How to clean your dishwasher if it's smelling less than fresh
When you open your dishwasher, you expect your plates and glasses to be pristine with no signs of food or weird smells. But if a musty or rotten odor wafts into your face as soon as you open the door, you should clean your dishwasher ASAP. Like any other appliance — your microwave, coffee maker, washing machine and dryer — a dishwasher needs some care, too. Regular maintenance will keep it smelling fresh and running more efficiently, so your dishes sparkle.
If you suspect your dishwasher could use a deep clean, first things first, locate your appliance's manual. If you don't have it, you can usually find one online. The manual can tell you the nitty gritty about your specific model so you can clean it properly. Can't find it? No problem, start here:
This may seem like a no brainer, but just make sure you've taken all the dishes, cutlery and cups out of your dishwasher, and if you can, remove the bottom rack. This will make it easier to get in there to clean.
The filter is located on the bottom of the machine. Gently unscrew it, and take the filter completely out.
Start by soaking the filter in hot, soapy water, then scrub it clean with a brush. This should go without saying, but make sure all of the food particles are gone and there isn't any mold or buildup in any of the small crevices.
Using a damp cloth, wipe off the dishwasher's gasket or seals (the part around the frame that seals it shut) and the interior walls.
Put the filter back in its place, roll the bottom rack back in and place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top or bottom rack. Then, run a hot water cycle, and when it's done, it's clean!
First of all, if you have a stinky dishwasher, that smell is most likely coming from a clogged drain, a dirty filter, mold and mildew buildup in the seals or food particles trapped in soap scum buildup. Yuck! But most of the time, it's a dirty filter. Food particles can get trapped in there and start to smell, and they can cause dirty water to recirculate. This is why it's important to clean that filter regularly.
After each cycle, you should take a quick peek in the unit; if you see any loose food particles, definitely remove them and wipe things down. Otherwise, you should aim to clean your dishwasher once a week by removing and cleaning the filter, and wiping down the door edges and seals. Then give it a deep clean (as explained above) with a vinegar cycle once a month.
You can also try using Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets. These little babies can get rid of limescale and mineral buildup to keep your machine in tip-top shape. The tablets clean those hard-to-reach places like the tub, the internal hoses and the pump and valve, and they're safe enough to use once a month or more if needed.
Toss an Affresh tablet in the detergent tray and run a normal dish cycle. If you suspect your dishwasher is extra grimy, you can toss a second one in the bottom of the unit as well.
Ready to clean the rest of your house? These are the best natural cleaning products for your home, the best hardwood floor cleaners, the best grout cleaners and the best vacuums.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
How to clean your dishwasher if it's smelling less than fresh
When you open your dishwasher, you expect your plates and glasses to be pristine with no signs of food or weird smells. But if a musty or rotten odor wafts into your face as soon as you open the door, you should clean your dishwasher ASAP. Like any other appliance — your microwave, coffee maker, washing machine and dryer — a dishwasher needs some care, too. Regular maintenance will keep it smelling fresh and running more efficiently, so your dishes sparkle. If you suspect your dishwasher could use a deep clean, first things first, locate your appliance's manual. If you don't have it, you can usually find one online. The manual can tell you the nitty gritty about your specific model so you can clean it properly. Can't find it? No problem, start here: This may seem like a no brainer, but just make sure you've taken all the dishes, cutlery and cups out of your dishwasher, and if you can, remove the bottom rack. This will make it easier to get in there to clean. The filter is located on the bottom of the machine. Gently unscrew it, and take the filter completely out. Start by soaking the filter in hot, soapy water, then scrub it clean with a brush. This should go without saying, but make sure all of the food particles are gone and there isn't any mold or buildup in any of the small crevices. Using a damp cloth, wipe off the dishwasher's gasket or seals (the part around the frame that seals it shut) and the interior walls. Put the filter back in its place, roll the bottom rack back in and place a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top or bottom rack. Then, run a hot water cycle, and when it's done, it's clean! First of all, if you have a stinky dishwasher, that smell is most likely coming from a clogged drain, a dirty filter, mold and mildew buildup in the seals or food particles trapped in soap scum buildup. Yuck! But most of the time, it's a dirty filter. Food particles can get trapped in there and start to smell, and they can cause dirty water to recirculate. This is why it's important to clean that filter regularly. After each cycle, you should take a quick peek in the unit; if you see any loose food particles, definitely remove them and wipe things down. Otherwise, you should aim to clean your dishwasher once a week by removing and cleaning the filter, and wiping down the door edges and seals. Then give it a deep clean (as explained above) with a vinegar cycle once a month. You can also try using Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets. These little babies can get rid of limescale and mineral buildup to keep your machine in tip-top shape. The tablets clean those hard-to-reach places like the tub, the internal hoses and the pump and valve, and they're safe enough to use once a month or more if needed. Toss an Affresh tablet in the detergent tray and run a normal dish cycle. If you suspect your dishwasher is extra grimy, you can toss a second one in the bottom of the unit as well. Ready to clean the rest of your house? These are the best natural cleaning products for your home, the best hardwood floor cleaners, the best grout cleaners and the best vacuums. If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.) The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Buzz Feed
