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39 Spring Cleaning Essentials For Folks Who Really Don't Feel Like Doing It

39 Spring Cleaning Essentials For Folks Who Really Don't Feel Like Doing It

Buzz Feed16-04-2025
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.
Because you'll need more than high hopes and a decent playlist to get through this year's mess.
1. A tub of The Pink Stuff because tough messes don't always need tough effort. This internet-famous scrub works on sinks, stovetops, tiles, sneakers ... basically anything that needs a deep clean. Just dab it on, give it a quick scrub, and be amazed at how well it works.
Promising review: "Moved into this house with what must be over eight years of water scum on the shower glass — enough to make it look frosted. I had a cleaning crew come out to clean the house, and they worked for hours in the bathroom, and still couldn't get that glass clear. I thought I was just going to have to live with it...until I remembered I bought the pink paste! I completely forgot I had it in my utility closet. I began using it, and I couldn't believe it. I'm so excited to continue on and free my bathroom of the remaining water marks! This product is a must-have" — Abigail Pafford
Get it from Amazon for $5.97.
2. A set of drill brush attachments perfect for taking on the toughest stains on your home's tile, glass, grout, and fiberglass. You'll save so much time and energy thanks to these attachments, and can instead focus on doing what you do best: zoning out on the couch while watching the latest Netflix show.
The white is a soft bristle, best for wheels, carpet, upholstery, glass, and leather; the yellow is a medium bristle, best for bathroom, bathtub, shower, tile, and porcelain; the green is a medium bristle, best for kitchen, stoves, cabinets, countertops, and linoleum; the blue is a medium bristle, best for boats, pools, canoe/kayaks, hot tubs, and plastics; the red is a stiff bristle, best for outdoors, siding, brick, garage, and gutter; and the black is a hard bristle, best for grills, loose paint, furnaces, ovens, and industrial use.
Drill Brush is a small business based in New York State that makes cleaning brushes that attach to drills. It was started in 2007 by a former electrician who suffered from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and needed a way to clean without causing him harm.
Promising review:"These brushes worked flawlessly. I have a 24-year-old home that has not been remodeled yet. The master bath shower tile and fiberglass shower pan were in pretty bad shape. We tried many types of cleaners to remove residual soap and hard water stains with little success. As a last-ditch effort, I purchased these brushes. They worked amazingly well. Using Krud Kutter and these brushes removed every bit of the dirt and polished those tiles so that they shine brilliantly like they did when they were new. I am completely satisfied with my purchase of these brushes. They are well made and held up beautifully to the forces I applied while using them." — Tom S4TX
Get the set of three from Amazon for $18.95 (available in six colors).
3. A garbage disposal cleaner that uses magic bright blue foam to rid your disposal of nastiness and lingering smells. You just plop one of the packets into the drain, and then it does its wizardly thing. After a minute or two, it's over, and your kitchen sink looks and smells amazing.
Amazon
This foam is a cleaner that helps eliminate bad smells, but it's best to call a plumber if your garbage disposal is clogged.
Promising review:"It seems counterintuitive to put a little packet down your garbage disposal to clean it, but this does actually seem to work, at least for getting out weird smells that baking soda and vinegar don't really touch. I scrub the sink down first, especially around the garbage disposal area, rinse it down, and then just follow the directions on the package. I have used it with single, large-size sinks and with double sinks — the only difference is that the double sink will have blue cleaning foam rise up the drain, which you rinse away when the disposal sounds clear again. I have tried the foaming cleaner in a can, but unfortunately, it stopped coming out of the can about 10% of the way through. Went back to this tried-and-true." — KS
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $7.60.
4. A dryer lint brush because you'd be shocked at how much lint is residing in your dryer gap and exhaust port. Using this will speed up clothing drying time and help prevent lint buildup.
Promising review:"Works perfectly for scrubbing the stuck lint out of the insides of your dryer. Everyone who owns a dryer should have these, they're basic safety equipment. Clean that lint, and reduce fire hazard and make the machine more efficient. They're long enough, strong enough, and just flexible enough without being too flexible." — Winged Wolf
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $7.99.
5. A broom and dustpan set so you can finally retire your sad old broom with the bent bristles and dustpan that leaves behind a trail of crumbs. This one's got sturdy bristles, a clip-on design for easy storage, and — best of all — built-in teeth on the dustpan so you can clean the gunk of the broom without using your hands.
When I say this is the most used cleaning tool in my house I mean it. We have two small children, and one's a toddler who's still learning how to feed himself. Meals get MESSY. Several times a day we need to clean around our dining table, and this is our go-to tool for sweeping up all the crumbs and other grossness that ends up on the floor. The teeth on the dustpan mean the broom bristles stay super clean, which means even the smallest piece of dirt (a good example is hair) still gets picked up and pushed into the dustpan. I LOVE this set!
Promising review: "This is hands-down the best broom and dustpan set in my house. I've gone through so many cheap plastic ones over the years — most of them crack, bend, or just don't hold up when it's time to really get into some heavy-duty cleaning. This one? It's built to last.
The bristles are dense and firm enough to actually move dirt — not just push it around — and the long handle is a game changer: no more bending over or awkward sweeping angles. The dustpan sits flush with the floor and actually works, especially with the built-in comb to pull out hair and debris from the broom. It's a small feature, but it makes cleanup so much faster.
It also stores upright nicely, which helps keep the space tidy. If you're tired of replacing broom sets every few months, this is absolutely worth the extra couple of bucks. Strong, effective, and built to last. Highly recommend!" — Super Reviewer American Patriot
Get it from Amazon for $22.09 (available in six colors).
6. A toilet bowl ring remover if you haven't cleaned your toilet bowl in a reaaalllllly long time. That permanent dark ring? It's no match for this pumice stone on a stick!
amazon.com
Promising review:"We bought a house that had been empty for about 15 months, and the primary bathroom toilet had a very bad water ring. I had tried about four different things to get it off of the bowl, and nothing worked. I was recently searching the internet for some new ideas, and the pumice stone came up. I used it today, and it worked great. The water ring is finally gone. It did not scratch the porcelain at all." — momof2
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (also available in packs of two and four).
7. A touchless vacuum because dustpans are annoying and you deserve better. Just sweep debris toward its base, and the infrared sensors kick in to suck it all up. It's especially great in high-traffic areas where the floor somehow gets dirty five minutes after you clean it.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:" 10/10, would recommend. Got this initially for cleaning up the hair in my salon. It works perfectly! I love it. It's so easy. This is AMAZING!!" — Alyssa
