Work Smarter, Not Harder: My Favorite Cleaning Supplies That Actually Make Life Easier
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Let’s face it—keeping a clean home when you’ve got kids, pets, and a busy life is no small feat. Over the years (and countless messes), I’ve found that the right cleaning tools can make all the difference. Instead of spending hours scrubbing or battling stains that don’t budge, I’ve put together a go-to list of my favorite products that help get the job done well—without wearing me out. These are the real MVPs in my cleaning cabinet, perfect for deep cleaning and maintaining a fresh home with less hassle.
Active Mold Stain Remover
This product is amazing for getting difficult mildew spots out. Living in humid Texas, it’s impossible to keep bathrooms completely dry. Even when I’m on top of cleaning, that pinkish mold (which is actually a bacteria) still shows up around the shower. This is a gel substance that you apply to sections—just let it sit, and it thickens so you can easily wipe it up. That’s it! It works great on ceramic, tile, and grout. The only place it doesn’t do well is if a seal is broken—at that point, I clean out the sealant and replace it.
BEFORE: A corner of my master bath shower. I’d been trying everything for these spots.
AFTER: Same corner a couple of hours later- amazing! I put it on, ran errands for a birthday boy, then wiped it off. SO easy.
Dawn Powerwash
This product is so universal, I use it just about everywhere. The most obvious use is dishes—you don’t need to soak anything. Just spray, wait a minute, and scrub it clean. I also use it on countertops, in showers and bathtubs for quick refreshes, and to remove stubborn labels from jars. Let it sit on the label, and it comes right off.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
I use this magic tool way more often than I original thought I would. Any tough scuff marks on baseboards or cabinets this is what I grab. Since having kids (especially a toddler) I use it almost daily on their activity table, doors, easel frame, etc. Any kind of crayon or marker trails get erased with this!
The Pink Stuff
This one’s another multi-use winner. There’s even a barcode on the tub that shows all the ways you can use it. I mainly pair it with a Scrub Daddy to clean our stainless steel appliances and sinks. It removes water spots beautifully and preps everything for a quick polish.
Bar Keeper’s Friend
This is a staple for bathroom deep cleaning. Toothpaste, makeup messes—you name it—this stuff clears it up fast. I’ve even used it instead of toilet bowl cleaner. It also works wonders on silver: just scrub with a toothbrush and follow up with silver polish for a like-new shine.
Folex Carpet Cleaning Spray
With two kids and four pets, we see a lot of messes. I’ve tried so many carpet cleaners, but Folex has outperformed them all. We’re slowly replacing our carpet flooring, but I still use this on upholstered furniture, and it lifts spills and stains easily.
Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Remover
Okay, technically this is a laundry spray, but it’s earned its spot here. I swear most of the time this stuff works like magic, you can physically see the stains disappear. I keep a travel-size bottle in my youngest’s room and spray his clothes right as I change him. It even works wonders on adult clothing (trust me, I’ve saved plenty of my own shirts).
Steam Floor Cleaner
Ours recently broke after four years, and I swore I could live without it. Spoiler: I can’t. I’m shopping for a new one now. Steam mops are amazing for stuck-on messes, and I love that I don’t need harsh chemicals—especially with pets and little ones crawling around. I save stronger cleaners for bathrooms and the kitchen. We previously owned the Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop. It is perfect for a smaller home or sections and a budget-friendly option. I recently discovered they have vacuum steam mop combos [like the Bissell one], so if saving time is important to you definitely check those out! There’s also more industrial strength versions that have a variety of attachments [such as this Dupray one] that you can clean just about anything, including your windows!
Bissell Little Green Machine
This compact carpet/upholstery cleaner is such a game-changer. I use it regularly on our upholstered bar stools and spot-treat larger furniture. For tough stains, I’ll use Folex first, but the Little Green has its own cleaning solution that smells great. Just note—it’s best for smaller sections at a time (I’ve cleaned an entire sectional with it… doable, but a time consuming project!).
Bissell Steam Cleaner
If you want a deep clean without a bunch of chemicals, this tool is your friend. It’s great for tight spaces like around the stove or grout lines. You can even steam your clothes! It’s lightweight and easy to move around.
Spin Mop
While I prefer the steam mop, this is still super handy. If I don’t have time to steam the whole floor, I grab the spin mop for spot cleaning. It’s also fantastic for tiled shower walls—great reach and quick clean-up!
Cordless Vacuum
If you haven’t upgraded to a cordless vacuum yet, you are missing out. We’ve had our Dyson for five years and still love it. It handles our whole house on one charge (unless I get distracted/interrupted and leave it lying around mid-clean—been there). It is so handy to just grab the vacuum and do quick cleans or small areas. This is my most-used tool by far.
Wet/Dry Vacuum
I don’t personally use one since I’m a die-hard steam mop fan, but I’ve seen these in action at friends’ homes. If you want one tool to vacuum and mop all at once, this is it. Perfect for saving time and effort, and they come in both corded and cordless options.
Final Thoughts
Having the right cleaning tools doesn’t just make life easier—it makes it doable, especially when juggling a busy household. These products help me stay on top of the messes without spending all day scrubbing. Whether you’re doing a quick tidy or tackling a deep clean, I hope this list helps you work smarter, not harder in your home too. Let me know if you have any must-haves I should try—I’m always up for making cleaning a little less of a chore!
Have a cleaning product/tool you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments!