The ritual of spring cleaning dates back to — well, whenever people started caring about being clean, and for many of us, it’s the one time of year when we actually move the furniture when vacuuming. So if you’re planning on spending the weekend scrubbing, dusting, and de-griming, there are some gadgets that will help you. Be warned though: There’s not a bot for everything just yet.
Suck it up
We say outsource the cleaning where you can. The iRobot Roomba i7+ has great cleaning performance on hardwood and most carpets and is very thorough. Plus, you don’t have to empty it yourself, as it connects to a base station that sucks up the dirt for you.
Bathroom buddies
Cleaning the bathroom is a gross job, but someone has to do it. Let robots do the hard work. The Braava Jetfrom iRobot uses a spray jet to loosen stains on floors and has three types of cleaning pads: wet, damp, and dry. Depending on what type of pad you insert, it will make between one and three passes around your kitchen or bathroom. It’s pretty small, so it should be able to get up close and personal with your toilet.
Clear the air
When it comes to springtime, there’s something in the air, and it’s definitely not just love. In this allergy season, using an air purifier to filter out some of the pollen and other itch-inducing floaties is a must for some sufferers. If you’re in the market for something smart, the Airmega lets you control it from an Android or iPhone app and see the status of your air quality.
Do the shampoo
Vacuuming might get the dust and debris out of your carpet, but it’s not really cleaning it. For that, you need a carpet shampooer. The Bissell DeepClean Professional might be made for pet messes, but it can also be used to suction up that matted-in mess that’s making your carpet a totally different color than when you first bought it.
While cleaning, be sure to use a cleaning solution that is specifically for carpets to get the best clean without any damage.
Go to the mat(tress)
We won’t freak you out with statistics about dust mites and skin cells, but suffice it to say, your mattress needs a good cleaning. There are professionals who will do it for you, but you really only need a vacuum and baking soda. Dyson makes a portable vac specifically designed for mattresses, aka the Dyson V6 Mattress Vacuum, but please note that your ordinary one with the crevice tool should work.
Vacuum your mattress, then spray it with warm water using a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda over the surface while the mattress is still moist and scrub any spots with an old toothbrush. Let it dry, then vacuum up the baking soda.
Putting on the spritz
Lots of people are freaked about what’s in their cleaning products, so the Force of Nature promises to clean more effectively than bleach using only salt, water, and vinegar. The device’s electrical current breaks up the molecules in the solution, and they then reform into sodium hydroxide, which cleans up the grime, and hypochlorous acid, which deodorizes and disinfects. You’ll need to use the company’s capsules, though, because you can’t just use any old mix of the three ingredients.
Free and clear
You just cleaned your closet, and you don’t want your out-of-style or ill-fitting items to end up shoved in the back or in the landfill. There are sites that will take them off your hands, like Dress for Success, which will give someone in need your suit to wear to job interviews. If you want to make some cash off your clothes, though, Thredup will send you a bag. You stick your items in and send them back, and they’ll pay you for them (as long as they’re in good condition) and give them a new home. You get a cleaner closet and some cash.
E-clean
You can’t just use any old cleaner on your electronics, but Cyber Clean will help lift the gunk out from between your keyboard keys, and the Toddy microfiber cloth will clean all your screens. If you have a bunch of old phones lying around, you can try selling them on Gone. If you’re not interested in getting cash but want to keep your conscience and the landfills clean, you could try Excess Access, which matches your stuff with local charities in need, who then come and pick them up. No muss, no fuss.
Help-less
Since the Kitchenbot 3,000 doesn’t yet exist, there are some chores you’ll have to tackle the old-fashioned way. Cleaning the oven and microwave can be a bear, but we have a few quick and chemical-free ways to do so. And don’t neglect the dishwasher! Just because it cleans everything else, that doesn’t mean it’s pristine itself. Clear out the drain, run a cycle with vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack, then follow it up with a rinse cycle and baking soda on the door.
Also, give your washer a deepclean to keep it from making your clothes stinky. Wipe down the seal around the door with a disinfectant wipe, then run a hot water wash cycle without anything in the drum except a cup of white vinegar. So fresh!
I give up
If your house is scary-dirty or you just don’t have the time or energy (but you do have the money), you can always hire someone else to do the work for you on TaskRabbit.
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