27 Genius Cleaning Products That Made Me, An Ex-Cleaner, Reach For My Debit Card

I'm begging these to take my money.

Hi! I'm Amy, and I was a cleaner before I started working as a shopping writer for BuzzFeed. I thought I'd combine my knowledge to give you a list of the old faves and new discoveries that consistently get me reaching for my wallet – most of these are under £5, so I can bulk-buy without the guilt.

1. De-fog your car's windshield with a couple of swipes of this clever pad.

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Reviewers reckon it dries their windshield faster and leaves fewer streaks than other options, which makes sense given its absorbent, evenly-distributed microfibre material.

Price: £3.49.

2. If you're sick of spotting pet hairs all over your clothes *after* you've left the house, this hair-dissolving washing machine formula is here to help.

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It'll make hair (both animal and human), limescale, and odours a thing of the past – just chuck a sachet in your washing machine's drawer every month or so and run it through a hot wash for some seriously impressive results.

Price: £4.99.

3. You can't go wrong with some classic baking powder. It's perfect for cleaning everything from ovens to shower units, and you can use it as a deodoriser in your fridge too (hello, ~adventurous~ cheeses).

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This extra-large bottle will last you for ages (I've had mine for about six months, and there's still loads left). My favourite hack is to make a paste from baking soda and water, apply it to hard-to-clean spots like baking trays or oven racks, and cover it in clingfilm for a few hours – it makes grime run off your surfaces in an oh-so-satisfying ooze. 

Price: £2.80 for 500g.

4. You can sub out a lot of cleaning products for one another (I use washing-up liquid for my glass surfaces all the time), but I refuse to use anything other than Elbow Grease as a degreaser.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

It's the most effective and fast-acting product I've ever tried on sticky surfaces, it costs less than a quid, and it's solvent-free too – what's not to love?

Price: £0.90.

5. If I had to clean a house with only one product, I reckon it'd probably be this ridiculously useful concentrated disinfectant from Fabulosa.

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You can either use this stuff undiluted on small surfaces or dilute it for an endlessly effective solution (I use it diluted on everything from my loo to my floors). You can get up to ten litres of cleaning fluid from a single bottle, so it's probably the most cost-effective go-to in my cleaning cupboard! 

Price: £1.50.

6. This reusable Scrub Daddy damp duster is the best I've tried for getting rid of hard-to-shift dust.

Jess Brunt / BuzzFeed

Anyone who's tried to dust a *truly* neglected surface with a dry cloth will know that the subsequent clouds of dirt last for what feels like hours, only to settle down again in an ennui-inducing film later. This damp option is the most effective one I've used so far – 

Price: £4.49.

7. You know those multi-product toilet-cleaning TikToks? Yeah, this fast-acting fluid from Duck proves that you only really need one solution to get the job done.

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It cuts through hard water, limescale, and dirt instantly (though you can leave it to soak if you're dealing with a very challenging loo) – no wonder it's so ridiculously highly-rated.

Price: £1.25.

8. A few years into using Dr. Beckmann's carpet-cleaning solution, I'm still amazed by how well (and quickly) it works.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

Just run its handy brush over the affected area, wait 20 minutes, and you're done. Game-changing.

Price: £2.79.

9. Speaking of fast-acting solutions to long-standing problems, this bargain mould remover gets to work in three minutes.

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Mould is a really common problem in colder, wetter climates, so it's no wonder so many people love this cheap and effective spray. I'm always surprised by how well it works, and there's nothing more satisfying than wiping away those marks to reveal a good-as-new surface underneath.

Price: £1.25.

10. Believe it or not, these pumice stones are the best solution for that truly tough-to-budge limescale at the base of your loo.

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You can chuck all the chemicals you like at the mark of shame in your toilet bowl, but it won't wear the worked-in discolouration away because it's a hard water issue instead of plain dirt. Enter: these amazingly effective pumice stones that grind away at hard water stains without damaging the ceramic underneath! I used them on my own flat's loo when I first moved in – it was the only thing I could do to ensure I wasn't too embarrassed to have people over.

Price: £8.99 for two.

11. This squeegee makes the difference between squeakily wiping your entire shower screen down in tiny circles or sweeping away the grime in super-satisfying wipes.

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I love its soft-but-effective blade, and its 20cm length makes cleaning as speedy as it is easy (yes, please).

Price: £2.39.

12. Most of the UK is in a hard water area, so this descaler spray is basically priceless.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

You know that scummy 'grimy-but-I'm-not-sure how' look your shower, loo, and sinks get after a while, no matter how clean you are? Yeah, that's more than likely hard water buildup (which looks bad on its own AND makes soap and grime easier to stick to your surfaces). This descaler spray gets to work in about 20 minutes, and it's a great way to make your shower head, ceramic surfaces, and more look as good as new again.

Price: £3.39.

13. The Pink Stuff paste is a cult-status product for a reason – it'll clean everything from metal to tiles! I was amazed by how quickly and effectively it got rid of the hard-to-budge rust under my shower.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

This stuff is made up of gritty cleaning beads suspended in a gel, so it grinds away at tough stains without scratching up whatever's underneath. It's suitable for use on most hard surfaces (think ceramic tiles, barbecues, pots and pans, and more!)

Price: £4.70 for two 500g tubs.

