cleaning/cleanups Archives

Quick tech cleanup: Do this every 3 months

When was the last time you cleaned up your digital life? It’s not fun, but just a few minutes of physical and digital decluttering can work wonders. It boosts productivity, clears mental clutter and leaves you feeling like you’ve done something great. Ready? Let’s do this!

📲 Start with your phone

Quick fix: Look through your apps and delete any you’re not using anymore. If it’s been months, you’re not going to use it. While you’re at it, move apps you want to spend less time using from your phone’s home screen.

On iPhone: Swipe left to get past all your app screens and open the App Library. To delete an app, touch and hold the app’s icon > Delete App, then tap Delete to confirm.

On Android: Open the Google Play Store app, and tap your profile icon. Tap Manage apps & devices > Manage. Select the name of the app you want to delete, then tap Uninstall.

If you have more time: Tackle your photo collection or contacts. Do whichever is the messiest or most aggravating. Neither task is particularly pleasant, but you’ll feel enough satisfaction when you’re done to make up for that. Put in a good podcast (ahem, mine!) and get it done.

Bonus points: Sanitize your phone. You take it to the bathroom with you. Enough said.

📺 Tackle the TV

Quick fix: Dust! Too much junk in all those vents and ports can reduce your TV’s life, so give it a good wipe-down. Clean the back with your vacuum’s brush attachment or an air blower (on sale!). Be prepared to vacuum or sweep up all the dust after you’re done.

Bonus points: Clean the screen. Dust with a microfiber rag first, then very lightly buff away fingerprints. I take the easy route with TV wipes, but a rag with electronics cleaner works, too. It’s easy to use too much pressure standing directly in front of the TV cleaning, so go from the side for a lighter touch.

If you have more time: I once signed up for a free trial of an add-on channel to watch a movie I couldn’t find anywhere else. You can guess what happened. I never watched the movie, but I did pay for six months of Sundance. Time to take inventory of your streaming apps. I use the Rocket Money app* to do it for me.

💻 Finish up with your computer

Continue reading →

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Tech how-to: Remove duplicate photos and declutter your digital library

If your photo library feels out of control after the holidays, you’re not alone. Between taking multiple shots to get the perfect one and sharing images with friends and family, duplicate photos pile up quickly. Here’s a simple guide to declutter your digital photo collection.

Continue reading →

Drive down Deals Lane

🚘 Beep, beep! That’s your car saying, “Hey, check these out.”

A collapsible trunk organizer (11% off) puts clutter in the rearview mirror.
Don’t touch that dirty gas station squeegee. Snag this tool (15% off, plus click the coupon) to clean your windows.
No heated seats? No problem. This seat cover will keep you toasty.
Grab an air freshener for guys ($15) or gals for a fresh-smelling ride.
Be prepared for a flat tire with this portable air pump (33% off).

🚓 If you get pulled over: Pull out this registration and insurance holder (23% off, around $5). It comes in 27 different styles!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always 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.

Memory lane: Here’s a hot TikTok trend I told you about (checks watch) 10 years ago. Pop into old Street View photos on Google Maps for a hit of virtual nostalgia. Fun finds: One gal spotted her childhood dog in the yard, and another found herself in high school cleaning eggs off her car. Open Google Maps on a browser, type in an address and click the photo that pops up. Choose See more dates. Find something great? Let me know!

How to make your phone feel brand-new again

One of the best parts of getting a new phone is how fresh it feels inside and out. The screen is scratch-free, your storage is empty, and the phone is zippy, no matter what. And the battery life? Oh, buddy.

The clock starts ticking the moment you take your new phone out of its box. Let’s give yours that fresh-from-the-factory feel again.

Continue reading →

I wish I’d thought of these …

This refrigerator deodorizer (21% off) lasts for 10 years, so you won’t be left wondering how old that box of baking soda is.
I use this smart coffee mug (16% off) for my evening cup of tea.
Dirty white sneakers make you look messy. Instead of buying a new pair, try this magical $12 cleaning sponge.
Grab a ball of Blu Tack and press it into your earbud speakers. Pull it away and see all the junk inside that comes out. Gross, I know.
Color-catcher sheets grab all the dye in the washing machine so your lights stay light. They look pretty gross when you pull ‘em out.