If You Don't Have Any Of These 34 Useful Products, You're Sincerely Missing Out
A WD-40 pen — a multi-use lubricant in a convenient pen form! This works great at stopping squeaks, protecting against corrosion, loosening rust, and removing grime! Some Glisten garbage disposal cleaner that'll foam up and scrub your disposal, leaving a fresh scent behind instead of icky drain pipe odors. A belted cordless vibrating heating pad for those days when period cramps are a lot to handle. You can also use it on other parts of your body — neck, back, shoulders, etc. — to help with aches and pains. It has three temperatures and three different massage modes, so you can get the customized-to-you comfort you deserve. A shoe stretch spray to soften and stretch tight-fitting shoes as you walk in them. Or, use the spray then insert a wooden shoe stretcher so you don't have to wear them. Either way, stop going through the pain of breaking in leather boots. A pore-blurring SPF 30 Elizabeth Mott face primer that'll help soften the appearance of fine lines while also protecting your skin against UVA/UVB rays. This lightweight formula will give you a lovely, dewy, glass-like finish. Chock-full of nutrients from shea butter, green tea, cucumber, and linseed, this primer is the holy grail you've been searching for. The Pink Stuff cleaning paste — a miraculous problem-solver that can help you get rid of stains, streaks, gunk, and dirt from just about anything. I'm serious. That pan you don't use anymore because of all the caked-on food you couldn't remove? The Pink Stuff's got that covered. Literally. Try it on your stovetop, your sneakers, your walls, your get the picture. A pack of two wall outlet space heaters if your small room/office/bathroom can't handle losing any square footage to a more traditional space heater. You can adjust it to your desired temperature using its digital thermostat! A cute and compact portable pill container that has seven compartments to house your medications, so you don't have to go rooting through the lot of pills you have to take. And it also has a dispenser lid that'll make getting to your vitamins even easier when you're traveling. A pack of six extra-large wool dryer balls to replace dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Not only will these help you save on drying time, but they'll also help ensure your clothes are softer and have fewer wrinkles. A pack of Affresh dishwasher cleaner tablets so you don't risk limescale and mineral buildup affecting your dishwasher's performance. If a dishwasher can't properly wash essentially just a wet cabinet. A dog paw scrubber — just squeeze the bottle to unleash the antibacterial foaming formula within and get those dirty spots off Spot's paws. This is perfect for at-home and on-the-go use! Shower curtain rings that have separate hangers for your curtain and liner, which will make taking them down and switching them out so much faster and easier. This is also just a reminder that you do, in fact, need to change your shower liner. Today. A super effective fungal nail renewal treatment if you've been living with thick, discolored, and brittle nails. This can help improve the look of your nails in as little as two days! A brilliant veggie chopper with a built-in tray so you don't have to deal with the mess of a cutting board. So go ahead and dice and slice veggies to your heart's content and stop wasting time (and tears) chopping onions by hand. A pack of two flexible dryer vent cleaners because there's likely a bunch of trapped lint causing your clothes to still come out kinda damp. Use this to get all that gunk out, which will also help to prevent dryer fires! A Pikk-it hair-removal tool that'll help you pull out all the hair and fur caught in your vacuum head. Finally, you can more effectively clean your floors without secretly wishing your fluffy pet was born hairless. Reviewers also use this to clean their hairbrushes! An ear-washing bottle for easy removal of wax buildup. Reviewers noted that the process was not only easy but comfortable, too. If you've been having a little trouble hearing your friends' gossip (and subsequently feeling bad that all you've got to offer them in return is "uh-huh"), try this handy system! A pet hair-removing ChomChom roller so you'll be able to reclaim your couch from the mob of fur that's been calling it home in a few quick swipes. And because it doesn't use disposable adhesive strips, you can use this thing over and over and over and over and... A vacuum-insulated Contigo travel mug because it'll keep your hot drinks hot for up to 11 hours and your cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Plus, its auto-seal technology will help ensure that there's no leaking or spilling. And add this cutesy and demure insulated lunch bag that'll make you feel both fashionable and responsible. A new Our Place personal blender to make feeding yourself an easier and faster affair (because