Newsletters

Cleaning Tools

The $20 Magic Makeup-Removing Towel Amazon Reviewers Are Obsessed With
If you wear makeup (ever), you know the dread of taking it off at the end of the day. Good news: we discovered a top-rated product on Amazon that will make removing your makeup a breeze—and won’t cost you a fortune either. If you haven’t heard of the MakeUp Eraser, we’re here to catch you up. Beloved by beauty bloggers and vloggers around the globe, it’s basically a microfiber towel that can remove even the most stubborn of makeup with nothing more than water.
Caroline Biggs
Jan 12, 2019
One Simple Trick to Using Fewer Paper Towels
Recently, I was talking to Melissa Maker, author of Clean My Space. While I consider myself pretty neat and tidy, she’s made a career out of being a bit of a clean freak—she ran a cleaning company for 11 years, has her own line of cleaning products, and for-real washes her kitchen towels every day! And there’s one common cleaning tool she just loves to hate: paper towels. “Paper towels are the worst!” complains Maker.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 6, 2018
9 Unskippable Tasks that Make a “Deep Clean” Deep, According to a Professional Housecleaner
For as much as we tidy up around our homes, how often are we really giving our place a good old-fashioned deep clean? We called on housecleaning expert Jennifer Gregory, Brand Manager of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, for suggestions on what tasks you should absolutely cover to consider your clean a truly thorough one.
Caroline Biggs
Dec 5, 2018
The Brilliant Reason We Put a Squeeze Bottle Top on This Vacuum
Believe it or not, squeeze bottle tops—you know, the inexpensive plastic ones you use on bottles of condiments—are actually quite versatile. Along with dispensing ketchup, mustard, or salad dressing, we’ve discovered an unexpected way to use them to better clean your home, too. These commonplace bottle tops can make deep cleaning your home a whole lot easier if you use them like a makeshift vacuum attachment.
Caroline Biggs
Dec 4, 2018
The Best Small-Space Trash Can Is $8… and Technically Not Even a Trash Can
This is like an elevated version of the classic hang-a-bag-over-the-cabinet-handle move.
Caroline Biggs
Nov 11, 2018
This $20 Mop Is So Much Better Than a Swiffer
Raise your hand if you have a household chore that you just love to do. Even if you hate cleaning, you probably have your hand in the air. There’s always something. I love, love, love using the Shop-Vac. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch it cut a swathe through dust and dirt, swooshing everything up into its roaring nozzle. I can Shop-Vac all day long, and I always claim the job when we’re doing a big project. I even picked one out as a Valentine’s Day present once.
Dana McMahan
Oct 6, 2018
The $20 Buy That Makes Our Favorite Trend Way Less Scary
One of the trade-offs of living in a big city is small living quarters in exchange for easy access to culture and nightlife. I live in an itty-bitty studio apartment on the Lower East Side in Manhattan. Space is at a premium, and to make the best use of my square footage, I own quite a bit of Lucite (or acrylic) furniture and home accessories. The see-through material looks chic and doesn’t take up a lot of visual room.
Megan Wood
Aug 12, 2018
These Cleaning and Organizing Finds Are $1 or Less at IKEA
Let’s face it: Pretty much everything at IKEA feels like a steal thanks to their perennially super low prices. But that doesn’t mean we still aren’t stoked to discover that the mega-retailer offers a slew of cleaning and organizing items you can take home for just $1. That’s right. A buck. For less than a cup of coffee, you can score an assortment of awesome housekeeping tools that are every bit as stylish as they are inexpensive. Don’t believe us?
Caroline Biggs
Aug 6, 2018
Does it Work? We Tested Those Soap-Free Spaghetti Scrubber Sponges
I recently learned something that totally blew my mind: you uh… actually don’t need soap to wash your dishes. Or at least, that’s what one cleaning brand called Goodbye Detergent claims, thanks to their Original Spaghetti Scrub. Spaghetti Scrubs are an environmentally friendly sponge alternative.
Brittney Morgan
Jul 18, 2018
Do Household Cleaning Products Actually Expire?
