Just imagine if this were your desk. Breathe in. Breathe out. Now get to it.
Gabriel Beaudry / Unsplash
Last year, Popular Science and
Working Mother
teamed up to share the most effective ways to clean up during spring cleaning. To keep that list fresh—and account for new cleaning tricks picked up over the past year—we’ve updated it with newer, better models of certain devices. You don't have the time for a leisurely scrub-down, so we'll cut the crud, showing you the
optimal way to sweep a floor
, sharing our tips for
spring cleaning your electronics
, and tracking down the best ways to actually (for real, in real life) remove a stain.
And now: we're coming clean about the products that'll make your digs shine, from inventive tech to the stand-bys we swear by. Cleaning doesn't have to be a chore—especially if there are robots. Which there are. So many robots.
Brush Hero Wheel Brush
A time-saver for the out-of-doors.
Sometimes elbow grease doesn't cut it. Connect the Brush Hero Wheel water-powered brush to your hose or shower to cut through tougher build-up with ups to 15 pounds of turning force. The apparatus can spin in both directions and has interchangeable brushes so you can swap out soft or hard bristles. If you're cleaning something outside, this can cut down on time, effort, and water.
$35
.
AIRMEGA 400S
Don't forget to clean the air you breathe
Feel like you’re doing cleaning without dedicating any actual time or work to do so. The
AirMega 400s
comes in three smart modes: auto-speed, Eco, and sleep. Auto mode adjusts the filtration based on the room’s current air quality, Eco shuts down after the AirMega determines the air quality is good for 10 or so minutes, and sleep mode turns the fan speed down to make it quieter. It can be controlled via WiFi on iOS and android devices where you can monitor the speed, indoor and outdoor air quality, and a scheduler in real time. The device covers up to 1,560 square feet and will tell you when you need to change your filters.
$650
.
The Scrub Daddy Smile Sponge
The Scrub Daddy Smile Sponge
is a cult favorite for three reasons: (1) it's adorable, (2) its name is unambiguously hilarious, (3) the two-sided sponge, with a scratch-free FlexTexture on one side and a foamy material on the other, works super well for tougher build-ups. That FlexTexture gets its name from its ability to adjust its stiffness according to water temperatures. Said another way: heat up your water for a softer sponge (for woods and ceramics, for example) or keep your H2O cool for a tougher scrubber (ideal for stovetops or hard-water build-up around faucets). The ResoFoam side is softer and more absorbent, so it's meant to be used for spills. Scrub Daddy insists it will not scratch glass, wood, or stainless steel, and claims to have a "semi-closed cellular structure" that keeps schmutz from adhering to it. Upgrade your sponge. Seriously.
$14
.
If you need something a little bit more heavy-duty, try these
more somber versions from Scrub Daddy
.
Before you get into the yearly cleaning routine, glove up. The
Mr. Clean latex gloves
are lined with cotton for comfort, are reusable and have an embossed palm for improved grip. They're a classic for a reason.
$7
.
This suction cup
bowtie sponge holder
may look like a villain from a 1970s cartoon, but it's actually doing a lot to prevent mildew from stinking up your dish cleaner. Use the suction cup on the back and place on your sink for a nice air dry.
$11
.
Easy Off Oven Cleaner
A super strong oven cleaner.
Easy-Off
oven cleaner is the power player that works sans noxious fumes. The product contains Butane and Monoethanolamine, which both help loosen carbon molecules and break down buildup in your cooker. Once build-up has softened, sodium hydroxide works its way through fatty acids. The foamy texture of the product ensures that the chemicals don't quickly evaporate.
$20
.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Erase the resilient stuff.
If you have a toddler, you already know this one. Extra durable
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers
will snatch the crayon and grease stains from walls, rip the grime off of tubs, and remove stubborn coffee stains from cups. It is made out of melamine foam, which has an extra fine sandpaper-ish texture. Be wary of using it on glossy or delicate surface, though.
$5
.
Simichrome Polish
Respect and protect your metals
The extra fine, microscopic abrasive particles in this
polish
scrubs away oils and tarnishes. After polishing, the paste leaves a thin protective film coating to prevent further corrosion and slow down tarnishing and oxidation. It will, quite literally, make your house shine.
$9
.
Dyson Ball Multi Floor Vacuum & Dirty Devil
The
Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2
is light and slim. It's slender profile means it turns easily, and gets into your house's trickiest corners. Also: it's easy to carry up and down stairs. The vacuum works on hardwood, tile, and carpets and has a self-adjusting cleaner head which automatically changes when you go onto another floor type. Cool.
$300
.
For a cheaper option, the
Dirt Devil Vacuum Cleaner Quick Lite Plus
will
probably
do the trick. It's just 11 inches wide, super lightweight, and has a detachable 8-foot stretch hose for getting into places the main base can’t reach.
$40
.
