Gift ideas for clean freaks
Most of us try to keep a relatively tidy home, but add in children, pets and life and sometimes the messes start to pile up. Others can’t stand the sight of clutter and immediately bring out the cleaning supplies at the first sign of a mess.
Whether you’re the clean freak looking for something new or you’re purchasing a gift for a friend who loves to clean, this guide will show you all the best cleaning products on the market.
What to know before buying a gift for a clean freak
Natural vs. chemical cleaning products
There are many terms to describe different features of cleaning products like all-natural, organic, or eco-friendly. All-natural products contain only ingredients found in nature, but that includes naturally occurring chemicals. Organic-cleaning products contain only organic ingredients. Eco-friendly means that the product, but not necessarily its packaging, won’t harm the environment. Unfortunately these terms are not regulated, so it is up to the consumer to decide which product is best.
Using the right cleaner
You want to be sure that you’re using the correct cleaner for the type of product, item or surface that you are trying to clean. Some cleaners can be extremely abrasive or contain bleach and could cause damage. You wouldn’t want to use a product that contains ammonia or vinegar on hardwood floors or tables, for example, because they may dull or scratch the wood.
So, which gift for a clean freak should I choose?
Best baseboard cleaner
Baseboard Buddy: available at Amazon
Our take: As seen on TV, this baseboard cleaner tool will save your back and knees with its extender handle.
What we like: The cleaning head conforms to any surface like crown or baseboard molding so you’ll get the dirt out of those hard to reach crevices. The handle extends to 4-feet, allowing you to reach the crown molding as well. Three microfiber pads are included and can work both wet and dry.
What we dislike: It takes a minute to get used to working with the angle of the cleaning head.
Best cordless vacuum
Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner: available at Amazon
Our take: Convenient, versatile and powerful handheld cord-free vacuum that works great on pet hair.
What we like: This lightweight vacuum can be used for 40 minutes on regular power and 8 minutes in maximum power mode. The stiff nylon bristles really dig into dirt and pet hair. You never have to touch the contents of the bin as you empty it directly over the trash.
What we dislike: The vacuum is very expensive.
Best portable carpet and upholstery cleaner
Bissell Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet Cleaner and Upholstery Cleaner: available at Amazon
Our take: Incredible little powerhouse of a machine that utilizes a strong spray and powerful suction to clean tough stains and messes.
What we like: This easy-to-use compact machine cleans upholstery, carpets and rugs, stairs and even your car’s interior. The portability and power make it perfect for cleaning up pet messes like urine or vomit.
What we dislike: It can be difficult to clean the interior of the machine.
Best robot vacuum
Shark IQ Robot Vacuum with XL Self Empty Base: available at Bed Bath & Beyond
Our take: Holds up to a month’s worth of dirt in the self-emptying base.
What we like: This robot vacuum works with google assistant and Alexa and sends itself back to home base to recharge when necessary. Through the app you’re able to map your home so the vacuum knows exactly which rooms to clean. A self-cleaning brush roll ensures you never have to unwrap tangled hair from the vacuum brush.
What we dislike: If you have two floors you’ll need to purchase two units.
Best scrubber
Scrub Daddy Lemon Fresh Sponge: available at Bed Bath & Beyond
Our take: Lemon fresh kitchen scrubber seen on “Shark Tank.”
What we like: This versatile scrubber can go from flexible in warm water to rigid in cold water. The scrubber is great for dishes, tiles, wiping down furniture, even for use on cars. Each sponge comes in a pleasing lemon scent and measures 3.75 inches by 1.5 inches.
What we dislike: Some reviewers felt it disintegrated too quickly.
Best mop
Bissell SpinWave Plus Hard Floor Mop: available at Bed Bath & Beyond
Our take: Mop with rotating brush heads great for most floor surfaces.
What we like: This amazing swivel mop does the work for you with its rotating brush heads that are tough on dirt and stains. Control the spray solution via a button at the top of the mop. Six mop-head pads with both smooth and scrubby surfaces are included, as well as a bottle of cleaning formula.
What we dislike: The mop heads may come loose and you’ll have to screw them back on.
Best cleaning wipes
Clorox Compostable Cleaning Wipes: available at Home Depot
Our take: Three-pack of cleaning wipes that won’t harm the environment.
What we like: Wipe down messes from the kids or the remnants of dinner with these lemon scented cleaning wipes from Clorox. They can be used on a variety of surfaces, including granite, wood, tile and stainless steel. Made from plant based fibers, these wipes are compostable in municipal composting facilities.
What we dislike: They kill less germs than their non-compostable counterparts.
Best toilet wand
Clorox ToiletWand Disposable Toilet Cleaning System: available at Amazon
Our take: Three-in-one starter kit that ensures your toilet is always sparkling.
What we like: This robust set of toilet-cleaning supplies includes one toilet wand, a storage caddy, six disposable refills and 10 Rainforest Rush scented refills. Simply click the pad refill head onto the toilet wand and clean the bowl. Press the lever to easily pop off the head and easily store the wand in the caddy.
What we dislike: Some users felt that the scrubbing pad dissolved too quickly.
Stefanie Hammond is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
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