Spring cleaning time has passed, but for some reason, dust is still accumulating around the house. You try to keep up with household chores like laundry and washing dishes, and you clean regularly every week, but there’s a good chance you’ve neglected some important areas of your home. In fact, you’ve probably never cleaned your garbage disposal or clothes dryer. You’ve probably also avoided cleaning your dishwasher. Yes, even cleaning machines need cleaning!
But the payoff is big: Keeping those pesky, hard-to-reach places in check means you’ll clean more efficiently and have a neater home. As the former home editor of Real Simple magazine, cleaning was one of my responsibilities, so I was always trying out the latest brooms and new sponges. (What can I say? It was a glamorous job.) Now that I’m the mom of two messy kids, I’m really putting these products to use, and I’m excited to share my wisdom on all things cleaning—unusual cleaning supplies included.
We’ve scoured the market to find the best, easiest-to-use tools to tackle tasks you never thought you’d have to do. From microfiber ceiling fan dusters to ergonomic brushes for window and door grooves, these gadgets will inspire you to put in some serious effort.
Flexi Snake
Is your bathroom sink clogged? No need to remove the plug. Just insert this tool into the drain and turn it. The “micro hooks” of this pipe cleaner-like tool will remove all the dirt. Water will start flowing again in no time.
$20 on Amazon
Deflect
It’s scary, but it’s true. Lint buildup in your dryer can cause a fire. Avoid that risk by clearing your ducts with this tool that extends up to 12 feet. You can turn it by hand or attach it to a drill for longer ducts. You’ll be amazed at how much dirt it comes out.
$26 at Lowe’s
Shine
Sure, you could pop a few lemon slices in your garage garbage disposal to clean it out, but to really sanitize your pipes, you need something stronger. These biodegradable, lemon-scented foam packs will lift dirt and odors from every part of your unit (sidewalls, blades, under the splash guard) and leave behind a pleasantly fresh scent.
$4 on Amazon
Kitchener
Simply rinsing your water bottle (yes, even Stanleys!) isn’t enough — harmful bacteria can lurk in the bottle’s walls and internal crevices. This antibacterial, long-handled silicone brush repels mold and mildew (unlike regular sponges).
$13 on Amazon
Pumier
No matter how hard you scrub your toilet, sometimes stains just won’t come off. That’s because the stains are actually limescale or rust. These pumice sticks are incredibly effective, yet gentle, so they won’t damage your precious bowl.
$11 on Amazon
Boao
Did you think just removing random hairs was enough to clean your hairbrush? Wrong! This little rake-like tool will remove every last strand. If you want to thoroughly disinfect your brush, rinse it in hot, soapy water.
$8 on Amazon
Quick and clean
Sometimes your Keurig coffee maker, your morning go-to, starts brewing funny tasting or inconsistent coffee. When that happens, just run your coffee maker with these stain-removing pods, then refill with just water and you’ll soon be back to drinking the great tasting coffee you’ve come to rely on. Non-toxic and biodegradable.
$10 on Amazon
Fugenial
The extra stiff nylon bristles and easy-grip handles make it easy to remove tough grout stains (from bathtubs, backsplashes, floors, and tricky tile areas). The brightly colored brushes are designed to handle aggressive cleaners without bending or damaging the bristles. So you either go for it or you don’t.
$13 on Amazon
Linal
If you regularly clean the tracks of your sliding glass doors, go ahead. If you’re like us, grab this brush right away. Use it to sweep debris off your door and window tracks. The scraper on the handle will remove stubborn stains. Then, use a wet paper towel or handheld vacuum to clean your door back to its original condition.
$6 on Amazon
Fan Blade Cleaner
Like a cozy ceiling fan mitt, this microfiber sleeve slips over the blades to trap dust and keep it from falling on the floor or onto your head. And it’s machine washable.
$14 on Amazon
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