Get it from Amazon for $199 (available in five colors).
8. A pack of dishwasher-cleaning tablets to clean and deodorize your machine because every once in a while, the thing that cleans your dishes needs to be cleaned itself. Say goodbye to limescale, grease, and stubborn buildup! These remarkable cleaners will leave your dishwasher glistening and odor-free.
amazon.com
Promising review: "I have the nose of a truffle pig and can smell the slightest tinge of something in the air, so when my dishwasher starts to smell, I am the first and usually the only one in the family to notice it right away. I have tried all the usual brands to get the hard water stains and gross food smelled out. Even rinse my dishes super well. None of them work like this stuff does! I was weary at first about buying it because it was so cheap. A year's worth of cleaning tabs!! Forget Finish, Cascade, the other stuff. This stuff really works! Keeps dishwasher free from hard water marks and my dishes come out crystal clear after." — Courtney E. Delong
Get a box of 24 from Amazon for $18.95.
9. A set of Swiffer-compatible reusable microfiber mop pads that are way better for the environment (and your conscience) than the single-use ones. Plus, they work wet or dry. When they need to be cleaned, throw them in the washing machine and they'll be good as new.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
They can be used wet or dry and on basically every type of flooring and even drywall if you're so inclined. Since they can be thrown in the wash, one microfiber pad can replace up 100 single-use pads. These are only compatible with the Swiffer Sweeper and WetJet models.
Promising review: "Just used these for the first time with my Swiffer WetJet and I gotta say I am impressed! Went on easily and cleaned the floors easily! I always hated the one-time use pads and never felt like they got my floor clean. This review is NOT sponsored, I bought these with my own money because I'm sick of single-use products. Seriously, buy these now!!!" — AKGross
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99.
10. An all-natural stainless steel cleaner to finally remove all the grime and fingerprints from the stainless steel stuff in your kitchen. Sinks, fridges, garbage cans, ovens...they'll finally be as clean as the first day you moved in. Aaaand it smells like lavender!
You'll also get a large microfiber cloth with the bottle.
My former colleague Brittany Ross says, " I don't know what kind of fairy dust this plant-based spray is hiding inside, but it made my mucked-up fridge sparkle within a MINUTE! I was skeptical when I first sprayed it onto my fridge because it took a second for the streaks to start fading, but lo and behold, there was *zero* residue left behind after a super brief wipe sesh. Once I saw how downright dazzling my fridge looked, I decided to put it to the ~real~ test — my filthy dishwasher. Again, a minute of buffing with a microfiber towel was enough to make it look like a brand new appliance, and it worked wonders on the greasy stainless steel edges of my oven, too."
Promising review: "This is a miracle worker on stainless. I have tried everything to get my stainless to shine like it should, even the home remedies, which do NOT work — sorry but they don't. This stuff is the best I have tried. I follow a girl on TikTok who recommended it and she has been right 100% on her Amazon recommendations. She nailed it again. You will love this stuff." — Amazonwoman
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (also available in packs).
11. A Chomp! oil stain remover that goes after driveway and garage stains like it has a personal vendetta. Just smear on the thick gel, let it dry, and peel it up. It's heavy-duty help for the kind of stain that you thought was permanent.
amazon.com
Promising review: "I went in skeptical, I'm not going to lie. We had grease spilled on our brand-new paver patio. The grease had been sitting for a few weeks, and I saw an ad for this stuff. I ordered it to try because why not? Well, I'll be damned because this took the spots right off! No evidence we ever spilled anything! I'd buy it again." — Susan
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
12. A pack of sweeper slippers so you can rid your floors of dirt, hair, and grime while keeping your toes nice and warm. Prepare to be swept away by how much time you'll save.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I absolutely love these! I kind of bought them as a joke. I hate wearing socks, shoes, or slippers, but I also HATE dirty feet. These were the answer I was looking for! They are lightweight on my feet...hardly notice I'm wearing them, and by golly they pick up the dust and dirt that our dog leaves behind! They also wash very nicely. We always wash in Tide, and these looked brand-new after being washed. I'm very pleased with my purchase!" — Tim S.
Get five pairs from Amazon for $15.99.
13. A grooming glove to turn shedding season into a bonding experience instead of a fur-covered fever dream. With soft silicone tips, it gently removes loose hair while giving your pet a soothing massage — like a spa day they didn't even know they needed.
From Buzzfeed contributor AnaMaria Glavan: "The glove is super comfortable and using it couldn't be more foolproof: just put it on and run your hands through your pet's fur. That's it! The silicone grooves pick up so much fur with ease. Like, my dog looks close to hairless. HOW is he shedding so much!?!? After a few runs, I found that I would have to remove fur from the glove before continuing (you can pick up the fur with your other hand or run the glove under some water — either works) but it's no biggie. The silicone actually makes it really easy to keep this clean. We got Rockie when he was five and he'd been riddled with skin issues and allergies, so I was pretty nervous to use anything that could potentially aggravate his conditions. However! Not only does this *not* bother his skin, but he…loves this. A lot. He starts snoring after exactly two run-throughs on his back. Also, his coat looks SO shiny after each use! TL;DR: this is one of those inexpensive add-ons that any pet owner should have on hand."
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
14. A screen cleaner kit that comes with a spray and microfiber cloth to remove all those smudges and dust particles that have been on your TV and computer for way too long.
The spray is free of alcohol, ammonia, and harmful phosphates. You can use it to clean any screen, including HDTVs, PC monitors, tablets, laptops, smartphones, and more!
Promising review:"A miracle! I've been looking for this product all my life! I have a nice 42-inch smart TV that I hate cleaning. Every product I used left streaks everywhere so I'd use more and rub and rub...Make sure your screen is cool and spray an ample amount on the cloth provided, and smear it everywhere. Then flip the cloth and rub it off. I think this is truly one of the greatest breakthroughs in modern history. They give you a huge can of this stuff and a quality cloth." — Paul Wedero
Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in three sizes).
15. A Swiffer PowerMop to make scrubbing floors feel less like a punishment and more like a mildly satisfying chore. The pre-mixed cleaning solution cuts through grime, the absorbent pads trap gunk, and the power spray gives you that "I'm in a cleaning commercial" moment.