you can't keep having popcorn for dinner). This cutesy blender has two high-speed modes so you can make a ton of recipes! You'll also get a cup and lid that'll allow you to take your fruity (or veggie!) concoction on the go! A super smart (and cute) humidifier tank cleaner for keeping your humidifier mold and mildew free for up to 30 days. It kills up to 99% of odor-causing bacteria, which you need if your humidifier has been spewing out some smelly smells. A bottle of Feed-N-Wax wood polish and conditioner — not only will this enhance your floor's and furniture's glow, but it will also layer them with a protective coating of carnauba wax and beeswax, so there's less polishing for you to do in the future. Some deep-reaching, ergonomic "flossing toothbrushes" with dual-layered flossing bristles that are designed to get deep into the grooves of your teeth and gums. Though this shouldn't replace flossing, these toothbrushes can help rid your teeth of plaque and food residue. Plus, they're designed with those who have sensitive gums in mind. A bacteria-killing denture cleaner to remove any odors and discoloration caused by buildup. This also works on retainers, mouthguards, and Invisalign. A chic and convenient stainless-steel Stanley flask for all your sly sipping needs. Take your fave drinking games on the go! A two-pack of reusable mop pads so you don't have to waste money on single-use Swiffer pads for your deep cleans. Made using extra-thick microfibers, these mop pads are super absorbent! An electric lighter because those cheap matches you've had for eons never actually catch fire. 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Buzz Feed
05-05-2025
- Buzz Feed
48 Magical Cleaning Products To Annihilate Messes Without Calling In The Pros For Help
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. And for my next trick, I'll pull a weekly shower spray out of a top hat. 1. The Pink Stuff Spray in case you're extremely into the OG cleaning paste and have wondered out loud, "Hm, I wonder what else they make." Well, THIS! Promising review: "I've tried everything I could think of to get my oven clean, then came across this on Amazon. It smells like green apples to me, which is far better than most cleaning products. The picture was taken during the cleaning process of the inside of the glass door. I'm amazed!" — Star Get it from Amazon for $4.86 (also available in a bathroom spray and window and glass spray). 2. And a jar of the OG The Pink Stuff — a cleaning paste made to handle all kinds of gross, stuck-on situations like that bathroom floor grout you came to terms with being dirty gray forever. Promising review:"Amazing. This grout has been disgusting for years and I haven't had any luck with any other cleaners to get it clean again. I'm amazed at how easy Pink Stuff worked. I just used a scrub brush and very little elbow grease." — Lauren Get it from Amazon for $5.97+. 3. Bioclean, a hard water stain remover if you're tired of looking at all the streaks and soap scum on your shower doors, fixtures, grout, and basically everywhere else in your bathroom. One reviewer swears that you should, "Buy a lifetime supply immediately." Promising review: "I'm a clean freak with hard water, and this stuff took off the build-up like magic. I would recommend using a slightly damp scratch pad. It takes a little elbow grease, but I have tried a ton of products, and this one is the only one that worked!" — Lori Get it from Amazon for $19.77. 4. Affresh dishwasher tablets that'll get rid of residue that ends up creating odor and buildup on your dishes. Turns out, you don't need a new dishwasher, it just needs a proper cleaning. Promising review:"I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and dishes just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener was no longer doing its job so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh. I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine per the instructions and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully every month, as recommended." — Sheila Get them from Amazon for $8.49. 5. A pack of stain-removing, nontoxic cleaning cups to clean out your Keurig's innards once your coffee starts tasting a bit perhaps haunt your dreams when you see what the water looked like before. Time to sip on that cuppa and actually enjoy the taste of the coffee, not debris. Quick & Clean is a small biz specializing in descaling products. Promising review:"Okay, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn't know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it's still an awesome product for the price! I have a Keurig 2.0 and I had no issues." — Mads0421 Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95. 6. A carpet cleaner can transform all sorts of soft surfaces in your home BESIDES your carpet (though it'll do amazing work there too). Turns out, you don't need to buy a new couch after that huge accident. Promising review: "Was ready to throw out my couch. Bought covers for my upholstered dining chairs. This machine brought all my upholstered furniture back to life. My dog puked on my rug, and this cleaned it right up and left no stain." — Kristen White Get it from Amazon for $109.59+ (available in six configurations). 7. Stain-lifting pads will tackle the icky pet stains on your wall-to-wall beige carpeting from when your poor dog didn't want to go use the bathroom outside when it was storming. Promising review:"Our poor older pup started having some incontinence issues and had several accidents in the house. I was really frustrated until I found these. They work amazingly well. They're small, so if the area was larger I had to use two or three, but they pulled up stains and saved the house from being smelly. I even used one on an older stain (that I'm pretty sure wasn't pet related) and it came up after leaving it on for about 24 hours. I make sure to keep a supply of these in the house at all times now." — MC Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $26.11. 