This month we are talking about all the cleaning products and helpers that absolutely rock our sparkly worlds. We have some strong emotional bonds to our cleaning tools over here, which I didn’t realize until I asked the SBTB team about cleaning.
And we’ve got musical accompaniment to help you while we clean up, clean up, everybody clean up!
First: Amanda says, “We bought this for the new apartment and it’s been a god send.”
Bissell Little Green Pet Deluxe Portable Carpet Cleaner, $125
Oh my stars, we have the earlier model of this, and with teens and two elderly dogs, we use it all the time. Car upholstery? Not a problem. Rug stains? Gone. Jelly on the arm of the sofa? No big deal. We love ours.
And a special tip: if you have hella stains on your rugs, the local grocery store may have professional grade carpet cleaners to rent, and the prices are often very reasonable. I rented a carpet cleaner for $40 for 24 hours, and bought a jug of carpet cleaner to use with it that I also put in the Bissell when needed.
Break time! How about a clean up song? Even Christian Slater wants you to pump up the volume on this one.
If you have the Bissell, one problem I have had with mine (again, older model) is that the headpiece can get very grimy and dirty and the spray nozzle can clog. Usually I can clear it with hot water and a pin, but replacement parts are very easy to find. We’ve had our model for at least 8 or 9 years now, and I’ve replaced the nozzle and the dirty water tank one time each.
Being able to absolutely destroy a stain makes me so happy.
Elyse: I feel that way about our mop.
Bissell SpinWave Cordless PET Hard Floor Spin Mop, $155
That looks…addictive to use, I won’t lie. And washable pads!
Speaking of, we have two of these, one for the second floor and one for the first:
Microfiber Spray Mop, with 5 reusable pads, $27
Having the extra microfiber pads for the spray mop makes it very easy to clean up a mess, pull off the pad, and toss it in the washer on hot.
We also use a pet-specific enzyme cleaner mixed in with the cleaning product because as I mentioned – elderly dogs. Like this one:
Zeb, who is probably 15+, would like you to know that he is shaped like a potato and made out of love. And he is sorry if he made a mess.
Oh, hang on, time for another clean up song! Canada’s getting in on the clean up dance break!
Shana: I love these tiny little cleaning brushes:
OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush Set, $9
They’re perfect for scrubbing around a sink faucet, or getting into crevices that nothing else reaches. The grip feels good in my hand, and since the brushes are much stiffer than a toothbrush, it takes very little physical effort to scrape up dirt.
I also love my telescoping tile scrubber:
Clorox Extendable Pole Tub and Tile Scrubber, $17
I can clean the bathtub without bending over.
Sarah: I really like those brushes! I might need a set.
When we moved here, wow, 7 years ago, I ordered a set of these towels for cleaning as we unpacked.
Bar and Kitchen Towels, set of 12, $17
The people who lived here before us didn’t clean the house after they moved out, and we were constantly wiping off surfaces and cleaning mysterious things (I was so mad. SO MAD).
These towels were fluffy and absorbent, and they had enough texture to get at stubborn spots. If they got dingy or messy (and boy oh boy they sure did) it was no big deal. They’ve been so useful for so many projects ever since. But if dingy towels do not make you happy, that set comes in 14 other colors, too.
I’ve also been thinking about getting a set of microfiber towels, because the one we have is really useful, too.
Microfiber cleaning cloths, six pack, $7.00
Do you have any of these? We have a big one that we use to clean off the outside table when it’s OMGPOLLENWTF season here, and it does a fantastic job with one swipe of the cloth.
And speaking of OMGPOLLENWTF season, our dogs track in a LOT of nature detritus, and it feels like every month there’s a different bit of nature falling from the sky onto the back deck. So there’s always a gathering of some sort of thing around the back door.
A year or so ago I splurged on a Roomba robot vacuum at Costco – and while I can’t link to Costco items accurately without your having to sign in, the model I got is very similar to this one:
Roomba with self-emptying tower, $400
Our Roomba’s name is Beavis, and yes, there’s a Beavis sticker on the vacuum unit.
