The Best Home Cleaning Products to Make Cleaning Easy

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I don’t love to clean but I love a clean house. And the good news is that you don’t need to spend hours and hours cleaning in order to have a clean house. All it takes is an easy to follow cleaning schedule and the best home cleaning products to make cleaning quick and easy.

Why Should You Trust My Recommendations

I don’t enjoy cleaning so I’ve tried a lot of products claiming to lessen the burden. You can trust that I will only recommend products that actually work to make cleaning easier.

There are a ton of products claiming to be life-changing and millions of reviews. But what I offer are authentic reviews and recommendations from someone who is probably pretty similar to you. You can read more about me.

The products I recommend are:

• Products and tools I currently use or have used in the past. If I’m no longer using a product it’s most likely because of a change in the materials in my home, such as more hardwood flooring vs. tile.
• Easy to use – not something that is complicated to figure out how to work it.
• Makes cleaning easier. This is a top priority for me. I always want to spend less time cleaning and I don’t want cleaning to be super hard work.

Less time + less elbow grease = a winning cleaning product

Cleaning Product Clutter

Are the under sink cabinets in your kitchen and bathrooms full or cleaning products that you don’t actually use? Is your hall closet full of mops and vacuums that didn’t live up to the hype?

Get rid of any products that you don’t use or like. Pass them along to a friend or donate them. If the product or tool isn’t used, it’s just taking up valuable storage space.

It’s time to ditch all those worthless cleaning products and tools and replace them with the best home cleaning products. These are products that you will actually want to use because you know they will get the job done with little effort on your part.

Multipurpose Cleaning Tools

Since I advocate getting rid of clutter, it only make sense that I try to keep the number of cleaning supplies to a minimum. When I find something that works I like to use it for as many tasks as possible.

Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths are the ultimate multipurpose cleaning tool. Use a different color for different types of tasks so the one you use for the for the toilet doesn’t accidentally get used to wipe the kitchen table.

The main benefits are:

1. The tiny fibers pick up so much dirt and germs without leaving behind lint!
2. You can clean with only water or use it with your favorite cleaning sprays and solutions.
3. Wash and reuse. The cloths typically last 300+ uses.
4. Microfiber cloths are my go-to for so many tasks:
   • Kitchens – counters, table, cabinets/drawers, sinks, appliances
   • Bathrooms – counters, shower/tubs, sinks, faucets, toilets
   • Dusting – just about any surface that needs dusting
   • Walls and baseboards
   • Mirrors and Windows

All-Purpose Cleaner

Since I don’t want a ton of cleaning products cluttering up my under sink cabinets, I use an all-purpose cleaner. I prefer the non-toxic Method all-purpose spray in Clementine but Method has a lot of different scents you can try.

I use the spray on counters, sinks, and tables. It’s designed for any non-porous surface.

Pan Scrapers

These little pan scrapers may have been designed to clean cookware (and it is awesome for that purpose), but they are indispensable in cleaning up all types of dried on goop. Yes, I use them on dishes and the kitchen sink but also on the bathroom sinks and the cabinet that has a smear of toothpaste now dried on and the wall that has a piece of food stuck to it.

You get the idea, the name makes you think it’s for dishes only but it works wonders on removing dried up stuff on other surfaces, too.

The pan scrapers are small so it’s easy to store anywhere (put one in the car). They are extremely durable. I’ve used the same one for years and only bought more so I can have them handy throughout the house.

Magic Erasers

I used Magic Erasers a lot more before I started using microfiber cloths but there are some tasks that the Magic Eraser is the best cleaning product for the job.

I use the Magic Eraser for scuff marks and crayon marks on the walls and other surfaces (make sure to do a spot test, as it doesn’t work well with all paints), soap scum, and pretty much any other dried on, burnt on, stubborn stain that doesn’t come up with the pan scraper and microfiber cloth. Or sometimes I go straight for the Magic Eraser since I typically don’t need to use as much elbow grease with it.

The Best Bathroom Cleaning Products

I absolutely hate cleaning bathrooms. The soap scum, the globs of toothpaste, mildew…and the toilets – yuck!

The multipurpose products and tools listed above are what I use in the bathroom with a few key additions.

Daily Shower Spray

If you want to put less effort into cleaning your shower or tub, then pick up a bottle of daily shower spray. Seriously, use it every day and you will hardly need to clean your shower.

You do need to start with a clean shower or tub before you start using a daily shower spray. So give your bathtub a thorough cleaning and then use the daily spray after every shower or bath.