Promising review: "Great mop when you need the job done fast. Liquid refills are easy to pop in, and you can slap on replacement mop pads in a hurry (you'll know when they need to be replaced). This mop is ideal when you get one of those 'I'll see you in 10 minutes' phone calls. Just press the release button on the handle, and a spray will shoot out at the center of the path. Tip: I run the mop head under warm water first and squeeze it out before I start, as a damp mop works better. The floor is clean in no time and I like that I don't need to store a separate bottle of cleaner. My mom loves that it's lightweight, so she can carry it upstairs and mop the hall floors and bathroom tiles. Gladly recommend." — A. Mitchell
Get it from Amazon for $24.94.
16. Or a flat mop that basically cleans itself, so you don't have to touch the grimy mop head (bless). The compact design makes it great for tight spaces, and the reusable microfiber pads mean you can keep your floors and walls sparkling without hauling out a giant mop setup every time.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This mop is freaking awesome! My bathroom was being renovated so I bought this to wash the walls when it was done. Works awesome! I've used it on the floor as well. I love that you can wash the microfiber cloth. I would definitely recommend this product!!!" — Layla
Get it from Amazon for $31.57+ (available in two sizes and many pad options).
17. A microfiber spin mop so your mop isn't soaking wet before you use it, which will dramatically cut down on the time it takes to not only clean your floors but also let them dry. Plus, it's machine-washable, has an automatic wringer, and is designed in a shape that will reach into small spaces and corners. Truly, this mop does all the work for you — all you do is dunk into the water and push around the floor.
Promising review:"Ashamed to say, but I barely ever mop the floors. I purchased this O-Cedar Mop and Bucket based on the great reviews. I am here to add a 5-star review of my own. This mop and bucket not only cleaned my floors, but it made the entire process easy (and dare I say fun?). I did the entire first floor of my house, both tile and wood. Then wanted more fun, so I scooped up the handy handle and carried it upstairs, where I continued on to the bedrooms and bathrooms. I don't want to go on and on, but this mop picked up lots of dirt and grime and then popped easily into the washing machine. It came out great. The swirly thing makes all the difference. It wrings out all of the excess water, so it's easy to mop without using too much muscle, which I do not have. And the mop heads are short, rather than long mop heads, which only make for heavier mops. If you're on the fence, go for it, you'll agree." — LauraP320
Get it from Amazon for $34.96.
18. A pressure washer for making grimy surfaces like new again, especially after an especially harsh winter. From mildew on fences to stained concrete and outdoor furniture, this will help tackle difficult cleaning tasks that you thought couldn't be remedied.
amazon.com, amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review: "This washer was easy to set up and operate. I bought it to pressure wash the railings on my back patio, but once I saw how well it worked, I ended up doing my patio furniture, stone patio, steps, a stone wall, garage doors, and one side of my house. It took several hours to do all that, but it was really satisfying. Some of it was seven years worth of grime and some was only two years. This machine handled it all. I plan to do it all once a year to keep it looking great." — nylon21
Get it from Amazon for $199.
19. A sink plunger that'll unblock all the grossness that's been building up in your drain for who knows how long. If you live in a home where the water drains reeeeaaaallllllly slow, this product can probably dislodge all the blockage in just a few pumps.
amazon.com
Promising review: "I needed it for my bathroom sink. I doubted it would work as easy and fast as advertised but it did. I thought I'd really have to work it for it to work. Super impressed. Took like, a minute, if that. Piece of advice though, if your sink has that overflow drain, put a sponge or something over it. Water and gunk will plunge out of the hole, and if you aren't expecting,g it will have a mess." — A
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in small and large sizes).
20. Or a drain clog remover to *literally* pull months of gunk out of your drain(s). It's long, flexible, and covered in little barbs that grab hair and gunk so you don't have to. Just poke, twist, and enjoy not standing in ankle-deep mystery water anymore.
Promising review:"When I pulled the orange plastic spiked strip from the package, I was immediately skeptical and felt like all those 5-star reviews were from people who exist in an alternate universe. I was tempted to initiate a return on Amazon but decided that I might as well gamble on a piece of $9 plastic before gambling $200 on a plumber. I slipped the plastic strip down my shower drain and literally FIVE SECONDS LATER I was pulling up gobs and gobs and gobs of hair. HOLY COW!!!!!!!! OHMYGOSH. I can't believe I still have any hair left on my head. SO MUCH REPULSIVE GUNK!!!! I saved my prize hairball on the shower floor to show my husband because I knew he would be as skeptical as I was. We both agree it looks like a small raccoon or a large squirrel lying helplessly on my shower floor. It's a grisly, messy, smelly, and oh-so-rewarding job." — Chocolate and Chips
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $8.99 (available in two styles and different packs).
21. A Chomp wall cleaner that comes with a baseboard duster, dry dust and wet mop cleaning pads. You will feel like such a superhero when you use this, wiping away years of dust, grime, and weird handprints you didn't even realize were that high up.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This is a game changer, y'all! I'm awestruck! I have arthritis all over, and a limited income and this helped me clean every single wall in my bedroom in one day. I just rinsed out the yellow head in the sink every few square feet. I'm so excited and telling all my friends!" — Lou DeJesus
Get it from Amazon for $39.97.
22. A Goo Gone kitchen degreaser to cut through greasy buildup like it's personally offended by it. Use it on stove tops, cabinet doors, backsplashes ... anywhere there's a noticeable (and suspicious) shine. It sprays on, wipes off, and leaves behind nothing but the amazing feeling of a kitchen that's actually clean.
Promising review:"The tops of my cupboards had been cleaned maybe once in 15 years. They were disgusting with grease and dust that I thought I'd never get off. Goo Gone Kitchen Degreaser worked a miracle for me! The cupboard that was directly above the oven took some elbow work, and all others were as simple as spray, and wipe. The tops of my cupboards look new again!" — JC
Get it from Amazon for $7.34+ (available in two sizes).
23. A carpet cleaner machine formula that acts as a deep stain remover and odor deodorizer for carpets that are covered in stains. This is an especially amazing product if you think your carpets or rugs are unsalvageable but still have a glimmer of hope that that's not true. This is the product that'll get the job done.
Sunny & Honey Store is a family-run small business. Their products are made in the USA and they donate 10% of all profits to animal shelters and rescue groups.
FYI: This cleaner is only for use in carpet cleaning machines. Here's the one they are using in the review photo!
Promising review:"I never leave reviews but this I had to! I have 10-year-old carpet that I'm trying to make last as long as I can...because kids. Who wants to spend the money to replace flooring when they will just mess it up! I cleaned my son's carpet with this for the first time today and it looks and smells SOOOOO much better than it was! Other carpet cleaning products I've used have made the carpet smell like wet dog while cleaning and this didn't! It smelled great the whole time! I'm hooked!!" — Megan Davis