8. A Baseboard Buddy, which is really just fancy talk for a 4-foot extendable pole that makes cleaning molding, ceiling fans, grates, and, yes, baseboards easy without grabbing a ladder or making your knees sore. The kit comes with one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads which can be used wet or dry. Promising review: " Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" — artgirl Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 9. A microfiber window blind cleaner with three blades can help you quickly get through cleaning the blinds. No more hoisting them up and dealing with a cloud of dust. The cleaner also comes with five microfiber duster clothes. Promising review: "Where has this blind cleaner been for the past 50 years???? I have struggled to keep my blinds clean for so many years and happily found this item. It WORKS!!! And I love that it comes with extra sleeves, and the sleeves are machine washable. The handle is plastic, but I feel confident it won't break any time soon." — marionvgt Get the six-piece set from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two colors). 10. An oil stain remover capable of annihilating that grease stain that you thought made your garage or driveway a goner. No need for a professional assessment! Promising review:"We had a 2005 truck parked on our paver driveway for years. The area in the photo was thick with oil leak residue. I tried several products that didn't make any difference. But with the Pull It Out product, the oil is gone! You can see the stark difference in the photo, with the area that was treated and the area that was not. This goes on as a liquid. It absorbs the oil out of the bricks as it dries. Then I lightly scrub and hose it off, and voila! Gone! Even better, it's biodegradable!! I rarely post reviews for a product, but this product earned it. This is the best I have seen for taking leaked oil out of a driveway." — Robocop Get it from Amazon for $17.97. 11. An Angry Orange pet odor eliminator for erasing all the visual (and smelly) evidence of pet accidents on flooring and furniture. You don't need a new chair. You just need this. Promising review:"I have a finished carpeted basement that my dog peed on… mix in that horrible smell and basement smell. I've tried so many products, and nothing worked. Then I tried this and it is the only thing to actually neutralize the smell. For the comments saying that the spray bottle sucks, I think they are using it wrong? Mine worked perfectly fine. Just turn it to a mist setting, and it was perfect for the carpet." — Damian velez Get it from Amazon for $17.96. 12. Plus, an Angry Orange "Filth Cleaner" that'll pretty much sum it up because it gets at alllll kind of nastiness so you have to put in a whole lot less elbow grease. Amazon Promising review: "Battling urine smells/stains was becoming a losing battle. I decided to try this due to the good reviews. This product has been excellent. I used it around my toilets and on the floor. The bathrooms have never smelled better. It worked well on the soap scum on the walls of my shower tile as well. The smell is strong, but it does dissipate, and then it's just fresh and clean." — Cornelia 13. A bottle of leather conditioner will revive your leather goods *even* as large as a leather couch! Just check out the transformation below of a worse-for-wear loveseat the reviewer got for a steal at a resale shop! Reviewers note that using this may darken the leather, so keep that in mind! Promising review:"I couldn't be happier with a product! So, we bought a large loveseat at a resale shop. We knew it had good bones and thought we could possibly color or recondition the leather. So I decided to recondition it first with the option to dye it at a later date. After doing research, I found leather honey. I can't believe the transition this love seat has made!!! Leather honey is amazing! P.S. we also found out that a loveseat we paid $110 for is marketed at $7,500! So Leather Honey is worth it!" — heyscot Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes). 14. A carpet cleaning solution with results so impressive (just cast your eyes below this text!) that you may have to bleep out your own reaction. Get ready to break up with your carpet cleaner rental spot. Remember when your carpet was beige instead of greige? It's from a family-run business that specializes in cleaning products, especially ones for homes with pets! Promising review:"After reading the reviews I thought I could at least try it, and holy smokes, this is a miracle cleaner!!! I think I have tried every cleaner on the market for pet stains and nothing ever really works on my carpets. Even if I get it off the top, it somehow comes back up. My crazy dogs hate the rain and they have one spot that they always go on when they decide they are not going outside. I have cleaned the spot probably 100 times. I cleaned this area one time with this cleaner and my spot steam cleaner and it is completely gone! The stain and smell are 100% gone, not just covered up like before, completely and absolutely gone. Miracle cleaner for sure!" — PLLane Get it from Amazon for $16.97. 