sheets from Amazon for $8.24 (also available in a smaller pack).
Promising review: “I also use it to dust furniture and baseboards, so repels dust collection. It has great scent, house smells fresh. So multiple uses.” —Deanna Courter
4. Remove every single pet hair from your couch, carpet, and more by running this pet hair remover over everything you own. It’s a rolling brush, with no adhesive paper or tape needed, so you can use it again and again (and again and again).
It has over 140,000 five-star reviews!
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in black and white).
Promising review: “Where has this been all my cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-pound. tabby and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it’s snowing – he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using the ChomChom, I can put on a black dress and roll around on my bed and not get a single hair on me. It’s absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don’t have a pet. I don’t care, it’s THAT good.” —Stephanie
5. And knock out pet or kiddo stains (these things happen to the best of us) with Folex carpet spot remover so you can banish wine stains, pet stains, and what-the-heck-even-is-that stains — WITHOUT rinsing or vacuuming.
And btw: it also works on upholstery, woodwork, and even walls.
Get it from Amazon for $6.65 (also available in multipacks).
Promising review: “This is by far THE BEST carpet cleaner out there!! I love this product! Do you have the following on your carpet…Old stains? Ketchup? Ice cream? Pet potty, marker, weird odd stains that shouldn’t be there but your kids deny they did it… This is your product! I was desperate to get the stains out from the messy kids. I didn’t spray it, I poured this on the stain enough to get it super wet. Walked away for about three to five minutes to soak on the old stains and scrubbed it with a hard bristle brush. And boom, no more stains!!!!!! Seriously. I’m buying in bulk. LOVE this stuff. Product arrived quickly and brand new.” —Sandra McDade
6. Don’t ~just~ wash your pillowcases, but also regularly wash your pillows themselves (at least twice a year!). You do spend hours with your face pressed against it, after all.
If they’ve turned yellow from SwEaT (it happens to all of us, guys), just use a magical combo of laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and bleach or bleach alternative.
Get the full instructions at One Good Things By Jillee.
7. And wash and dry your pillows, duvet, towels, and clothes *without* ruining their perfect fluffiness by popping a prickly lil’ pufferfish in the dryer with them.
Amazon
He’ll poke and prod them into incredible softness. Plus you’ll save lots of money by skipping the dryer sheets (or saving them to dust your baseboards)!
Get a set of two from Amazon for $11.95 (also available in hedgehog and lamb shapes).
Promising review: “I bought these because I like to run my down pillows through the dryer while my sheets wash and fluff and hopefully dislodge the dust mites. For sure it fluffs and makes them soft, warm and very puffy. I used to use tennis balls but people who shall remain nameless ran off with them and seem to think I am buying tennis balls for them. I almost didn’t buy them because there were reviews of them losing the black ink or their little points, but so far they have all their points intact. And my pillows are fluffed. Bonus, no one who can reach them wants to play tennis with them.” —Marla M
8. Clean your ~cleaning machines~, too! Just run your washing machine on a hot setting with 1 or 2 cups of vinegar and wipe it out.
Get all the info at I Heart Naptime.
You can use this technique on your dishwasher too!
Or try a pack of washing machine cleaning tablets that’ll blast away any hidden mold or mildew, meaning your towels will come out of the wash smelling like clean laundry, not mysteriously stinky. Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.33 (available in four sizes).
9. While you’re at the ~machine cleaning~, sanitize your dishwasher by running it with a liquid cleaner and disinfectant designed to remove limescale, ruse, grease, and other nasty buildup so your machine runs more efficiently than ever. It even kills Salmonella and E. coli!
Glisten
Just pour in your dishwasher (with no dishes in it obv.) and run it at the hottest setting. Voila! All clean with zero scrubbing needed.
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.07.
Promising review: “Oh my, I can’t believe how this worked! I haven’t used my dishwasher in years because of stubborn hard water stains, it just didn’t get my dishes clean. I was so tired of washing the dishes by hand when I did have a dishwasher. Well, I used this once in my dishwasher and when I opened it up afterwards I could not believe my eyes, the dishwasher was sparkly clean!!! Amazing! I’ve been using my dishwasher all week and am so happy about that. I plan to keep this in stock now and will use it monthly to keep it clean and shiny, yay! Thank you to the makers of this terrific product, please don’t ever stop making it.” —Yuvonne Moore
10. And speaking of dishes, for pots, pans, and everything else you hand wash — if you haven’t tried Dawn Powerwash, you’re making things too hard for yourself. It’s a borderline magical spray-on dish soap that BLASTS through tough grease and baked-on messes so you don’t “have” to let dishes “soak” in the sink overnight. Every dish will be done in record time.
Amazon
Just spray on (don’t add water until you rinse!) and wipe. I’m not joking when I say that the first time I used Dawn Powerwash on a lasagna pan, I almost cried. I will never be without it!
Get the starter kit (with one reusable spray bottle and one refill) from Amazon for $9.49.
