Cleaning Tools: How-Tos and Tips

The right cleaning tools make housekeeping less of a chore. We'll show you the basics, including how to vacuum the right way and how to use a steam cleaner.

blue couch in a store
Thinking About Thrifting a Sofa? Look for These Red Flags
kitchen with door open and white kitchen cabinets
Can You Really Clean Your Oven with a Pumice Stone?
alexis nikole nelson holding basket of blueland hand soap collection sitting in field
This Garden-Inspired Hand Soap Collection Is So Summery—and Good for the Planet
nespresso coffee maker with cup of coffee
How to Clean a Nespresso Machine Properly
mug with coffee spilled on beige carpet
How to Get Coffee Stains Out of Carpet (Even If They’re Set-In)
birkenstock sandals in the sun
How to Clean Birkenstocks Properly
cleaning cast iron skillet
Can You Use Soap on Cast Iron? Experts Say You Should Rethink This Cleaning Myth
the laundress cleaning line
The Laundress Is Stepping Beyond the Laundry Room with Its New Home Cleaning Collection
Kosher salt in a bowl
8 Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean with Salt
pouring white powder into laundry
What Is Borax? Plus 15 Ways to Clean with It
tennis ball on wood
Is a Tennis Ball the Secret to Removing Ugly Scuff Marks?
Cleaning white shoes and soles from dust and dirt with a melamine sponge
10 Things You Can Clean with a Magic Eraser
bar keepers friend and pan
10 Ways to Use Bar Keepers Friend for a Sparkling Home
butcher block countertop
11 Things You Actually Shouldn’t Clean with Soap
white bathroom sink
Yes, Mouthwash Can Fix Stinky Drains in a Pinch
empty kitchen sink after deep cleaning
How to Clean a Porcelain Sink with Pantry Staples
silver pewter trays
How to Clean Pewter and Restore Its Shine
glass sliding doors to outside
This Free Trick Will Help You Clean Pesky Sliding Door Tracks
lint rolling a blue couch
13 Household Items You Can Clean with a Lint Roller
steam cleaning carpet
Is Steam Cleaning as Effective as Scrubbing?
hands holding white airpods in case
How to Clean AirPods Without Damaging Them
clothes iron on towel on wood table
How to Remove Heat Stains from Wood: 4 Easy Solutions
hand holding dryer sheet in front of dryer
19 Unexpected Ways to Use Dryer Sheets Around the House
oven door partially open
Should You Scrub Your Oven with Aluminum Foil? Cleaning Experts Say Yes
Cleaning faucet head
Should You Try the Viral Cleaning Hack to Remove Hard Water Stains?
bottle of olive oil
6 Surprising Things You Can Clean with Olive Oil
bathroom with gray tile and wood vanity
How to Clean a Mirror for Streak-Free Shine
scrubbing bathroom floor with brush and baking soda cleaning solution
21 Things You Can Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide
How to clean marble - step 3
11 Things You Should Never Clean with Rubbing Alcohol
central vacuum system with automatic dustpan
What Is a Central Vacuum System?
hands scrubbing kitchen sink
7 Unexpected Things You Can Clean with Cornstarch
dishwasher open with dishes
These 6 Pantry Staples Can Be Used as Dishwasher Detergent in a Pinch
hands wearing gloves cleaning carpet
How to Get Paint Out of Carpet Like a Pro
kitchen sink faucet
7 Things You Can Clean with Waxed Paper
scrubbing kitchen sink faucet with sponge
12 Things You Can Clean with Castile Soap
2024 clean house awards
Here's Every Winner from Our 2024 Clean House Awards
Cleaning a keyboard with a cotton swab
21 Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean with Rubbing Alcohol
silverware basket in dishwasher
Aluminum Foil Is the Secret to Sparkling Silverware—Here's How to Use It
oven door open in kitchen
Can You Clean Your Oven with Lemons? What to Know About This Non-Toxic Method
How to clean sterling silver jewelry
20 Household Items You Can Clean with a Toothbrush
silver sink faucet and white tile backsplash
This Genius TikTok Cleaning Hack Will Make Your Faucets Sparkle
kitchen sink with brass faucet and colorful dish towel
9 Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean with a Scouring Stick
person cleaning area rug with sponge and enzyme cleaner spray
What Is an Enzyme Cleaner?
baby shampoo in bathroom with bubbles
8 Things You Can Clean with Baby Shampoo
Target Vacuum Deals Tout
I Scoured the Internet for Vacuum Sales, and Target Actually Has the Best Deals Right Now
hand with rubber gloves and sponge cleaning wall
What Is TSP Cleaner? Plus How to Use It
stick vacuum cleaner on hardwood floors in living room
8 Ways to Fix a Vacuum with No Suction
white toothpaste on bamboo toothbrush with blue background
15 Things You Can Clean with Toothpaste
glass with toothpaste and bamboo toothbrushes in tiled bathroom
4 Things to Avoid Cleaning with Toothpaste
rinse aid used in a dishwasher
What Is Rinse Aid and Do You Actually Need It?
Bissell Air Purifier Deal Tout
According to Our Testing, This Is the Best Air Purifier for Smoke—and It’s Still 44% Off After Prime Day
Best Spray Mops
We Tested 59 Spray Mops—These 8 Are the Best Spray Mops for Stuck-On Messes
Amazon Prime Day Belife BVC12 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner Tout
The Lightweight Stick Vacuum We Named ‘Best Budget’ Is $60 Off Ahead of Prime Day
hand vacuum cleaning sofa cushions
How Long Do Vacuums Last? 4 Signs It’s Time for a Replacement
A woman opens a built-in dishwasher. Clean dishes in the dishwasher.
Should You Put Silverware in Your Dishwasher’s Utensil Basket or Rack?
Swiffer PowerMop cleaning a spill on floor
The New Swiffer PowerMop Might Convince You to Finally Ditch Your Mop
Deal Roundup: Best Robot Vacuum Deals Tout
Get a Head Start on Your Prime Day Shopping with These Incredible Deals on Robot Vacuums
Three different Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair leaning against a couch
The 7 Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Afloia HEPA Air Purifier for Pets Tout
Shoppers Say This Purifier Leaves a Noticeable Difference in Air Quality—and It’s 44% Off Before Prime Day
Vinegar cleaning items
10 Things You Should Never Clean with Vinegar
L'Avant Collective new laundry collection product line
Eco-Luxe Cleaning Brand L’Avant Collective Launches Its First Laundry Line
Spring Cleaning Storefront Tout
Amazon’s Hidden Spring Cleaning Storefront Is Filled with Essentials for a Spotless Home
Bottle of Dawn dish soap on kitchen counter
9 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With Dawn Dish Soap