Cleaning our own homes is the worst. Between dust, pet hair, and dishes from last night’s dinner, it just doesn’t end and we are the only ones to blame. There’s nothing yet that will make it all go away (even robot vacuums have their flaws), but the right products can at least make it easier and maybe even enjoyable. Good news! Some of our favorite cleaning products are on sale right now.
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Deals
Check out our comprehensive eco-friendly cleaning guide for more options, including reusable paper towels and laundry room ideas.
Supernatural is our top choice for cleaning solutions. It’s pricey to get started, but you can find it discounted a few times per year. This kit gets you four hefty glass bottles plus four concentrates each made for cleaning separate spaces: windows and mirrors, counters and granite, bath and tile, and wood and floors. WIRED writer Louryn Strampe says these essential oil blends smell amazing, like fresh botanicals instead of the chemically artificial scents you usually find in cleaning products. Once you’re done, you keep the glass bottles and order refills. Already have a kit? Subscriptions are currently 25 percent off for first-time customers with code SUB25.
You’ll need to buy at least three rags to get the 15 percent discount, but we think they’re already a pretty good value at $7 each. Three Bluebirds dishcloths are biodegradable, made of cellulose and cotton, and they don’t get smelly or mildewy. They come in some cute prints, too. How often you use them will determine their lifespan before starting to degrade, but they should last about 200 washes in either the washing machine or the top rack of your dishwasher.
Floor Cleaner Deals
Read our Best Carpet Cleaners guide for your specific needs and budget.
The Hoover PowerDash is often discounted around this price, but it’s a solid machine I enjoy using when my cats have made my house a hairball disaster. It briefly dipped to $60 on Amazon too, though the price has jumped back up. The compact part of the name is not an exaggeration; I felt it was akin to a toy vacuum in the best possible way. It’s easy to maneuver around furniture or even steps. The handle’s trigger lets you spray solution accurately before you vacuum over them.
The price on the SmartWash often discounts to $270—and we saw it dip to $185 on Prime Day with the inclusion of a storage mat. But this is still a great deal. This carpet cleaner is bigger and a bit more capable than the PowerDash above. In automatic mode, pushing it forward releases the cleaning solution, and pulling it back starts drying the area. You can also turn drying mode on continuously if it needs more passes. The handle of this cleaner can be removed and used as a spot treatment, and there’s also a hose and pet tool for cleaning stairs.
The two previous carpet cleaners are made for smaller jobs, and their size and price reflect that. When you have a house full of carpets that need professional-grade cleaning, you’ll have to pay a professional price. WIRED contributor Simon Hill says the results from the Rug Doctor are the best he’s seen as long as you go slowly, and the suction is strong enough to pick up clumps and leave carpets relatively dry afterward. If you don’t think you’ll use this more than once or simply don’t have the space to store it, consider renting it for $35 instead.
For cleaning hard floors, Shark’s Steam Mop uses, well, steam to get rid of stubborn stains. No need for detergent. It works especially well for tile and laminate, but WIRED contributor Simon Hill warns to be careful if you’re using it on wood; test it on the lowest heat setting first. You’ll get two cleaning pads and they’re machine washable so there’s less waste than a Swiffer.
Air Purifier Deals
Your air should be clean too! A bunch of WIRED Gear writers have been using air purifiers in our pet-filled homes to find options across budgets and sizes.
Air purifiers are unfortunately just an expensive category. This is one of the most affordable purifiers you’re going to find, especially at this sale price. It’s remarkably quiet. In a 190-square-foot room, it can clean the air in just under 13 minutes.
I love the Bissell Air320. My cat allergies are out of control, and nights are particularly hard. Bringing this into my bedroom has allowed me to finally breathe and sleep easier. It also just looks cool with its little wooden feet. It cycles air 4.8 times per hour in a 327-square-foot room, or once an hour in a 1,582-square-foot room. There’s an app for controlling it too. All Bissell purchases help get homeless pets a forever home via the Bissell Pet Foundation
Most of the purifiers on our favorites list have really great designs so they don’t look ugly in the middle of your living room. This one is just gorgeous. It cycles air five times an hour in a 326-square-foot room and it adds cool air too, though it’s not powerful enough to completely cool down a sweltering room. Night mode turns the fan to its lowest setting and shuts off the air quality indicator light.
The Airmega 150 is best for small rooms, as it’s rated to clean up to 214 square feet. It’s quiet, and the touch controls are intuitive, as is the color-coded light indicating air quality. There’s also a light that will turn on when it’s time to replace the HEPA filter.
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