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Mar 28, 2024

42 Cleaning Products To Make Tackling Messes Easier

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Sometimes, a little self affirmation (and a best-selling product) is all you need.

BuzzFeed Staff

Check it out on TikTok here!

And here's what BuzzFeeder/The Pink Stuff fan Heather Braga has to say:

"After hearing what incredible things The Pink Stuff can do, I 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 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: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do this product! Literally use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? ...This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-size amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need such LITTLE of this product, it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok!!!" —Rachel in CLT

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

Here's what BuzzFeeder Jenae Sitzes has to say:

"The tens of thousands of 5-star Amazon reviews are reason enough to add the ChomChom to your cart immediately — but let me add my own personal review to the stack. I've been using the ChomChom for quite a while now, but I took the photos above literally just now to show just how quick, easy, and effective this roller is. It took 10 seconds to rid my velvet couch ottoman (yes, velvet...a terrible cat owner choice, I know) of the hair my two gray kitties are constantly leaving everywhere. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of using this roller — at first, I thought you only brushed down in one direction, and was confused why it wasn't picking up hair. It's important to do a push-and-pull brushing in *both* directions so it actually pulls the hair inside, which does require you to apply a bit of pressure. Afterward, you'll just dump out the hair that's been trapped inside. The ChomChom is best for large flat surfaces like couches and beds."

Promising review: "I have a long haired German Shepherd aka a 'German Shedder' and two cats so I live with animal fur — nothing I can do about it, or so I THOUGHT. The ChomChom is by far the best way to get rid of animal fur in my opinion. This thing is godlike, it makes fabric look so fresh, works perfectly on my suede couches and leaves that 'soft suede' look on them. It does what it's supposed to do perfectly, and it captures all the hair in an easy-to-clean bin. Works excellent on items like furniture and upholstery/car interior. Items like clothing or curtains need to be held down because of the rolling back and forth motion. I think it would make an AMAZING gift for anyone with pets." —Victor T.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising review: "OK, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn't know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it's still an awesome product for the price! I have a 2.0 and I had no issues." —Mads0421

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.45.

The gel formula is safe to use on/around windows, sinks and baths, shower-heads, pools, tiles, silicone sealant, and more. Leave it on the area you're looking to clean for six to eight hours (no scrubbing required). Some reviewers with really bad mold/mildew note that leaving it on for longer and/or doing a second round of cleaning made a huge difference!

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing. Since we bought this place, we figured we had to fix the caulking because we tried every cleaner we knew to get rid of this gross shower mold. Before we decided to fix...we gave this a shot. Now the shower is like new; probably didn't even need to wait the five hours, but glad we did. Saved so much time, labor, and money. 🙌" —Nacho Average Review

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Each pouch of lemon-scented formula gets you four uses. Dump a pack into your disposal (while off at first!), run the water just a bit, and then start it and watch as the blue foam gets to work eliminating odors and loosening up nasties that have been caught down there for who knows how long.

Promising review: "These are amazing! I was skeptical at first but I followed the directions (which are super easy) and was grossed out and satisfied at the same time to see the gunk that was removed. You put the entire packet down your disposal (I read that twice too) and magic happens in under two minutes! That is what I call powerful and successful cleaning! The scent is super clean and light with a hint of lemon. These will definitely be a cleaning staple for me." —KPITT

Get it from Amazon for $9.12+ (available in packs of 2, 3, and 12).

Promising review: “Love, love, love Folex!! Super easy to use. The bottle does exactly what it says. My chairs were SUPER DIRTY from my 2-1/2-year-old grandson eating and feeding dogs. I couldn’t believe how easy it was and how clean they got after just one use. Mind blown!!” —Carobnty

Get it from Amazon for $6.65+ (available in multiple sizes and packs up to 12).

Each bottle gets you four cleanings. Just dump it in, fill your tub, run the jets, and it'll flush out soap scum, mold, and whatever other gunk your Whirlpool is harboring.