While it is rather loud (I wouldn’t run it while I was trying to sleep or record a podcast) it has a mapping feature that allows me to send it to a specific region of the first floor, like just inside the back door and around the sofa. I can tell Beavis to clean that spot while I walk the dogs or do something else, and it does a terrific job.
Also, it is connected to our Google Home, so when it’s done, the Google voice says, “Beavis has finished cleaning!” which never fails to make me laugh.
Break time! Mister B wants you to clean up:
I’ve mentioned this before, but I have one of these on every floor of the house, too:
This is because some cats, and I’m not naming names, get very frisky in the litter box and tend to toss litter every which way.
Katie: No, you had better not be speaking of me. Everything I do is perfect.
I also found these washing machine cleaning tablets, and wow, WOW, do they work really well:
Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets, 6 for $11
I toss one into the drum and run a cleaning cycle, and the washer is so clean when it’s done.
I also use one of the towels I linked above to wipe out the rubber seal and gaskets around the rim, because it gets superbly gross in there.
I found a gel cleaner that has an A on Fakespot, and I am mighty curious because grime in the rubber gasket in the washer gives me the icks.
Mold remover gel for washing machines and refrigerators, $13
It’s in my cart now, and I’ll report back. Sometimes teens forget to leave the door of the washer open, and wow does it get gross in a hurry.
I also asked the other Responsible Adult in my house if he had any suggestions, and his response was:
“Bar. Keepers. Friend.”
“It’s up there with duct tape and WD-40 as things every homeowner must have on hand at all times.”
And he is Not Wrong. It cleans literally anything. If you search “bar keeper’s friend” on Reddit, you’ll see people singing its praises for pages and pages. The marketing team once did an AMA and it was a delight.
Instant pot all stained and weird? Not anymore!
Broiler pan all sticky? Now it’s not!
Dutch oven all weirdly grimy? Not a problem!
I will say that because it is an acid (oxalic acid to be specific) and I have very sensitive skin, I wear cleaning gloves while using it, but that’s no big deal, given how freakishly effective it is.
And finally, a children’s show that my kids loved, and that I look back on and wonder if it was a fever dream. Nope, it wasn’t. Yo Gabba Gabba was absolute mind bending art.
What about you? What cleaning products or cleaning tools make your life easier? Please tell us in the comments – and if you have a cleaning song to recommend, definitely let us know.
I keep a spray bottle of Dawn Platinum Powerwash at my kitchen sink. I give everything with any stubborn mess a good spray and let it sit for a few minutes. It’s not a miracle cleanser, you still have to exert a little elbow grease, but most baked-on icky stuff with come right off with a few passes of a plastic scrubber. I also spray messy dishes before putting them into the dishwasher to start the cleaning process.
The only cleaning song I can think of is “Clean up, clean up, everybody do their share” from Barney the Dinosaur. We used to sing that one A LOT when my kids were little.
We have a set of bar towels and I love them! They are great for wiping down the counters or anything that spills on the floor. Just throw them in the wash and off you go. I can’t even guess at how many fewer paper towels we use as a result. (I just checked Amazon and we’ve had them for 6 years. Still good, although some of them are getting a bit worn.)
I’ll second the Bar Keepers Friend. When I moved into my house, it was obvious that the previous owners hadn’t cleaned the stove top after a cooking disaster of some ilk that left greasy residue all over, and caked in the corners. My mom recommended Bar Keepers Friend – it took care of it with a little elbow grease.
My older sister – the cleaning master in the family – is obsessed with Dawn Powerwash. She is also overly fond of her O-cedar spin mop (https://www.target.com/p/o-cedar-easywring-spin-mop-and-bucket-system/-/A-50335649#lnk=sametab). I did not inherit her determination to clean everything in sight within an inch of its life, which is why she’s never been in my house 🙂
I’m going to have to look into that extendable tub scrubber though – getting down on the floor to clean the tub isn’t bad, but getting up again? Not so much.
just wanted to say I love the doggie picture ❤ and the cleanup songs are great! brightening up the unfun messes
Bar Keepers Friend cautionary tale here! Tried to use it to clean around the faucet in my old house, and it stripped the finish right off. Was a sort of matte aluminum finish. Anyway I have no useful info to share here, just—check your materials first? Spot check?