Promising review: “I bought this stuff because my sister swears by it. I’ve seen the commercials and thought, yeah sure… But first off, the fresh scent smells amazing without being overpowering. Secondly, it cleans oily, greasy stuff like a dream! My husband used my stockpot on his grill burner, resulting it in being COVERED in black sooty stuff. And everything it touched also received a healthy dose of soot. I initially tried the normal Dawn dish soap and while it did clean it up, it was smearing it and not easy to clean. I pulled out this stuff, sprayed a bit on the pot. BOOM, it was literally clean. Seriously, awesome stuff.” —Laura Pirkle
11. Learn exactly what products and potions remove the worst stains, so when your happy hour turns sad (i.e., when you spill red wine all over your favorite blouse), you know exactly what to do.
BuzzFeed
I’ll break it down for you:
—Vinegar can remove grass stains
—White wine can remove red wine stains
—Soda can remove grease stains
—Hydrogen peroxide can remove blood stains
—White chalk can remove oil stains
—Baking soda can remove coffee stains
—Denim can remove deodorant stains
—Lemon juice can remove sweat stains
—Baby wipes can remove lipstick stains
—Milk can remove ink stains
—Shaving cream can remove makeup stains
12. And spray the toughest stains (hello food, sweat, and blood stains!) with Puracy’s enzyme-based spot remover. It’ll erase every trace of stain, without bleaching or fading any colors.
Yi Yang / BuzzFeed
You can use it on clothes, car seats, carpets, bedding, and more.
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (you can get refill pouches here).
Promising review: “Look no further than here for a stain remover that ACTUALLY works! I used this on baby blowout stains that I tried to wash out already and it WORKED!!! There has yet to be a stain that this stuff couldn’t knock out, a godsend for moms. I spray it right onto diaper explosions that leaked onto clothes without any prep work, toss it in the washer with a start time delay (gives it time to soak into the fabric) and it comes out perfect! I trust this stuff so much I don’t even check it before putting it in the dryer anymore! Get this and never worry about stains again!” —Taralyn R.
Check out BuzzFeed’s Puracy stain remover review for even more convincing evidence.
Btw, Puracy is a Texas-based, family-owned small business specializing in plant-based, and hypoallergenic home products.
13. Get pollen, cobwebs, and other detritus off your window screens by passing a lint roller over it quickly.
Lint rollers are really just magical neatening tools in general — try them on your lampshades too!
Take a peek at all the details at Family Handyman.
Get a five-pack of top-rated lint rollers from Amazon for $23.95.
14. Dust your blinds, air-conditioner vent, and more hard-to-reach areas with a three-part microfiber wand that gets ‘er done quickly.
Amazon
Get a pack of one wand and five sleeves from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in blue and green).
Promising review: “I can’t give this enough stars! You see these gimmicky type things and wonder if they work. This does, and is perfect in every way. Aside from my own house, I clean for others, and this has easily cut my blind cleaning time in half. Which is perfect for such a tedious job. It gets to the edge of wide blinds. When you’re done, just throw them in the laundry. Worth every penny and then some.” —AM Kipp
You can also DIY your own with a set of tongs and a microfiber cloth — check out the tutorial here.
15. But actually, microfiber cleaning cloths are your best friends when it comes to *streak-free* cleaning — use them on your car, stainless steel, countertops, wood furniture, floors (reusable Swiffer sweepers, anyone?) and wayyy more.
It comes with two kinds of cloths (four each) — clean the glass with a damp green cloth, then follow up with the dry blue cloth. Shiny!
Get the set of eight from Amazon for $15.98.
Promising review: “I couldn’t get my windows clean using Windex and newsprint and a lot of elbow grease. There were always streaks and dirt left behind. Enter these things. One quick cleaning, and I do mean quick, and my windows are now cleaner than any windows I’ve ever cleaned. It’s simply amazing. We were all standing around in utter shock and delight before running around trying the cloths on other stuff: the TV, the picture glass. I know it sounds corny, but I couldn’t wait to get up this morning, because I woke up in the middle of the night excitedly thinking about trying it on the car today. Yeah, I know….I have an exciting life, right? Buy these now! I wish I’d had them all along. They are truly, truly amazing.” —Amazon Customer
16. If you’re looking for streak-free glass and mirrors, try Sprayway glass cleaner, which is reportedly the Very Best glass cleaner – unlike liquid formulas, the spray-on foam actually *stays in place* where you spray it to make away wiping streaks and dust easier than ever.
Get a pack of three cans from Amazon for $7.77.
Promising review: “I will never buy another glass cleaner! It works amazingly! No streaks or smears, very easy to use. It’s foam and you only have to go over the glass one TIME. I don’t like the scent, but it doesn’t linger long. I introduced this product to my family and friends and everyone loves it. I’ve never been more excited about a glass cleaner! Trust me, it’s worth it.” —george P.
17. Shine up your wood furniture and banish those water marks and rings by rubbing in a Feed-N-Wax Wood conditioner that’ll basically erase years of damage. It polishes beautifully, bringing out the natural color and sheen of your pieces — whether the wood is finished or unfinished — *and* adds a layer of protection.
All you have to do is apply with a cloth, wait 20 minutes (perfect time for a mid-cleaning snack!) and wipe off the excess.
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
Promising review: “OMG! This is the most AMAZING product! We inherited some antique furniture from the ’30s that had been in storage forever… it was dry and dirty and not much to look at. I used this product on it and the oak wood literally came alive, showing the beautiful grain and texture of the wood. I have since used it on my oak kitchen cabinets and they look AMAZING! I will never use anything else other than this product on my wood surfaces! No greasy feel… fantastic smell!” —Tiffany Sadowski
18. And maintain both wood and leather furniture (and other leather goods) with a cleaning balm made with beeswax, olive and coconut oils, and grapefruit essential oil — it’s food safe, so you can even use it to condition your cutting board!
