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I became a Dyson convert five years ago after trying one of their vacuums at my parents’ house. I wasn’t looking to give up my tiny, handheld vacuum, because despite its many flaws — not picking up dirt on the first pass, letting dirt fall out, and running out of power in five minutes — I was able to (sort of) make it work. I told myself I didn’t need anything as fancy as a vacuum cleaner that made vacuuming easy (too luxurious!). Today, I am so glad I wised up and made an investment in something that keeps my apartment clean. And, the QVC sale on one of our favorite vacuums that’s going on right now is a great time to make your own investment, too!
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Dyson’s Omni-Glide has all the fundamental features that make their stick vacuums so popular: a powerful motor, an easy-to-empty dirt container, and enough detachable extensions to tackle any standard vacuuming job. However, there are a few areas where it earns bonus points for being extra-versatile and convenient. Honestly, this vacuum can do things that my more expensive Dyson V8 Animal can’t, and at $299.98, it’s a bargain.
One major improvement is its omnidirectional head (I just realized that’s where they get the “omni” from). Because the head has two brushes that simultaneously pull in dirt from the front, back, and sides, it actively cleans no matter where you move it. The entire head also swivels in a way that I didn’t think household vacuums could. My V8 Animal rotates easily enough, but the Omni-Glide is more responsive to your movements. And, at just 4.2 pounds, it’s incredibly lightweight.
The reason this is our favorite vacuum for hardwood floors has a lot to do with its soft nylon brushes. They’re gentle on hard surfaces — wood, tile, stone, you name it — and do a superior job of trapping particles without blowing any astray. That means small piles of dirt, crumbs, or (in my case) cat litter, get sucked up completely instead of being dispersed into little trails you have to chase down later.
But my favorite detail — and the one that makes me jealous — is the removable battery. Dyson’s stick vacuums typically come with a wall mount that doubles as a charging station. That’s how I store my Dyson and I wouldn’t have it any other way … unless I had an Omni-Glide. You can slide its battery right out of the handle and charge it in the dock without needing to have the rest of the vacuum attached. That gives you the option to hang your vacuum up if you know you always want it within reach or stash it in a closet if you don’t feel like making it part of your decor. (Though it is a Dyson, so you might want to show it off!)
Unlike my former vacuum, which shall remain nameless, this one works fantastically in handheld mode. QVC’s sale includes a bundle of three interchangeable heads that take this vacuum far beyond floors, too: The flat “worktop” head gets crumbs on counters; the crevice tool dives deep in between couch — or car seat — cushions and reaches up high to dust air vents; and the miniature, motorized head has bristles to clean rugs and furniture (including pet beds).
I’ll never get back the minutes — or possibly hours — I spent hunched over with my old vacuum. But, I can take solace knowing I’ve moved on. My Dyson changed my outlook on vacuuming from a time-sucking chore to an unobtrusive part of my routine. This Dyson can do that and more, and it’s on sale!
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.
When I lived in an apartment that had approximately 13 inches of kitchen counter space, dishes were a three-dimensional puzzle. Cleaned pots and pans had to be stacked on my small dining table while a folding dish rack and catch tray took over the stovetop. I was shifting too many things around every day and I felt like nothing was the right size for my space. I also learned that I had to wait for the burners to cool completely before setting up the tray, or it could melt. (Spoiler: It melted.)
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Thankfully, a bevy of small space-friendly dish-drying solutions have popped up to help everyone who knows that counter space is a rare and precious commodity. One device that stands out above the rest is this three-tier model from Joseph Joseph — one of our all-time favorite source for organizers. It adjusts to hold a sink full of mugs, glasses, bowls, and silverware — but also slides down into a flat, 8-inch-wide mat that you can tuck behind your faucet or store completely out of sight under your sink. This drying mat is exactly what you want in a kitchen with limited counter space: a tool that’s there when you need it, and gone when you don’t.
Having the option to expand it to three different widths — 8 inches, 13 inches, and 18.5 inches — offers much-needed flexibility in the dish-drying category. One thing I really don’t like about the bulky, metal racks is that I have to find room for them in my kitchen (which is always at-capacity and often over-capacity). I appreciate any tools that fit into my kitchen as-is and don’t make me feel like I’ve just made the whole space even more cramped or cluttered.