💋 It happens to all of us in the winter: Crusty lips are a no-go. I like Aquaphor’s repair balm with no smell or shine.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

No fuss, no muss

🪄 Sometimes, the best solution is the simplest one.

Scrubbing the shower is such a pain. Spray on this cleaner once a week, let it sit overnight, then wash away soap scum, grime and oil (20% off, $19.19).
After a long day, put on Dr. Scholl’s warming foot booties. They’re like giving your tootsies an Epsom salt bath without filling the tub (3 pairs for 5% off, $12.35).
Gals and guys, no one wants stringy, dry hair. This hair mask is affordable and so easy to use (22% off, $7.40).
Wiring across the floor can be a tripping hazard. This floor cord-management kit is 24% off and hides everything nicely.
Forget bed sheets folded and sets all mixed up. I love these sheet organizers (18% off) and have them stacked in the laundry room and bedroom closets.

I just bought more: The Pink Stuff is a miracle cleaning paste you can use on just about anything. Grab some while it’s on sale.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Stuff I use a lot and like

Help! My cart is overflowing!

I wear this weighted vest (20% off) when walking to burn more calories and increase my bone density. Pro tip: Order one that’s 10% of your body weight.
I love to make a pot of soup and freeze it in this silicone container. I have lunch for the whole week.
This whitening toothpaste (20% off, $12) is my absolute favorite. Keeps me sparkly for the cameras.
I use these inexpensive blades to shape my eyebrows and get rid of the fuzz on my face, along with those hairs that pop up out of nowhere.
The bristles of this cleaning pen ($9.48) get into every crevice of your rings and necklaces to make diamonds and other gems sparkle.

🛌 I love sliding into fresh sheets. If yours have seen better days, these crazy-popular cooling sheets are extra soft and on sale right now (41% off, $30).

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

You deserve a nice ride

🏁 Look inside your car. It needs a little TLC, right? Yeah, I thought so.

This tiny cordless car vacuum (38% off) charges by USB.
A nice dust brush (29% off) tackles the fuzz on your dashboard and vents.
Hang your bags instead of tossing them on the floor with these $5 headrest hooks.
These cupholder coasters can catch coffee or anything else that drips.
Washable cloth garbage bags for $8 keep trash off the floor.

⭐ Laundry sheets are the best. They’re 19% off, so now’s the time to see if you prefer them over the heavy jugs of liquid and pods, too.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Practical magic

Helpful little tools you won’t believe you lived this long without.

Make your tile floors look new again with a grout paint pen, available for thick ($12) or skinny lines ($9).
Quick knocking over the broom! Mount this rack (35% off, $9) to keep your cleaning tools neat and tidy.
Here’s a genius idea for when counter space is hard to come by: Put the coffeemaker (or anything else) on a slider (40% off).
Outlet concealers ($23) are so smart behind couches or other places where there’s not much space but you still need to plug in.
Tension shelves (10% off) give you more closet space without having to drill into the walls.

🥸 Because I care about you: If you’re a guy over 40, you need a nose and ear hair trimmer. Just trust me on this.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Before you get rid of your couch …

Try cleaning it first!

This portable carpet and upholstery cleaner ($115) saved my couch from that “wet pup” smell. (Abby loves the pool.)
Hitting stains immediately with a spot cleaner ($9) saves you a lot of scrubbing later.
Use a fabric shaver (41% off, $10) to get rid of any fabric pilling and snags. It’ll look brand-new again.
If you have a leather couch, use a leather conditioner (29% off, $20) to moisturize it and raise it from the dead.
This steam cleaner ($150) comes with 17 different attachments, so you can also use it on your floors, walls and even in your car.

💡 And remember: Amazon has daily coupons. I have the link bookmarked since they change every day.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Cleaning stuff that works under $10

Because you already spent enough money over the last two months.

Did you know when humidifiers start smelling funky, it’s because of a buildup of bacteria? This humidifier cleaner ($6) gets rid of all that gunk.
These garbage disposal cleaners smell so good. And they’re under $5.
The inventor of the Scrub Daddy ($9) should get a Nobel Peace Prize. And whoever invented this Scrub Daddy holder ($9) should get one, too.
Stamp a little dab of this toilet cleaning gel ($5) on the side of your toilet to banish rings.
I love these reusable dish scrubbers ($8). They’re cute and let you get a really good grip on dishes.

