GREENSBORO, N.C. — A writer for Consumer Reports has tested glass cleaners, DIY cleaning hacks, steam cleaners, and more, and says you don’t need many products to get your house clean.
"Just some basic things like a multipurpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, and a disinfectant," said Jodhaira Rodriguez, Consumer Reports Home Editor.
Vinegar can be a great option if you don’t want to spend money on a dedicated glass cleaner, but CR’s tests found Sprayway Glass cleaner earned top marks and is also an economical choice because it also cleans chrome, tile, and porcelain. 2 Wants To Know found it at Walmart for $2.50 a can.
Of course, there are tools you can buy to make some jobs easier and maybe even more fun—if that’s your thing. CR recently tried the Bissell Steam Shot and found it satisfying to clean bathroom grout. Another place it cleaned well was buildup from fabric softener use in a washing machine.
If you don’t need to deep clean but have lots of areas to cover, consider a power scrubber to keep things moving, like the battery-powered Leebein Electric Spin Scrubber for $56.
To tackle the dust and cobwebs in all those hard-to-reach places, CR says to turn to your vacuum’s attachments for help: the crevice tool for tight spaces and the upholstery tool to deep clean your couch. The key is having a vacuum with adequate airflow.
Consumer Reports tests for that and says the Kenmore Pet Friendly 31140, starting at $250, delivers.
Or consider a powerful hand vac like the Black+Decker Max+ DustBuster AdvancedClean+ HHVK515J00, for $90, which comes with different attachment tools for cleaning edges like stair steps and tight spaces.
And one last cleaning tip: It’s much easier if you take it room by room.
"For example, you can clean the bathroom today, bedrooms tomorrow, and closets the day after that," said Rodriguez.
To cut down on paper towel waste and save some money, CR recommends microfiber cloths you can wash and reuse. If you get them in different colors, you can assign each color to a specific room so you can keep bathroom germs away from kitchen germs.