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes and three scents).
24. An Oxo Good Grips brush set because sometimes your sponge just isn't cutting it. The large brush handles grout, stove tops, and shower door tracks, while the smaller one gets into tight corners and around faucets. It even has a built-in wiper blade for clearing out gunk.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The set includes two brushes: a larger one for things like grout and stovetops and a smaller one with a brush side and wiper blade side.
Promising review:"Shocking! I got this at the request of a friend who was helping with cleaning. They weren't expensive, so I decided to get them. I thought they were kind of silly, I use toothbrushes if I need a small cleaning brush. No more toothbrushes for cleaning for me! These really do let you get into cracks and corners, and the bristles are stiff enough to get packed-in dirt out. And the silly squeegee on the end? Awesome. I rent, and have places in my apartment I've never been able to get clean. With these brushes and the squeegee tip, I think the apartment is finally clean of old tenants' dirt." — Laura Gail
Get it from Amazon for $8.69 (also available in a grout brush).
25. A reusable roller dog hair remover that works just as well as the single-use sheet kind, but without the guilt (and cost) of having to buy new rolls all the time. No more fur-covered couches!
Promising review:"I have a golden retriever, and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair, and I finally decided to try it after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie; this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However, I find it's a great arm workout, and it works wonders." — Joanne Ertel
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in white or black).
26. A bottle of grout cleaner to deliver the kind of transformation usually reserved for makeover shows. If your grout's gone from white to "what even is that," this miracle in a bottle will lift the yuck and leave you wondering why you didn't do this years ago.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Clean-Eez is a small business that makes cleaning products for the home.
Promising review:"I used this on my bathroom grout which, is off-white, or should i say should be off white. With kids and pets, the grout was no longer its natural color. I used this stuff the other day and it's like it was just grouted. I've been telling everyone who wants to hear how well it worked. When I get time I'm going to do my kitchen floor." — Danielle Cooper
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
27. A natural, plant-based bathroom cleaner that uses the power of eucalyptus and tea tree oils to rid your bathroom of general nastiness like soap scum buildup and everyday grime. Just spray it, let it do its thing for 5–10 minutes, and then voila! Your bathroom will be sparkling clean.
amazon.com
Promising review:"This stuff is amazing!! I was skeptical at first because I had these dark stains on my shower floor that I'd never been able to get out, and I thought something 'natural' wouldn't be heavy 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 $15.99.
28. A tub of 90 heavy-duty cleaning wipes to take on grease, tar, ink, paint, and other stubborn messes (because sometimes you need more than a paper towel and a prayer). These oversized wipes are soaked in a powerful cleaning solution that cuts through gunk on pretty much any surface.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
My colleague Mallory Mower uses these and thinks they're great: These are my guilty pleasure cleaning product. I have everything from reusable paper towels to reusable napkins, but every once in a while I need to deep speed-clean surfaces and these do an impeccable job. They're super durable, so one wipe goes a long way and one canister will last you ages!
Promising review:"I absolutely love Tub O' Towels. The towels themselves are huge and they smell like citrus goodness. They cut grease, clean up cat messes (you know what I mean), dirty bathroom sinks, tubs, funky countertops, the list is endless. I live with teenage boys and these towels hold up." — Joann Stallbaumer
Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (available in two styles).
29. A pack of slow-release toilet cleaner tablets that'll bleach-blast away stubborn gunk like rust, grime, limescale, and whatever else is lurking in your tank. One tablet will help deodorize and descale with every flush, so your toilet stays fresher, longer, with zero effort from you.
Each tablet can continuously clean the toilet for up to 15 days with 20 flushes a day.
Promising review: "I like this product and I have ordered it again. It is effortless to use and it cleans well. The toilet bowl remains spotless without brushing and the water remains clear. There is the smell of bleach though, which some folks may not like, no problem for me. Product is effective and is good value for the money." — G. P. C.
Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $16.99.
30. Or a pack of all-natural toilet fizzies for anyone who'd rather skip the bleach and instead go the botanical route. These are basically bath bombs for your toilet, made with essential oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, or peppermint — so your bathroom ends up smelling more like a holistic spa and less like .... well, a bathroom.
MW Botanical / Etsy
MW Botanical is a woman-owned small business based in California making all-natural products for the home.
Promising review: "Pleasant oder, cleans the toilet well. Like it. Will order again when I run low. Highly recommended." — Andrew Stoeppler
Get it from MW Botanical on Etsy for $7.65 (available in seven scents).
31. A leather cleaner that will make your cracked, sad-looking sofa furniture look like it just got back from a wellness retreat. It gently removes dirt and grime from furniture, car interiors, and even handbags, all without drying anything out.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
You can also use it on faux leather, vinyl, plastic, and rubber.
Promising review:"My 15-year-old leather sectional hadn't been cleaned or conditioned in three to four years because I couldn't find anything that worked well without causing it to look blotchy. The color was also fading, and I thought it was a goner. After some elbow grease, the sectional looks great! It's now back to its original color without being blotchy. More importantly, the suppleness has returned. I can actually say that it looks as good as the day we bought it." — jellybean55
Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in three sizes).
32. A length-adjustable pet hair broom because it's that time of the year when dogs and cats are shedding more than usual, and you need something to rake it all up. Because the bristles are rubber, it picks up way more hair than a traditional broom.
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
Want more info? Check out my coworker's FURemover Evrilholder broom review. You'll learn a thing or two AND enjoy some very satisfying hair removal photos!
Promising review:" I saw this on TikTok and thought it was worth a shot. I have two dogs and a cat, and being one with a dust and dander allergy, I have to vacuum often, but the vacuum can't always get in deep enough. This actually works and I was shocked at how well it does. I brush the carpet a few times and vacuum it up and the carpet even looks better!! I highly recommend this to everyone — especially pet owners." — Theo A
Get it from Amazon for $10.76+ (available in four styles).
33. A microfiber blinds duster with spaced-out fingers to tackle several blinds in one swipe. Never again will you need to clear your schedule when you just want to clean your window treatments.
amazon.com, amazon.com