15. A natural, plant-based cleaner in case the reason you let things reach gas station–bathroom levels is because you can't stand the smell of bleach. This stuff will tackle grime, streaks, spilled foundation, soap scum, and basically whatever else ends up on your bathroom surfaces. AND it'll leave behind a eucalyptus and tea tree scent, a vast improvement from smelling like an indoor pool. Promising review:"This stuff is amazing!! I was skeptical at first because I have these dark stains on my shower floor that I've never been able to get out and was thinking something 'natural' wouldn't be heavy-duty enough for it. I cleaned half the shower at first because I wanted to see how it looked compared to the dirty side and it did an amazing job with a little bit of elbow grease! You can see the difference." — Katherine Cheng Get two bottles from Amazon for $12.34. 16. A plant-based stainless steel cleaner + a microfiber cleaning cloth will finally help you get rid of all the little paw and fingerprints that seem to magically appear out of thin air on your kitchen appliances. Check it out in action on TikTok! The plant-based, lavender-scented cleaner comes with a microfiber cloth for you to use on your appliances, and reviewers say you only have to use a little bit of the cleaner to clean your entire fridge or oven, which means one bottle will last you a really long time. Promising review:"This stuff works great... and that's coming from a clean freak. This cleaner/polish works awesome on stainless steel and any other material that the appliance is made of. It comes with a high-quality microfiber cloth, and it smells good. A little goes a long way, so it lasts through daily use." — RMK Get the set of cleanser and polish from Amazon for $19.95+ (also available in a larger size and two-pack). 17. Emergency Stain Rescue Stain Remover to use on all kinds of things that seem to rack up stains in the blink of an eye, like clothing, carpet, name it. Check out a TikTok of the "Emergency Stain Rescue" in action. The Hate Stains Co. is a small business that specializes in fast, powerful, and nontoxic stain removing products. Promising review: "I've tried Shout wipes, stain removal pens, and all the other tricks in the book. This removes organic stains from sweat better than anything I've tried thus far. I followed the directions, got the fabric wet, sprayed it on, and left it to chill for an hour. When I came back, I was dumbfounded. I can't believe I didn't have this sooner, I'm about to buy a gallon!" — Mark Bogumil Get it from Amazon for $7.95 (also available in packs of two or three, and with on-the-go wipes). 18. A powerful dishwashing spray that, honestly, if you buy anything from this list, this should be it — especially if your home *doesn't* include a dishwasher. You can spray down that casserole dish caked with enchilada sauce, let it sit, and you simply wipe and rinse away that saucy mess in a few minutes after you've conquered your meal. I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well. Get the starter pack from Amazon for $12.16. 19. Some bleach-free outdoor cleaner to spiff up your walkways and other surfaces you can likely tackle before you break out the pressure washer. Its foamy formula is totally safe around your precious plants Reviewers have successfully used this on fences, mesh outdoor chairs, Sunbrella chair cushions, decks, vinyl siding, and cedar siding. Promising review:"I first used this product about two years ago on the awning on my RV. That awning was so bad that I thought I was going to have to replace it. After using this Scott's product as directed, the mold and mildew completely disappeared. This product definitely works and it works GREAT! What more can I say — it saved me nearly $500." — R. Latreille Get it from Amazon for $10.98. 20. A red-wine stain remover you should keep on hand because, well, accidents happen! But you can be prepared for (at least some of) them! Promising review:"Spilled an entire glass of red wine on my couch last night. Of course I was about to load the entire couch off to the dump, but I remembered I had bought this product probably a year ago and hadn't tried it. The stain literally disappeared before my eyes…and after throwing the cover in the washer and dryer, the stain is 100% gone. I thought for sure there would be a purple cast of color on the cushion. NO. You would never know I spilled an entire glass of wine on this cushion. I wonder if it works best when used immediately? Curious if it would work on old stains. REGARDLESS: it is a miracle product." — Kelly Potter Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in several sizes and in individual wipes). 21. A specific ink remover for removing all sorts of pen accidents on that couch your niblings used as a sketch pad. Promising review:"This was left on my sofa when some ink was smeared. I let it sit overnight and washed it in the washing machine on a warm cycle. I am very shocked at the results. My couch is like brand-new.." — Ayauna Get it from Amazon for $15. 22. An MVP-worthy pet urine stain–removing spray to help turn back the clock on that ancient stain in the hallway outside your bedroom. Amazon Rocco & Roxie Supply Company is a family-owned business established in 2013 that specializes in pet odor eliminators, pet toys, pet snacks, and pet accessories. Promising review:"I don't know how I ever survived without this. There's tons of 'pet stain/odor remover' products out there, but this by far is the absolute best. I cringed paying the $20 for it when others are between $5–$10, but I have NO ISSUES paying now. I foster dogs, some puppies, some older, some not house broken and every room in my house is carpeted except the kitchen which means I have lots of accidents. I spray enough to saturate if it's a lot of urine, let it soak for 10 minutes then wipe it up with a hand towel. Then I put a larger towel on top of it if it's in a high-traffic area until it's completely dry. It's taken out every stain and more importantly the odor is gone! I will never stop buying this product. I recommend it to everyone who has dogs!" — Shelley Get it from Amazon for $19.97. 