1. A jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff, which is an all-purpose cleaning paste that'll help you tackle all of your messes but make it *~pretty in pink~* at the same time.
After hearing what incredible things The Pink Stuff can do, I (Heather) finally ordered it and tried it for myself. Honestly, wow! It really does work wonders. I tried it first on my Le Creuset cast iron pan (seen above, right) and really was amazed at how just one pass with The Pink Stuff (and a scouring brush) took off almost every stain! I can't wait to try it on literally everything in my home that needs a deep cleaning.
Promising review: "I’m very impressed! It removed stubborn mold and grime from my shower tile grout with use of a hard bristle tooth brush. It removed hard water stains from my sinks and faucets. I noticed it really does remove mineral build up, but it takes a lot of elbow grease and repetitive applications before you start seeing progress. The texture feels similar to when you mix honey with sugar to make a lip scrub, except it’s super fine grit and more pasty like putty or clay. It works amazing so far! No overpowering smell (barely any smell at all), easy to use, and a little product goes a long way. I haven’t tried it on rust yet so we’ll see how that goes. Over all very pleased and impressed so far. Highly recommend!" —Marissa
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
2. Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, which smells so freakin' good you might just get distracted from how wonderfully it works! All you'll have to do is spray it onto caked on food and grease, wait a lil', then rinse or wipe it away to reveal a perfectly clean pan.
I (Heather) recently tried this stuff for the first time and can confirm it's fantastic. I use it on my frying pans and the grill pans from my Griddler (which is ALWAYS a pain to clean). It loosens all the gunk and makes it much easier to clean burnt bits and pieces off. It also really does smell incredible — very fresh and delightful!
Promising review: "This is the best partner in the kitchen!! You need it now and always. Great for hard stains and even for a quick clean. I always have back ups never run out. RUN DON'T WALK TO ADD THIS PRODUCT TO YOUR CART RIGHT NOW." —Carlos G
Get it from Amazon for $17.50 for a bundle.
3. Affresh cleaning tablets to toss into your dishwasher and easily get rid of that yucky smell that seems to appear after a few washes — it'll banish lime and mineral build-up and leave your dishes nice 'n' clean.
I (Heather) have these tablets and use them all the time! They work especially great after the bottom of my dishwasher has gotten stained with residue from detergent or rusty-looking liquid after I've run my baking sheets through the wash. I love knowing I can just pop one into the dishwasher 1, 2, 3, and end up with a clean machine.
Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher, due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and just not getting clean. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh in Good Housekeeping magazine. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway, so I added that to my order. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I am amazed!" —Sheila
Get it from Amazon for $8.50.
4. And a box of washing machine cleaning tablets that'll easily remove any odor-causing residue from inside your machine — you don't want your clothes to smell, do ya?
You can use this product on both front-load and top-load washing machines. I (Heather) ran it through the old washing machine that was left in my new house (beggars can't be choosers!) and it came out nice and clean.
Promising review: "Works great. My washer started smelling like sour clothes. In turn, my clothes were smelling sour as well. I plopped an Affresh Tab in the washer and let it do its magic. After it was done I opened the washer and to my surprise there was no smell at all. This is a six-pack so buy one box for half a year or two boxes, and only have to order once per year. Definitely recommend." —jcski
Get a box of five from Amazon for $10.16 (also available in a six-pack).
5. A Wet & Forget shower cleaner you can use to clean your shower with the least amount of effort ever — seriously, you just leave it for the day then rinse it off and enjoy how sparkly and clean the glass will be!
Promising review: "I had a horrible gray ring on the bottom of my shower that was impossible to remove. I had tried the Dawn Dish Soap method (with a lot of scrubbing), and even used toilet bowl cleaner to try to remove the soap scum. My next step was to tear out and replace the shower pan and tile. I figured this was my last chance and ordered the Wet and Forget Shower Spray and really coated the shower walls and floor pan and walked away. I CANNOT begin to tell you how happy I was to rinse down the walls sometime later and watch all that crud roll right down the drain!! This is the best product I have ever used in my life!! Works great and no toxic fumes!!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $20.98+.
6. An earth-friendly bathroom cleaner made with tea tree oil (which smells so good) — it'll prevent soap and scum stains on every surface. Simply spray it after your shower (no need to wipe it off) and let it get to work while you dry off and go about your day.