There are a lot of different brands of daily shower cleaners. There are several DIY recipes, too. I’m currently using the Tilex Daily Shower spray. And while it works great for me, I am going to test out a couple of the other popular brands, like Method and Clean Shower to see if they live up to their claims.

Bathroom Cleaning Brushes

Truth be told, I don’t have much need for cleaning brushes in the bathroom anymore. The daily shower spray does the job for me. But I do still clean the showers and tubs every once and awhile so I keep a couple of brushes in my cleaning caddy.

There are a ton of options for cleaning brushes. I have a basic scrub brush but the one I really love is the deep clean brush set.

There are so many little nooks and crannies in bathrooms. These brushes do a fabulous job of getting into all the tight spaces, like corners, shower door tracks, the hinges on the toilet seat and around fixtures.

An old toothbrush could get into some of the same areas but the deep clean brushes have the advantage of multiple sizes and the wiper blade.

Toilet Cleaning Products

Toilets are pretty gross and I’d love a cleaning option that didn’t require dealing with the toilet water. But the best way to get really get the toilet clean is with a toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner. I haven’t found success with drop-ins or clip-ons.

I don’t like to keep a toilet brush in each bathroom. I don’t like the look and I don’t want to chance little kids playing with it.

Instead, I have divided bucket that I keep toilet cleaning supplies in and store it in the linen closet. One side holds the brush and plunger and the other side holds the toilet bowl cleaner, Lysol wipes, all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

The Best Kitchen Cleaning Products and Tools

Kitchens are typically the center of action in a home, which means they need to be cleaned frequently. Not only to have a clean space for preparing and eating food but also to have an tidy home when friends and family come over.

The microfiber cloth with water or the all-purpose spray handles most of the surfaces. There are two areas where I need additional cleaning products and tools – dishes and stainless steel appliances.

Cleaning Products for Dishes

I already mentioned the awesomeness of the pan scraper in the multipurpose section. I thought it deserved another call out in kitchen cleaning products because it is really so useful.

Whether you hand wash dishes or use a dishwasher, the pan scraper is a must have.

I have a dishwasher that I rely on for most of the dirty dishes. But even with the best dishwasher detergent I still need to put in a little elbow grease before I load the dishwasher. The pan scraper cuts through all the dried on, baked on remains with ease.

I frequently hand wash dishes even though I have a dishwash. I can’t always fit all the dishes in one load so I quickly hand wash the ones that don’t make it into the dishwasher.

In addition to the pan scraper, I also reply on the Skoy Scrub. I use it instead of sponges, dishrags and scouring pads. It seems like it would be similar to a small washcloth because it’s flexible but then it has a non-toxic hardener, so it can really scrub.

The Skoy Scrub is small so it doesn’t take up much space. It’s thin so it dries quickly. And it’s durable. But best of all, simply put it on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean it.

Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliance may look nice but they are a magnet for fingerprints. With four kids in the house our fridge is constantly covered in fingerprints.

I’ve tried quite a few stainless steel cleaners and the best one by far is Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish. It removes fingerprints and other smudges easily and doesn’t leave streaks.

My dad swears by using a 1:1 ratio of water and rubbing alcohol to clean stainless steel appliances. I’ve been skeptical but I recently came across an article on bobvila.com that confirms it so I may just give it a try.

Easy Floor Cleaning Products

The best cleaning products for floors is really going to depend on the type of flooring you have and how much time you want to spend cleaning.

Time-Saving Mop

Mopping is high on my list of dreaded chores. And of course, our floors are in constant need of mopping. I have tried a million different types of mops. There are a couple I like but my absolute favorite is the robot mop.

I no longer have to mop because I have the iRobot Braava Jet. This little mop does a surprisingly good job. It may take longer to mop than I would but it’s doing the job while I’m off doing something else.

Now when it’s mopping day, all I have to do is get it ready (put in the battery, add water and pad) and turn it on. It’s seriously one of the best home cleaning products I’ve ever owned.

The Braava Jet works well on all types of hard flooring. I’ve personally used it on hardwood floors, tile and luxury vinyl planks.

Steam Mops

Before I bought the iRobot Braava Jet, my favorite method of mopping was the steam mop. Steam mops are great at easily mopping up sticky residue and dried-on food.

I actually owe two (long story). I’d recommend either one but it looks like the one may be discontinued.

The Bissell Powerfresh Steam Mop is super easy to use. Just put on the mop pad, fill the tank with water, plug it in and select the steam setting. The steam us powerful enough to handle most messes but this mop also has a flip down scrubber to clean grout and other tough messes.