Promising review:"I love this product!! It works fantastic! I am a housekeeper for several private homes. My least favorite job is cleaning window blinds! I have used every method, but the job is still very time-consuming. The main reason it takes so long is you must clean each and every slat separately to do the job right. Not anymore! With this product, you can clean two slats at once, and it cleans them the first swipe! The microfiber is the key to getting all the dust, and the design of the product makes it super easy! PLUS, this tool can be used on different types of blinds because it is flexible! I have used it on wooden shutters, plastic vertical patio door blinds, and horizontal metal 'mini' blinds. Additionally, the microfiber 'sleeve' that fits on the tool is washable, and it comes with five of them, so it's a real value. Being reusable and with so many to use it should last a long time before they all completely wear out! This product deserves 10 stars!" — Sandy D
Get the brush and five microfiber sleeves from Amazon for $6.99.
34. A Bissell multipurpose portable cleaner capable of tackling the most aggressive messes and stains, all without the annoyance of a cord. Like the tens of thousands of positive reviewers, I, too use this to take on heavy duty cleaning. Everything from deep cleaning my rugs to taking care of major messes on my kids' carseats. It's truly a lifesaver!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"This vacuum is amazing. I first heard of it on TikTok, where people were using it to clean their stairs, mattresses, car seats, etc., and from the videos, it already looked amazing. But considering how dirty my dining chair cushions were, I was a little bit apprehensive and skeptical. I purchased the item and used it on my chairs for the first time, and the results were SO AMAZING. Best vacuum I've ever used. I even bought a second one!" — Davina
Get it from Amazon for $123.59.
35. A fabric defuzzer because your favorite chair deserves a second chance at life. This handheld gadget gently shaves off pills, fuzz, and lint from furniture and blankets (and clothes!) — basically anything that's been looking like it needs a spa day for a *long time*.
www.amazon.com
The battery-operated model does need two AA batteries to work!
Promising reviews:"This is amazing!!! I have a chair that when my cats were kittens, they shredded. It was brand new, and they destroyed it within 6 months. I live alone, and no one ever comes over, so I just deal with the chair with dreams of reupholstering it someday. I've seen articles for defusers but never used one and always thought they were for sweaters or things that have just balled up, not that they had entire threads ripped out. A few days ago I saw someone's review for this one, used on loose threads, so I immediately bought it. It arrived today, and I used scissors to trim the threads. It was so easy to use and did an amazing job! I spent probably 90 minutes total doing my entire oversized chair and then spot cleaned it. It looks brand new! I have my awesome chair back! I almost donated this chair a hundred times over the last four years but didn't want to part with it. Now I'm so glad I didn't. $12 and less than two hours of my time, and my favorite chair is restored. I'm so happy!!" — StormyMorning
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in six colors)
And checkout one BuzzFeed writer's full Conair fabric defuzzer review here!
36. A 100% natural oven scrub kit for people who'd rather do literally anything else than scrape crusty lasagna bits off of the oven floor. It's made with safe, powerful ingredients that do the dirty work for you. Just spread it on, wait a bit, and wipe away the grime with the steel wool it comes with.
amazon.com, Amazon
Everneat is a small business based in Connecticut that makes natural cleaning products and tools.
Promising review: "I've been trying to clean my nasty oven door for the past five years. Tried everything I could find, but it remained an embarrassing mess. Ten minutes of moderate scrubbing yesterday with Oven Scrub and it was 90% clear. Another five minutes today, and it looks like new. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." — Andy Bea
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in two scents or unscented).
37. A robot mop and vacuum combo that's basically the GOAT of spring cleaning. It vacuums, it mops, it empties itself, and it even scrubs its own mop pads. Yes, it's a splurge, but if you want floors that stay clean without constant effort, this little machine gets it done.
Samar Hadri / BuzzFeed
This robot vacuum and mop can even be controlled by Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri!
My colleague Samar Hadri has this and swears by it: " I love this mop/vacuum combo! I despise chores (as most people do), and as a busy mom of an infant who also works full-time, keeping on top of cleaning is a lot harder than it seems. Between washing and sterilizing bottles, whipping up meals, and tidying up, I literally find I don't have enough hours in the day for vacuuming or mopping. And then I got this baby.
All I have to do is click a single button on the app or activate it via my Google Assistant (I named my robot Squidward, so I can say, "Squidward, start mopping"). The first thing it did was map my home (pictured above), and then it started out the clean cycle. It moped my tile, and once it sensed a rug, it switched to a vacuum, so my precious carpet was spared!
I was amazedddd to see how well it cleaned up my floors! Plus, it totally did not crash into any furniture (and with an infant, trust me, there's a lotttt of furniture and gadgets strewn all over the place)!! It's a bit loud when it's emptying itself out, but otherwise, the actual cleaning portion of it is fairly quiet.
Altogether, Squidward has proven himself to be an absolute time save for me. I highly recommend!"
Get it from Amazon for $549.99 (also available in white).
38. A pack of washing machine tablets to make sure your machine is in good enough shape to keep your clothes clean. All you do is throw one tablet in and it cleans deep inside your machine's pump, valve, tub, drum, agitator, filter, and hose.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"My washer was smelling and had grime inside the seal that wouldn't come off even when I tried to scrub it off, so I used one of these tablets in the wash. It worked like magic. Not only did it clean the washer very well (the water looked so dirty during the cycle), but it also got rid of the smell! I will keep using these as recommended." — Esta
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $11.98.
39. And a set of machine-washable microfiber cloths for anyone who refuses to go on a scavenger hunt for the glass cleaner. These only need water to leave your mirrors, windows, and glass streak-free and gleaming.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The pack comes with green and blue cloths, and to use them you get the green cloth damp and then clean whatever surface you need to, then use the blue cloth to wipe away whatever residue is left over.
Microfiber Wholesale is a family-owned small biz that started in 1946. Since then, the brand has evolved into an e-commerce business that creates and distributes high-quality cleaning products.
Promising review: "We have a huge bathroom mirror that is very difficult to clean. I've used everything from a number of cleaners (various foam and sprays), vinegar, microfiber cloths, newspaper, paper towel, etc and nothing would get it completely streak free until now! Best purchase ever." — Sandy O.
Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $16.98.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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What To Watch: 5 Netflix Series That Are Perfect For ‘Leanne' Fans
What To Watch: 5 Netflix Series That Are Perfect For ‘Leanne' Fans

