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Amazon
Cleaning isn't everyone's favorite chore, but we found products that make it a little easier.
Our editors and reporters shared their go-to products for cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, and floors.
Some of our favorites include self-emptying vacuums, reusable dishcloths, and a cat litter pail.
At Insider Reviews, we regularly test vacuums, all-purpose sprays, mops, and more. That doesn't mean we don't consider cleaning a constant chore, especially with kids and pets running around.
Over the years, we've found our own methods for speeding up the process or reducing the amount of time we need to spend scrubbing and dusting. These are the products we use daily (or weekly, depending on how tidy we are) to keep our homes clean.
I learned quickly that if I wanted to keep my spaces clean, then I needed to keep cleaning materials readily on hand. I have one of these tiny, expandable dusters in literally every room of the house. I also keep one in my desk and another in my car. It makes it super easy to just give everything a give rub-down when I'm on a call or stalled in traffic. (Yes, I have done this.) When the microfiber heads get too dusty, I just pull them off and throw them in the wash. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor
I frequently recommend this almost magical tool for cleaning up pet hair. The roller has two parts separated by a piece of plastic and a compartment for collected fur on the back. As you energetically roll the ChomChom back and forth over furniture, cat trees, and pet beds, static electricity helps attract the hair. It works amazingly well on my velvet armchair, aka the cat bed/fur magnet. — Jenny McGrath, senior reporter
When Insider Reviews senior reporter Jenny McGrath recommended these reusable dishcloths, I was inspired to give them a try. I've generally taken a wasteful approach to cleaning kitchen counters and appliances with paper towels, but these dishcloths are far superior. They're more durable, clean even better, and can be tossed in the washer. Recently, I used them to clean the interior of my car. I love that they don't leave behind any fibers and have a smoother surface than microfiber so they're easier to rinse off. — Lisa Sabatini, senior editor
A squeegee makes quick (and actually kind of fun!) work of cleaning my shower's glass doors. It's really satisfying seeing water stains and soap scum just glide off. — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
A storable step stool
Handy
Handy Laundry Folding Step Stool, from $12.99 at Amazon and Handy
I store one of these step stools under my kitchen sink and pull it out whenever I need to get to something I can't reach. It comes in super handy for dusting the tops of cabinets and shelves. — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
A duster for hard-to-reach spots
Amazon
OXO Good Grips Under-Appliance Microfiber Duster, from $12.99 at Amazon and OXO
These reusable dusters from OXO are great for reaching and removing dust from all those tough spots in your home, and they can be washed for years of reuse. I bought them after reading our guide to the best dusters. — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
A spot for the litter scooper
Amazon
iPrimio Universal Cat Litter Scooper Holder, $15.49 on Amazon and Chewy
I stumbled upon this litter scooper holder on Amazon a few months ago, and I wish I'd thought to buy it years ago. Litter scoopers get gross pretty quickly, and this holder contains any stray litter that falls off of them so that it doesn't end up on your floor. It makes maintaining and cleaning the area around my cats' litter box a lot easier. — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
An odor-proof litter pail
Chewy
Litter Genie Plus Litter Disposal System, from $21.99 at Chewy, Amazon, and Petco
I hate scooping litter, and while the Litter Genie stops short of actually doing the task for me, it makes me cringe significantly less while doing it. The Litter Genie works similarly to a diaper genie: You scoop the litter into the pail and then pull a lever to drop the waste into an odor-proof bag. I like that it holds several weeks' worth of waste so I don't have to take the trash out every time I scoop the litter. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor
A dishwasher you don't have to install
Amazon
Farberware Professional Portable Dishwasher, from $299.99 at Amazon and Wayfair
I don't think I would have been able to endure the pandemic if it weren't for our portable dishwasher. When my husband and I were suddenly at our (dishwasher-less) home for every single meal during March of 2020, it seemed like we were always doing dishes, and our sink was always full. I finally put my foot down and purchased a portable dishwasher. It works almost exactly like a standard dishwasher, except it hooks up to and drains into the sink. The time it has given us back has made it more than worth the cost in just the two years we've had it. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor
A handheld vac for quick cleanup
Lowe's
Black+Decker Handheld Vacuum (HHVI320JR02), $44.99 at Amazon and Ace Hardware
I absolutely hate upright vacuuming, and my robot vacuum doesn't always get into every nook and cranny. I reach for my handheld vac almost daily — mostly for cat hair, litter box overflow, and sneaking up on bugs that freak me out. It has an extendable nozzle to get into even the tiniest spaces, and there's a little upholstery brush that you can flip into place for getting fuzz off the couch. — Sally Kaplan, executive editor of Insider Reviews
A powerful vacuum
Home Depot
Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum, from $449.99 at Target and Best Buy
My colleagues and I can wax poetic on the benefits of a vacuum with excellent suction power, and Dyson is the gold standard for a reason. My 10-year-old Dyson vac is still going strong all these years later! — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
An affordable rust remover
Amazon
Bar Keepers Friend Powdered Cleanser, from $2.19 at Lowe's and Target
This cheap powder is amazing at cleaning and removing rust from stainless steel cookware, sinks, bathroom fixtures, and so forth. I've used it time and again to restore a sparkling finish to my kitchen sink. — Ellen Hoffman, editor-in-chief
A self-emptying robot vac
Target
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO (3550) Robot Vacuum, from $494 at Amazon and Best Buy
If it weren't for robot vacuums, I would never clean my floors. They make floor cleaning super simple. I've tested dozens of models, and I think the Roomba i3+ is the best. It has a self-emptying base so I don't have to empty the dustbin every day. Instead, I replace the disposable bag every two months or so. Easy-peasy! — James Brains, reporter