Humble Suds / Etsy
Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $19.55.
Promising review: “It arrive in a timely manner and the product works well. It was easy to use and had a nice smell. My leather chairs looked pretty good afterwards.” —Marina Sprinkler
Humble Suds is a women-owned Etsy shop specializing in plant-based cleaning products based in Denver, Colorado.
19. Conquer the scariest bathroom messes with mold and mildew removing gel, because you don’t need to get your whole shower redone when this is in your life. Just squeeze out and let this non-drip gel work its magic overnight — NO s c r u b b i n g.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $26.99.
Promising review: “I was skeptical, to say the least. But I had tried everything else to remove the mold on the caulking in our shower and nothing worked. I was resigned to the fact that I would probably have to just recaulk it. My husband saw this product and we thought ‘what do we have to lose, except $25.’ So we ordered it. It took almost three weeks to arrive, which was disappointing. But, as it turns out, it was worth the wait! We applied it one evening before bed and when we woke up the next day, almost all of the mold was gone! It was a miracle! I reapplied it to the few small spots that remained, and they, too disappeared. The product is easy to use, no scrubbing or mess, and has just a faint bleach odor. It’s a gel and doesn’t easily rinse away. I had to wipe it off, but I guess that’s a good thing since it needs to sit on some vertical surfaces for hours to work. I wish I had taken before photos because you would have been amazed at the outcome. Although it seems a little expensive, it’s totally worth it. I would highly recommend this product.” —Raelene Herndon
20. For extra scrubbing power, try a toothbrush-like Oxo brush duo with an ergonomic grip and stiff bristles that do the heavy lifting for you.
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.99 (also available in blue).
Promising review: “This set is the best friend of those who hate cleaning bathroom fixtures. Instead of scrubbing and scraping, you can give a few comfortable whisks with one of these brushes and the job is done. The brushes are particularly good at quick-cleaning the back of the faucets where you normally can’t see what you are doing. Also good at keeping the silver drain rings shiny. Couldn’t be happier with this set. Recommend it highly.” —Rodger
21. Powerfully clean your toilet — without having to keep a gross toilet brush and all the germs sitting on the brush head — by using a Clorox toilet wand with disposable scrubby heads *preloaded* with cleaner so you can clean the whole bowl with one hand — and *one* product.
amazon.com, Amazon
I use these myself and they get the JOB DONE.
Get the kit (one wand and 16 scrubbers) from Amazon for $18.99 — and get a 30-pack of scrubber refills from Amazon for $22.34)
Promising review: “You ever look at your toilet brush in disgust and resentment? How’s a dirty used up brush sitting in your throne room? You clean your bathroom but then you put that sucker down in its place and it’s just like, mocking you. It’s never truly immaculate. Never knowing true cleanliness. Fear no more. Now you can shine the porcelain throne and not have to worry about a used up toilet brush mocking your clean sparkling bathroom. Gone are the days of breathing in dirty poop particles from the reusable potty cleaning brush thingy. Clorox Toilet Wand is the answer to your prayers if you want an easy, deep cleaning, toss-away-after-you’re-done type contraption for that porcelain throne of yours. Fast, cheap, and easy. Just like…. How we like to clean.” —Juliana
22. And hey, if you’re wanting to clean that toilet but are *also* looking to go greener (and not throw something away every time you clean it) I’m here for you. Try a pack of these adorable toilet cleaning bombs you can drop in, watch the ~fizzing action~ and then scrub away with your usual toilet brush.
Blue Poppy Bath / Etsy
Get a bag of 10 toilet bombs from Blue Poppy Bath on Etsy for $13.50 (available in six scents and a combo pack).
Promising review: “Made my toilet fresh and sparkling clean with just ONE bomb- ordered the lemon as well as the eucalyptus — loved both scents!! I will be ordering again! thanks Blue Poppy Bath!!” —Lori
Blue Poppy Bath is a Wiconsin-based small business hand-making personal care products like lotions, balms, scrubs, and more.
23. But if it’s already too late for some of those stains (looking at you, hard water!), use a special pumice stick that removes stains without damaging the porcelain.
Get it from Amazon for $11.30.
Promising review: “I did not wake up this morning thinking I was going to write a review on toilet bowl cleaner. But the Pumie is JUST THAT AWESOME! The area I live in has super-hard water. I have spent weeks and used probably $50 worth of various cleaners in an attempt to remove my toilet bowl ring with pretty much no results. Less than 10 minutes with the Pumie and my toilet looks as sparkling clean as the day I installed it! I have uploaded pictures which speak for themselves. Don’t hesitate, just buy yourself a Pumie! You won’t be disappointed!” —Suzy
24. Get the grossest bathroom scrubbing D O N E in record time with a set of three scrubbing attachments you simply add to any power drill to make cleaning your tub, floor, appliances, or even the wheels of your car ridiculously fast and easy.
Amazon, amazon.com
If you don’t *already* have a drill, you can also get a cordless drill set with brushes just like the above and drill bits from Amazon for $32.99.