Do you know how old your furniture polish is? If you have to think back to a specific purchase and then do math, chances are it’s expired. And what about those other products you have to reach way back in the cupboard for — those products you only use a few times a year? Yep, almost all cleaning products expire — but what does that mean exactly? Simply put, it means that they’ll break down and become less effective.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 26, 2018
Heading to an Estate Sale This Weekend? Keep an Eye Out for These Cleaning and Organizational Products
If your reaction to the title of this post was “eww“, that’s valid, I hear you, secondhand items aren’t for the faint of heart. But there are those among us who were born thrifty and live the 3 R’s of recycling to the fullest. We like saving money, staying out of big box stores, and know that estate sales are more than just great places to find unique vintage home decor. Thrifty as I might be, I’d never buy cleaning products from a “thrift store.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 23, 2018
The $2 Cleaning Tool Paper Towel Addicts Need to Try
It will entice even die-hard paper towel lovers to reach for something else instead.
Shifrah Combiths
Feb 7, 2018
6 Genius Things You Don’t Have in Your Bathroom, But Should
As a society, we’re constantly trying to make our lives easier, speed up everyday tasks and find products to hack our routines. While we’re constantly on the hunt for new technology that can multitask for us (honestly if you told me 10 years ago that someday I’d talk to my lightbulbs, I wouldn’t have believed you), there are plenty of affordable products already on the market that can change your life—or at least your life in the bathroom.
Brittney Morgan
Nov 27, 2017
This Waste-Free, Self-Cleaning Lint Remover Might Just Change Your Life
It's no-waste AND self-cleaning.
Brittney Morgan
Nov 24, 2017
This Fluffy Robot Duster Could Also Entertain Your Cat
Unless you’re a certified germaphobe, you’ve likely dropped the ball on doing housework at one point or another. This furry robot cleaning ball will allow you to keep your hands and floors clean while it does the dirty job of dust busting. As robotic cleaning options go, the multi-functionality and quirky appearance of the Mocoro Robot Cleaning Ball put it a step above the rest.
Kenya Foy
Oct 8, 2017
We Tried These Bathroom Drain Snakes To Unclog a Sink & OMG The Hair
Snaking the drain is one of those nasty jobs that we put off, and just deal with a clogged or slow draining sink or tub because we don’t want to bother with calling the landlord, or figuring out how to do it ourselves. Like so many things, after we actually do it, we realize it’s just not a big deal and wish we’d done it sooner. It’s also satisfying —and gross.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 25, 2017
Cleaning Time Capsule: Vintage Ads to Remind Us All What It Was Like Back in the Day
Many of the cleaning brands we use today have been around for decades—some have even been around since the 1800s—and that means that over the years, they’ve seen many a marketing campaign. Flipping through old magazine ads for the products we still know and love is quite the experience, and so is watching vintage television ads from generations ago. Some are questionable, some are hilarious, and some, surprisingly, aren’t really all that different from how they are today.
Brittney Morgan
Aug 17, 2017
12 Top-Rated Vacuums (That Are Cheaper than a Dyson)
A low price point doesn't always mean low quality—in fact, some of the least expensive vacuums out there are among the highest rated.
Brittney Morgan
Jun 28, 2017
I Tried It: Goodbye Gross Disposables, Hello Silicone Sponge
Can a silicone sponge replace your basic disposable kitchen sponge for life, or does it sound too good to be true?
Brittney Morgan
Apr 26, 2017
The Cleaning Mistake I Didn’t Know I Was Making (But I’m Going to Keep Doing Anyway)
Back when I Kon-Mari-ed my cleaning supplies, I dutifully refilled my homemade baking soda dispensers (jars with holes hammered into the lids) and my re-purposed white vinegar squirters (empty dish soap bottles) so I’d have one of each in every bathroom. I use these ubiquitous homemade cleaners to scrub and disinfect all our sinks and toilets — or so I thought.
Shifrah Combiths
Apr 10, 2017
Relive your ’90s Childhood & Clean at the Same Time with Cleaning Slime
Bring back the glory days of your 1990s childhood in one fell swoop with this effective—but also really, really fun—way to clean. It starts with a few handy household ingredients, which become mixed into a substance similar to Nickelodeon Gak (remember that stuff?). You can use the resulting goop to reach crumbs in hard-to-clean crevices all around your home (plus your office and your car).
Taryn Williford
Feb 5, 2017
Behold: The World’s Most Beautiful Cleaning Tools
Beautiful cleaning supplies are so underrated. Just allow me to list for you a few of the perks of splurging (and some of these are certainly a splurge) on some seriously stylish tools. One, if you have limited storage, you should buy gorgeous brooms and brushes that are chic enough to leave out in the open on hooks in the entryway or on a shelf in the kitchen — I mean, these handmade beauties are practically art.
