27 Easy Cleaning Products If You Live Alone

Buzz Feed

16-07-2025

A wet-and-forget weekly shower spray that works exactly as you'd expect: Spray it once a week (maybe less since you live alone), and then just rinse it off eight to 12 hours later. No scrubbing required to get rid of soap scum, hard water stains, and other grime. 🙌
The Pink Stuff's Miracle Multipurpose Cleaner Spray, which will convince you that miracles *are* real, at least when it comes to cleaning. Spray this on just about any surface to clear away the mess, be it grime, scum, marker, or anything else — virtually no scrubbing either!
Or a jar of The Pink Stuff — it's basically the same miracle cleaning solution but in a thicker paste form, which might work better for walls, floors, grout, and similar surfaces you've been reluctant to tackle solo. Reviewers are equally obsessed, and many call it their holy grail cleaning product.
A Clorox toilet cleaning system because you hate cleaning the toilet, but alas, there's no one else to do it. Luckily, this makes the whole process simpler *and* less gross — instead of scrubbing away with a yucky toilet brush, this wand uses disposable, disinfecting sponges that make quick work of the mess and can then be thrown away!
Promising reviews: "As a man living alone, cleaning chores often take a back seat to recreational activities like watching baseball or riding my Harley. It's easy to ignore the pizza crust crumbs on the carpet and the beer bottles taking over the countertop because the recycle can is full and, of course, (sad but true) the little brown turd dots in the toilet that amazingly never go away, no matter how many times you flush. I don't know what's more disgusting – sitting on a dirty toilet, or having to touch that nasty toilet brush with the years-old crud building up in the bottom of its storage bucket. Since I bought this thing I've eliminated both of those problems. The storage container with a handle holster on the side takes up less room than my old toilet brush. The sponges click into the handle very easily and stay put. The design lets you scrub the bowl and under the rim with ease. Dunk the sponge in the water and start scrubbing, the soap that comes out looks like you just squirted the whole toilet with thick cleaning gel. It took two flushes just to get the suds out of the bowl and then my favorite seat in the house looked like brand new. Squeeze the excess water out against the inside of the bowl, then put the wand in the garbage can and click the used sponge off, never to be seen again. It comes with six sponges and I bought a 30-pack of replacements for just $12 bucks so I'll be enjoying a nice clean toilet for a long time. Don't even think twice - just buy this and your life will be happier." —Frank H"I live alone and have two bathrooms and inevitably one is always getting left 'till next time' to clean… but this scrubber is so easy I can just knock them out. I also get water stains and this cleans out the grime super easily." —EmilyGet it from Amazon for $11.98.
And these toilet-cleaning gel stamps since they'll prevent the rings from building in the first place! Yep, just plop one of these in the bowl, and you're good to go for 12 days. Booyah!
Plus, don't forget an overnight toilet tank cleaner that just about everyone who owns a toilet ought to use. Apparently (and I am just learning this today), you need to clean the tank every now and then, too. But thankfully, all we have to do is pour this in the tank and let it work its magic. Oh, how I love effortless cleaning!
A fuzzy pink llama duster to turn the tedious chore of wiping down dressers, photo frames, radiators, ledges, and basically everywhere else into a fun and silly activity instead. Is this what they mean by ~save the drama for your llama~? You know, I think it is.
Plus, a high-reach dusting kit so you can clean those extra tough-to-reach places, like the ceiling fan and bathroom vents *without* having to precariously climb up a ladder with only your cat keeping watch.
A foaming garbage disposal cleaner in case you've started to notice a strange odor wafting up from the sink. This will break down any lingering food residue and get rid of the smell, leaving the drain nice 'n shiny in the process.
Heavy-duty cleaning wipes since they can be used on just about any dirty surface you can imagine: engine stains ✅ muddy, scuffed shoes ✅ random paint splatters ✅ stained tub ✅ — and no need to fuss with a spray bottle and rag, either! Just wipe the mess clean and throw the wipe away.
A countertop gap cover to stop the crumbs and spills from getting in the exact one spot you can't easily clean: the crevice between the stove and the counter. Trying to wiggle out the stove by yourself is such a hassle, but now you won't have to!