If you don’t usually need a drying mat but want to keep one around — say, for when you run out of room in the dishwasher because somebody (not you, though) forgot to run it — this is the perfect tool. Like any worthy dish mat, the raised edges keep water from spilling over the sides, while built-in holes on the top two tiers guide water down to a spout that drains neatly into your sink. You also don’t have to worry about trying to shake the entire mat dry when it’s fully expanded. Just collapse it down and pour any water right out the front.
Joseph Joseph always impresses us with their smart designs and clever approaches to household challenges, and this adjustable mat makes the case for rethinking your dish drying setup. Whether you have your own counter space puzzle to solve or just want to make sure you have a drying mat when you need one, this is a wise choice. Any kitchen tool that is this versatile, compact, and affordable is a must-have!
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.
As much as I like discovering new cleaning products and methods, I can’t say I actually enjoy the process of washing the dishes, unloading the dryer, or vacuuming. Especially not vacuuming. Whereas some people prefer to invest in a stick or upright machine that’s built for monthly deep cleans, I much prefer a hands-free alternative for weekly pickups. I was fortunate enough to try my very first robot vacuum this year and figure this fact out for myself, but my colleagues here at AT are already experts on the topic. Less than a month ago, we released our list of the best robot vacuums for every type of customer, spotlighting the products that turn an otherwise tedious chore into a practically effortless task.
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At the top of our list was Neato’s D8 intelligent robot vacuum, which won the Best Overall category. Not only is this the floor cleaner of our dreams, but you can now buy it at Bed Bath & Beyond for half off! You’ll want to hurry while this unbeatable deal lasts.
When AT contributor Terri tested this robot vacuum in her home, she listed its use of LiDAR technology as one of its best features. Basically, this far-reaching D-shaped machine does a much better job of mapping out your floor plan compared to others that use cameras. It’ll memorize your home’s layout in a flash and be ready to start cleaning before you know it. All you have to do is download the MyNeato app to create defined zones and start a session. The Neato D8 swiftly navigates its way around floor objects, taking care not to bump into or scratch your furniture. Its straight edges allow it to get into corners and leave no square inch of floor space untouched. Schedule it to clean both hard surfaces and low-to-medium pile carpeting, and watch as its extra-wide brush picks up every last piece of hair, dirt, and dust.
But that still doesn’t cover all of this robot vacuum’s shop-worthy qualities. In addition to its powerful suction ability, the Neato D8 can also run for up to 100 minutes at a time. Depending on how large your home is, it could very well clean all your floors in one go. Whether you’re at work or commuting back, you can schedule a cleaning session and come back to clean hardwood and tile without having had to haul a heavy vacuum around, yourself. What’s more, this product also has an extra-large dust bin, which means fewer empties. Really, we’re struggling to find a reason why you shouldn’t buy this ingenious cleaning tool. At $200 off, there’s no cause for hesitation!
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.
It feels like every day, I learn about new things I need to be doing around the house to avoid damage. Only recently did I realize the importance of turning on the exhaust fan in the bathroom while I shower and not plugging too many devices into one power strip. When I really think about it, I don’t know how I’ve made it this far without setting something on fire — which is a plausible reality if you don’t take care of your electric appliances. Not to spook you even more, but laundry room fires are more common than you’d like to think, with failure to clean the dryer listed as their leading cause. What’s more, dryer fires increase in prevalence during the colder months, so now’s the time to start taking better care of your own in-home drying machine.
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Fortunately for you, here at AT we’re dedicated to actionable service journalism on every home-related topic, from the best dog beds to how to organize your pantry. Therefore, you’d best believe we found the perfect preventative tool for cleaning your dryer. The Holikme dryer vent cleaner kit will make this puzzling task so easy to complete. Plus, it might help your dryer run more efficiently.