Promising review: "BUY IT! Such a great cleaner!! I didn’t have very high expectations for this cleaner, but boy did it do the job! We moved into a house where it looked like the jets had never been cleaned before. Yuck! This product worked wonders for deep cleaning our tub! I went through the process twice for the first time and got nasty gunk both times. Now that the tub has been deep cleaned and looks amazing I’ll keep using this once a week to maintain! This product doesn’t smell bad and is super easy to use! A definite buy!!!" —Michelle

Get a 16-ounce bottle from Amazon for $17.84.

Each kit comes with three nylon brush attachments that, once attached to a cordless drill, can get to work on your dirtiest sinks, showers, baseboards, and more.

Promising review: "Among the chores around the house that I do, but do not enjoy, I must say showers/tubs rank right at the top of the list. This kit has been an absolute life-saver. I attach it to a drill and in minutes, my showers and tubs look brand new, scrubbed to a showroom new shine and with a third of the effort required in the past. This cuts my tub/shower/sink cleaning time by about two-thirds, maybe more. I can't get over how easily this scrubs away soap scum and rust stains. Buy this. Do it now." —Sarah Ginter

Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in six colors).

Puracy is a small, family-owned business dedicated to creating natural and organic formulas that are not only effective, but safe for kids and pets. Aside from food stains, this spray also does a number on all other miscellaneous spots in your life like wine, coffee, makeup, and period blood!

Promising review: "Puracy is the best stain remover I've ever used! Grass stains? GONE. Blood? GONE. Baby poo on white clothes? Doesn't stand a chance! Seriously, Puracy got out stains from 6-year-old stored baby clothing!!! It's that good! Grease? Gone. Seriously this stuff is AMAZING! Buy it now!" —GrantedByTiffany

Get it from Puracy on Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Just buy this now and thank me later. I bought a house with an all-glass shower enclosure that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. There was so much build up you couldn't see through the glass. Used this stuff just a few times and now glass is soap-scum-free and the shower looks amazing!" —Kristina

Get it from Amazon for $20.98+ (available in two scents and various sizes).

Promising review: "Bought my home knowing this step would not only satisfy me, but frustrate me. Enter Grout-EEZ — y’all just don’t even think and buy now. The photos speak for themselves and if I’m being honest, I didn’t even wait five minutes like the bottle says, just let it sit a bit and scrubbed away. Can wait to do it a second time all out before sealing. ✔️" —Marya Odell

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "What can I say? This smells great and helps deodorize the water closet. It helps sanitize and keeps the bowl clean after every flush...and I can't be the only one who's satisfied when I click, press, and release the little jewel-looking gel tab onto the inside of a sparkling-clean bowl!" —Gino

Get a pack of 12 gel stamps and a dispenser from Amazon for $19.99.

PS: It comes with a Scrub Mommy so you don't have to purchase a sponge separately.

Promising review: "We live on the outskirts of town and our water is so hard! This is the only thing that removes those hard water stains without using heavy chemicals! I was previously using The Chemical Bros. Water Spot remover and I had to let it sit and wear gloves! After finding this, no more!" —Marissa Testerman

Get it from Scrub Daddy for $9.99 or Target for $12.19.

Promising review: "This stuff is so great!! I’ve tried so many brands of enzymatic cleaners and they all have a strong chemical smell. This smells exactly like the orange cream shakes at Arby’s!! It does an excellent job or erasing odors and seems to be working to deter puppy from peeing in that spot again. Leaves a great long-lasting scent and odors are long gone by the time the pleasant scent fades the next day. It’s also a great stain remover. I’ve only used it on puppy messes but it makes quick work of them. Love this stuff so much!!" —Geek Girl

Get a 32-ounce bottle from Amazon for $19.97.

They can be used wet or dry and on basically every type of flooring and even drywall if you're so inclined. Since they can be thrown in the wash, one microfiber pad can replace up 100 single-use pads.

Promising review: "Just used these for the first time with my Swiffer WetJet and I gotta say I am impressed! Went on easily and cleaned the floors easily! I always hated the one-time use pads and never felt like they got my floor clean. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought these with my own money because I’m sick of single-use products. Seriously, buy these now!!!" —AKGross

Get a set of two from Amazon for $17.75.