Forbes

time26 minutes ago

  • Forbes

What To Watch: 5 Netflix Series That Are Perfect For ‘Leanne' Fans

Fans of Leanne Morgan's first-ever comedy series are eagerly waiting to see if there will be a second season. Morgan, who became famous as a stand-up comedian, co-created the eponymous 16-episode Netflix comedy with sitcom legend Chuck Lorre, known for huge hits including Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, and Susan McMartin (Mom, Two and a Half Men). Morgan is the grandma from Tennessee that everyone is talking about because her story is so inspiring! At 59 years young, this is her first-ever starring role in a television series as a woman starting over a little later in life after her husband of over 30 years leaves her for another woman. Not that age should matter, and if Morgan's story teaches us anything, it is that it doesn't. However, it does play an interesting role in her success story. Lorre has created 20+ hit shows, but Leanne is his first starring a female stand-up in her late 50s. He discovered Morgan from her Netflix stand-up special Leanne Morgan: I'm Every Woman, which is Netflix's most-viewed stand-up comedy special by a woman since 2023. Morgan not only stars in the new fan-favorite, but she also served as executive producer and writer. The show was an immediate hit with critics and fans alike, entering the Top 10 in its first week. Leanne debuted with 2.7 million views, putting it at No. 7 on the list following its July 31 premiere. Her loyal fans pushed it up a notch, and the show is currently sitting at No. 6. Morgan's story is rare and very hopeful, considering that only 8% of leading TV roles go to women over 50, and less than 30% of characters aged 60-plus are women. May Morgan's second act set a new standard, making this so common that it doesn't warrant mention. In a recent sit-down interview with co-star Kristen Johnston, Morgan described a time when she felt her career had peaked, but then she did something that turned everything around. 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‘I Stir It Up': Jerry Jones Enrages Cowboys Fans With ‘Soap Opera' Comment
‘I Stir It Up': Jerry Jones Enrages Cowboys Fans With ‘Soap Opera' Comment