Katy L While I wouldn’t describe myself as a cleaning master *pauses to howl with laughter* I too have a spin mop and bucket, and I truly love them, there are short bits on the mop too so you can really get into any nooks, the “string” head goes in the washing machine so it’s easy to keep clean, and it leaves the floor the driest of any mop I’ve ever used. When our elderly dog didn’t always manage to make it outside the whole thing made clean up easy and left the floor dry enough that he wasn’t going likely to slip.
Now that I live in a house that is almost entirely rug-free, I love my Swiffer Wet Jets! I have one for the tile formula cleaner for the kitchen and bathrooms and one for the wood laminate formula for the hardwood floors everywhere else. Makes cleaning and shining up the floors quick and easy, and the pads are disposable.
And I need that gel cleaner for the seal on my dishwasher like, right now.
@Jazzlet – no intention to dis the mop – those are the reasons my sister loves the mop too. I meant to gently jab at my sister’s cleanaholic tendencies, since we are pretty much polar opposites on that front!
The Pink Stuff works wonders. It even gets hard water/soap residue off shower glass and walls. I was skeptical, but it’s now on my shelf with Bar Keeper’s Friend, a pumice stick since my well water is incredibly hard, and a good wood soap thing for my old wood floors.
I use Affresh, too. Make sure the water level is set high for top loaders.
I like the Finish dishwasher tabs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/buyagain/ref=pd_gwd_bag_pd_gw_rp_2?ie=UTF8&ats=eyJleHBsaWNpdENhbmRpZGF0ZXMiOiJCMDdINDJTWjEzIiwiY3VzdG9tZXJJZCI6IkFIOE1WN0FSRkdXWUMifQ%3D%3D&pd_rd_w=8TJiL&content-id=amzn1.sym.e76abc9f-e0e5-4b2d-a757-c99198e21afb&pf_rd_p=e76abc9f-e0e5-4b2d-a757-c99198e21afb&pf_rd_r=27C4VY11ZR4P0ZC5NFVM&pd_rd_wg=lY9oE&pd_rd_r=dbee0b6a-54dd-4742-a716-c9ac2afaab1b
and Swedish cloths (never seem to find ones actually made in Sweden lol): https://www.amazon.com/gp/buyagain/ref=pd_gwd_bag_pd_gw_rp_2?ie=UTF8&ats=eyJleHBsaWNpdENhbmRpZGF0ZXMiOiJCMDdINDJTWjEzIiwiY3VzdG9tZXJJZCI6IkFIOE1WN0FSRkdXWUMifQ%3D%3D&pd_rd_w=8TJiL&content-id=amzn1.sym.e76abc9f-e0e5-4b2d-a757-c99198e21afb&pf_rd_p=e76abc9f-e0e5-4b2d-a757-c99198e21afb&pf_rd_r=27C4VY11ZR4P0ZC5NFVM&pd_rd_wg=lY9oE&pd_rd_r=dbee0b6a-54dd-4742-a716-c9ac2afaab1b
I forgot to clarify the Finish tabs I rec’d are for cleaning the dishwasher.
I like the tabs for cleaning dishes, too, but that’s a different product.
I love the Method Anti-Bac all-purpose cleaner in Bamboo scent. It smells so fresh and green – like bringing spring indoors.
https://www.target.com/p/method-cleaning-products-antibacterial-cleaner-bamboo-spray-bottle-28-fl-oz/-/A-16873291
Also great: Everspring’s Lemon and Mint room spray and plug-in scented oil refills. Lemon and mint are two of my favorite smells and really register “clean” to my brain.
https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=lemon+and+mint&moveTo=product-list-grid&facetedValue=gl7n0
I’ll put in a vote for good old-fashioned baking soda. For stainless steel pans or glass baking dishes, I routinely use a combination of hot water, baking soda, some dish washing liquid, and time (and a little scrubbing) to get off hard stains.