Slip a single tablet in your detergent tray (or in the bottom of the dishwasher if it won't fit in there) and set it to a regular wash cycle. After it's finished, open it up to find limescale, hard water stains, and other mineral buildup completely wiped out.

Promising review: "Buy these now!! My dishwasher looks brand new after one use. I highly recommend this product." —VSarge

Get it from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in packs of six or 12).

Promising review: "I was hesitant to order this but it went on sale so I did. It is the only thing that has actually worked. The first time I had to use two since the odor was strong but it did wonders. I’ve run the washer with this for two months now and no odor is coming out. This is one item I will continue to order." —Klove78

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $10.16.

What's included: One toilet wand, one storage caddy, six original disposable refills, and 10 Rainforest Rush-scented refills.

Promising review: "I love this little handy tool! I have one in each bathroom. I love that you use the cleaning sponge, then toss in away. Simple and no gross toilet brush sitting around. 😝" —Lisa Johnston

Get it from Amazon for $11.98+ (available in three bundle sizes).

Cleaning Studio is a Fairfield, Connecticut–based all-natural cleaning shop from Claudia and Angelo Zimmermann. Their oven cleaner comes with a professional-grade metallic scrubber you can use to scrub your appliance before wiping it down with a microfiber cloth.

Promising review: "Like many I moved into a house with a used oven. Keeping the typical grease and cooking messes at bay over the years has been a challenge, especially because of its placement in the kitchen (up against a wall in a corner). I tried vinegar and baking soda, Dawn dish soap, then fume-free Easy-Off, which, although effective, is more of a hassle to apply and remove (and wasteful, since I have to cover the heating elements with aluminum foil). Saw this product online and liked the non-chemical ingredients, and decided based on the reviews that it was worth a try. It's not cheap, but this is the only thing that got almost all the residue off my oven surfaces. Nice smell and didn't leave any scratches or marks. I highly recommend rinsing thoroughly and drying with a microfiber cloth for best results." —Irish Eyes

Get it from Cleaning Studio on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in a plastic or glass container).

What's included: One reusable spray bottle and three refills.

Promising review: "We received our delivery this morning at 10 and I have already used it to clean the post-smoothie blender, wash the porch floor and pretreat grease stains on a load of spotted T-shirts. This stuff is wonderful!" —desert dweller

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Elizabeth Lilly says: "I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food from sitting overnight. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well."

Get a set of four from Amazon for $21.98.

Check it out on TikTok here!

Promising review: "I had had it with my broken basic mop and bucket. I tried to just get a dollar store Swiffer to get us by, but that wasn't cutting it at all. With three boys and a dog that makes his rounds on all the furniture and every exposed corner, I had to do something. After seeing a TikTok where a woman demonstrated this mop to clean her walls, and hearing my boss raving about it, I decided to click the Amazon button. Let me tell you, I HATE cleaning, I HATE mopping, but I LOVE for things to be clean. I was able to mop the entire house TWICE (Because it was that dirty. Please don't judge.) within an hour. A few days later I mopped the entire house again within 10 minutes because they weren't quite as dirty. On another positive note, my boys love the spinner and think it’s a toy! So, every time I get the bucket out my 10-year-old and 4-year-old ask to mop the house because they think it’s fun. MAJOR BONUS!" —Molly

Get it from Amazon for $34.97.

Promising review: "I love this thing!!!! I have three long-haired dogs and it just sucks up all that hair. I almost did not get it because of a review saying that it got clogged up quick. That is not the case. It compacts the hair and doesn't lose suction. I empty it once a week and I sweep almost every day!" —Christy Sanders

Get it from Amazon for $149 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I've been a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser fan for a long time. My husband works with metal and works on cars so there is oil, grease, etc. everywhere in our house... and the bathtub is awful. They were the only thing to get rid of it. UNTIL I FOUND THESE! 1 MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN THE MAGIC ERASERS. Hardly have to scrub to get the tub clean now. I've used one for three bathtub cleanings and I'm sure I will get at least five more uses out of it. I'd get maybe 1.5 cleanings from the other brand. I'll never buy another brand again other than these. They will last forever — the package was much bigger than expected for the price. Just buy them... worth it!" —Briana M.