With this kit, you get one 360° lint brush head and flexible plastic rods, which you can connect to one another to form a 30-foot-long snake. On the end that doesn’t have the brush head, attach a power drill. Once you’ve opened up your dryer vent, push the brush into the hose, and turn the drill on to make it rotate. Because of its substantial length, the brush will be able to pull out all the built-up lint from the vent hose — just ask the 18,240 customers who gave this product a five-star rating. “Hadn’t cleaned the 6-foot-long dryer duct for 20 years,” one reviewer wrote. “This unit cleaned out about a cubic foot of dryer lint. Easy to use and flexible enough to make two right-angle bends along the way.” The kit might also come in handy if you find that your dryer just isn’t working as well as it used to. It’s quite likely that built-up lint is the problem!
The best part is that you don’t have to clean your dryer vent more than twice a year. At least with this kit, when the time comes to get it done, you won’t feel any anxiety or doubt about how to do so. This product is also on sale now, so you can purchase your kit for just $22.
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.
Let’s all just admit it — there are some people in our inner circle, be it a picky sister or a Mom who has everything — that are just so difficult to shop for, they cause you to stress all season long. I’m a fan of keeping a running gift list throughout the year with ideas and still, there is one person on said list (who shall remain anonymous) that remains totally blank up until the week before Christmas, at which point true panic sets in. I often wish there was some helpful list out there that basically alerted me to great gift ideas for anyone and everyone — even the pickiest among us.
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Well, turns out there is. Allow me to introduce you to Amazon’s Most Wished For section, which curates a selection of the retailer’s most in-demand items for others to browse and get ideas from. These are well-loved items that have repeatedly (and frequently!) been added to registries and wishlists on Amazon’s site, so you know they make for great gifts. The picks range from cozy sheets and cool barware to one of our favorite items here at AT: Bissell’s Little Green Multipurpose Upholstery Cleaner.
To be honest, seeing this petite-yet-powerful machine on Amazon’s Most Wished For list wasn’t exactly a shock — after all, it has a wide-reaching fan club, both among our editors and on social media. Billed as a do-it-all upholstery spot cleaner, Little Green (as it’s affectionately known) has the ability to make quick work of all sorts of stains on your carpet, furniture, bedding, curtains, and more. It boasts a large 48-ounce tank capacity, which will carry you through tackling all of life’s little messes, from those cute (but crusty) paw prints in the entryway to the spilled smoothie on the armrest of your driver’s seat.
Little Green relies on a combination of powerful suction and a tough stain tool to help remove dirt and grime from the surface of almost any fabric. Simply spray on the cleaning solution and water combination, then scrub and suck it up into a separate chamber where you’ll get a first-hand look at just how much ick was hiding in your rug or couch (seriously, you may need to prepare yourself).
Reviewers love this little machine for its powerful results, especially when you consider just how small and easy to carry around it is. While many happy customers have pets or kids in their homes that contribute to the mess, we can promise you this: If you’re someone who has ever spilled a glass of wine or dropped a takeout dumpling on your couch, you could use this too. “I bought this originally because one of my dogs got sick a few months ago,” says one reviewer. “Unfortunately, my carpet is light gray so the stains were pretty prominent, despite scrubbing with a towel, hot soap, water, and vinegar at least five times. I thought the stains were “as good as they’re going to get,” so this device sat in my closet — unopened and unused — for almost two months. When I finally got it out to try last week, let me tell you… I’ve never been more excited to use a cleaning device in my life! I couldn’t just treat the stains, I did the ENTIRE bedroom carpet. (I know, when we turn 30 we suddenly know how to party!) The nasty brown/black water that was coming up with the carpet really put into perspective just how bad it was. You can’t even see the stains anymore — and this is after they sat on my carpet for over two months. This device is magical. Yes, it requires effort, but it’s fun!” Other happy customers called the device “a true lifesaver” and one even went as far as to say they get “giddy” any time they have to use it. Yes, we’re talking about cleaning here.
It may seem like an unconventional gift idea, but if you’re struggling to surprise the picky present critic in your life, this beloved cleaning device might be just the way to do so this holiday season. After all, if its #1 ranking on Amazon’s Most Wished For list is an indication, you won’t be the only one hiding one of these under the tree come December.