I've (Heather) tested this out in my own bathtub and was blown away by how much unseen gunk came off (seen above, right). I sprayed it and wiped it off like three times before I was satisfied with the cleanliness of my tub — I blame my toddler, who thrives on playing in the dirt. Anyways, it did a great job and I love that it doesn't have an intense chemical smell to it.
Promising review: "This spray works! I only write a review if I’m really happy with something or really disappointed and I appreciate all whom write reviews. I have been using this spray for a week since cleaning my shower doors and there is NO SCUM. Still looks clean after a week. Usually by the third day my glass shower doors look dirty." —G. Guill
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $10.10.
7. A microfiber spin mop and bucket with over 137,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, which is kinda wild because it's a MOP. Your bathroom floor is about to shiiiiiiine.
My (Heather) husband asked for this mop for Father's Day and has been telling everyone in his life about it ever since. He adores it! It's so easy to use, it's lightweight, and he has no issue squeezing the water out with the spin tool. It's worked wonders on our wood floors!
Promising review: "I never thought a mop could change my life! This mop cuts at least a half hour off my cleaning time and since I can ring it out so well it does a fabulous job on my hardwood floors without worrying about puddles of water which could do damage! The triangular design is great for corners too! I also like how I can toss the head in the washing machine to clean it. I would highly recommend this mop!" —kheiser67
Get it from Amazon for $34.97.
8. A fume-free oven cleaner, free of lye or harsh fumes so you won't have to hold your breath the entire time you're removing caked-on messes and grease stains from your oven.
Promising review: "Spray on. The smell is minimal lemony, nothing overwhelming. Let sit for 24 hours (I forgot about it for 2 days) Wipe off with a wet cloth! 17 yo oven looks brand new no kidding. No scrubbing, just simply wiping the grime off with a wet cloth. The only hard part is to get ALL the chemicals wiped off the surfaces." —D
Get it from Amazon for $8.98.
9. A 100 percent natural oven scrub you can rely on to finally remove any grease or leftover sauces from inside your most used appliance. You're welcome.
It also comes with a metallic scrubber!
Everneat is a small business based in Fairfield, Connecticut that specializes in natural cleaning products.
Promising review: "Love everything about this! Love the scent and the clean it provides! We could not get our oven window clean with any previous product — this did it in seconds :)" —Elizabeth Rowe
Get it from Everneat on Etsy for $19.99 (available in two scents) or from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three scents).
10. A stainless steel cleaner you can count on to make your appliances so shiny you won't be able to stop staring at your own reflection in them. (Spoiler: You look GOOD!)
This plant-based cleaner will remove streaks, smudges, and fingerprints from all stainless steel surfaces — sounds very therapeutic to me! Additionally, Therapy Clean is a small business.
Promising review: I tried several cleaners and had resigned to having a scratched appliance. But ONE try with the Therapy cleaner — yes, a *miracle*. The scratches cannot be seen at all — polished right out of sight. The dishwasher looks even better than when fresh out of the box — it is gleaming. I eagerly shared the success with my kitchen remodeler, who installs many appliances, and I hope others can restore their stainless products. Try it!" —L. Peterson
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
11. A non-abrasive Humble Suds Scour Cleaning Paste that'll lift stains from practically any surface in your home — seriously. The grime living on your tiles, grout, ovens and stove tops won't stand a chance against this.
FYI, the only thing you *shouldn't* use it on is unsealed wood, but otherwise, its whipped consistency and heavenly citrus oil scent is like a spa treatment for your home!
Humble Suds is a small business based in Evergreen, Colorado, making plant-based cleaning products by hand that you can actually feel good about using.
Promising review: "This product is absolutely AMAZING! We just moved into a new apartment that was left with some problem areas in the bathtub and on the stove. It got out ALL of the stains and scum that literally no other cleaner could even touch. I wish I could add the before and after! 10/10 would recommend!" —eostrye
Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $15.95+ (available in two sizes).
12. An eco-friendly hard-water stain remover — it'll work *so* well you'll be second guessing if your shower door is open or not (seriously, it's going to be THAT crystal clear).