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in six different stiffness levels for different surfaces).
Promising review: “I bought this brush a long time ago and it sat unused. Last week, I finally pulled it out to clean the floor of a very dirty fiberglass bathtub. What a great little tool! A job that easily would have taken me a half hour with a regular brush and Comet, took about five minutes and with no smelly harsh chemicals. I am really kicking myself for not trying it months ago. Now, I’m planning to buy one for each of my kids for Christmas.” —xxxxx111000
Drill Brush is a small business based in New York. It was started in 2007 by a former electrician with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome who needed a way to clean without causing him harm.
25. Wax off those water spots and fingerprints and wax on a layer of protection by rubbing some ~wax paper~ on your faucets.
26. Harness your laziness and descale your showerhead while you watch Netflix. Just fill a plastic bag with vinegar and lemon essential oil and let it sit!
27. Keep your shower clean and mildew-free by spraying a 🙌 no-scrub, no-wipe 🙌 Wet & Forget cleaner once a week — it even helps prevent soap scum buildup over time.
Amazon, amazon.com
Best invention ever? Possibly. Each bottle lasts for 12 weeks’ worth of treatments.
Get it from Amazon for $20.98 (available in vanilla and fresh scents; refill bottles also available).
Promising review: “This stuff is excellent. It performs as promised, it has a very nice scent, no fumes, and leaves shower clean with no scrubbing actually necessary. It is very easy to apply and rinse off. It is designed very well, with squirting spout separate from the large container and attached by a longish tube, so you don’t have to hold the heavy container while applying the product. I’ve been using it for quite a while now, and I love it. I highly recommend it.” —Stephanie Martin
28. Or hang a dish brush filled with a vinegar-and-dish soap solution in the shower with you for a no-brainer cleaning while the conditioner sits in your hair.
Get a soap-dispensing brush just like this one from Amazon for $10.99.
If you prefer a Scrub Daddy (which I will extoll the virtues of later on in this list) you can get a soap-dispensing handle juuuust for the smiley-faced wonder too! Get it from Amazon for $15.95.
Learn all the genius of this tip at Practically Functional.
29. Unclog your drain by alternating vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water to blast out whatever’s blocking up your pipes.
30. Or if your hair clog is too powerful for that classic science fair combo, try a drain snake with over 4,000 micro hooks and a slim design to shimmy down any drain (you don’t even need to remove the cover) and snag all the hairs and goop that’s clogging the system — in one quick pull.
Amazon, amazon.com
Real talk: after learning about this, I ordered two (of the previous version, without the handy grip to protect your fingers) and used it on my bathroom sink and shower. HOLY KAMOLE does it work. So gross, so effective.
Get the rotating tool and five replacement snakes from Amazon for $19.99.
Promising review: “Sorry the pic is sooo gross, but I just wanted to show how well this little gadget did the job. Our shower drain was starting to get a musty smell and from previous experience we could tell it was probably from hair being stuck in there (no idea it would be that much). We could have removed the screws that hold down the drain cover and maybe been able to do the job by hand, but honestly, why would I? This product was SUPER easy to use and did the job in a matter of a few minutes without having to touch any yucky stuff and the labor. The bristles on the one end, not only trap the hair on, but secure it well enough that nothing falls off when pulling it out. I would highly recommend it!!!” —Stef
(But really just buy a TubShroom, everyone)
Amazon
You’ll never have to use that drain-clearing tip again.
Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in six colors).
Promising review: “Perfect product. Can’t say enough good things about this. I have a family of four and would frequently have to snake our shower drain. It appears I won’t be having that problem ever again. I even give my dog baths and this collects the hair. It does not seem to slow the flow of water down the drain significantly. I’m very impressed having been using around a month. You don’t know how much hair you wash down your drain until you use this!” —Aaron Morlock
And if you have a flat shower drain, they also make a ShowerShroom with the same design, but a flat surface! Get it from Amazon for $12.97.
31. Keep Bar Keeper’s Friend Soft Cleanser in your house (it’s pre-mixed so it makes less of a mess than the original powder). Seriously. It works on SO. MANY. SURFACES — sinks, cookware, stainless steel, faucets, countertops, tubs, toilets, grout, and more — so you can get to work and see results with only one product.
Check out our first-hand review of Bar Keeper’s Friend original *and* the soft cleansing liquid for more deets and photographic ~evidence~.
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.28.
Promising review: “I don’t know what is in this stuff but I’m pretty sure it’s magic! We’ve had a stain in our bathroom sink from before we moved into our house two and a half years ago. I’ve tried so many different things to get rid of it (bleach, Ajax, Magic Eraser, pumice stone, etc.) and nothing worked. Within seconds of squirting some of this barkeepers friend on it the stain was gone! I’m now cleaning pretty much everything in my house with it.” —J L
32. AND for any other miscellaneous messes, try The Pink Stuff, a TikTok- (and reviewer-) beloved cleaning product that basically…works miracles! Name your mess, and this mildly abrasive paste will take care of business — including but not limited to bathroom tiles, sinks, stove tops, painted walls, grills, and outdoor furniture.
Get it from Amazon for $5.29.
