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Want to know our dirty secret?
Our houses are a mess.
But thats OKwe love to clean!
We made messes, cleaned them up, then discussed what worked and what didnt.
(You wont believe the number of times we discussed dish soap dispensers and spray nozzles.)
The curved edges got into every nook and cranny and held up to bathroom grime.
It actually was magic, says one tester.
Its eco-friendly silicone technology helped to completely eradicate toilet bowl rings.
There arent many bells and whistles with this spray, which is why our testers loved it.
The nontoxic, salt-based formula is an uncomplicated workhorse.
Toss one in your bowl, let it dissolve, and scrub.
The sheet takes the guesswork out of how much cleaner to use.
Everything you know and love about Clorox toilet cleaner in the convenience of a bleach-free dissolvable puck.
Best Dish Products
Stuck-on food was no match for these tools.
After-dinner cleanup has never been so easy.
We didnt think these dishwasher pods could get any better, but this upgraded formula proved us wrong.
They received our Test Kitchens stamp of approval.
Also included are a sponge, two Swedish dishcloths, and a mesh scrubber.
An adhesive holder and magnetized sponge stick to your sink so it can dry out between uses.
The smell was incredible.
One refill bag of this dish soap concentrate is equal to five bottles of detergent.
Available for pre-order; ships the week of March 24.
These 16 plastic-free dishwasher pods are neatly packed into a compact box.
The cubes rival the cleaning power of non-eco products.
An eco-friendly dish spray that helps reduce time and water.
Best Surface Cleaners
Whats your cleaning pain point?
These double-sided 16x16 absorbent towels tackle any mess.
With 36 in the pack, they make a magnificent paper towel swap.
Wrap them around your holder and use as usual.
Sturdy yet flexible, the wand extends up to 6 feet.
(Ceiling fan dust bunnies, watch out!)
It comes with a reusable duster head, disposable ones for extra-dusty situations, and a storage bag.
Dissolve a tablet into a spray bottle filled with water for streak-free windows.
The packaging is plastic-free, plus the brand gives back to people in African communities.
I created tough messes to see how each product (plus a control of water) handled them.
Of the 20+ sprays, this one cut through the gunk with half the elbow greaseIm giddy!
says copy editor Ella Field.
And aluminum packaging forever has my heart.
The all-purpose plant-powered wipes smell divine and easily remove stains.
Fill one side at the tap and the unique bottle creates the perfect solution.
Its one of the easiest concentrates weve used and deftly removed stuck-on peanut butter.
This is our pick for after-dinner counter cleanups and daily table spray-downs.
The vinegar-based solution left fridges and sinks streak-free.
This tiny vac sucksin the best way!
says senior executive editor Oma Ford.
Bonus: Its small and good-looking.
The biggest challenge with upright vacuums is their maneuverability.
This one helps solve that problem.
The microfiber head can be thrown in the wash and reused.
Many stick vacs come in giant boxes with lots of packaging.
This one arrived in the smallest box weve seen, with minimal plastica trend we hope continues.
Straightforward in the best way.
This is the first hand vac weve tested with an LED light, and now we cant go back.
That, plus the generous-size canister, makes this handy tool perfect for daily pickups.
The tech features were smarter and the cleaning was more powerful than other bots.
Washable pads make it an eco-friendly swap for disposable pad mops.
The cleaners upgraded formula made quick work of tough messes.
But it doesnt have to be a grind.
These winners prove that.
More belly rubbing, less scrubbing.
Squeeze the bottle to dispense the solution through the attached brush and scrub away any stains.
The concentrated solution has enzymes and probiotics that are formulated to break down proteins in pet waste.
It sucks up small dog kibble easily, says senior home editor Kathy Barnes.
Even better: Hair doesnt get caught in the head.
Our go-to spot cleaner got an upgrade with an XL water tank and improved suction.
A high-power carpet cleaner with a built-in hose that works as a spot cleaner.
It also comes with four attachments.
Transition from steaming to ironing seamlesslyand without drips.
It features an XL water tank, a long cord, and a reversible lint-removing pad.
Small, slim, and mighty, this sweater shaver is battery-free but powerful.
A few brushes will spruce up any garment, and its the perfect travel companion.
The foaming solution is easy to use and makes sneakers, Uggs, and other leather-based fabrics look brand-new.
Seven different attachment heads mean this steam cleaner works almost anywhere.
A large, spill-free tank saved us trips to the sink.
I sprayed my grout with a little cleaner and let this do the hard work for me.
I felt like a grout dental hygienist and loved every second, says Lauren Bengtson, senior market editor.
The telescoping wand extends to nearly 4 feet and comes with four attachments.
Our testers loved it for top-to-bottom bathroom cleaning and walkways and siding.
Rinse, fluff, repeat.
Beautiful inside and outwe were pleased by the bottles good looks but even more delighted by the stain-erasing formula.
This testing favorite has it all: superb stain removal, a pleasant scent, and clean ingredients.
One squeeze dispenses the right amount.
Unscented and hypoallergenic, one bag handles 90 loads.
The enzymatic formula deep cleans, even in cold water.
These left laundry smelling really fresh, even my sons soccer socks!
says senior home editor Monika Eyers.
One fling is the size of two standard pods; great for extra-large or stinky loads.
These were one of the only pods that removed stains without pretreating.
This scent was the talk of the office.
Brightens whites and colors plus adds a delightful citrus scent.
And its made with natural ingredients.
We tested new products as a one-to-one replacement forbest-loved cleanersand made some messes to experiment with potential challenges.
This year, we went a step further to test products head-to-head.
We categorized each product, then had an editor test every product in that category.
For example, one editor tested every single laundry product (and did more than 20 loads of laundry!
), while another tester had an army ofrobot vacscleaning their home.
We tested glass cleaners similarly but with toothpaste, oil, and makeup smears.
We weighed out these messes, put them on the floor, and did one back-and-forth motion.
Credits
Produced By:Ella Field
Photos:Brie Goldman
Design:Maggie Goldsmith,Corinne Mucha
