Thirty-Seven Alternatives to Buying New Items for Cleaning Purposes
Rewritten Article:
Hey there! Our team has put together some fabulous recommendations, handpicked by our crack squad of editors. These miracle workers might have been sent as samples, but they're all top-notch! Just a heads-up, BuzzFeed and its partners might take a small chunk of sales from the links in this article.
It's high time to tackle that horror show bathroom in your brand-new abode. Let's get started!
1. Wood Polishing Magic
Revamp that creaky wood furniture and the scratched kitchen cabinets with a magical wood polish and conditioner. Say goodbye to sky-high renovation costs (which can reach into the tens of thousands!).
2. Watermark Eraser
Mind-boggling, isn't it? That old nail polish remains stubbornly on your nightstand after years and refuses to disappear. Tame it down with a watermark-removing cloth—it's a true gamechanger.
3. Oven Cleaner
Don't let a greasy oven put a damper on your dreams. Whatever your budget, give this fume-free oven cleaner a shot—it'll make your appliance look like new!
4. Bar Keepers Friend
Want to know a secret? Bar Keepers Friend can transform almost any household item, from filthy car headlights to stubborn pots and pans. Its power is boundless!
5. Goo Gone
No more orphaned fridge magnets or sticky garage window decals. Goo Gone to the rescue! This magical concoction breaks free the grippiest adhesives.
6. Rust Removing Spray
Bid farewell to that rust-covered shower surround—let the rust-removing spray work its magic, no elbow grease required. No need to splurge on a replacement yet!
7. Water Bottle Cleaners
Ever noticed that reusable water bottles seem caked with muddy grime? Fret not! Water bottle-cleaning tablets will erase that stubborn grime, keeping your tumblers pristine and eco-friendly.
8. Pumice Stone
Looking for a quick fix for an old toilet in your fresh new home?...Pumice stone to the rescue! Scrub away hard-water stains and instantly breathe some new life into your porcelain throne.
9. Makeup Brush Cleaner
We both know you should wash those makeup brushes more often than you do, but fear not! A reviewer-loved makeup brush cleanser makes the chore a breeze.
10. Silver Polish
You've been tottering on the edge of letting go of those heirloom pieces, right? Don't! Give them a new lease on life with this silver polish and bring back that rich luster.
11. Silver Polishing Wipes
If you're hesitant to take on polishing your heirlooms, give these silver-polishing wipes a go. They make the process easier and may even inspire you to bring out the heirlooms you were considering decluttering.
Package includes 20 saturated wipes.
Promising review: "It was so satisfying to watch the tarnish wipe right off! I'm no silver snob, so I'm not sure if this product is the best for your high-end silver, but for me, it definitely does the trick! (It took three to four wipes for the pitcher and two for the cream and sugar bowls.) It looks like I probably used a third of the container. (Though the wipes were still very saturated, they had so much black/tarnish, I would start a new rag. I'm not sure if it's recommended to just keep using it even when it gets all ruddy?) So this might not be the most reasonable option if you have a large amount of silver."
Get a container of 20 wipes from Amazon for $9.97.
12. Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Clean your dirty jewels—your kitchen-sink eating days are over! With this gadget, you can tackle worries such as dirty, dusty, and grime-covered jewelry, eyeglasses, and watches in five preset cleaning cycles, leaving them spotless.
Gently removes dirt, dust, and grime from jewelry, eyewear, and watches.
Promising review: "I just used this, and I am IN LOVE!! I paired it with the Blitz jewelry cleaner. My rings were gross from lotion, sunscreen, hand soap, sweat etc. I don't have time to run to my jeweler to get them professionally cleaned. This does the trick, and same exact results! In three minutes 💕"
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
13. Cleaning Pen
Give your jewels a gentle once-over with this clever cleaning pen. It's packed with micro-fine cleansers, polishing agents, and a polymer to give your jewelry a pro-level shine at a price that's as reasonable as your morning coffee order.
Promising review: "I worked several years in a fine jewelry store that sold this product. We used the Dazzle Stik from time to time to add a quick shine to merchandise that was just tried on, and on days our jeweler was not there to professionally clean items. I was always impressed with the instant shine the diamond stick provided. The brush tip is very helpful for getting under the stones and in the setting where gunk builds up, reducing that brilliant shine. I recently got engaged and immediately purchased a Diamond Dazzle stick of my own. It's the perfect way to quickly give my ring some shine before leaving the house. You simply brush, rinse, dry, and go. I don't feel this product replaces the need to professionally clean your jewelry every now and then, but it does help with the maintenance of that new shiny sparkle."
Get it from Amazon for $6.84.
Check out our full review of Diamond Dazzle Stik here!
