clean Archives

15 handy helpers for under $10

I looked through my Amazon purchase history the other day, and it’s full of cool things under $10 that truly make my life better. Here are 15 li’l helpers I think you’ll like, too:

Bye, drips: Car coasters ($3.99, 32% off two) keep your cupholders free of condensation and gross, sticky stuff.
Scrapin’ by: Burnt rice at the bottom of the pan is no match for this scraper ($8.99, 25% off a set of four).
Defuzz your stuff: If your couch cushions, sweaters and jammies are pilling, this little fabric shaver ($8.50, 35% off) will clean ‘em right up.
When ya gotta go: A much nicer bathroom scent ($5.99) than the default.
Pink paste: It’s no wonder this pink tub of cleaning goop ($5.29) is a bestseller — it works on practically any mess and lasts forever.
Open sesame oil: A 5-in-1 opener ($9.99, 17% off) for jars that won’t budge.
Face it: Keep this facial roller ($5.99, 53% off) in the freezer, and come morning, it’ll depuff your face and wake you up.
Buzz drill: Add these brushes ($6.26, 10% off) to your drill to create a next-level cleaning machine for your grout or tub.
MTWTF: A weekly pillcase ($6.98) big enough to fit your fish oil capsules.
Hair to bare: Nothing beats these little razors ($7.19, 20% off) for getting the fuzzies off your face.
Lay, spoon-y, lay: Keep your counters spick and span with this multispoon rest ($8.99).
Steam heat: Easy-peasy way to clean the microwave. ($7.58, 14% off). I like the blonde one!
Rolling right along: This small silicone tube is the best way to peel a garlic clove. No more smelly fingers!
We can do it: This little tool ($7.19, 28% off) is the easiest way to put on your own bracelet.
And none since: I wish I’d bought oven rack guards ($7.98, 20% off) sooner — I’ve got the burns on my wrist to prove it, ugh.

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🧽 Bathroom brighteners

Little helpers to make your washroom sparkle, your loo shine, your powder room glisten, your restroom glitter … Sorry, I got carried away.

Get soap scum off your shower walls (with minimal scrubbing!) with the Magic Eraser Ultra Bath. Click the coupon for $3 off.
Keep that shower bright and shiny with Spray Wet & Forget (20% off). Spray it once a week, leave it on overnight, and say “See ya!” to soap scum and mildew.
Foaming bathroom cleaner from the folks behind The Pink Stuff works on everything else. It’s 40% off, dang!
The absolute easiest way to clean a toilet: Clorox ToiletWand, under $14. Or maybe you prefer gel cleaner.
Clear the gunk from shower corners and grout lines with the Rubbermaid power scrubber. No sweat, literally.

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🔖 Bookmark this: You want to print the content on a site but not the ads and junk. Drop the URL into PrintFriendly.com. You’ll get a clean, print-ready PDF. Sweet.

Apple’s next big idea: Robot butlers

Open/download audio

Picture an AI smarty-pants to wash the dishes, clean the house and video chat with you when you’re not home. Plus, fakes on Facebook, no more sharing Disney+ passwords, and Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.

One of the hardest parts of owning a $100,000 Cybertruck? Keeping it clean. Its stainless-steel exterior attracts fingerprints and smudges like flies to 💩. Tesla says the car wash is a no-no, and the official $130 detailing kit is sold out. Owners are resorting to window cleaner, baby wipes and good old-fashioned car shampoo (paywall link).

A pristine copy of Super Mario 64, released in 1996, is the most expensive video game ever sold. Did the cartridge sell for … A.) $1.6 million, B.) $1.1 million, C.) $500,659 or D.) $221,812?

Find the answer here! →

So fresh and so clean, clean

I’m gonna wash that dirt right out of my life!

Folex is the stain remover for carpets and a big bottle is only $7. There’s a reason it has almost 85,000 reviews on Amazon and is a No. 1 bestseller.
For clothes (and messy kiddos), you want Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater.
The Pink Stuff (11% off) works, period. I just used it to clean the splatters off the side of a pan and gunk off the faucets.
These skinny cleaning brushes (under $10) are better than your old toothbrush for nooks and crannies.
De-stink your garbage disposal the easy way — under $4 right now!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Tiny fixes for big annoyances

Sometimes, you just need to take a few deep breaths. Other times, you need a piece of plastic called the Bug Bite Thing.