The Dyson Cyclone V10 cord-free Animal vacuum—equipped with a V10 Dyson digital motor—picks up 25 percent more dust than the previous V8 model. It’s quieter, lighter, and easier to maneuver, too. The battery gives you an hour of suction, even when you’re deep-cleaning your carpets. It also transforms into a handheld vac.
$600
.
Roomba 980 Vacuuming Robot
Leave the vacuuming to someone else
The
Roomba 980 Vacuuming Robot
isn't quite Rosie from The Jetsons, but it’s a huge help, nonetheless. It comes with "multi-room navigation” and boasts 10 times the suction power as earlier models. It agitates, brushes, and sucks, picking up dust, crumbs, and hair with about five times the air as earlier models. While you are cleaning your bathroom, let it take care of your living room or kitchen. It is voice activated—works with Alexa and Google Assistant—and cleans both hardwood floors and carpets. It's only 3.6 inches tall, so can fit under most pieces of furniture, too. The Roomba uses sensors to navigate and learn your home floor plan. The best part is that it automatically recharges itself once it is done with a cleaning cycle. Each charge lasts for 2 hours of cleaning.
$889
.
The
Libman Wonder Mop
is another classic. Here's why: it's fast-drying, machine-washable, and absorbent like whoa. Slide the mop head up and twist to wring out the water.
$17
.
You can also buy
mop head refills
here.
The
Braava
mopping robot is similar to a Roomba except that it mops. Duh. It charges itself, uses GPS navigation to remember where it has mopped and where it still has to clean, and has two modes—dry sweeping and damp mopping.
$255
.
Some things you can’t clean by hand. DrillBrush power scrubbing brushes are the way to go for tougher spots, like outdoor walls and blackened grout. The stiff nylon brushes fit directly into your power drill and promise cut through tub grime way quicker than scrubbing by hand. I used these the other week to buff out some scratches in my metal shower frame.
$18
.
Grillbot
Grills can get gross. Don't forget that.
Don’t forget the grill! The Grillbot will scrub it for you, with three cycles that range from 10 to 30 minutes. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and requires four hours of charge time to reach full power. The brushes are removable and dishwasher-safe.
$74
.
Alfawise S60 window robot
You can’t always reach the high windows in your house—but dust bunnies can. The
Alfawise S60 window robot
is a Roomba-esque cleaner that uses artificial intelligence to detect window frames and avoid obstructions. The robot uses suction to crawl on the window, wiping away dirt so you can avoid wobbly ladders. Move it with a remote control or the company’s smartphone app. It comes with detachable microfiber pads and an 18-foot-long power cable. The window robot has a 30 minute back-up power system, in case there’s no outlet nearby. It’s worth noting that the device doesn’t remove water stains.
$170
.
Windex All-In-One Window Cleaner
Make all of your glass smudge-free
It's a cordless power squeegee! The battery-operated wet has got double-layered 11-inch blades made of neoprene—a synthetic rubber that only weighs 1.5 pounds.
$28
.
Zep Foaming Glass Cleaner
A powerful window cleaner
Our technology editor's dad is a master craftsman in the glazer's union, and he swears by this stuff for cleaning windows. The
Zep Foaming Glass Cleaner
will dissolve grease, oil, and finger prints.
$6
.
Remember when you—or someone else in your house— thought it would be a great idea to put stickers on a wall or mirror? Get around to finally removing those stickers with some
Goo Gone
. The orange scented, oil-based cleaner, removes goo from carpets, clothing, metals, and finished woods.
$7
.
As paintbrushes, these are pretty bad. As mini-dusters to get at hard-to-reach areas like your keyboard, car vents, or refrigerator coils,
foam brushes
are ideal. Cheap, too.
$5
.
Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner
Clean your washing machine
This stuff works with pretty much all washing machines, getting rid of odors and mildews with tablets of sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate.
$31
.
Parker & Bailey Kitchen Cabinet Cream
Rid your cabinets of smudges
For annihilating grease, food stains, and general stickiness, consider
Parker & Bailey Kitchen Cabinet Cream
. It's made of white mineral oil, so it's food-safe and makes for a nice shine on wood finishes. It's also got glycerine for removing stains and prevent dust from sticking to the surface.
$9
.
If you didn't catch our DIY article about
how to clean your keyboard without breaking it
, one way to clean your keyboard is by using a compressed gas duster to remove dust and dirt. This
Multi-Purpose Cleaning Gel
is another way to remove dust and hair. Take the gel out of the bag and press the clean side onto the dirty surfaces. Once pressed down a few times, fold it over to create a new clean area and repeat. Satisfying.
$15
.
WD-40
Lubricate those squeaky cabinets
You know that door that’s been squeaking all year? Give it a quick spritz with some
WD40
, which lubricates moving bits, protects metal surfaces, and removes grime. Carbon dioxide propels the (secret!) WD-40 formula out of the can. This stuff is just the best.
$8
.
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. With all our product stories, the goal is simple: more information about the stuff you're thinking about buying. We may sometimes get a cut from a purchase, but if something shows up on one of our pages, it’s because we like it. Period.
