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Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)
Apartment Therapy received compensation for this post, which was written and edited independently by our editorial team.
When it comes to keeping my kitchen floor clean, I’m always facing a struggle. My kitchen is tiny (64 square feet to be exact!) so it seems as though any grease from frying, sautéing, or pan-searing lingers on just about every inch of the floor. What’s more is that I almost constantly keep the window open to let air flow into the otherwise hot, stuffy, and AC-less space, which means there’s usually dirt and dust that comes in from the city outside, too. No matter how much sweeping, vacuuming, and Swiffering I do, I’m never able to keep my floor clean for more than a day or two. I’d been on the search for a steam mop for a few months now to solve this issue, and I finally have one that cleans up a shocking amount of grime — and keeps the floor clean for days!
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The Shark Genius Steam Pocket Mop is not only impressive when it comes to keeping my hard floors clean, but it’s also super easy to use. And it just so happens to be on sale right now at QVC, along with two head options for even more versatility. I can honestly say I look forward to cleaning my floors now with how simple this steam mop is to use, from set-up to clean-up.
The Shark Genius Steam Mop has proved to be exactly what I needed. I love how easy it is to set up and use. The included pad has inserts for each corner of the mop head, which can then be locked in place, so it won’t slip off while you get to work. I’ve noticed that the pad can also withstand two cleaning sessions in my kitchen as I use just one side per mopping. The pads are large and thick, capable of collecting a ton of dirt and grime.
After putting the pad on, you then fill the water tank with the handy pouring tool included. I was surprised that the mop was instantly ready after filling with water and turning it on, as other mops I’ve tried sometimes required heating up. There are three easy controls that you can switch between while you clean depending on how dirty your floors are.
Perhaps what’s most impressive, however, is the Steam Blaster feature. If you’re working with a particularly stubborn stain, you can flip the mop head around and push down to trigger the release of a targeted burst of steam. I’ve found this helpful in my kitchen to get up food stains, clear out corners, and even clean my grout. When you’re done mopping, you can simply press a button which releases the pad. From there, just toss it in the dishwasher!
This special deal from QVC not only provides the Shark Genius Steam Mop, but also includes an extra triangular head for smaller spaces and tight corners. Plus, you’ll get two rectangular pads instead of one and the triangular pad.
As for my Shark mop, my grandma used it for years before giving it to me, so it seems to be a pretty durable option. For just $100, this steam mop might be just the right investment to have sparkling floors with pretty low effort on your part!
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.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll agree: There’s nothing worse than dirty floors. I mean, I rarely use the word hate, but if there’s one thing I hate, it’s crumbs sticking to the undersides of my socks, pet hair between my toes, and sand attaching itself to my freshly showered feet. But, the truth of the matter is, no matter who you are — if you have children, a surfer boyfriend, a fur baby, or a messy chef in the house — it’s inevitable that you’ll have to clean the floors once in a while. And, while we know of a few stellar products that mitigate various messes, once the crumbs have hit the floor, well, you need a tool that can do the heavy lifting. Or, should I say sweeping!
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There’s no doubt there are loads of powerful vacuums out there to handle all sorts of unexpected floor-ridden emergencies. But sometimes, they, well, suck. Truth be told, I use a broom more often than not — I just find it more effective on my hard wood floors! However, my arms and shoulders aren’t always up to the task of sweeping the whole house. Luckily, some genius people out there invented a solution for the vacuum-evading messes that uses almost zero elbow grease: the Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo.
This nearly silent vacuum has a lot to brag about: 60 minutes of run time, easy to clean, cordless, and it’s incredibly lightweight. This motorized sweeper effortlessly cleans up your floors, no matter what state they’re in. And I’m talking any state. Take it from this mom, who has some serious clean-ups to take care of: “If you’re on the fence about this — let me help you. Today I swept up wet macaroni and cheese, runny scrambled eggs, chewed up mandarin oranges, half a bag of flour and at least three gallons of sand from our sandbox . . . I can confidently say that this is the best purchase I’ve made since becoming a mom . . . 15/10 recommend!” I mean, I dare you to find another vacuum that can suck up runny, scrambled eggs.
So, whether it’s food scraps, cat hair, or chewed-up oranges, this vacuum will make the mess disappear right before your eyes — no matter the surface (hardwood, carpet or tile). And if you suffer from back pain or tired arms, vacuuming will no longer feel like a chore: “This Bissell is lightweight and easy to push. It does the job,” explained another reviewer, “It is quiet too. It’s easy to clean…just dump the tray and snap back in. My first one lasted 3 years of heavy, daily use. This is my 2nd sweeper and I’ll buy a 3rd when this one is finished.” Talk about a content customer! They then went on to praise its run time, “It charges, and the charge lasts about seven days for me, that’s 7x of running over my floors, halls, foyer, etc. Then I plug it in for a few hours to charge and it’s ready for the next 7 days. Totally worth it IMO.” I don’t know about you but a week of run time seems pretty heavenly to me.