P.S. It comes with two covers, so you'll have one for gaps on both sides of the stove!Promising review: "You may not know it, but you need this. Been looking for something like this for years, and this is exactly what I've been looking for! Solves the problem of that not-quite-perfect fit between counter and drop-in or free-standing range. NO more crumbs and spills!" —ImaGet a pair from Walmart for $7.82.
Dishwasher-cleaning tablets if your dishes somehow keep coming out dirtier than when you put them in. Chances are, your dishwasher itself needs a cleaning, and that's what these are for! They'll also help combat any weird musty odors you can't seem to get rid of in there.
A wireless and rechargeable desktop vacuum because even though it's just you in the house, there sure are a lot of crumbs... on your desk, the kitchen table, countertops, and somehow your nightstand??? Enter this small-but-mighty bb to suck up all the debris!
A squeegee broom that'll upstage your vacuum (which TBH, you hate using). Why, you ask? Well, this lightweight baby removes pet fur and human hair from all the places your vacuum can't, like rugs and carpets (but also hardwood floors, too!) — and it's definitely easier to maneuver.
Or, a top-rated Shark robot vacuum and mop so you can outsource the highly time-consuming chore of cleaning the floors entirely!
Promising review: "I strongly suspect that most of the negative ratings on this product are made by employees or friends of competitive product brands. Many even admit they own these other brands so take those ratings with a grain of salt. I've had this product about a month and it does a good job for me. BUT...I live in a small two BR open type house with tile floors and one short-nap area rug in the living room. I do try to keep excess electrical cords off the floor to make life easier for "Robbie". It has a semi-annoying click as it crosses the grout lines between the tiles and maybe softer rubber wheels would help. I have two small dogs with one having short hair and with medium length hair, and it picks up the hair great even on the area rug. It's amazing how much dust and hair it cleans up and all in all, I'm very happy with this product. Since I live alone and am a wheelchair user it sure is a lot easier than fighting with a conventional vacuum. If you're on the fence about this product get it through Amazon Prime for an easy return if it doesn't suit your needs. I doubt you'll send it back." —JerryElGet it from Amazon for $369.99 (available in four other models).
A jar of cleaning putty for an effective, and honestly kinda fun, way to clear out dirt and debris from all those small grooves and crevices, like on your keyboard, the AC vent in your car, and more!
Promising review: "If you own any electronic devices — buy this! I cleaned the computer keyboard, the phone buttons, my calculator, the keyboard for my iPad, the keyboard for my laptop, the credit card terminal, the TV remote, the cupholder on my car, you name it. I went on a cleaning rampage with this. It is fantastic, picks up dust, dirt, cigarette ashes, crumbs, crud of all types — then just 'knead it' to expose a clean surface to clean some more. A little tip — I didn't use the whole jar I just tore off a golf ball sized piece and with it I cleaned all my electronics, my car, stuff around the house. It still has plenty of life and most of the jar is untouched. (I put the piece I'm using in a Ziploc bag afterwards.) Get some of this." —KevinGet it from Amazon for $6.24.
A bottle of Goo Gone — a liquid kitchen degreaser that effortlessly removes even the most stubborn and caked-on buildup from stoves, cabinets, ovens, and any other surfaces that are ~cramping your shine~.
Promising review: "I WISH I COULD BUY THIS BY THE GALLON! Removes grease, and more, from so many things with no scrubbing! If something is stubborn, I just spray this stuff on, let a sit a few minutes, and...gone! My boyfriend had some kitchenware that I thought I might need to replace due to built up grease crevices and on the bottom of the bottoms. Sprayed this on and waited a few minutes. With just a bit of elbow grease, the old buildup came off. NO need to buy new pots! When my mom saw this stuff work, she had me order her some!!!!!" —DoubleLGet it from Amazon for $7.69+ (available in two sizes and a two-pack).
A reusable Swiffer duster head so you can pretend you're Cinderella while you dance around cleaning off shelves, windows, and other spots with this colorful little wand. Who knows, maybe the birds outside will even come help you!
A pack of all-natural bottle-cleaning tablets to give your water bottles and tumblers a thorough cleaning, zero scrubbing required — and yes, this should even help remove those horrible stains and strange odors.