Promising review: "We tried everything to get rid of hard water stains and nothing worked. We were getting our house ready to sell and our tub and sink were a mess. We tried this product and it worked immediately, restoring everything to like-new. It was fast and really worked! We even used it to clean our glass stovetop. It was amazing how clean it got things. I have a bad back and have to be careful about scrubbing things and it takes no effort to use. We use it in our new house and love it!" —Bradley
Get it from Amazon for $19.79.
13. A scrubber brush you can attach to your drill (!!!) to help you clean your tub/shower like you've never cleaned it before but without the arm workout. You'll be singing "I've got the powerrrr" in no time!
The white is a soft bristle, best for wheels, carpet, upholstery, glass, and leather; the yellow is a medium bristle, best for bathroom, bathtub, shower, tile, and porcelain; the green is a medium bristle, best for kitchen, stoves, cabinets, countertops, and linoleum; the blue is a medium bristle, best for boats, pools, canoe/kayaks, hot tubs, and plastics; the red is a stiff bristle, best for outdoors, siding, brick, garage, and gutter; and the black is a hard bristle, best for grills, loose paint, furnaces, ovens, and industrial use.
Additionally, Drill Brush is a small business based in New York!
Promising review: "I've been eyeing these for a few months and finally caved. Man do I regret not picking them up as soon as I saw them! They work GREAT! We rent an apartment that has a 30+ year old shower/tub. I've used everything from abrasive powders, gels that sit to most recently the bathroom Magic Erasers and nothing really got the grime out. These WORK and they work fast. Just 10 minutes with my handy drill and the shower has never been cleaner. I love that I don't have to throw money out on cleaning products anymore and that I can be a little more environmentally friendly with no waste and no chemical cleaners! Just a little dish soap, baking soda and a spin of the brush. If you're on the fence, just buy them!" —Becky Adie
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in six strength types).
14. Or Rubbermaid's power scrubbing brush, for when you want to give your grout an all-inclusive spa treatment and bring it back to its squeaky-clean glory. These attachments get deep into the crevices that scrubbing by hand simply won't do.
Promising review: "The Power Scrubber is life changing. I bought it several weeks ago with the intention of doing a deep clean 'sometime soon.' After an overflowing toilet incident, I had to make sure it got done right away. MY GROUT HAS NEVER BEEN CLEANER. I used some Comet and spray cleaner to get the job done, but this made short work for what typically requires 'a lot of elbow grease' and a spent toothbrush. With this tool, you really know you're getting in there and it's clean. I can't recommend this enough — I've already mentioned it to a neighbor, and a few friends, including one fanatical cleaner. We all agreed, it's such a necessary, perfect product." —Jojo
Get it from Amazon for $17.38.
Check out our full Rubbermaid Power Scrubber review.
15. A Clorox ToiletWand you can use and then toss away — say SEE YA' to that gross toilet brush hiding in the corner of your bathroom. It'll leave your toilet smelling fresh as a daisy, since there is Clorox literally built right into it.
I (Heather) own and cherish this product. It's a dream knowing the "brush" is fresh and hasn't been intimate with the inside of my toilet prior to my picking it up again. This set comes with the wand and 16 refills.
Promising review: "The primary reason I decided to purchase the Clorox Toilet Wand was so I could clean under my toilet rims, which I noticed was definitely getting neglected via using the standard toilet brushes to clean. Initially, I was looking for a toilet brush that had the shape needed to actually GET under the rim, and that's how I found out about it. Now that I've used it... I can say without a doubt that'll I'll never go back to a regular brush. I like the cleanliness of the disposable brushes as opposed to a regular toilet brush. And I especially like that I don't have to purchase a second brush with a shape capable of cleaning under the rim, which not only takes up more space, but also would take more time given I'd have to switch back and forth and apply product. With this, I can just clean the entire pot in less than five minutes with the same tool." —Brittney Nelson
Get it from Amazon for $20.86.
16. Or a gentle yet effective pumice cleaning stone that'll make your toilet actually sparkle like a porcelain throne.
It's also chemical-free, meaning no headache-inducing odors!
