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The Best Cleaning Tools

Last updated on August 3, 2024
Categories Cleaning, Home Tags

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Cleaning Tools

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
 Top Pick

Holikme Drill Scrub Brush Attachments Cleaning Tools, 20-Piece

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Holikme

Drill Scrub Brush Attachments Cleaning Tools, 20-Piece

Here is a 20-piece set drill attachment set that doesn't mess around. It has nine scouring pads with different stiffnesses, six power scrub brushes, a scrub sponge and an extension rod that fits right onto impact drivers and cordless drills.

Overall Take

Scour with PowerUse these super-strong cleaning tools on oven cooktops, bathroom sinks, showers, grills, tires and wheels.

 Runner Up

DREMEL Versa Rechargeable Power Scrubber Tool & Accessories, 7-Piece

DREMEL

Versa Rechargeable Power Scrubber Tool & Accessories, 7-Piece

This versatile, cordless high-speed (2,200 prm) power scrubber from Dremel gets into tight spaces, cleans and shines up surfaces and has a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. It comes with accessories, a USB charger and a power cord.

Overall Take

A Trusted Brand NameYou can use this power scrubbing kit both indoors and out for dry and wet cleaning applications.

 We Also Like

Runloon Assorted Gap & Track Cleaning Tools, 8-Piece

Runloon

Assorted Gap & Track Cleaning Tools, 8-Piece

Affordably priced, this eight-piece cleaning set is engineered for small spaces. It includes two track cleaning tools, two dustpan brushes, a swan-shaped track cleaning brush, a window blind brush, a groove gap brush and an appliance brush.

Overall Take

Gets Into Small SpacesKeep this cleaning set in your home and you’ll always be able to get dust, debris or gunk out of tight spaces.

 Also Great

LEOBRO Nylon Bristle Gap Brushes Cleaning Tools, 4-Piece

LEOBRO

Nylon Bristle Gap Brushes Cleaning Tools, 4-Piece

Leobro's set of four tools includes three ergonomic track-cleaning brushes for hard-to-get-into areas like computer keyboards and window tracks plus one dustpan cleaning brush. They have nylon bristles and a hole for hanging.

Overall Take

Keeps Your Home ImmaculateYou’ll love the smart design of these track brushes; one end sweeps away dirt, and the other is a scraper.

Buying Guide

The best cleaning tools make cleaning less of a chore. After all, who wants to spend hours scrubbing away at stubborn dirt? Today’s designs are made to make the work easier on your body while saving time — and are less expensive than you might think.

Look for products that work on more than one surface and can be used indoors and out. You can find attachments that fit onto drills, allowing you to press the “on” button to scrub away at stubborn stains on your outdoor grill, bathroom sink and other surfaces.

These drill scrubbers are sold in sets and have different attachments for each type of chore. Be sure to use the correct one! Some are more abrasive than others, and you don’t want to scratch anything. Some even include a drill, so you don’t have to worry about how the attachments fit. Most of these are affordably priced, too.

Smaller multi-purpose tools that are not powered by electricity are great for cleaning nooks and crannies, like shower door tracks, blenders and coffee filters. Look for dual-duty ones with one end to brush and one end for scraping; some may even have three ends. They might also have holes or hooks for hanging; otherwise, dedicate a drawer for them so they won’t get lost.

Window squeegees are another important cleaning tool to have, and some come with different heads that you can switch out. Some of the heads are made from rubber, while others are made from dense foam. If you have high windows, get a squeegee with a long extension pole. Take the proper safety precautions if you plan to use it while standing on a ladder.

What to Look For

  • When cleaning computer keyboards, do not use soap or water; use products specifically made for this purpose.
  • Squeegee heads have to be replaced from time to time. Read the product description when you purchase the squeegee. You might want to order extra heads at the same time.
  • You can also use squeegees to clean car windows, floors and countertops.
  • Scrubber drill attachments are perfect for detailing cars.
  • The first thing to do when cleaning a room is to remove the clutter, so keep a tray or bucket in hand so you won’t have to keep making trips back and forth.
  • Clean things like soap dishes, toys and dusty fixtures in your dishwasher.
  • Use dryer sheets to dust shelves.
  • Clean your shower while you are in it! Use a mild cleaning agent with vinegar and a brush for nooks and crannies.

More to Explore

Some of the first tools humans used were for cleaning — the first human civilizations in Mesopotamia used brooms for sweeping. And, of course, water was the formula of choice for a long time, although the first soaps were used as early as 2800 B.C.E. in Babylon. They were made from fats boiled with ashes. In ancient Greece, people started collecting and using natural sea sponges from the ocean for cleaning purposes.

Modern cleaning methods started to come around in the early part of the 20th century, with inventions like polyurethane foam in the 1930s by Otto Bayer, who turned it into sponges. Windex was invented in the 1920s and the technology for vacuums was created in the early 1900s as well. Modern dish soaps entered the scene after World War I, using chemicals to replace more natural materials made rarer by wartime needs. Meanwhile, in 1907, Scott Paper Company started selling paper towels.

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