Get a 20-pack from Amazon for $13.25.

Want to know more? Read a former BuzzFeeder's full review of the sponges.

Promising review: "I don't usually do reviews but this product DEFINITELY deserves one! This is by far the best purchase I have ever made on Amazon. It was easy to mix, easy to use, and years of dirt wiped away almost immediately. I did purchase a small leather brush and a spray bottle, as well. I mixed 2 cups of water with 4 tablespoons of the product in the spray bottle and applied it generously to my couches. I used the brush in a circular motion to bring up all the grime, and then wiped it down with a towel. It worked immediately with little scrubbing. I was able to do two couches, a large chair, and an ottoman in under an hour. The results were phenomenal! I also did 'the dog's couch,' which I thought it was beyond help, but thanks to this product it looks brand new!!" —Michelle Skenandore

Get it from Amazon for $15.29+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "Wow! A degreaser that actually works! I love the foam which starts to work immediately on my stove top as well as cookware and other kitchen surfaces." —P. Webb

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two sizes).

Promising reviews: "I’m so mad that I never knew these existed until this week. I’ve been struggling to clean my All Clad cookware and tried all sorts of methods but still no shine! These arrived yesterday and I immediately went in. So I got all pans and used these along with Bar Keeper’s...OMG unbelievable. Not a single stain left. Just the beautiful shiny All Clad as I remember! Buy these now. I know I’ll be reordering." —Joy

Get it from Amazon for $2.49+ (available in packs of 3, 16, and 24).

The kit comes with one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads which can be used wet or dry.

Promising review: "Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" —artgirl

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising review: "I was in awe and disgusted at the same time by the amount of lint I was able to remove from behind the dryer lint tray. I’ll be using this every one to two weeks to maintain the dryer, reduce the risk of fire, and cut down on dry time. Just wish it was more flexible/had a storage bag. These should come standard with every dryer sold." —jenn

Get it from Amazon for $9.34+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I have a fairly large silver Persian cat who generates a huge amount of impossible-to-see fur everywhere in the house (sound familiar?). This odd little broom grabs everything, especially the stuff I can’t even see. Takes five minutes, max, to de-fur an 1,800-foot house. Very easy to use and brush everything into the trash bin." —Doug Cox

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in six configurations).

Promising review: "I purchased this product for cleaning the screws and tight places on the toilet. I have found multiple uses for them i.e. cleaning between the rim of a skillet or pot and where the handle is attached. Great for cleaning car vents, behind faucets, and under faucet handles. The list goes on and on. Will purchase again. I am using these as stocking stuffers for the adults in my family." —Kat

Get a pack of 28 from Amazon for $12.99.

Promising review: "This is an amazing set of brushes. Don't be fooled by the low cost. The brushes are soft and long enough to get into tight spots but firm enough to hold up. They work amazing in those hard-to-clean aluminum window runners and sliding doors. I've used them to clean in enclosed fan blades, refrigerator vents, etc. They wash easily and with a bit of TLC they hold their shape. Always nice to find something so simple and inexpensive that works so well." —CNJ

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.97.

Promising review: "I clean houses for a living and hair and fuzzies are my nemesis. This roller gets up everything that blends into the floor leaving the floors extra clean. For my pickier clients, I’ve used this and have had zero complaints. Love it, wish they were all made this way." —Allie

Get it from Amazon for $22.18.

Promising review: "My daughter cooked ramen noodles for three minutes without any water. Needless to say it was burnt and almost caught fire. I have scrubbed the microwave and couldn’t get the horrible smell out to the point it was giving me a headache. After several days I decided to ordered this before buying a new microwave. Got it today and used it and shocked it actually pulled most of the odor out that’s trapped in the upper vent. This $10 item saved me $200 to $400." —Angela D.

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in different sizes and packs of one or two).

Promising review: "These gloves have held up SO WELL. They're perfect for dishes and when I’m cleaning/rinsing before putting in the dishwasher. Definitely better than a lot of sponges I’ve tried and they have been very durable! Recommend!!" —Tabitha Collier

Get them from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors and individually or in a set of three).