Promising review: “I am genuinely stunned by how well this worked in my shower. I have been trying to get rid of these water stains since the day I moved in almost three years ago. They just got worse with time and nothing would hold them off. Then I tried The Pink Stuff and my jaw dropped as I washed it away. You can see in this picture I did a small section and holy moly, it looked like a new door. I usually don’t write reviews but I had to say how stunned I was with this. I haven’t used it on much else yet but with the results from my shower door, I can only imagine how great it’ll be. I give 5 stars!” —Katie Marchbank
33. And for everyday jobs, keep an all-in-one cleaning concentrate you can dilute and use on just about everything — floors, countertops, dishes, windows, laundry, and more — so you don’t have to keep swapping out bottles in your linen closet.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
Promising review: “I have been using Puracy products since I bought a bottle of body wash for my kids last year. It opened my eyes to a high quality, highly effective, well priced, awesome smelling, natural, new (to me) brand! I am slowly switching my products over to anything that is available, made by Puracy. I had gotten the green tea and lime all purpose cleaner and decided to purchase the lemongrass this time. I love it so much!! I use it for every application in the house. It has a subtle and natural scent that I really appreciate. The cleaner lightly foams when used for brisk scrubbing and I feel that it helps achieve a super efficient clean. I don’t have time to make cleaners like I used to, so this product is the perfect replacement. It saves me a lot of time, money and it works much better than anything I used to make myself. I love that this is a family owned company as well, that is a huge plus in my eyes!” —Ashley Beauchesne
Btw, Puracy is a Texas-based, family-owned small business specializing in plant-based, and hypoallergenic home products.
34. And stock your pantry with another multitasking whiz: the Scrub Daddy sponge, because it is one of the all time greatest Shark Tank hits for a reason. All the Sharks (except Lori of course) may have laughed at first, but this smiley lil’ guy just plain works on whatever mess you need to clean up — and almost 50,000 5-star reviewers agree.
Amazon, amazon.com
If you don’t know what makes a Scrub Daddy different from other sponges, let me tell ya: it’s firm in cold water (for tougher messes) but soft in warm water (for lighter cleaning). The scratch-free material is safe on tons of surfaces: glass, stainless steel, cast iron, nonstick, chrome, copper, etc. And if you thought the face was just a gimmick, think twice — the eye and smile holes are great for quickly cleaning large and small utensils! And you can clean it right in the dishwasher.
Promising review: “I have officially become a scrub snob, the scrub daddy is so legit, when I go to friends houses I wonder what rock they have been living under when they break out the sponge. Why would you even waste the time with that? These had minimal odor, easy to use, you can color code them for the areas you clean with. I can’t say enough good about these. Thank you Shark Tank and inventors!” —alk95
Get a pack of three on Amazon for $9.99.
35. If your kitchen sink has seen better days (or you’re tired of cleaning stuck-on food seemingly every day), try Hope’s sink cleaner and polish, which is formulated to use on stainless steel AND porcelain sinks (plus cast iron, corian, acrylic, and more). It can help restore that just-like-new shine *and* protect against further staining and damage so you don’t have to clean quite as often — all in the time it takes for your morning Eggo to toast.
I bought this for my white porcelain kitchen sink and I’ve since texted five people about it, which is really a lot for such a boring grown-up product. It cleans beautifully, but the *best* is its ability to repel stains after cleaning. You know that thing when you rinse out your coffee cup and the coffee water just lingers in your sink and you have to purposefully rinse it out for two minutes? You don’t have to do that — the coffee can’t stick to the sink and just goes RIGHT down the drain. Time saved, sink clean — this is really a Virgo dream product right here.
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
Promising review: “This product was recommended by a woman who was cleaning the displays in the shop that I bought my plumbing and sink from. She is a professional cleaner. I just love this stuff. It’s easy to use and my sink looks great and stays clean for a long time. It gives a waterproof coating that water just beads off of. It smells really good too, very soft nice, not overwhelming.” —Valerie
36. Touch up messes or everyday dust with a super-lightweight vacuum that converts to a hand vac *and* a shorter stair vac.
Amazon
It’s only 4 POUNDS, swivels easily, and has an 18-foot power cord for easy access without unplugging and re-plugging all the time. And it comes with a crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas.
Get it from Amazon for $32.70+ (available in black and blue).
Promising review: “We replaced a Dyson cordless stick vac with this one. It works great! Very lightweight to maneuver, 18′ cord allows for a long reach. This vac is easy to clean out the chamber. It has great sucking power. I actually like it better than the old Dyson and the price is great!” —Choose Joy
37. And if you have pets, opt for a vacuum that was *designed with them in mind*, like Bissel’s Cleanview bagless vacuum with a specialized brush roll for picking up embedded pet (and human) hair, powerful suction on carpet and hard floors, and an easy-empty tank so you don’t have to (gag) touch all of that icky stuff.
Get it from Amazon for $118.50.
Promising review: “BEST VACUUM I’VE EVER BOUGHT! I moved into a brand new apartment complex that was just built and after being there for a week with three cats I decided to vacuum the carpet and rugs. TO SAY MY JAW DROPPED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. The suction without a doubt is the best one I’ve ever had (including multiple Dysons). It is light weight to push and going from carpet to wood floors is amazing. The attachments make vacuuming my couch so easy to where I’m done in under five minutes!!! BUY THIS VACUUM TODAY!!!” —Skylar Blick
38. Or if you can’t seem to keep up with the dust and messes, let a Roomba robot vacuum do the work *for* you, navigating around your home, picking up dirt, dust, crumbs, and pet hair so you can sit back and relax — and it even works with Alexa and Google Assistant so you can control it with your voice. Aaaand you can schedule daily cleanings too!
It runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically heading to the dock to recharge.
Get it from Amazon for $238.
Promising review: “So far it is amazing! It picks up SO much dirt and hair. We have three dogs and a cat and my floors are spotless. We decided to get this cheaper one to see if it was something that would work for us and I am amazed! For the first week, we let it run everyday. We made sure we picked everything up and it only got stuck one time and that was because it went behind our couch that had been moved out accident. During week two, I did the maintenance on it and it was super simple. We use it every other day and have it schedule to run just before we get home. This thing even picks up cat litter! If you are on the fence, try it. Has made my life so much easier not having to sweep everyday!” —Kathryn P.
39. Keep your vacuum efficient as heck by cleaning the bristles with a seam ripper.
Get a highly-rated seam ripper from Amazon for $6.98.
Promising review: “I didn’t buy this for the typical reason. I needed this because of all of the hair that gets wrapped around the brush roller on my vacuum which renders it useless. Before, I had to remove the roller itself from the vacuum, then cut the hair out with scissors, which aggravated me to no end. Now, I can just run the seam ripper down the side of the roller while everything is intact. So. Much. Faster! 😀” —JustSoYouKnow
40. Make cleaning your light fixtures (when was the last time we all cleaned those??) with a crystal chandelier cleaner with a DRIP-DRY formula. That’s right! You spray it on…and let it drip… No wiping needed!
And it’s designed not to tarnish the metal on your light fixtures either. Just make sure your fixture is off and the bulbs are cool, then spray a generous amount on — you can place a towel underneath to catch any drips, and you’re done!
Get it from Amazon for $23.95.
Promising review: “Works as promised. Our one year old crystal chandelier was looking a bit shabby. Sprayed on and could begin seeing results as it dripped off and dried.” —Nancy T
41. If you have hardwood floors that have just lost their *sparkle*, reviewers say you can’t go wrong with a bottle of almond-scented Method hardwood floor cleaner to make your floors look shiny and smell fantastic (seriously, people looooove the smell) — just squirt and mop, no rinsing needed!
Get it from Amazon for $5.68.
Promising review: “I own a house-cleaning business so I am always looking for the best products. I’ve tried many products (including non-green products in my own home) and this is my absolute favorite. Many wood floor cleaners leave a film and can be sticky, but not this. Just squirt and mop. I’ve tried the other Method scents and they work great, but the almond is my favorite. My clients always rave about the scent and often ask what I use and where to get it. Absolutely love this!” —Jamie Parsons
42. Freshen up and sharpen your garbage disposal by tossing in homemade frozen tablets made with vinegar and sliced lemons and limes.
43. Or buy Glisten garbage disposal tabs to foam out the built-up gunk and bad odors — no DIY required.
Get six packs of four from Amazon for $22.28.
Promising review: “This stuff really cleans my sink and disposal of the foul odor that sometimes develops. I’ve tried everything to get rid of the smell from the garbage disposal: Vinegar, bleach, ice, various other products, baking soda, baking soda with vinegar, boiling water..nothing seemed to get rid of the smell for long, but this stuff does. I like it so much that I ordered it on line because I couldn’t find it again at the grocery store.” —Carol L. Hill
44. Remove every single crumb lodged in your keyboard by blasting it with canned air designed for electronics.
Amazon
::eats a full sandwich leaning over laptop:: “Why are there so many dang crumbs in there?”
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $23.57.
Promising review: “Good deal. I always struggle with keeping my laptop keyboard clean and my laptop tends to get dusty frequently. This product is so great at cleaning it!!!! Never thought I’d ever need this, but I think it’s an essential item to keep at my desk.” —Amazon Customer
45. Clean the speakers of your AirPods with a unique cleaning putty, because how often do you put your headphones riiiight in your ear without even looking at them 👀? These remove any dirt, earwax, or other gunk that’s accumulated on your AirPods — and can even improve the sound and how quickly your phone pairs with them!
Did YOU know that wax can block the pairing sensors?? Neither did I! And btw, these work great on any hard-to-clean small spaces.
Promising review: “Great stuff that absolutely works! I had been using plugin headphones because my old iPhone 6S was getting old and I was having difficulty hearing from the speakers. I heard about this from a friend and it’s like I have a new phone! Worked immediately. Sound and clarity like before. I can’t believe how easy it was to use and the great difference it makes. Thanks!” —Bridget S
Get 24 from Amazon for $15.99.
46. While you’re at it, clean your phone. You can make your own disinfecting spray with water and 70% isopropyl alcohol.
47. Or do as I do and try a Phone Soap UV sanitizer you can just toss your phone in when you get home — it kills 99.9% of germs with a built-in UV-C light (and charges your phone at the same time).
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $63.95 (available in six colors).
