This Highly Rated Stainless Steel Cleaner Instantly Erased Years of Smudges Off My Fridge (Without Streaks!) — And It’s on Sale!

This Highly Rated Stainless Steel Cleaner Instantly Erased Years of Smudges Off My Fridge (Without Streaks!) — And It’s on Sale!

by | Jul 1, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Sometimes it takes the spring cleaning bug to make you realize just how many parts of your home have gone neglected. For me, this has included polishing my wood cabinets and cleaning my exterior windows on a busy Brooklyn street, just to name a couple. One area that has gone neglected for what I assume has been years (I moved into an apartment my friends have lived in since 2017!) is my fridge. Because it’s mostly covered in magnets and save-the-dates, it sounded daunting to take them all down and wipe the highly smudged stainless steel exterior. But, when I came across this plant-based cleaner, I was so excited to try it that I didn’t mind the hassle. And it sure has paid off!

Earlier this year, I tested out the wood cleaner and polish from plant-based cleaning brand, Therapy Clean. I was shocked by how shiny it made my cabinets with hardly any elbow grease! Encouraged by these results, I tried the Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner on the years of fingerprints smudged on my fridge. What I wound up with was a gorgeous streak- and smudge-free door that I can’t help but admire.

As an added plus, you can try both items (as well as the all-purpose sprays we happen to love, too!) for yourself now at a hefty discount. Therapy Clean is hosting a sitewide 4th of July BOGO sale — use the code BOGOTHERAPY at checkout to take 50 percent off the second item! The sale doesn’t apply to any subscriptions, so just keep that in mind when you’re filling up your cart.

As with the wood polish, there are a few obvious factors I love about this stainless steel cleaner. The first is the amazing smell. One of the biggest draws of this cleaning line is that they use essential oils in each of their products, so you’re left with a fresh scent in addition to a clean home. This creamy formula is made with coconut oil and lavender oil, so your kitchen will already feel cleaner after spraying because it just smells so nice. 

The second aspect I can’t get enough of is the fact that it truly is streak-free. At first, I wasn’t sure if this would hold true because of the thicker formula and creamy color. However, after just one swipe, it left behind zero residue or streaks. And although I had tons of smudges and stains on my fridge door, it required little effort to wipe them away. Just a few wipes and they were gone, a shining surface left behind in their wake. To make your cleaning experience even better, the stainless steel kit includes a large microfiber cloth for wiping and buffing that you can use over and over again.

It’s also designed to leave a protective barrier behind to resist fingerprints, dust, dirt, oil, and smudges. So I’m excited to keep an eye on my fridge and see how long it lasts!

After cleaning my fridge, I moved on to my sink. I first gave it a good scrub by using Bon Ami (which happens to be a great way to clean stainless steel!). Then, I sprayed this cleaner all over the sink and faucet and wiped everything down. The sink looked great, but I was particularly impressed with the faucet. It immediately sparkled!

And don’t just take our word for it — more than 11,000 customers gave this cleaner a 5-star rating on Amazon, with tons of stunning pictures to support just how shiny you can get your stainless steel appliances. When you’re done, you can sit back and admire the sparkle just like I keep doing every time I step into the kitchen!

Erin Cavoto

Commerce Writer

Erin writes about all things shopping-related for The Kitchn, including highlighting small cookware brands, testing cool products, or scoping out need-to-know sales. She’s also a regular at the Trader Joe’s cheese section and has a never-ending supply of tea at home.

This $37 Amazon Find Is Why My Car Is Always Clean

This $37 Amazon Find Is Why My Car Is Always Clean

by | Jun 20, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

I have a secret: I’m not that good at keeping my car tidy. In fact, I have sometimes gone months without washing it. I know, I know, that’s incredibly bad, seeing as some experts recommend that you wash your car every two weeks. As uncomfortable as it is to confess that, I think it’s about time I come clean. And I have semi-valid reasons, hear me out. 

Since transitioning to full-time remote work, I’ve drastically reduced my time on the road. I go days without driving — and when I do drive, it’s often for trips to the grocery store, the occasional errand or appointment, or very rare dining out occasions.

While this has been great for the environment (and my wallet) I admit that my car has been neglected and gone long bouts of time without some much-needed TLC. 

Sometimes, when things are out of sight, they really are out of mind. But, moving forward, I’ve made it my mission to start taking better care of my car, committing to monthly trips to the car wash. I also want to spend time in-between washes cleaning the inside of my car, so I went online to search for the perfect tool to help. I found this car vacuum cleaner on Amazon, and it’s helped to improve the cleanliness of my car’s interior.

The mini handheld vacuum comes with three attachments, a 16-foot cord, and a bag to hold it all together. The vacuum has a HEPA filter, as well as a replacement filter. To use it, you have to turn on your car and plug the vacuum into the 12V outlet. You select one of the attachments — brush nozzle, extendable, or flathead — and can start vacuuming immediately.

The 16-foot cord allows you to move around the entire car and that’s my favorite thing about it. It’s so portable and easy to drag around without worrying about it disconnecting. While it’s great at picking up small debris, it’s better as a supplemental tool you use to keep your car clean. You should get it vacuumed at the car wash for a more thorough cleaning.

When I’m all done, I can just pack it up and store it in my trunk. It hardly takes up any room, which is perfect since space is at a premium in my compact car. 

I Switched From a Liquid Toilet Cleaner to a Powder One, and I May Never Go Back

I Switched From a Liquid Toilet Cleaner to a Powder One, and I May Never Go Back

by | Jun 17, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Cleaning the toilet is one of the most dreaded — but incredibly important! — cleaning tasks I do weekly, along with a deeper cleaning done every other week (or when I’m bogged down, once a month). It’s something I prioritize because a dirty bowl can become a welcoming place for bacteria and viruses to reside, and quite honestly, it’s just downright gross to look at.

When it comes to the products I use to clean my toilet bowl, I almost always reach for a liquid cleaner. The occasional all-in-one toilet cleaning system might find its way into my cart, but I always return to the tried-and-true liquid cleaner purely out of habit and familiarity. 

That being said, as a cleaning and organizing editor, I’m always on the lookout for something new and noteworthy that can improve my home, or, at the very least, give it a better shine than before. When I recently ran out of my normal cleaner, I headed to my local Target for a refill. Scanning the aisle, I noticed that there are a lot of options out there and it could be time for me to explore a new one.

Toilet bowl cleaners come in several different forms, such as liquids, gel, tablets, powders, and all-in-one systems that come complete with a wand, a disposable cleaning head that attaches to it, and a storage device to hold it all together. While each has its own perks, the liquid form is the most commonly seen one on the market. In the mood to try something new, I looked around and wound up reaching for the Seventh Generation Zero Plastic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Powder.

For starters, the packaging is what caught my eye (and the fact that it barely takes up the full height of the shelf). The sleek and compact steel canister is encased in white and made of recycled materials. According to the package description, it’s easily recyclable too. Other key facts that stood out: It’s Leaping Bunny certified, plastic-free, septic tank safe, and bleach-free. Plus, I’ve never used a powder toilet bowl cleaner before, and I wanted to see if the results were different.

The Seventh Generation Zero Plastic Toilet Bowl Cleaner Powder is relatively small — holding just 12.3 ounces of concentrated, water-activated powder, compared to a liquid cleaner that can hold 24 fluid ounces. I imagine that this would be great for small or shared spaces. While it does cost a little more than the other options — it’s $9.99 —  it also lasts longer (it can be used up to 22 times, the packaging states).

When cleaning day came, I sprinkled a decent amount of the powder into the bowl. I let it sit and watched it foam for about a minute. It foams well and has little to no smell — it’s fragrance-free — which is ideal for sensitive noses (like mine!). I then proceeded to scrub away — and it does a great job of cleaning. After a flush, I was able to see the results: a clean bowl.

While the overall clean is very similar to my current go-to liquid cleaner, I really enjoyed the satisfaction of watching this one bubble up and foam. The lack of scent is also a plus — and it didn’t diminish the overall cleanliness of the bowl. I also liked that it would never lead to staining. Some liquid cleaners contain dyes, which can stain your bowl — and the seat, if you’re not careful. (Have you experienced the dreaded blue dye streaks before?)

Someone who’s looking for a compact cleaner that doesn’t contain dyes, is odorless, and easy to use will enjoy this one for sure.

Would I buy it again? Yes! This small canister holds a mighty punch, and it’s definitely a duplicate purchase I would make in the future. We’ll see how long this one will last me in the meantime.