Promising review: "I have very hard water that leaves buildup and nasty stains. It’s embarrassing to have guests over because the toilets are so gross! I have tried so many products and cleaning solutions — from natural essential oils to harsh chemicals so strong I was lightheaded for the rest of the day. Well, I tried out this pumice stone after reading about it in a BuzzFeed article, and honestly the hype is real! It does take some elbow grease, but the after picture is from only 20 minutes of scrubbing, light enough that I didn’t break a sweat! The stone does get used up, but I think this one should last me a couple of years at least. So if you have embarrassing toilets, try this!" —Stephanie Ray
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of two).
17. Extra thick magic cleaning pads you can use to tackle a whole slew of messes in your home by just running it under a little water. Water rings on your vanity counter? Fare thee well. Grime in your shower? See ya later! These lil' beauties can tackle it all.
STK is a small business!
Promising review: "I like to leave one of these in the shower and push it around with my foot every few days to keep the soap scum out of the tub. I also like to use them in the bathroom sinks, to clean coffee stains out of coffee mugs, and even clean the bottom of my iron. These are nice and thick and a good value." —kntheboys
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $13.95.
18. A set of Unpaper Towels to replace all of the paper towels in your life — who has room to store a bulk set of them these days, anyway? They'll also give you an extra thing to brag about when your parents come over to eat and see you wiping down pots and pans with this eco-friendly option instead of a one-and-done item.
Psst: Their absorbency increases after a few washes!
Marley's Monsters is a family-owned small business based in Eugene, Oregon, making eco-friendly home goods, from reusable plastic wrap alternatives to garbage pail liners!
Promising review: "Love these flannel towels to take the place of a million paper towels. Each print is unique and fun. They definitely need a few washings before they become more absorbent." —Siglaumo
Get a 24-pack from Amazon for $63.99 (available in 18 styles).
19. A trio of Bar Keeper's Friend products you can count on to help you clean any and every surface of your living space — trust me on this.
My husband and I (Heather) moved into our first home two years ago— when I tell you I have used some form of Bar Keepers Friend to tackle every crevice of this house please know that I'm not exaggerating. I've used it to revive the floor of our bathroom (see above), the shower, the tub, the entire kitchen sink, the outside of the washing machine and dryer....the list goes on. It's incredible how effective this product is in just a few moments! Additionally, Bar Keeper's Friend is a small business!
Promising review: "This stuff is magic. It took a stain out of my sink with ease. It also made my stainless steel appliances look brand new! I also have a gas stove that had baked crap on it that I couldn’t get off. I tried every trick in the book. I used this stuff with a little elbow grease and it finally came off. We are listing our house and this product is essential." —Katie
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
20. An all-natural tile and tub cleaner you can count on to effectively remove mold, mildew, and rust — just think of *how* satisfying your before and after photos will be.
Promising review: "I have an old shower/bathtub. I tried name-brand shower cleaners and bleach to try and clean the soap scum off the tiles and tub. I had no luck and I would cough and get sick because of how strong the smell was. I thought I would try this to save my lungs. I sprayed my entire shower and left it for about 15 minutes. I came back and rinsed off the walls and they were shiny! I've never had such a clean shower. The smell is amazing and subtle. All I smell is tea tree and it didn't affect me at all. The price is also a good deal since the bottle is pretty large. It came with the sprayer separate and the bottle sealed so it wouldn't leak in the box. I highly recommend this." —Amber Erwin
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.17.
21. A bottle of mold and mildew remover, so your bathroom's grout can resemble the likes of that fabulous resort you've been eyeing for your next tropical vacation. Your bathroom is going to smell incredibly clean once you've removed all that lingering gunk.
There wasn't a lot of ventilation in my (Heather) apartment bathroom, so during the summer the grout used to get gunky and gross looking from the humidity. I had been battling this specific bathroom grime for weeks and tried a whole array of products to no avail. Finally, I purchased Skylarlife Home Mold and Mildew Remover Gel. The results were outstanding. It’s super simple: put on a pair of gloves and apply the clear gel around your grout. Let it sit for 5–6 hours (I suggest opening all your windows, it’s got a strong smell) then rinse it off with cold water.
Promising review: "Wow! I would give this 10 stars if I could. We've had issues for a few years with the caulking behind the handle of our kitchen faucet turning black from mildew. We've scrubbed with what seems like a million different products, with no luck. We were actually just talking about ripping out the caulking and doing a total replacement. But my husband saw this online the other day and decided to order it. Almost immediately when he applied it, you could see it was starting to work. We left it on overnight and the black is COMPLETELY GONE! It's incredible. 1,000% worth the (small) investment." —Nicole D.