Magnetic shower curtain weights ($14) keep the plastic off your legs. The ones sewn into the bottom are never heavy enough!
Suction the bug saliva out of your bites to stop the itch. Sounds fake, but it works and it’s only $10.
A sturdy plastic scraper (11% off) for decal removal. Scrape off a sticker, use them to clean the counters, whatever.
Peanut butter stirrer for when you buy the “naturally separated” stuff. Free option: Store the unopened jar upside down for a while.
Tube squeezer for eeking out that last bit of toothpaste.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Swap these disposables for reusables

Forget plastic baggies — swap in these reusable BPA-free bags (30% off) for sandwiches and snacks.
Beeswax wrap (15% off) is organic cotton coated in beeswax — and it’s 100 times less annoying than plastic wrap. Reuse it for up to a year.
Drop the single-use paper towels and replace them with cotton cloths.
You’ll love these glass straws (only $8). They’re made from super-tough borosilicate glass and are easier to clean than silicone ones.
Save money and keep the convenience of a K-Cup by filling these reusable cups (11% off) with, say, medium-ground coffee.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Get it together

I always get bit by the organization bug toward the end of summer. You, too? Let’s do this.

Clear bins for the fridge are a game-changer.
A genius holder for all your Tupperware lids.
Stop knocking over the shampoo! Nice shelves that stick better than the suction cup kind.
A water bottle rack that can hold wine, too.
Useful, stackable storage racks that can go anywhere.

You never know what you have … till you clean your house.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🖨️ Give your printer some love: Soak a piece of paper with rubbing alcohol (not too much and leave the edges dry), and run that through your printer’s roller. It’ll clean it right up.

🧼 So fresh and so clean

I used to be addicted to soap, but I’m clean now.

Cleaning stainless steel is a pain, but folks rave about this streak-free formula (40% off) that smells like lavender.
Every home needs a duster. Get a nice one (9% off) you won’t have to replace in a year.
If you haven’t, try the Pink Stuff ($5.29). It works on just about anything and everything!
Bathroom feeling grungy? Brighten up the grout and caulking.
USA-made bedding clips that keep your fitted sheets from popping off. Genius!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

📺 Your remote is dirtier than your toilet: Remove the batteries and blast it with compressed air if you have it, then clean it with a disinfectant wipe. Cotton swabs and toothpicks are great for removing stubborn gunk. Remember: Don’t put the batteries back in until it’s fully dry.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🤢 Clean your smartwatch: Researchers randomly tested watch wristbands and found 95% were contaminated with harmful bacteria, including E. coli and MRSA. Plastic and rubber hold the most junk. Makes me want to chuck all my stuff in this.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Fun Samsung shortcuts: Instead of hitting the backspace key over and over to clean up a typo, use two fingers to swipe left. That’s “Undo.” Want to “Redo?” Swipe two fingers to the right and your text will come back.

I need a better way to …

Clean the blinds. Use this microfiber tool made for the job and only $7.
Charge all my stuff. Grab a handy charging station with five USB slots.
Track my weight for the doc. Smart scales do it for you.
Get organized. Love this huge pack of different-shaped sticky notes for 55% off!
Stay hydrated. This 90-serving container of electrolytes is cheaper than the single-serve packets and they taste great.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Sucker-upper

Can you still call it “spring cleaning” if it’s June? These deals on vacuums, mops and scrubbers are way too good to pass up.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, it’s time to pull the trigger on a Dyson. This Dyson V8 Extra Cordless vac is $120 off!
Swiffers are wasteful, and old-school mops get nasty. This flat mop has a better bucket and wringer system, plus washable pads, all for 50% off right now.
FYI, robot vacuums can mop now, too. The Airrobo vacuum is self-emptying so you don’t have to touch it for 60 days, and it’s 50% off!
If you have pets, you need this Hoover deep carpet cleaner. It’s 38% off and has an upholstery attachment — perfect for your old, comfy chair.
If your bathroom’s due for a tub and tile deep clean, this chargeable spinning scrubber will save your back for only $29.99.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🧽 Scrub-a-dub-dub

Weird fact about me: I find cleaning relaxing. I especially love getting to those spots we all ignore for way too long. It’s OK — there are products that make it easy!

News flash: Espresso machines need to be descaled. Don’t let your pricey investment break down.
Use a Keurig, Ninja or other pod coffee machine? These tabs clean out the gunk so your coffee is perfect every morning.
When’s the last time you cleaned your dishwasher? Pop a tab in and run a cycle. Easy-peasy.
Next up, the garbage disposal. I know you’ve been ignoring that one, and it stinks.
While you’re at it, give the spa or hot tub a good cleaning, too.
I’m so over laundry pods and heavy detergent. I switched to laundry sheets. So easy!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Need to clean a TV or monitor? Don’t spray the screen directly with a cleaner. Spray it onto a rag. I like this super-affordable $10 pack of 24 microfiber cloths. Oh, and turn off your screen before you clean, OK?

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

“Honey, I’m helping NASA!” Say that when your significant other wants you to help clean the garage. NASA is looking for people to snap a few pics of clouds and upload them to the GLOBE Observer app (iOS or Android). Your photos help NASA predict weather patterns. Neat!