A TikTok-famous just-add-water mopping system that'll make cleaning the floors simple and *dramatic pause for effect* ...fun. Seriously! Just read what the reviewer below has to say.
Promising review: "I don't know why I waited so long to order this! A friend of mine told me a couple of years ago about it. I kept thinking I wanted to get a fancy expensive vacuum/mop system because we have a lot of hard surface flooring between our kitchen and dining area and living room. I actually enjoy using this and find myself wanting to mop my floors way more than I ever thought I would. While it doesn't have a vacuum feature, and I still have to sweep and vacuum before using it I almost don't mind because the using experience is so pleasant. It really cleans the floors well and I love that it has the wring feature built into the bucket. It's easy to fill and dump out old water with the pouring spout. You can clean with just water I use hot, boiling water and then add some essential oils like fresh lemon, or a squirt of branch basics if I really want a little bit more grime/ cleaning power. Works great. Highly recommend just buy it you'll love it!!" —M. ZombroGet it from Amazon for $34.96.
A pack of washing machine cleaning tablets for an effortless way to eliminate the weird odors that make you gag on laundry day. Turns out you don't have to try a vinegar rinse or some other questionable remedy from an online blog — all you have to do is run a cycle with one of these tablets!
Promising review: "It does the job beautifully getting my front loader so clean you'd think it's new. It's so easy just toss one in and put your washer on cleaning cycle. No mess and no residue, just cleanliness. Affresh makes my washer look and perform like new." —Amazon ReviewerGet a three-pack from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in packs of six).
And on the subject of laundry, a dryer vent cleaner attachment, because even though you always empty the lint catcher (please, I really hope this is true), it might not be enough. This will pull out any lingering filth that manages to escape your fingers, thereby reducing the risk of your dryer becoming a mega fire hazard. Seriously, who knew something like this even existed?
A handy scraping tool set you can use to eradicate the sticky mess left behind when you take the price sticker off your thrifted cups, plates, and desk lamp (living alone ain't cheap, so good on you for buying secondhand!). Lots of reviewers use it to safely remove goopy messes elsewhere too, like in the fridge or on the stovetop!
An extendable scrubber so you don't end up with back pain or sore knees after cleaning the bathroom or kitchen floor. Simply apply your cleaner of choice, adjust to the desired length, and effortlessly wipe away the dirt and grime.
Promising review: "Made my cleaning experience effortless. You can reach higher up. Scrubs tiles, tub, and the glass shower door with less elbow grease. The scrub/sponge gets all the shower residue off. Definitely purchase if you hate bending to clean, or you need to reach the unreachable surfaces in your tub/shower." —SLGet it from Target for $15.99.
A game-changing dishwashing spray since it'll drastically cut down the time you spend cleaning dishes (which is every night, unless you order takeout). You'll be shocked at how fast it lifts off tough grease stains and other caked-on food.
A 20-pack of cleaning erasers that are just as ~magic~ as other brands, only way more affordable. With these, all you need to clear away tough stains and messes is water and a smidgeon of elbow grease (but not too much, I promise)!
Promising review: "We just received our OhMyClean sponges. So, the first test was because I saw the recommendation "works on walls." These really work, I was so pleased, never knew that it could be so easy. Just treat the sponge like you need the sponge, rinse and wring it out carefully. I continued cleaning the walls, the fronts of the cupboards, the front of the refrigerator and locker. I was amazed how easily the sponge rinsed out. At our Biodiesel Facility, the guys are dirty most of the time, oily and grimy. The dirt, oil, and grim did not stop the sponge from cleaning. After awhile I kept saying, "take this sponge away from me," it was too cool. Can't wait to work on the hall walls the next time I leave my desk. Seriously, use them and throw them away if you have to, you can't show me any other product that makes cleaning so easy. Fifty cents each, well its better than a rag, which don't come clean after rinsing. WOW these sponges make cleaning easy! Thank you!!" —LMGet a pack of 20 from Amazon for $13.95.
A popular stain- and odor-eliminating spray for folks who "live alone" with their beloved fur babies. Pet owners swear by this stuff for dealing with stinky bathroom accidents or vomit stains, but it can pretty much be used for *any* stain on any surface.