14. Jetted Tub Cleaner
Are you ready for an icky sludge showdown? Run this jetted tub cleaner through your plumbing system and watch the grossness emerge like some ‘Ghostbusters’ nightmare—all while being septic-safe.
Promising review: "OK, so I am somewhat of a clean freak, and I run bleach through the jets prob twice a month on top of my daily weekly cleaning. And I was skeptical about how this product could get it any cleaner than I thought it was. Well, I am here to tell you this pic is after the second cleaning with this cleaner!!!! I am a believer and would highly recommend this product to anyone with a jetted tub!!"
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
15. Drill Brush Cleaning Kit
Tackle a whole host of appliances and even your grill with this drill brush cleaning kit which you can attach to your drill/driver. Final score—tube-shaped filth 0, you 1!
Useful Products is a US-based small business that specializes in drill-cleaning brushes and attachments.
16. Mold and Mildew Removal Gel
Transform your bathtub into a time-travel device with this mold and mildew removal gel. Apply, wait six hours, and voila! No more scrapping out caulk or recaulking needed.
Promising review: "Wow! After YEARS of elbow grease and zero results, I tried this stuff before giving up and stripping the old caulking from the top of my shower. I'm so glad that I did too! I mean, look at these results! Granted, it was on for about eight hours instead of six because I forgot about it, but the black mold/mildew just rinsed away—no scrubbing at all! STOKED! Super easy to use too!"
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
17. Lint Trap Brush
Make sure your dryer runs efficiently and saves you cash by cleaning out that lint trap with a special brush.
18. Charcoal Inserts
Keep your favorite flats smelling fresh and fabulous with some charcoal inserts. Splash some vino, not sorrow.
19. Hard-Water Booster
Give your beloved Pyrex bowls some TLC with a hard-water booster. Those bowls are worth a fight!
20. Dishwasher Cleaning Tablets
Take the stress out of load rewashing and keep your dishwasher in tip-top shape with these cleaning tablets.
21. Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets
Tired of having to rewash loads because of cleaning product buildup? Let these tablets lend a helping hand.
Designed to penetrate, dissolve, and remove odor-causing residue. Tablets dissolve slowly, lasting throughout the entire wash cycle and breaking up residue better than bleach. Safe to use with front-load washing machines, top-load washing machines, and high-efficiency (HE) and conventional washers. Recommended for monthly use.
Promising review: "This is really the only HE washer cleaner I buy. It leaves my washer with that fresh smell—not that it stinks—and clean after each use. How do I know it's clean? I can see some the residual gunk on the inner wall of the washer drum when the cleaning is done. I just have to wipe it off of course. Using other brands, I can't even tell if the appliance has really been cleaned or not."
Get a five-pack from Amazon for $10.99.
22. Magic Erasers
Wow, Magic Erasers are incredibly versatile. Use them on grungy tubs, marks on walls, and even that wooden outdoor furniture you thought was destined for the dumpster.
23. Red Wine Stain Remover
Prepare yourself for accidents because they will happen, but you can be ready with this red wine stain remover.
24. Grandma's Secret
Say good-bye to those pesky stains that make you want to yell swear words. Grandma's Secret is the under-the-radar solution for your toughest messes.
25. Headlight Restoration Kit
Transform those black suede (or nubuck!) boots of yours with a powerful shoe cleaner. Don't let Junior tell you they can't be saved!
Promising review: "I have had my Nike Roshe runs for about a year now, and I don't go easy on them. I play sports and run in the dirt with them all the time, but I also like to wear them for fashion purposes. Pink Miracle helped restore my daily shoes to look like I just bought them – now I can wear them for even longer. Very pleased with Pink Miracle. I will buy it again when I run out of my bottle."
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
26. Ink Remover
Erase pen accidents and turn hand-me-downs into treasures with this ink remover.
Promising review: "Amodex took ink out of my expensive scrubs. A pen leaked in my pocket and made a thick glob of ink stain on the scrub jacket and a little on the pants. After using the Amodex and washing in cold water, there is no evidence of a stain, and the fabric looks exactly how it looked before the stain. There was no damage or discoloration of the fabric. Thank you, Amodex. This product just saved me the $75 that it would have cost to replace the scrubs."
Get it from Amazon for $17.94.
Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
- The magical wood polish and conditioner found in the market can help polish both your creaky wood furniture and scratched kitchen cabinets, making them look almost as good as new.
- If you're looking for a way to renew your heirloom silver pieces, consider trying the silver polishing wipes that come in a package of 20 saturated wipes.
- Worried about the news that your appliances might be old and need replacing? Fizz up your oven with a fume-free oven cleaner and it'll make your appliance look like new, giving it a chance to renew its lifespan.