Taryn Williford
Sep 19, 2016
Everyday Savings: Simple Tips to Extend the Life of Your Kitchen Sponge
Nobody likes to throw away money. Even though kitchen sponges are, like, 50¢ a piece, there are still some small, simple habits you can do to squeeze more mileage out of your most hardworking kitchen tool. Ta da! Instantly, your tools last twice as long. Chances are, a smaller sponge can still tackle all your normal use with finesse. In fact, it might make it easier to get into tight nooks. Get yourself a sponge holder that will keep your sponge upright and let air flow all around.
Taryn Williford
Jul 5, 2016
15+ Glorious Uses for Wax Paper at Home
Add wax paper to the long list of items with surprising applications and usefulness well beyond their original purpose. Wax paper (as opposed to parchment paper) has a thin layer of wax on each side, and was designed to keep food fresh longer. Its both water resistant and non-stick — two attributes that make this handy item versatile and helpful, even outside the kitchen. Rub a sheet on the teeth of a zipper to discourage snags.
Dabney Frake
Oct 10, 2014
We Tried It: The Miracle Grout Pen Test, Before & After
We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest (and easiest) cleaning tools, so when our Apartment Therapy Office Manager Nelly came into work the other day raving about a project that transformed her dingy, rental bathroom grout, our ears perked right up. No doubt it has to do with the fact that she’s expecting, but Nelly’s been doing all sorts of nesting lately.
Jennifer Hunter
Jan 27, 2014
The Neat-Freak Solution to Storing Kitchen Cleaners
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) From The Kitchn → Two Ways To Store Dish Soap and Other Kitchen Cleaners (Besides by the Sink).
Jennifer Hunter
Oct 3, 2013
Bissell Little Green Machine
It’s been a tough month around our household. A series of bad health incidents was capped off last night when we discovered our cat Eames had urinated on our bed. A small, but noticeable amount of blood was at the center of the large damp spot that soaked all the way down to the mattress itself. This is often the sign of a urinary infection (we think recent overnight guests stressed his system), so now the little fella is at the vet getting tested.
Gregory Han
Nov 28, 2007
Jig-A-Loo Lube In The Test Lab
Product: Jig-A-Loo All Around LubricantPrice: $14 Rating: Recommend*(This is from our guest tester, Jenny G., who won a bottle of Jig-A-Loo in this post. Thanks, Jenny!)Short version:The incredible squeak of the front door still exists, but we still really like this can of Jig-A-Loo. Long version:The first test was, of course, the squeaky front door hinges. The squeak won’t stop–apparently, as one of the original commentators said, we need to get inside the hinge to stop this squeak.
Maxwell Ryan
Aug 21, 2007
WD-40, Who Knew?
We were recently sent this bit of info by our father, who revelled at the opportunity to contribute to the blog. It’s a great little story about the invention of WD-40, which, it turns out, was never intended for lubrication at all and has, as its basic ingredient, nothing other than fish oil!“I had a neighbor who had bought a new pickup.
Maxwell Ryan
Jan 30, 2007
The Monkey Hook in the Test Lab
Product: The Monkey Hook picture hanger Designer: A Monkey & A Marketer Price: $11.25/30 hooks (10 original, 10 gorilla grade, 10 flush mount) Rating: Recommend* Like trying to reinvent the mousetrap, a product comes along every now and then that DOES make a significant improvement in an ancient field. The Monkey Hook is one of them. An ingenious and simple design, The Monkey Hook uses one rigid piece of wire to replace the need for a hammer, pin and hook.
Maxwell Ryan
Jan 18, 2007
Quick Dusting Hacks That Save You Time
Quick Dusting Hacks That Save You Time
Mar 6, 2017
7 Smart Sponge Hacks
7 Smart Sponge Hacks
Feb 28, 2018
Surprising Items That Aren't Dishwasher Friendly
Surprising Items That Aren't Dishwasher Friendly
Nov 17, 2017
How To Clean Old Upholstery Stains
How To Clean Old Upholstery Stains
Aug 3, 2018
5 Things To Know About Cleaning With Baking Soda
5 Things To Know About Cleaning With Baking Soda
Apr 20, 2018
How To Clean Your Mattress
How To Clean Your Mattress
Mar 22, 2018
5 Things You Can Clean With Denture Tablets
5 Things You Can Clean With Denture Tablets
Dec 15, 2017
Easy Bathroom Hacks For That Perfect Shine
Easy Bathroom Hacks For That Perfect Shine
Mar 6, 2017