Promising review: “Actually I did a lot of research on this type of sterilization of phones before I bought this. Everything I found by scientists or electronics reviewers said that it does in fact kill all those gross germs that are ALL OVER our phones. You can’t see it—the phone doesn’t look any different when you take it out, but I’ll trust the experts who say this light is working. It makes me feel better after I clean it so I guess that’s a win.” —SCole
48. Remove the product buildup from your curling iron and other hair tools with a combo of baking soda, rubbing alcohol, an old toothbrush, and some sudsy water.
Your flat iron and hair dryer won’t smell like burning hair when you heat them up anymore!
Check out the video for all the steps.
49. Easily (and kind of fun-ly!) clean your car air conditioner vents, laptop keyboard, cupholders, remote buttons, and any other tricky little areas where dust and crumbs accumulate with a cleaning putty any time you have a few spare moments.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $6.98.
Promising review: “If you like it not just clean but super clean, get this. I got this to detail my car. There are a lot of corners inside the car that are hard to clean. This is fun and definitely will give you a lot of satisfaction after you are done. You cannot wash this so instead of using the whole pod, I just pinch and use part of it. I did not put the used one back since I do not want to contaminate the pure clean ones. I used the portion till it is too dirty and then I just threw it away. It will clean the tiniest place for you. Very satisfying.” —Lovelearn
50. And knock out lingering car smells with a Chemical Guys’ foaming carpet shampoo (you can use it on your car upholstery too!), whether you’re carting around messy kids, keep your gym gear in the back seat, or stop for french fries and don’t want your car smelling like McDonald’s forever.
And anyone with a dog? Yep, you need this. I It’s citrus scented so after it FOAMS AWAY deep-set stains, you’ll be left with a refreshing scent rather than “Old McDonald’s Fries.”
Get it from Amazon for $18.22.
Promising review: “This stuff is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! I posted before-and-after photos (above) for you to see for yourself! My 1996 Toyota Camry is 23 years old — this is the original carpet! It took me exactly three hours to clean this carpet and I will tell you this: IT WAS WORTH IT!” —treylee
51. Refresh your mattress with a combo of baking soda and lavender essential oil; just sprinkle, sit, and then vacuum it up.
52. Shine up your stainless steel with a can of Pledge.
Stainless steel cleaners can be expensive — try this instead!
Get a three-pack of Pledge from Amazon for $16.77.
Promising review: “I have used a lot of different wipes and sprays for my stainless appliances. It is so easy to use, you do need to wipe and then polish product with a smooth cloth, but I never had to polish (buff) out as vigorously just a quick wipe. Love, love, love this product.” —Nancy K
Learn more about this trick at A Shade of Teal.
53. Or try a plant-based stainless steel cleaner to remove streaks, marks, and fingerprints from all of your appliances with one wipe of the included microfiber cloth.
I recommended this to my mom to use on her stainless steel (she’s a bit of a neat freak and HATES streaks) and she loves it!
Get the set of cleanser and polish from Amazon for $19.95.
Promising review: “If you have a Subzero fridge, you know the struggle is real when it comes to keeping it clean. It’s a different type of stainless steel and shows all product residue. Then I found this stuff. Oh wow! A few seconds of polishing and it looks amazing!! it has never looked this good, this shiny, and this clean! Best product ever!” —Katerina
54. If you’ve…maybe never cleaned your Keurig before…that’s ok, because K-Cup cleaning pods are here to help! Just run one through, and you’ll be shocked at how much gross-looking water comes out — and at how much better your morning coffee tastes.
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
Promising review: “OK, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn’t know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it’s still an awesome product for the price! I have a 2.0 and I had no issues.” —Mads0421
55. Let your dish sponges drain in an unobtrusive basket that attaches right to your sink, keeping them cleaner and bacteria-free for longer.
Amazon
Get it from Amazon for $9.03 (available in three sizes).
Promising review: “We were sick of our sponge falling into the kitchen sink, so we bought this. Thinking it would just keep the sponge out of our way, we installed it and found that the sponge dries between uses and last a lot longer. No more wet sponges falling into the sink! Be sure to clean the surface very well before applying the suction cups. Ours has been up for weeks and has not even shifted yet. A very good product.” —Paul R.
56. And then when they get funky, just pop your sponge in the microwave for two minutes to disinfect.
57. Wipe away food and grease that’s stuck on your microwave with ease — just heat up 1/2 cup of water and some lemon juice for three minutes.
58. And scrub your makeup brushes up with a plant-based, paraben-free shampoo so you can feel good about *finally* washing caked-on foundation out of your favorite tools without irritating sensitive skin or leaving behind residue. The formula’ll even leave the bristles soft and conditioned.
Get it from Amazon for $6.79 (also available in dissolvable sheets for travel).
Promising review: “This is the best brush shampoo I’ve ever used. I’ve used brush shampoos from high-end/luxury lines, too, and they did not work as well as this. First and most importantly for me, there is no scent! I absolutely hate when companies put heavy perfume in products that end up touching or going near the face. When washing brushes with shampoo that is heavily perfumed, that just ends up irritating my sinuses whenever I’m using the brushes to apply makeup. So awful. This is not like that at all, so I can use my makeup brushes without having sinus/allergy trouble. It cleans extremely well! No more going over and over again like with using other makeup brush shampoos. A little goes a long way, too, so it is extremely economical. The value is awesome. I highly recommend this brush shampoo and will continue purchasing it.” —L.L.