These work on almost any surface: leather, fabric, furniture, hardwood, pans, metal, WHEREVER. And! They'll clean up grease, oil, tar, dirt, ink, lipstick, nail polish, food, and a whole lot more.

Promising review: "These are awesome! The size of the container is large and so was the quantity I received. The wipes are huge and tough, great for scrubbing! I cleaned my whole house with these and they removed stains I haven't been able to get out for a while. I also tried them on my walls and they did not remove the paint. Also, they smell fantastic: no chemical smell whatsoever. These are a great deal on Amazon, and I will be purchasing them again!" —Suze

Get a pack of 90 from Amazon for $14.19+ (available in nine sizes/packs).

The Fizz Whiz is a small business based in Brandon, Florida.

Promising review: "Washed my clothes and they came out very clean. I put my sneakers in the wash and they were very gross. They came out so clean that they almost looked new. Will buy again, and recommend." —Daniel Law

Get them from The Fizz Whiz on Etsy for $16+ (available in packs of 1–5).

Humble Suds is a small cleaning brand run by two moms — Holli Schuab and Jennifer Parnell — in Evergreen, Colorado. All of their products are made from powerful, plant-based ingredients and packaged with recyclable materials. They recommend applying a tablespoon of their scouring paste to a cloth and then scrubbing in a circular motion.

My Shopping team colleague Danielle Healy is a fan (she took the photos above!), saying:

"I recently moved into a new apartment, so lately I've been cleaning A LOT. Shortly after moving in, my partner and I went to store something on the top of the kitchen cabinets only to find them caked in a thick layer of grime 🤢. After going at it with regular multipurpose cleaner (with little success) we broke out the scour paste as a last-ditch effort and OH BOY did this miracle product deliver (pics above). If it can handle that grossness, it's going to have no problem with day-to-day messes like soap scum and burnt-on food. Plus, it smells delightful and comes in minimal, low-waste packaging!"

Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $15.95+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "I'll let my pictures (above) speak to how amazing this works. I had a stained mattress that I'd been covering with a mattress pad for years. As I was preparing for a move, I decided to give OxiClean a try and see if it could remove the stains that had been there for well over SEVEN YEARS. I honestly don't even know what caused the stains, but OxiClean removed them. I took before, during, and after pictures (after pictures show the outline of water because I took them immediately after rinsing. I honestly can't believe the results. I wish I'd done this sooner!" —Little Greek

Get a 5-pound tub from Amazon for $11.78.

Promising review: "This is like magic. Our van was nasty and covered with hair from a German and Australian Shepherd. Looked brand-new after. Don’t think about just buy it. It will blow your mind." —Dan

Get it from Amazon for $10.50.

Promising review: “Excellent product. I highly recommend, especially to those with old toilets that don't have antimicrobial ceramic technology involved. I work as a handyman and do a lot of plumbing work, and I had never seen this type of product used before. I didn't even know it existed. Why hardware stores don't sell these, I'll never understand!” —Matthew Sileo

Get it from Amazon for $10.53.

Butter Me Up Organics is a zero-waste small biz based in Livermore, California. Their organic, handcrafted bath, body, and cleaning products use ingredients from ethical and sustainable sources.

Promising review: "This is great! Took it straight out of the package and started cleaning my sliding door! Cleans very well! Thank you!" —Surishae Co

Get it from Butter Me Up Organics from Etsy for $16.50.

Promising review: "Our tub/shower has a grippy bottom and scum and dirt cakes on there so easily. The only way I've been able to get it off before was literally scraping it inch by inch, I've spent hours and all it ever got was somewhat clean — never enough for me to want to take a real bath in it. This stuff is expensive but with the good reviews I decided to try it, it works amazingly!! I sprayed it on and left it for about 15–20 minutes. Then I took a brush with hard plastic bristles and with less than 20 minutes of scrubbing the entire tub and walls it was cleaner than when we moved in. The grime and scum almost melted off." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in two sizes and with or without a sprayer).

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.