Mom-Approved Cleaners and Gadgets
Method All-Purpose Cleaner Spray Four-Pack, $14 (was $18) Method Glass and Surface Cleaner Four-Pack, $14 (was $18) Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum, $40 (was $48) Vitscan Bamboo Charcoal Odor Absorber Bags, $24 Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover, $10 (was $11) Swiffer WetJet Floor Spray Mop Cleaner Kit, $30 Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, $124 iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $180 (was $274) Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuum, $500
When asked to share her go-tos, my mom’s face lit up and she was quick to rattle off several, starting with Method’s spray cleaners. I introduced her to the brand several years ago when I became concerned about the amount of toxic chemicals in most household cleaners. Now the affordable sprays, which are made from plant-based ingredients and packaged in recycled plastic, are her first choice. She loves the variety of scents, which don’t smell harsh or contain fumes and work “better than” products that do. And they don’t streak. The All-Purpose Spray is often used in her house, but it’s the Glass Surface Cleaner, which she uses unorthodoxly on everything—that’s her “holy grail” for its impressive cleaning power. Black and Decker’s cordless handheld vacuum is another find that she’s raved about for years. Case in point: I grew up thinking that all tiny vacuums were called “Dustbusters” because of her affinity for this tiny cleaner that was always kept at full charge in our kitchen. The now-$40 vacuum with 29,000 five-star ratings is great for tackling small messes on all kinds of surfaces. It makes picking up debris fast and easy. And she loves the cordless cleaner so much that it’s become her go-to gift. My brother and my uncle have the same lightweight vacuum thanks to my mom. “You have to have that in every house,” she told me. Vitscan’s bamboo charcoal odor absorber bags are another nifty helper that she’s used for years, especially in my brother’s room. She’s always got a fresh supply ready for when he visits to ensure his smelly gym clothes and shoes don’t stink up the house. She’ll throw some of these deodorizers in his hamper, sneakers, and scatter them all over his room. If only she had discovered these best-sellers charcoal bags when my brother ran cross country in high school. And to my surprise, one automated cleaner, iRobot Roomba’s 694 vacuum, made the list. The smart robot vacuum, which you can schedule to run every day, has proven to be a game-changer in her home with pets. She likes that this is always running in the background, collecting dirt, dust, and dander that’s scattered over hardwoods, rugs, and tiled floors. It helps to keep the floors looking immaculate, so she can vacuum less and focus on projects that require more elbow grease. Thanks to this helper, I haven’t noticed pet hair littering our floors since she adopted a dog and cat a few years ago.