14. Remove soap scum, light limescale, and grease from your shower and sink with this specially-designed spray.

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It'll clean marble, glass, plastic, granite, and plenty of other hard surfaces! Simply spray the formula onto any affected areas and then leave it to work for a minute or two before rinsing it away.

Price: £5.78.

15. This radiator brush is designed to get right ~into~ those hard-to-reach gaps down your heater (seriously, those gaps can get unbelievably dusty).

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It's 70cm long, which should be enough to thoroughly clean your heaters! Place it in between the gaps in your radiators and it'll remove the dust and other debris that's left in there (yess).

Price: £4.30.

16. Clean multiple strips of your blinds at once with this handy tool.

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You can squeeze or relax the handle depending on how close together or far apart the strips of your blinds are! The microfibre coverings on the arms of this cleaner will pick up even the smallest pieces of dust, and they're removable and machine-washable too. Plus, there's a handy brush at the end for any fine detail work you need to tackle!

Price: £5.14.

17. These deep-cleaning Nespresso pods are honestly life hacks.

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They work exactly as you'd expect them to – chuck one into your Nespresso coffee maker, run it through your machine like you would with a regular pod, wait for about two minutes, and you're done! Customers say these capsules have tackled areas in the spout and brewing chamber that regular descalers couldn't reach.

Price: £5.20 for five.

18. These drain sticks are honestly genius.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

They're packed full of enzymes that break down the gunk and grease in your drains as they dissolve. All you'll have to do is put 'em in and leave them to get to work!

Price: £4.00 for 12.

19. I won't lie, I didn't fully trust the 'zero scrubbing required' claim that this mattress-cleaning spray made until its customers vouched for it.

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I'm a huge fan of how easy this stuff is to use – you can just spray it onto any stains and then leave it to dry (sorry, but that's EXACTLY the amount of effort I'd like to expend on every cleaning task). It'll banish any odours and discolouration, even if the stain is really tough – check out the reviews section to see some seriously satisfying before-and-afters!

Price: £6.99.

20. The pedal-operated spinning drain in this ridiculously highly-rated bad boy solves pretty much every problem I've ever faced while mopping, and it means I don't have to tiptoe gingerly around until the floors dry.

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I'm genuinely not sure how I lived without this genius spinning-drain mop. Not only does it dry your mop head out faster so it won't fester in the bucket afterwards, but it *also* gets your floors dry more quickly (which is crucial if you're 1) in a rush, 2) dealing with sensitive flooring like hardwood or marble, or 3) both). I love that the drain is pedal-operated, because plunging a mop down into the push-down kinds can be surprisingly tiring! Oh, and that wide microfibre mop head is no joke either – I find it covers a *way* bigger surface area and picks up much more dirt than the regular string kinds. 

Price: £29.99.

21. I'm absolutely not the type to choose a brand name for the sake of it, but the trusty Henry Hoover has truly never let me down. It packs the most suction per pound I've found so far!

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When I worked in a hotel, there was some serious competition in the morning for the best vacuum cleaner – it's the difference between achieving a truly immaculate room in minutes and spending the best part of half an hour pointlessly running over a carpet that'll still look dusty afterwards. The most fought-over vacuums were always Henry Hoovers! Sure, you can get ones with fancier features and cordless motors, but when it comes to actually *cleaning* the most important thing is suction power – and this bad boy wins out every time.

Price: £149.00.

22. This shower shield solution will keep your unit gleaming between scrubs (and it'll protect your taps too!).

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

It works on ceramic, glass, and metal! Apply the solution to the desired area twice and wait for it to dry before buffing the surface with a dry cloth — it'll repel dirt and water for up to three months.

Price: £8.41.

23. A majority of the mess in most folks' homes comes from clutter rather than actual dirt. These shelves are great!

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A lot of the homes I've cleaned have had robot vacuums, and while they can be really helpful for vacuuming, I was hired because people still have loads of stuff they need putting away. This organiser helps you store your things while keeping them visible (Marie Kondo made a POINT!)

Price: £23.99.

24. This descaler ball will prevent that Dreaded Crust from building up in your kettle. Just drop it in and continue using your appliance as normal!

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Mineral deposits will collect in between its mesh wires rather than building up in your kettle, so your current one will last longer.

Price: £1.67.

25. I mean, the results of this this Bar Keeper's Friend powder speak for themselves.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I'd nearly given up on this (frankly gross) baking tray and tried this well-reviewed cleaning powder as a last resort. It was easy to use – I just placed it into the tin and scrubbed until the stains had gone before rinsing the grime away!

Price: £2.50.

26. Anyone who's tried to clean their sink or shower knows how tough it can be to get them *truly* spotless, so it's a good thing this specially-designed spray exists.

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It'll clean marble, glass, plastic, granite, and plenty of other hard surfaces within a minute without damaging them (it was the only product I trusted on clients' marble sinks). Sure, you can achieve a similar result from scrubbing every hard-to-reach crevice of your taps and plughole – but when this leave-on-and-rinse-off option is under £3, why would you?

Price: £2.84.

27. A ~professional~ finish is in the details, which is where this mini dustpan and brush set comes in.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

To be honest, I thought this was a bit gimmicky when I first saw it in my colleague's kit – but having used it for everything from windowsills to blind slats, I'm completely converted. It reaches hard-to-get-at spots pretty much instantly, and yes, scooping up the dirt with that mini scoop is incredibly fun.

 Price: £2.19.