There are a couple of versions of this mop. In the original Powerfresh mop, you use scent disks to provide a nice fresh scent while cleaning.

You can also buy a bundle that comes with the Bissell Powerfresh steam mop plus Eucalyptus Mint scented water. The purpose of using the bottled water is not just for a refreshing scent but because the water is demineralized. This means mineral deposits won’t build up in the tank, which can be an issue if you live in an area with hard water.

The Best Vacuums

I have a reoccurring theme of trying a lot of different cleaning products and it’s no different with vacuums. And full disclosure I did work for a vacuum company for a couple of years but none of the products I’m recommending are from that brand.

Dyson Cyclone V10

My hands-down favorite vacuum is the Dyson Cyclone v10 Motorhead. I can say with certainty that my home is cleaning because of this vacuum. It’s so versatile and easy to use that it makes me actually want to clean more, which is not something I ever expected to say.

What I love about the Dyson V10:

• Cordless! I hate dealing with cords and constantly having to switch outlets. The V10 has a long battery run time when it’s in the low suction setting (which is perfect for hard flooring).
• Versatile – use as a standard vacuum or converts to a handheld vacuum. Easy to vacuum floors, furniture, stairs, car interiors, baseboards and ceilings.
• Docking – just slide the vacuum into the dock to charge and quickly pull it out when you are ready to use it. No need to worry if you remembered to charge the battery as long as you put it on the dock. Note: you will need to attach the dock to the wall and it will need to be near a plug.

The Dyson V10 is expensive. But it’s worth it to me since I’m using it so much.

Best Vacuum for Wall-to-Wall Carpet

Much to my disappointment, cordless vacuums just can’t compare to full sized vacuums when you have a lot of wall-to-wall carpet. The Dyson V10 is great for our first floor that had mostly hard floors, area rugs and limited wall-to-wall carpeting. But then you go upstairs and it’s all wall-to-wall carpeting with the exception of the bathroom and laundry room.

You need higher suction power when vacuuming wall-to-wall carpeting and the battery run time on cordless vacuums (I’ve tried several) just doesn’t last long on max suction.

I’m going to recommend two options if you have a lot of wall-to-wall carpeting. The first is the Dyson Ball.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I’ve owned a lot of different cleaning products and tools over the years. For some reason, we must be really hard on vacuums because we’ve broken a lot of them. The Dyson upright has withstood the test of time and our family. It’s survived when so many others have failed.

The other vacuum that has performed well for us is the Shark Navigator. It works just as well and is less expensive than the Dyson. We haven’t owned it as long as the Dyson but so far, so good.

Carpet Cleaners

So, I’ll start off this section by saying that I don’t love carpet cleaners. They are big and messy. They aren’t easy to maneuver or store.

With that said, I really am not going to recommend a full size carpet cleaner. They one I have is a little bit older and I haven’t used it for awhile because it’s just not easy to. I’m going to clean it up and get rid of it.

Instead I have my carpets professionally cleaned. Is it cheaper to own a carpet cleaner? Yep. But it’s just not worth it to me.

I do, however, love portable spot cleaners. Spills happen. Pet accidents happen. The spray spot treatments can do an ok job sometimes. But the portable spot cleaners can really get the job done.

I recommend the Bissell Little Green. It’s small and lightweight making it easy to carry it from room to room and to store it. And it makes cleaning up accidents on carpets so much easier.

The Best Cleaning Products for Dusting

Dusting seems like it would take forever to do because of all the surfaces in your home for dust to settle on. But if you declutter your home (less knick knacks to dust) and use the right products dusting can be a breeze.

A microfiber cloth either dry or very slightly damp is my go-to choice for surfaces that have hands frequently touching it, like the desk or toy cabinet.

For areas like bookcases and fireplace mantels, I use the Swiffer Duster with the extender handle. It’s so easy to use and makes dusting so much quicker. It really traps the dust so I’m not just spreading it around. And the extender handle allows me to reach high places, such as the top of the bookcase or the cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings.

Furnace Filter

Another product many people don’t think about for dust control is furnace filters. While they won’t eliminate all the dust, they will help catch some of it. I use a subscription service to auto-deliver filters so I never forget to change them (get your first filter free!). When I was changing the filter I noticed it was pretty dirty so I decided to switch my delivery to monthly instead of quarterly. Now, the filter isn’t getting clogged so it’s better at trapping dust.

What Do You Think are the Best Home Cleaning Products?

Do you have any home cleaning products that have made a difference in how you clean?

Are you going to try any of the products I recommended?

I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.