Yahoo

time39 minutes ago

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‘I Stir It Up': Jerry Jones Enrages Cowboys Fans With ‘Soap Opera' Comment

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The True Stories Behind 'Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies'
The True Stories Behind 'Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies'

Time​ Magazine

timean hour ago

  • Time​ Magazine

The True Stories Behind 'Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies'

At first glance, Netflix's The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea's Tragedies doesn't have a clear, specific framework. The eight-episode docu-series is a follow-up to 2023's In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal, expanding its focus beyond Korean cults to examine other horrific events that continue to cause trauma and pain in Korean society today. However, as the series goes on, a loosely overarching theme becomes clear: an examination of the lengths people will go for money in a society that allows for, encourages, or rewards the accumulation of wealth above all else. The eight-episode series covers four different events in Korean history—including Busan's Brothers' Home, a follow-up on the legal cases connected to JMS church, the 'Chijon family' gang murders, and the Sampoong Department Store collapse—through interviews with survivors and witnesses, as well as dramatic reenactments of the crimes and footage from news coverage of the events. At times, the series tips into what feels like unnecessarily exploitative behavior, such as dressing the survivors of the Brothers' Home facility in the same tracksuits they were forced to wear as abused children or in the episodes that recount the Chijon gang murders, also known as the Jijonpa serial murder case. In the latter case, justice has been served and it is unclear what purpose watching the sole survivor of the gang's crimes relive the most traumatic event of her life serves, other than as trauma porn. For a series that is ostensibly working to examine the dangers that come within systems that prioritize the accumulation of wealth over human life, these moments feel like a misstep. The cases examined in The Echoes of Survivors will all be familiar to Korean audiences, but perhaps not to global audiences. Most of the cases presented took place during the 80s and 90s in Korea, before the internet, streaming video, and mobile devices kept us so apprised of manmade horrors being perpetrated on the other side of the world. For those who aren't familiar with the subjects covered in Echoes of Survivors, here is a brief explanation of each event. (Content warning: This contains descriptions of child abuse and sexual violence) The history behind Brothers Home Brothers Home, or Hyungje Bokjiwon, was an internment camp operating as a 'welfare facility' in Busan, Korea's second-largest city. It operated from 1975 to 1987, and was propped up by anti-vagrancy ordinances, put in place in the 1960s and ramped up in the lead up to the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Summer Olympics. At the time, Korea was under a military dictatorship, which was overthrown in 1987. Brothers Home was owned and run by Park In-geun, a retired military man and a Christian social worker. During this 'social cleansing' period in Korea's history, these 'welfare' facilities were given subsidies from the government based on the number of people they took in. More residents meant more money, so facility management would kidnap people off of the streets, whether or not they fit the description of a 'vagrant,' or someone without a stable job or home. According to Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, those illegally detained off the streets included 'office workers who had fallen asleep outside after drinking too much, children waiting to take trains to visit relatives, teenagers on their way home, people with disabilities, and hospital patients.' Echoes of Survivors focuses on some of the children who were forced into the facility, in many cases kidnapped off of the streets by police officers, many of whom were incentivized by Brothers Home bribes and/or performance score points. Inside the facility, violence was perpetrated daily. This included physical and sexual abuse against women and children. Infants were sold through adoption agencies. Detainees were forced to perform unpaid labor, often with very little food. An estimated 657 people were killed. In total, an estimated 40,000 people were confined at the group residence over the course of its operation, with more than 3,000 people held at once at the facility's 'peak.' The second episode that covers Brothers Home shifts to a search for greater accountability. Ultimately, Park In-geun was found guilty for only embezzlement and corruption, and served just 30 months in prison. He was never found guilty of any human rights abuses, seemingly at least in part due to his political allies in President Chun Doo-hwan's administration and the Busan mayor's office, and died in a nursing home in 2016. In running the facility, Park In-geun appointed loyal family members as directors, including his wife, Lim Sung-soon; her brother Lim Young-soon; and Lim Young-soon's brother-in-law, Joo Chong-chan. Echoes of Survivors sees producer Jo Seong-hyeon and Brothers Home survivor Choi Seung-woo travel to Australia, where some members of the Park family moved after the atrocities of the Brothers Home were made public. They confront some of the living members of the Park family about the wealth they have inherited. Jo also confronts a member of the Park family still living in Korea about his alleged role in the human rights abuses. These scenes make for some of the most powerful, productive moments in the series. Did Brothers Home inspire Squid Game? The Brothers Homes facility has been posited as inspiration for Squid Game in the past. The production perhaps intentionally plays up the aesthetic connection between the real-life atrocities of the Brothers Home and the fictional horrors of Squid Game by having survivors wear tracksuits like the ones they were forced to wear as children while giving interviews. However, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has never directly cited Brothers Home as an inspiration for the series. The JMS cult case When In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal hit Netflix in March 2023, it shook Korean society. The docu-series, which examines abuses perpetrated by four different religious cults, leads with a focus on Christian Gospel Mission—also known as Providence and as Jesus Morning Star, or JMS. Jung Myeong-seok is the founder of JMS and a self-proclaimed messiah to his tens of thousands of followers across Korea and the