23. A bug remover can clean the gore from your windshield, grille, and side mirrors. Even if it's been there for WEEKS. Promising review:"This item was recommended by a stranger in the next RV lot at a campground hundreds of miles from home. This good Samaritan brought his bottle over, sprayed down the front of my bus, and then just wiped half an inch of smashed bugs off it! Just like magic. He then smiled, shook my hand, and left. When we got within two days of home, we ordered this, and it was delivered the day after we arrived. Again, it worked just like magic." — Hikes in Rain Get it from Amazon for $17.99. 24. A no-scrub weekly shower cleaner you can simply just spray on after you shower, wait 8–12 hours while it tackles mold and mildew stains, soap scum, and just about any gross grime without YOU having to scrub. Talk about practical to the max. Promising review:"This product is so easy to use. As you can see from the pictures, my bathtub was staying pretty good. The guy that owned the house before me used Ajax to clean it so it has almost no enamel left on it and it's probably the staining and nothing could get it out until I bought this. After 4 8-hour applications you can see the difference. I highly recommend this to everybody and once it's completely clean I'm gonna go on the once a week application. I actually bought another bottle for my dad and mom." — Domenick R. Stamegna Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (available in two scents). 25. An ~intense~ grout cleaner will bring blackened grout back from the disgusting brink because you shouldn't want to wear shoes in the bathroom. Promising review:"I never thought I'd be able to clean my grout out again without hiring someone professional to do it! But this cleaner did the wonder!!! I used it with my steam cleaner and here's the before and after pictures! I did dry brush it before I used the steam cleaner and I saw all the dirt getting out! It really works! It was hard work though, if I ever get a bigger house I might just hire someone to do it." — Chen Get it from Amazon for $19.98. 26. A grout pen that's as simple to use as coloring in the lines so you don't have to stare at the stained grout and imagine what it used to look like. Grout takes up a teeny bit of space but, as you can see from the pics, makes a huge impact! I've used this on my own bathroom floor, which has a more complicated hexagon pattern so it took a bit of time. But I just listened to an episode or two of a podcast and got to work! I recommend doing two coats. Promising review:" We moved into our new home, and the shower had a really yellow grout. Cleaning didn't do anything, and I saw this grout pen online. What a saver! Otherwise, I would have just hired someone to replace my shower. I used this grout pen, and my husband was so impressed:D The tip loses its shape fast, but just pull out the TIP AND FLIPPED IT OVER, and you'll have a new tip." — jennifer Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes). 27. Wood polish and conditioner for helping revive all those worn-out wood surfaces. Don't replace those kitchen cabinets or floors! Give 'em a facelift with this. Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc. Promising review:"I'm not able to sand and stain my floors until spring but they are so dry and worn. I bought this hoping to keep them moisturized until we can refinish and I am amazed with this product." — nicole feather Get it from Amazon for $8.94. 28. A bottle of nontoxic Folex Carpet Spot Remover to make all sorts of horrific stains disappear quickly. *And* there's no rinsing or vacuuming involved. To use, apply to the stain, gently agitate with your fingers, and blot with an absorbent cloth. This is nontoxic and should be nonirritating on the skin! Promising review:"I had terrible rust and oil stains all over the seats of my car when I bought it. I tried other cleaners to get it out, but they actually made the stains darker. I took it to the dealership to see if they could get it out and they flat out told me no, so I gave up and lived with it for almost five years. I tried this after it was recommended by a friend. I sprayed it on and literally watched the stain run right off my seat. It was amazing! I thought I was going to have to pay hundreds of dollars to replace the seats in my car because nothing else would work. This stuff really is awesome!" — Brittany Get it from Amazon for $6.65. 29. A bottle of Goo Gone foaming spray can help you win the good, super efficient fight against any kind of greasy spills and messes that come your way. Promising review:"Wow! A degreaser that actually works! I love the foam, which starts to work immediately on my stove top as well as cookware and other kitchen surfaces." — P. Webb Get it from Amazon for $4.85+ (available in two sizes). 30. A targeted cleaner that has a commercial-strength formula to cut through the mess to annihilate tough soap scum on shower doors, tub bottoms, sinks, whatever. Promising review:"Sharing our nasty before picture so you can really see the difference! Our tub/shower has a grippy bottom and scum and dirt cakes on there so easily. The only way I've been able to get it off before was literally scraping it inch by inch, I've spent hours and all it ever got was somewhat clean - never enough for me to want to take a real bath in it. This stuff is expensive but with the good reviews I decided to try it, it works amazingly!! I sprayed it on (it came with a great spray nozzle and a lid) and left it for about 15–20 minutes. Then I took a brush with hard plastic bristles (I believe a soft brush would have even worked) and with less than 20 minutes of scrubbing the entire tub and walls it was cleaner than when we moved in. The grime and scum almost like melted off. It smells pleasant, it's not crazy strong smelling but in an enclosed space I still felt the need to wear a mask while cleaning." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.98. 31. Green Gobbler drain clog dissolver that'll work FAR better than the other stuff at clearing your pipes. Plus, there's no awful smell! (This is one of my faves.) The formula is nontoxic and odorless. Promising review:"I had a stubborn toilet clog which neither my son nor I could clear with a plunger or a snake. I bought this product with ...skepticism. I used it the night I received it and when I flushed in the morning, nothing happened... until I got back to my bedroom and heard the water go down!! I like to use 'green' products that are effective. I'm sold on this one!" — Leland Girl Get it from Amazon for $11.84. 32. A jetted tub cleaner you simply run through in a bath cycle and just watch the filth (from previous tenants) EMERGE from the pipes. Then you simply wipe it away! It'll be equally horrifying and satisfying. Worth it. You run your bath, add the cleaner, watch the gunk emerge, drain your bath, and then clean off the gunk! Promising review:"It's disgusting to see what comes out of your jets when you use this product. I can't believe we bathed in this! I 've run bleach and dish detergent through my jets before, and that combination never cleaned with this efficiency. I highly recommended this product." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $17.84. 33. A rust stain-removing gel to help the gross shower surround. Lots of folks have gotten clean in that bathroom but it that doesn't have to feel that way. Promising review:"I cannot say enough great things about this product. We just purchased a home that has a well with very high iron content in the water. I tried everything to remove the stains from our three toilets but nothing worked. I found this product online and immediately went to Amazon. The results blew me away. I didn't have to scrub at all. I let it sit in the tank for several hours and the results floored me!" — Toni Huitt Get it from Amazon for $6.98. 35. A holy grail soft cleanser can help you *easily* erase all those gray and rusty stains on household surfaces you came to terms with years ago. They aren't paying rent, so give 'em the boot! FYI, this is the pre-mixed version (which saves you a bit of time). But you can also try the original powder version. To understand just *how* versatile this product is, check out our review of Bar Keepers Friend and prepare to be amazed! Promising review:"I'm now a permanent customer. I've used CLR, Clorox bowl cleaners, and others but this is my favorite. I used a small broom to clean my tubs and tile (as I usually do) even though instructions said to use a sponge; it dried my hands pretty bad (please use gloves). So I used the broom instead and it worked pretty well. I would recommend. I even tried it on my stove and it worked like a charm." — Itzel A. Get two 13 oz. bottles from Amazon for $15.02. 36. A jar of 100% natural oven scrub to help tackle build-up in your enamel ovens plus the oven rack and glass on the door! Cleaning Studio on Etsy Cleaning Studio is a Fairfield, Connecticut-based Etsy shop filled with natural cleaning products and tools. Get it from Cleaning Studio on Etsy for $19.99 (available in three scents). 37. A bottle of Kaboom No-Drip Foam Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, which is bleach-based, can get down through mold and mildew JUST where you want dripping all over other stuff. Then you can wipe away! Amazon Check out a TikTok of the Kaboom Mold & Mildew Stain Remover in action. Promising review: "I love this cleaner! I used to spend hours with bathroom cleaners with bleach and a scrub brush in my white tile shower never getting the shower clean! I now spray this on the shower and walk away and in a short amount of time my shower tile is WHITE with ZERO scrubbing." — Suzanne Get two bottles from Amazon for $24. 38. Grandma's Secret, an under-the-radar solution with serious stain-removing prowess — like, cleaning pen from a white leather couch. Chilling! It can remove oil, grease, ink, grass, and blood stains for all my vampires out there. Psst, a few months ago I recommended this to a friend who fell in a puddle of motor oil on a sidewalk, then accidentally wiped it on her camel coat. It got the stains out! Promising review:"This stuff is so amazing. I'm a witness. My 2-year-old baby wrote all over my white leather couch. I tried multiple different things and nothing work but Grandma's Secret Spot Remover. I love this stuff." — L. Nix Get it from Amazon for $9.77. 39. A red wine stain remover you should keep on hand because, well, accidents happen! But you can be prepared for (at least some of) them! Promising review:"This stuff is magic! Works in seconds! I highly, highly recommend." — Diane Harper Get it from Amazon for $6.93. 40. A sandalwood all-purpose cleaner concentrate can make your water closet smell like it belongs in a 5-star hotel penthouse suite. Good Vibes Good Vibes is a Black woman-owned small business run out of Philadelphia, PA, that makes an array of plant-based cleaning products. The product itself is very soapy, so be sure to dilute it properly before going to town on all of your surfaces. You can also use it as a laundry booster or spot cleaner for clothes or carpet. Promising review:"All the Good Vibes products work well, this is my favorite scent. I use it mostly for cleaning bathrooms and the floors throughout my home. It did an amazing job, however, cleaning the outside of a car that hadn't been washed in over a year. Two thumbs up!!" —my favorite Get it from Good Vibes for $12.50. 