And if you’re a pet owner, this device was made for you. As fall creeps up on us, so do the bits of leaves and paw marks covered in mud. “I have two dogs that go out every few hours and bring back a constant trail of leaves, mulch, grass (you get the picture) onto my beige carpet. I finally just stopped putting my vacuum away . . . Sick of tripping over my vacuum I decided to give a motorized sweeper a try. I LOVE this thing!” Wrote in this pet parent.”This Bissell weighs hardly anything, takes up no space, is super easy to empty (from the top- no flipping it over and crap falling out), makes hardly any noise and picks up every visible thing. Even great on dog hair.” I’m so tired of pulling clumps of dog hair out of my broom, so that review alone sold me.
So, if you need a reason to ditch the broom, this is your sign. Why put in extra work when this vacuum does the heavy lifting for you?
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.
Baseboards are one of those features that most homes have, yet they’re chronically overlooked when it comes to tidying up. In fact, when I consider my own family’s weekly cleaning routine, rarely do I remember the white wooden boards that run through every room of the house. And this is unfortunate because they’re the perfect place for dust to accumulate, especially thanks to their tiny ridges. But no matter how spotless your floors and furniture are, dirty baseboards will subtly disrupt a seemingly perfect appearance, so it’s a chore you don’t want to ignore.
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There are so many great dust-busting gadgets for your floors, blinds and other surfaces; my own laundry area is fully stocked with Swiffer refills and microfiber cloths. But on Amazon, you can purchase an ingenious tool specifically designed to clean up those neglected moldings. The Baseboard Buddy has your back — in more ways than one!
To be more specific, this lightweight, mop-like product has a handle that expands up to four feet, meaning you no longer have to crouch down or stand on a stool to spruce up hard-to-reach baseboards. A while back, AT contributor Shifrah Combiths tried the Baseboard Buddy for herself, and her cleaning routine was changed for the better. “As I adjusted the angle of the Baseboard Buddy’s swivel head to my baseboards, it was the first time I felt like there was a tool that effectively reached into the several levels of grooves in my intricate baseboards,” Shifrah shared in her review. “The shape of the cleaning head combined with the length of the fibers makes it obvious that the Baseboard Buddy is carefully made for the duty it’s supposed to accomplish.” She also found that the product’s reusable cleaning pads are much more effective when wet.
In addition to being able to reach difficult areas (which is great for people with mobility issues), the Baseboard Buddy also has a 360-degree swivel head, so you can comfortably clean vertical moldings, as well. And if you want to use it for other surfaces, feel free! “It works wonderfully on all the woodwork, not just the baseboards,” one Amazon shopper wrote. “The long pole made it easy to clean at the top of tall windows.” (Shifrah similarly found the device most useful for cleaning the tops of doors and window moldings.)
Above all, you cannot overestimate the convenience of this tool. “With two dogs and two cats, there’s a lot of fur in my house, and some of it has taken up residence on the baseboards,” an Amazon reviewer reflected. “The baseboard buddy not only cleaned up the baseboards, it saved my knees. I won’t be crawling or duck-walking around the house cleaning the baseboards now.” After reading such glowing remarks, we can confidently say that if your home has baseboards (which I’m almost certain it does), this is one find you need to check out.
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.
Of all the household cleaners I own, the one I think about the least is my glass cleaner. I’ve never strayed from keeping a bottle of Windex stocked at all times to use for wiping windows and mirrors. However, when it comes to just about any other cleaning spray, I’m constantly testing new products. That’s exactly how I came across Therapy Clean, the brand behind the plant-based cleaning products we can’t stop raving about, including their wood cleaner, stainless steel polish, and all-purpose sprays that our readers now love, too.
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After testing their lineup of cleaners in my kitchen and being impressed with their performance and excellent scents, I was eager to try out the Window & Glass Cleaner to see if it would unseat my go-to bottle of Windex. The result? A streak-free kitchen window and oven door with an extremely refreshing aroma. And at just $5 a bottle, it’s hard to find a reason not to try it out!
As with the other Therapy Clean products, there are a few obvious factors I love about this glass cleaner. The first is (unsurprisingly!) 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. The main component of this cleaning formula is white vinegar, plus a mild plant-derived cleanser. The result is an ammonia-free glass cleaner that you’ll be happy to use over and over again.
Therapy Clean takes an aromatherapy approach when coming up with scents, which means that each product has a unique blend that you’ve probably never come across in your surface cleaners before! This glass cleaner smells of mint leaf and fir balsam, with notes of orange, spearmint, geranium, and peppermint. The inviting blend of mint, citrus, and floral scents will actually make you look forward to cleaning your windows. I love spraying it on the window I have in my kitchen so I’m left with a refreshing scent that makes the entire room feel cleaner.
Of course, the most important aspect is how well this glass cleaner performs. Because of its vinegar-based cleanser, it wipes up stubborn spots easily. This is especially useful in my kitchen because I have a small space so just about everything seems to get covered in grime quickly — especially the window. I’ve found that this spray also holds up on its streak-free claim, as I use it on mirrors in my bathroom and bedroom, too, and never need to re-spray to get rid of streaks.
Overall, I’ve been pleased with this affordable plant-based glass cleaner. Clearly, I just can’t get enough of Therapy Clean as almost my entire cleaning shelf has been replaced with their products! I’m such a fan of their simple ingredients, amazing scents, and affordable price points. Now, with this glass cleaner, I can tackle my entire kitchen with no problem — and no harsh odors!
Buy: Therapy Clean Window & Glass Cleaner, $4.95; Therapy Clean Window & Glass Cleaner, 3-Pack, $13.39