world, including in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia. After being convicted of rape in 2008 and serving a decade in prison, he was indicted again in 2022 for the sexual assault of two female followers. The story of these two survivors, Maple and Amy, were told in the first season of the Netflix documentary. At the time, producer Jo noted that he wanted to tell this story because members of his family have been victims of a pseudo-religious cult. Echoes of Survivors uses two of its episodes to expand on how Jung Myeong-seok's pattern of sexual abuse was kept secret for so long, and the measures to which the organization went to try to keep In the Name of God from being released. Part of this is delving into the role Jung's second-in-command, Jung Jo-eun, played in allowing his abuse of female followers to continue. Last year, she was sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the abuses. Jung was sentenced to another 17 years in prison in 2024. The docu-series also alleges that members of JMS who are also police officers abused their positions to try to keep Jung out of jail. It wonders just how many Korean institutions include loyal members of JMS. The episodes end with Maple, who is now married to former idol and Olympic swimmer Alex Fong. The couple is expecting their first child. The final JMS episode leaves viewers with this message from Maple: 'To every woman out there going through the same pain as me, let's stay strong.' The Chijon family murders The 'Chijon family' murders, also known as the Jijonpa serial murder case, refer to a series of crimes that took place between 1993 and 1994. The 'Chiwon family' was a gang organized by convicted rapist Kim Gi-hwan, motivated by class anger. Kim convinced six other working class men, aged 18 to 23 at the time, to join him in targeting rich people for extortion and murder. He came up with the idea for the gang after watching a news report about university entrance exam corruption. The gang planned to collect one billion won (roughly $1.25 million at the time). They killed five people, including one of their own members who tried to leave the group. The episodes are built around an interview with the sole survivor of the gang's kidnappings, Lee Jeong-su. In her 20s at the time, she was kidnapped alongside a man she was casually dating. The two were not wealthy, but were driving a Hyundai Grandeur, a car that was considered a sign of wealth at the time. Lee was held by the gang for seven days and was forced to kill several of their targets, including her boyfriend. Upon Lee's escape, facilitated by one of the members of the gang, she reported the crimes to the police. They apprehended the members, who were later sentenced to death. In the episode pair's final act, Echoes of Survivors makes a rushed, incomplete effort to place the murders in a more systemic context. Most murder is informed by broader systemic injustices and true crime media often fails to contextualize its horrors, leading to narratives that contort perpetrators into monsters rather than products of our flawed social systems. Echoes of Survivors makes an attempt to contextualize the Chijon gang's crimes, but it feels hollow after so much of the runtime presents sensationalized media coverage and dramatic reenactments of the crimes without deeper analysis, especially in a docu-series ostensibly focused on survivors' stories. The Sampoong Department Store collapse The final two episodes of The Echoes of Survivors examine Korea's worst 'peacetime' disaster in history: the Sampoong Department Store collapse. In 1995, five years after its opening, one of Seoul's most luxurious department stores collapsed, killing 502 people and injuring another 937. More than half of the victims were employees. Many of the customers in the building at the time of collapse, in the early evening, were women shopping for dinner groceries. The episodes include interviews with some of the survivors of the incident, including then 18-year-old store clerk Yoo Ji-hwan, who was pulled from the wreckage almost 12 days after the initial collapse. The docu-series also includes interviews with some of the people who lost family members in the disaster, and people who assisted in the rescue efforts. The collapse came about as a result of shoddy construction that knowingly broke safety requirements in place at the time. The company originally contracted to build the massive, flat-slab structure left the project after Lee Joon, chairman of the Sampoong Group's construction division, demanded changes to the design that would allow for a more spacious floor plan. Subsequent investigations determined the building was not structurally sound, and was bound to collapse. As much as two months prior to the collapse, employees had noticed a large crack on the roof of the top floor, where the building had begun to crumble. On the day of the collapse, the structural damage became more obvious. As the docu-series recounts, department store management held an emergency meeting at 3pm, roughly three hours before the collapse, to determine if they should close down and evacuate the building. Led by Lee, they voted only to close the fifth floor, wanting to wait until after work hours to inspect the building. Lee didn't want to lose business. Emergency alarms were sounded at 5:50pm, and employees started evacuating shoppers. Two minutes later, the roof and fifth floor of the south wing collapsed, triggering a catastrophic collapse all the way to the basement floors. Lee was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and served seven years, six months in prison. His son, Lee Han-sang, who was also president of the store, was convicted of corruption and accidental homicide. Two city planners were convicted of taking bribes. Two months after the collapse, Lee Joon and Lee Han-sang offered the entirety of the Sampoong Group's wealth to help compensate the victims and their families. The former site of the department store houses a luxury high-rise apartment building, despite requests from the victims' families that a memorial be built. Impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol lived in the building before and after his truncated term as president. Echoes of Survivors' builds some connective tissue between incidents like the Sampoong Department Store collapse and more recent Korean disasters, including the Sewol ferry disaster, as preventable manmade tragedies driven by greed. Like other moments in the eight installments, it is left to the viewer to decide how effectively the docu-series walks the line between civic-minded investigative journalism designed to hold power to account and the sensationalization of tragedy for entertainment value.

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