Prepare to take your housekeeping to the next level with these game-changing products.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Meet your new best friends
There’s no denying the satisfaction of spreading, smearing or spraying a cleaning product onto a problem area and watching gunk and grime disappear before your eyes. Not all cleaning products are created equal, though, so it can sometimes take a few misses to find a hit. Lucky for you, we did the dirty work (literally) to find cleaning products that work like magic. In addition to these products surpassing crud-busting expectations, they’re all under $15, so they won’t break the bank.
Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray
Grease is no match for this new Dawn product ($5). The mild foam formula may appear unassuming, yet it will remove even the toughest filth from your home. It eliminates the need for soaking because it works five times faster than other products. Simply spray, wipe, and rinse to remove. It’s great for baked-on messes, grout stains, and broiler pans with who knows how many layers of burnt-on crud.
SkylarLife Home Mold & Mildew Remover Gel
If you’re all about setting it and forgetting it, this is the product for you. SkylarLife’s ($13) mold and mildew buster is a potent gel that you apply to areas that are prone to developing mold, including the bathtub, shower, sink, and windows. It even tackles nasty orange or black mold. Simply apply it to the area, let it sit for six to eight hours, then come back to witness a miraculous removal. Wipe it away, and you’re good to go!
Blue Magic Carpet Spot Lifter & Stain Remover
Stains happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them for the rest of your life. Blue Magic’s Carpet Stain & Spot Lifter ($10) is a true hero when it comes to removing difficult stains; it even removes stains you weren’t aware were there. Spray it liberally over the damaged area, wait 30 seconds for the stain to rise to the surface, and then press with a paper towel. It works great on automobile upholstery, carpet, and even upholstered furniture.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Of course, Magic Erasers are on this list—it’s magic! If you’re unfamiliar with Magic Erasers ($7), it’s essentially chunks of melamine foam that act as ultra-gentle, super fine sandpaper on all types of surfaces. They safely buff away everything from soap scum on your tiles and food buildup on your stovetop to stubborn stains on your walls.
Microban 24 Hour Multi-Purpose Cleaner and Disinfectant Spray
Bacteria is everywhere, and it can survive and thrive on surfaces anywhere from a few hours to several days. This can lead to illness, stubborn stains, and gnarly odors. Powered by antimicrobial technology, Microban 24 ($4) effectively sanitizes and protects surfaces for 24 hours by creating a germ-busting shield on any surface where it’s applied.
Soft Scrub All Purpose Surface Cleanser
Glass oven tops are prone to accumulating burnt-on food debris and porous surfaces—including countertops, sinks, and toilets—easily develop unsightly set-in stains. Soft Scrub ($4) tackles all of that with a gentle but aggressive formula that essentially buffs away lingering gunk. Apply it to the area with a sponge or brush, then wipe and rinse. It works on soap scum, food and drink stains, hard water and lime stains, and grease.
Conair Fabric Defuzzer
Clothing, coats, and upholstery that you use regularly are often susceptible to pilling and fuzzing. This can make the fabric look dingy and old, but it’s not a reason to throw the whole thing out. Conair’s Fabric Defuzzer ($12) essentially shaves these extra bits away, rescuing garments and furniture by restoring them to their glory days.
Fume-Free Oven Cleaner Easy-Off
Do you dread having to clean the oven? You’re not by yourself. While self-cleaning ovens sound like a dream, they result in a hot, stinking kitchen that is unusable for several hours. Instead, go with Easy-Off ($4). It’s widely regarded as one of the best oven cleaners available and for good reason. Simply spray it, let it stay for two hours, and then wipe it down. Use it as a spot treatment after you’ve completed a thorough cleaning.
OxiClean White Revive Laundry Whitener + Stain Remover
The commercials are true: OxiClean ($7) makes your whites whiter. This household staple belongs in everyone’s laundry room. It’ll get rid of grass, dirt, wine, makeup and ink stains on your favorite whites and it’ll even restore tired, yellow-tinted white clothes back to their original brightness.
Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish
Stainless steel is a magnet for smudges, fingerprints and food debris, which makes it hard to keep clean. Even after cleaning a stainless steel surface, it may seem like all of the above makes a comeback right away. This Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish ($7) not only cleans the surface—but it also helps prevent future smudges and fingerprints from developing.
Pumie Toilet Bowl Ring Remover
The ring around your toilet bowl stands zero chance against Pumie ($11). This pumice stone works via gentle abrasion, nixing mineral deposits, rust, stains, and limescale. And don’t worry—it’s completely safe for your porcelain. In addition to using it on your toilet, it’s great for sinks, tubs, and showers. Do you know which spots are the germiest in your bathroom?
Glisten Garbage Disposal Cleaner
Having a garbage disposal is a real blessing. However, as wonderful as this kitchen feature is, it can also be the source of stinky smells wafting through your home. This foaming Glisten Garbage Disposer Cleaner ($5) tackles the stench and ensures that your garbage disposal runs as it should. Just drop the premeasured biodegradable packet into the disposal and turn it on while running water. It will foam up as it cleans blades, pipes, and the intricate pieces of the disposal itself.
Swiffer Sweeper Dry + Wet All-Purpose Starter Kit
Anyone who has hardwood or tile floors knows how quickly dust and assorted filth accrues. Swiffer Sweeper’s ($12) Dry Cloths work by attracting and locking in dust, dirt, hair and other small debris to make floors shine. The Wet Cloths trap and lock more dirt while mopping away stains, smudges and smears.