Don’t forget: Amazon Basics lets you stock up on essentials for uber cheap. It’s great for school supplies, like glue and pencil boxes.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Clean up your car

🚘🧽 A spotless car makes me wheel-y excited.

Ever get pulled over and have to dig through a messy glove box? Save yourself from future embarrassment with a glove box organizer ($12).
This car coin holder ($8) is genius. Plus, it’s 43% off right now.
I’ll admit it — I’ve absolutely tripped over a phone charging cord while getting out of my car. A retractable car charger ($20) probably would’ve prevented that.
Keep your leather seats clean and free of scratch marks with a backseat dog hammock.
A road trip isn’t a road trip until someone desperately needs a tissue. A sun visor tissue holder ($14) comes in handy for all snot-related emergencies.

Bonus find: This drink cover looks like a scrunchie you wear on your wrist but stretches to cover your glass so no one can spike it. Buying these for all the college kids in my life …

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Household helpers

There’s enough annoying stuff in the day-to-day. Let’s knock out a few little troubles so you can focus on what matters.

You scrub and scrub surfaces, and they’re still dirty. This drill brush attachment pack for under $20 does the hard work for you.
When twisting the lid off the pickle jar is a real struggle, try this grip jar opener (17% off) to win the battle. It mounts under a cabinet, so it takes up no space.
Does your dog get nervous or too excited in the car? This seatbelt tether (around $10) keeps your pooch safe so you can focus on the road.
Every time you need brown sugar for Grandma’s cookie recipe, it’s rock hard. Never again! This $5 fired clay bear will help maintain its moisture.
This handy-dandy vegetable chopper (9% off) is a no-tear solution to make soup, stew or anything else a lot faster.

🤑 Good deal alert: A bunch of home essentials (think cleaning products, toilet paper and batteries) are part of Amazon’s buy $50, get $15 in Amazon credit promo — a no-brainer if it’s stuff you already buy!

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Light on the wallet, big on value

💰 These picks will upgrade your life for under $20.

Bottle-emptying caps ($16) are reusable and get every drop of liquid out of plastic bottles. No more wasted dish soap!
Got a new pair of boots for Christmas? Use a shoe-stretch spray ($10) and say bye-bye to blisters and sore toes.
The only thing able to ruin a cute black dress? Deodorant stains. Use these sponges ($9) to scrub them away.
These coffee filter pods ($16) let you use your own coffee in a Keurig instead of buying K-Cup pods.
Washing machine descaler pods ($18 off, $19) break down gunk and grime buildup that make your clothes smell funky. Bonus: Dishwasher version!

🪇 Amazon has a name for products going viral: Movers and Shakers. Hit this page to see what folks are loving. Neat, an emergency weather radio is tops in electronics.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

Let me sweep you off your feet

🧽 Let’s face it, the holidays turned your house into a disaster zone.

Pop these cleaning pods ($10) into your Keurig to clean any gross residue and buildup.
A squeegee broom ($35)?! Genius. Pet hair doesn’t stand a chance.
Spray on this shower cleaner (12% off) today and rinse it off tomorrow. Boom — a clean shower.
Grandpa’s favorite chair is looking rough. Try a leather conditioner (29% off).

This window blind duster cleans the tops and bottom of blinds at the same time, and it’s only $7.

We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.

“God of management”: That’s what Japan calls Panasonic’s founder Kōnosuke Matsushita, who died in 1989 at the age of 94. Now, he’s been resurrected as an AI clone. The University of Tokyo trained the bot using his writings and over 3,000 voice recordings. Panasonic says they’re going to use the AI clone to make future business decisions. His life story is interesting; he was cleaning stores at just 9 years old. Here’s a link if you want to learn more about him.

🛁 Wash-ful thinking: Coming soon: A machine to wash and dry humans in just 15 minutes. It looks like a jet cockpit that opens from the back. Sensors check your vitals for the perfect temp, and AI analyzes your mood and projects custom scenes for max relaxation. I hope there’s no spin cycle!

🧽 No scrubs: Raise your hand if your air fryer is disgusting inside. Try this viral cleaning tip: Instead of scrubbing, squirt in some dish soap, add a little water and run it for about 3 minutes. Voila, all clean!