41. An upholstery cleaner that'll undo whatever it is your kids are doing to your backseats Promising review:"I have kids (8 and 3 years old). They have destroyed my back seat. Spilled chocolate milk, vomit, melted chocolate, dropped fries, dropped ice cream, spilled Gatorade — you name it, it has been spilled in my back seat. I was to the point of accepting my backseat would forever be a disgusting wasteland. Then I stumbled upon this product and y'all...Y'ALL IT WORKS! I almost cried when I sprayed it on, ran a detail brush over it, wiped it away with the cloth, and the stains were GONE. No scrubbing for 30 minutes. No 'leave to set for 15 minutes.' No carpet cleaner required. Just spray, scrub, wipe, and it takes everything off. I am now cleaning EVERYTHING with this stuff. It is AMAZING! An absolute MUST for any parent. 100% will buy again." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $16.97. 42. A makeup brush cleanser because you and I both know you're not washing your beauty tools as frequently as you should. (Same.) Promising review:"This cleanser is great! It fully removes all makeup from the brushes without leaving them feeling beat up (I'm not the most gentle when it comes to cleaning brushes). I use a thick foundation that soaks heavily into the bristles, but this removed it all. At first I thought it was a bit thin, but after using it, a little bit goes a long way. It has a nice lather, but very nicely and easily rinses out." — Kryssy Get it from Amazon for $6.99. 43. A bottle of Grip Clean heavy-duty soap made with coconut and olive oils so you can get your grease-covered paws back to their clean selves. Sure, you're just cleaning up your bike real quick before you have to go out for brunch. And then you're covered in grease. Promising review:"I work for the railroad and I am always getting my hands dirty! I could never seem to find anything that worked. Also, I live in Utah so when it starts getting cold my hands dry out. Well, with Grip Clean that doesn't happen! I have my coworkers coming to my locker asking to get some soap since the soap we have at doesn't work as well as Grip Clean!" — Nick Get it from Amazon for $9.97. 44. A wheel cleaner that'll undo the grunge of the road. Promising review:"It will take one look from your friends to say 'Did you buy some new wheels?' This stuff is absolutely amazing. For the full effect, dismount your wheel, spray the back. Go do something for 10 minutes. Wash with water, no scrubbing needed. Turn the rim face up, do it again. Do the rest of your rims, and don't forget the tire protectant when you reinstall them. This stuff will handle salt, road tar, off-road dirt and mud — you get it dirty, it comes clean. Where was this stuff when I was racing off-road?" — johnfcon Get it from Amazon for $16.64. 45. Better Life Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (you could spray in your mouth if you wanted?!) that'll be safe to use around kids and pets or anyone who's super sensitive to smells. Amazon Promising review:"I was looking for a safe natural product that didn't have any ingredients requiring a hazardous waste disposal label. A lot of so-called 'natural' cleaners have ingredients that need an EPA use-and-disposal label. This doesn't. It is strong enough to really go through grease and grime like a clear organic tornado. I haven't found anything that can't be cleaned with it yet. Plus it's odor-free. I feel comfortable spraying it in places where pets, children or myself in bare feet might absorb it by stepping in the residue. It's hard to get excited over cleaning spray but this deserves a level of excitement in my home." — Mark O. Get two bottles from Amazon for $12.34 (available in three scents). 46. An all-purpose cleaner concentrate that'll majorly save you on shelf space but also ensure you'll have all kinds of backups for cleaning. Also it just *looks* nice in case you need to leave it out in open storage. Humble Suds / Etsy Humble Suds is a Denver-based shop that sells plant- and mineral-derived cleaning products. Get it from Humble Suds on Etsy for $12.95 (available in three scent blends). 47. A Force of Nature All Purpose Cleaner, an eco-friendly all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer, and disinfectant you can whip up at home with a kit every few weeks. (It'll feel like a little science experiment!) Tasia Bass/Buzzfeed, Force of Nature "I was a little skeptical originally but I actually really like this. For one, it doesn't have a strong smell which makes cleaning days so much better when I don't have to open every window, just so I can breathe. The starter kit came with the electrolyzer machine, a spray bottle and five disinfectant capsules. I definitely suggest you read the instructions fully before you use it the first time. It seems very complicated at first, which is why it took me so long to use, but it is quite simple to use. I think my biggest fear was that I was going to mess something up but it's really 3 easy steps: pour in the water, add in the capsule solution, and then press button. Plus it's fun to watch! It's like a cool science experiment you would do in school lol. The cleaner lasts about two weeks, which actually isn't too bad if you use it for daily wipe downs. It works on counters, mirrors, and even in the tub. I did spill acrylic paint on my desk and it took a little bit of elbow grease, but it was able to get the paint off without ruining the wood. I also like to spray it in my garbage can after I throw away veggies or fruit scraps to make sure it doesn't smell." — Tasia Bass Get the starter kit from Force of Nature for $70. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