I Don’t Have a Dishwasher, But J.R. Watkins’ Dish Soap Is the Next Best Thing

I Don’t Have a Dishwasher, But J.R. Watkins’ Dish Soap Is the Next Best Thing

by | Apr 18, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

One of my friends has a theory: You’re either a dishes person or a laundry person. This friend is convinced that, given the choice, everyone has one chore they’d deem slightly less detestable. I, for instance, am Team Laundry all the way. Sure, it’s laborious, especially since I have to lug my clothes to the local laundromat, but I find clean laundry much more satisfying than an empty sink. In fact, since my apartment doesn’t have a dishwasher, hand-washing dishes tops the list as my least-favorite housekeeping task.

Over the years, I’ve bought a little bit of everything to incentivize myself and dress up my sink area: “cute” scrubbers, trendy soaps, fun dish towels, you name it. And yet, I. Still. Hate. Doing. The. Dishes. A few weeks ago, though, J.R. Watkins reached out to me about testing their first-ever dish soap. As a long-time fan of the plant-based brand’s hand soaps for their packaging, price, and practicality, I was intrigued and gave it a go. And, dare I say, it’s actually made cleaning dirty plates and pans a little more fun.

There’s honestly a lot to love about the new foaming dish soap, which just launched last week. First and foremost, I was drawn to its looks (I’m a style editor, what can I say?). As to be expected from J.R. Watkins, the cleaning staple comes in a well-designed, pretty bottle that’s compact enough to fit on my tiny kitchen counter. Its yellow packaging also nods to another major selling point — its scent. Made from natural ingredients, it gives off a delicious lemony fragrance that makes my entire sink smell like summer personified and blows every other soap smell out of the (dish)water.

Of course, it’s equally (if not more) impressive from a functional standpoint. In fact, a little really goes a long way… which, yes, every single dish soap seems to claim nowadays, but I can confirm that J.R. Watkins lives up to the hype. That’s even without chemicals like sulfates, formaldehyde, phosphates, and triclosan! The nozzle actually rotates to offer two different release options: a foam or a spray. Take your pick, then just spritz it directly onto your dishes (no matter how greasy or dirty), wipe with a sponge, rinse, and voila — instantly clean (and clean-smelling) dishes. I’ve definitely spent way less time scrubbing away at the sink since putting this product to use.

At just $6.99, this dish soap is affordably priced cleaning magic in a dual-use (and fully recyclable, cap and all) bottle. Want to keep the sleek container around? You can purchase a J.R. Watkins dish soap refill packet for $7.99. Both the full bottles and refills are available via the J.R. Watkins site as of now and will launch in Target stores on Apr. 24. Whether you’re Team Laundry, Team Dishes, or just Team Clean (please, sound off about this in the comments!), consider this foaming dish soap a must-have.

Blair Donovan

Shopping Editor, Style

Blair is Apartment Therapy’s Style Shopping Editor, where she covers the latest brand launches, need-to-buys, and anything related to her two unofficial beats — cane and rattan. Whenever she’s not perusing for the latest home finds (a rarity), you’ll probably find her reading, watching a horror film, or on the hunt for the best tacos in New York (recs are encouraged).

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The $2 Find This Pro Baker Swears By for Removing Stubborn Stains (Including Turmeric!)

The $2 Find This Pro Baker Swears By for Removing Stubborn Stains (Including Turmeric!)

by | Apr 13, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

“For someone as messy as me,” she admits, the Zote Soap Bar “is a must have. I’ve used it for coffee stains, turmeric, red sauce, wine, you name it.” We had to ask, though: How is it that an unassuming bar of soap has this level of power against such infamous stains, especially when compared to other laundry stain removing formulas? “It requires a bit of scrubbing the wet fabric and letting it sit,” she says of the process. After applying Zote and agitating the material with your fingers or a fabric-appropriate scrubber, just put your garment right into the wash. Yes, Zote works very similarly to most other stain removers, but better. The simple, straightforward approach and overall effectiveness make it one of the most trusted products in laundry, even compared with more expensive, big-name competitors.

More than just a stain remover, Zote soap can be crumbled to create laundry detergent (like this reviewer does), so your $2 pre-wash stain fighter can also be part of your in-wash routine. It’s an all-natural product made with sensitive-skin-friendly (and delicates-friendly) ingredients, and since it’s gentle on fibers, plenty of shoppers also note its effectiveness at cleaning makeup stains and brushes. If you want a laundry solution that literally does it all, Zote could be the answer you’ve been searching for. It certainly was for Stella!