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
22. A grout pen to help you restore your tile floor and bathroom walls and leave 'em looking like they were just installed. Feel free to enthusiastically yell "YOU COULD EAT OFF OF THESE FLOORS!" after the job is done.
Promising review: "These things are awesome! I cleaned my bathroom tile grout first because the lady who lived there before me really let it go. A few places stayed stained and I was worried it wouldn't cover them, but all grout areas are bright white and look new now!" —Donna K Cook
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in narrow and wide tips).
23. A box of dye- and chlorine-free dishwasher detergent pods for anyone who forever feels like they're running their dishwasher only to find residue left over on their dishes — this will help you tackle your ever-growing mountain of dirty dishes sans elbow grease.
They're made with mineral-based ingredients, are cruelty-free, and come in compostable packaging!
Based in the Philadelphia area, Dropps is a mother-and-son-founded small business focused on making sustainable, eco-friendly, and low-waste kitchen and laundry cleaning products.
Promising review: "I wasn't expecting much when I bought these. I thought for sure it was another environmentally safe product that would only do half the job. But they are amazing and get the dishes clean with no residue. Well worth the money and so convenient. I will be using these from now on." —TamiP
Get a pack of 32 from Amazon for $12.38+ (available in unscented, lemon, or fresh rain, as well as packs of 64 and 120).
24. A bottle of Goo Gone, because no one should have to use a ton of elbow grease to remove odd substances like oil, toothpaste, and that unknown gunk that's been lingering on your fridge handle for far too long.
People also swear by this for removing annoying stickers from new products!
Promising review: "I have been using Goo Gone since it was first introduced and every year I find new uses for it. I keep a large bottle in the garage for cleaning tools and removing adhesives, and nothing works better. I've only recently started using it as an all-purpose kitchen cleaner, and it has taken over most of my kitchen and bathroom jobs. Newest use — quickly and easily cuts through the soapy residue left behind in the bathroom sink and shower." —24karats
Get it from Amazon for $7.90.
25. A concentrated leather cleaner for anyone who has no idea how to properly care for their couch — give it a second chance at life by swiping it with this cleanser now and then! You can also totally use it on handbags and jackets.
Leather Honey is a small business!
Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! I knew my couches were dirty but I didn't realize they were this bad off. Prior to switching to Leather Honey I was using leather wipes from another company. Those wipes didn't do much for dirt removal as I am now seeing. The leather is a yellow cream color but the sofas were looking gray. Leather Honey took the dirt right off. I left the solution to soak in for two minutes in the more problematic areas and then wiped it off clean." —Ruby
Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in three sizes).
26. A bottle of Oh Yuk jetted tub cleaner that'll pump out all of the gunk from inside your tub's jets, which always seem to leave the bathroom smelling a bit mildewed if you go too long without cleaning it. It's disgusting but oh-so-satisfying when its done!
Oh Yuk is a family-owned small business based in Minnesota that specializes in PhD chemist-formulated cleaning products for home appliances, from dishwashers and washing machines to hot tubs and jetted bathtubs. I (Heather) personally can vouch for how amazing this product is. I watched with my own eyes as it magically cleared out the gross-ness from my previous apartment's jetted tub's pipes. It's pretty disgusting and incredible.
Promising review: "This stuff is great! We just bought a house and my hubby cleaned the jetted tub twice with a strong bleach solution. I bought this product based on the reviews and tried it after. Look at the crud that came out of the jets. Now our tub is all sparkly and clean! 😊" —Becky
Get it from Amazon for $17.84.
27. An Angry Mama microwave cleaner you can count on to save your butt the next time you heat sauce and it explodes all over (oops). Fill her with vinegar and water and watch as she blows hot steam into your microwave oven to loosen up all the old food and stains. Wipe it clean and move on with your life!
Promising review: "I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't cleaned my microwave in about six months. It's an awful task. I ran Angry Mama one time, wiped down easily, then ran it one more time to get it really clean. Highly recommend using it more often than once every six months for a super fast, super clean microwave!" —Kelsey
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.