59. Get your water bottle extra clean with these little scrubbing beans — just toss one in and shake it up!
Amazon
They fit through narrow mouth openings, so even the hardest-to-clean containers will become easy.
Get a set of two from Amazon for $12.50.
Promising review: “I was a little skeptical, but these little beans are miracle workers. I’ve got shining metal travel mugs now instead of travel mugs with tea stains baked on the bottom. Just toss them in and give them a shake and you’ll have clean mugs too!” —M. Bolte
60. And deep clean that borderline-foul travel mug you can’t bear to look into. Just drop in a Bottle Bright tablets that’ll deep clean your thermoses and on-the-go bottles — no scrubbing required. These’ll get into all those hard-to-reach spaces and remove *all* the gunk.
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three sizes).
Promising review: “I seriously can’t believe how well these little tablets work. I had the most disgusting HydroFlask coffee mug — I tried everything. Bottle brush, different kinds of soap, vinegar, EVERYTHING, and there was still a seemingly impenetrable layer of black sludge inside. It grossed me out so much that I bought ANOTHER HydroFlask to replace it. Now eventually they both got black inside, so I tried these little magic tablets. I let a tablet sit in each of my mugs for an hour or two, and the black sludge rinsed out COMPLETELY, without even scrubbing. They look brand new. What a magical product. No weird smell or taste afterward, either. I liked it so much I used it on another HydroFlask I use primarily to hold my Bloody Mary mix in the fridge. I couldn’t put anything else in it because it would always taste like spicy tomato juice. Bottle Bright to the rescue! No residual smell or taste anymore. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING.” —Amazon Customer
61. Whip up a gentle and nonacidic spray for your granite using just dish soap, water, and alcohol.
62. But don’t *just* stick to your counters. You might think your stovetop is dirty forever, but break out a Cerama-Bryte cooktop cleaning kit, which includes cooktop cleaning solution, a scrubbing pad, and a scraper so you can absolutely remove every bit of baked- and caked-on food from any smooth range — no matter how long it’s been there.
Get the kit from Amazon for $14.98.
Promising review: “Never give up, like the Little Engine that could. I love my glass top stove, but cleaning it is not as easy as just wiping it down. If you have one, you know how it is when something boils over or spills. This bakes whatever hits the glass and leaves those frustrating scorch marks. No matter how hard I scrubbed, I could never get the film off. I have tried every cleaning product, as well every home remedy suggestion and it never removes the marks. I came across this product on Amazon and after reading the reviews, thought, ‘Why not?’ Ah, all is good in the world after finding this. I put a quarter-size dot of Cerama Bryte, scrubbed it with a light scratch pad, and rainbows and unicorns came dancing. Ah, so shiny. I think I’ve invested 20+ labor hours trying to clean the stove top, and just gave up. With this product, it took me five minutes. If you have the same issue, get this stuff — it’s incredible. 5 stars+++” —Implied Queens
63. Deep cleaning your retainer or Invisalign is easier than you think! Just drop a dental appliance cleaning tablet into a glass of warm water, along with your retainer, Invisalign, dentures, mouth guards, TMJ devices, etc. to remove odor, buildup, and other gunk. It can even kill bacteria and remove staining!
Get 120 tablets from Amazon for $21.81 (also available in a 240-pack).
Promising review: “I really wish I took a before photo so I could compare to an after photo, but I was so embarrassed by the state of my retainer before using this. I’ve had my plastic overnight retainer for YEARS and at some point at least 8 years ago, I started to get lazy about properly washing it. I would just rinse it and occasionally scrub with my toothbrush, and I allowed an [amazing] amount of plaque to build up on it and it was disgustingly yellow. Well, after just two tablets, this retainer is looking AMAZING. I let it soak from the morning when I brushed my teeth until night when it was time to wear my retainer again, and the color after just one soak was amazingly improved. I picked away some of the plaque as well, since it seemed to be loosened by soaking in this product. After two more tablets, this thing is looking like a whole new retainer. I can’t believe it. I seriously thought my retainer was beyond saving. This product is AMAZING I can’t say enough.” —ANDCosplay
64. And for set-in stains, try Chomp!, a stain remover designed to pull up annoying oil- and petroleum-based messes from concrete and brick, so your outdoor space looks refreshed! Just cover the stain, let dry, and you’ll be able to brush it away (like chalk dust!) to find the stain gone.
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
Promising review: “I went in skeptical, I’m not going to lie. We had grease spilled on our brand new paver patio and I tried dawn and the Dawn power wash. Neither touched it. The grease had been sitting for a few weeks and I saw an ad for this stuff. I ordered it to try because why not? Well I’ll be damned because this took the spots right up! No evidence we ever spilled anything! Id buy it again.” —Susan
65. And if you, like I, love crossing something off a to-do list (or don’t want to spend ALL DAY cleaning and want to do a little something every day), follow an easy, printable cleaning checklist so you can tackle one room every day.
Creative Type Store / Etsy
You can download it once and reprint it forever.
Get it from Creative Type Store on Etsy for $3.47.
Creative Type Store is a woman-owned, Canada-based Etsy shop making all your printable dreams come true, including chore charts, meal plans, and even a plant care tracker for all you not-so-green thumbs (me, looking in the mirror).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