I discovered Bar Keepers Friend because I collect vintage Pyrex, and it was recommended to get off stubborn gunk. It worked great, but you had to be careful what you used it on, some patterns could get messed up. I’m very interested in the microfiber spray mop. We don’t have a lot of surfaces to mop, but we have the sponge mops you wring out, and then I have to pull the pet hair off them. Throwing the the pads in the washer sounds much better.
We all know Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the greatest product ever invented. Did you know they now make one for soap scum in the bathroom? Neither did I and it is fantastic!
Microfiber cloths rule! I use them to clean windows and mirrors, without ammonia-based cleaner.
Baking soda on a damp sponge can gently remove tea stains from mugs, teapots, and teacups. (I would, however, be careful with antique porcelain, or anything with gold or silver on it.)
And I’ll second (or third, or whatever) the recommendation to use Affresh tablets in the washing machine. I throw one and run a cleaning cycle every 2 months or so, and keep the door open whenever I’m not running a load of wash, and it keeps the washer smelling good.
If you’ve got silver to polish, my mom swears by Hagerty Silver Foam, and now so do I. Don’t apply it directly to the silver. Instead, wet an old washcloth or bit of terrycloth, add a little paste and scrub against itself to work up a lather, then wash the silver with the washcloth. It’s almost effortless. (Wish I had learned this years ago!)
Bar keeper’s friend on a toliet brush does wonders for those interior bowl cleanings.
I also use Mrs. Meyer’s concentrated all purpose cleaner. I keep a spray bottle in the kitchen for all kinds of clean ups. Refill with water and some of the concentrate. I have had the same bottle for ages. https://www.amazon.com/Meyers-Purpose-Cleaner-Verbena-Bottle/dp/B00T7PC6H4/ref=asc_df_B00T7PC6H4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475771788366&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10050705475169816408&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061191&hvtargid=pla-1066336359555&psc=1
Baking soda and vinegar for almost everything.
Extendable microfiber dusters (oxo) for dusting hard to reach spots. (The pads are machine washable!)
Love a cordless vacuum, with lots of different attachments, also, as plugging in the vacuum just is too much for me.
I have a different spray mop with washable pads than that one but WOW has that made a difference in my willingness to mop. Don’t have to worry about swiffer wet pads drying out, don’t have to find a bucket.
I love Biz for removing blood stains. It’s a presoak, not an instant stan remover, but it works better than anything else I ever tried. (COMPLETELY removes blood stains, no harsh chemicals.) It’s been my #1 standby for decades.
More uses for baking soda:
1. Add 1 tsp to a bowl of water to clean produce (soak 12 min. then rinse). (Seen on FB) (Note: Do not soak (rest cherries longer than 10-12 min.!)
2. Laundry deodorizer. Toss about 1/2 Cup baking soda into the washer with about 3/4 C. white vinegar (sanitizes/kills germs), along with a good laundry soap that rinses clean (no residue). This comes from “Laundry Guy” Patric Richardson of HGTV fame.
Before he hit the big-time, Richardson spoke on local TV touting these and other basics like
1. using a bar of laundry soap (pH balanced) and a soft brush (horsehair, or baby toothbrush) to pre-treat stains.
2. Fill a spray bottle half full of white vinegar and half water (I use filtered water bc my tap water has a lot of iron) then spray sweaty areas of shirts to prevent underarm sweat stains and discoloration around the collar and upper back. Then toss in the wash. (Needless to say, it’s important to spray and launder asap, bc it doesn’t help on stains that are already set.)
3. Pour undiluted vodka (cheap brand is fine) into a clean spray bottle to spray yellowed whites. (Yellowing from oxidization that takes place when clothing is stored over a season.) He also stays you can spray vodka on other fabrics (e.g., sofa cushions) to remove odors. When it dries it leaves no stain or alcohol smell. (I’d pre-test a corner of the fabric first though to make sure it’s colorfast, and I wouldn’t use it on silks, though I suppose it depends on the silk.)
He has many more laundry tips but too many for this space!