My husband Dave, bless his heart, has a talent for creating clutter. While he would insist that the little piles of his stuff around the house are not clutter, the dictionary defines clutter as “a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass,” so you tell me! ;-)

But I’ve recently instituted a new organization system around the house for keeping his clutter (excuse me, his “piles”) under control. And this system has turned out to be so simple and effective that I want to share it with all of you in today’s post!

As it turns out, the secret to controlling clutter isn’t eliminating it outright—it’s about finding the right place for it!

Related: Tired of Clutter? Focus on These 7 Areas to Make a Huge Difference

The Simple Secret to Controlling Clutter: “Dump Zones”

Setting up strategically located “dump zones” around your home is an easy way to help keep clutter under control. But what is a dump zone, exactly?

A dump zone is simply a place you can store those miscellaneous items (i.e. clutter) to keep them out of the way. If that sounds like your “junk drawer” at home, that’s because a junk drawer is a type of dump zone!

But even if you do already have a junk drawer, I highly recommend setting up at least a couple of other dump zones around the house. Having several different zones helps prevent any one of them from getting too cluttered.

How to Set Up Your Own Dump Zones

Step 1 – Choose an Area

You can set up as many dump zones as you want, but aim to have at least one in each of the clutter hot spots in your home. For example, if your living room seems to be magnet for clutter, you’ll definitely want to set up a dump zone there.

Other ideal spots for a dump zone might include your entryway, bathrooms, kitchen, bedroom, and home office.

Step 2 – Choose a Container

After you’ve decided where you’re going to set up a dump zone, you’ll need to decide what it will look like. An empty drawer is an obvious candidate, but they’re hard to come by in most houses!

More often than not, a simple container is all you need! Pick a decorative box, basket, or tray to use as your dump zone container, then choose the a convenient spot for it within the room. (Convenience is key here, or you run the risk that no one will actually use it!)

Step 3 – Use It!

Now that your dump zone is up and running, all that’s left to do is use it! The dump zone in your living room could house toys, throw blankets, or magazines, while the dump zone in your bathroom might hold bobby pins, products, and jewelry.

Having dump zones in clutter-prone rooms makes tidying up quick and easy. Just pick up anything that’s lying around and put it in the dump zone!

Just make sure to go through your dump zones every once in a while and get rid of whatever you don’t need. This system is meant to control clutter after all, not create more of it! :-)

Do you have any dump zones around your house?

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Your local dollar store (and here I’m referring specifically to stores that sell many things for $1, rather than more general discount stores like Family Dollar) can be a great place to buy all kinds of different products. But while $1 usually sounds like a good deal in the abstract, it isn’t always going to be the best price you can find!

Dollar stores aren’t as common as they once were, unfortunately. Back in 2021, Dollar Tree raised their base price to $1.25, and also added items that are priced even higher. Most “dollar” stores still have some items that cost around a buck, and some have a specific section of the store where everything is a dollar. You might have to do a little investigating in your area to find the stores with the most one-dollar items, but they can still be found!

In order to ensure you’re getting the most bang for your buck at the dollar store, I decided to do some fact-finding so I could put together a list of dependably good deals you can find at the dollar store. I’ll be sharing that list with you in today’s post, and although every dollar store is going to be a little different, it should give you a good idea of what to keep an eye out for.

And as always, I’d love to hear from you about what you typically buy at the dollar store – and let me know if the price has gone up! If there’s anything you think is missing from this list, share it with us in a comment at the end of this post. :-)

17 of the Best Things to Buy at the Dollar Store

1. Party Supplies

Stocking up on supplies for a party can cost a small fortune at a party supply store or big box store. Get your party supplies at the dollar store instead, especially if you’re getting balloons too. (You can get up to twice as many balloons for your money at dollar stores than you would somewhere else!

2. Sponges

If you replace your kitchen sponges as often as you should, you may already be aware of how fast a pack of new sponges can get used up! But you can get a 6-pack of sponges at Dollar Tree for a very low price, which lowers your cost per sponge.

3. Dish Towels

You can’t beat dollar store pricing for washcloths and dish towels. While it’s worth considering that they aren’t always the most absorbent or the most durable, you can always set them aside for especially grimy cleaning projects if they don’t work out for kitchen duty.

4. Reading Glasses

In the years since I started needing reading glasses to see my phone or computer, I’ve lost more pairs than I care to admit! If you tend to misplace your readers (or they simply vanish into thin air like mine do), stocking up on a few pairs at the dollar store may not be a bad idea!

5. Cards

At other stores, a single greeting card can cost between $5 and $10 depending on how elaborate it is! If you’re not looking for a card with quality paper or detailed decoration, get your greeting cards at the dollar store instead. (They’ll mean just as much to the recipient, after all!)

6. Bucket

From unexpected plumbing leaks to soaking stained clothing, a plastic bucket is a handy thing to have in any household! Grab one or two extras on your next trip to the dollar store for washing the car, cleaning floors, weeding the yard, and more.

7. Gift Wrap

The cost of wrapping paper, tissue paper, and gift bags can be up to three times as much at other stores. If you’re like me and can’t pass up an occasion to give a gift, stock up on your gift wrap supplies at the dollar store instead and save a small fortune!

8. Seasonal Decor

Most dollar stores offer a surprisingly good variety of seasonal decor items! Pick up a few festive decorations before the next holiday, but you may want to avoid getting your holiday lights there, as lights from discount stores tend to have a poor track record for safety.

9. Storage Bins and Baskets

They may not be the most aesthetically pleasing storage bins you can find, but bins and baskets from the dollar store work just as well as the more expensive ones! At dollar store prices, you can afford to buy enough bins to use in every room to organize toys, craft supplies, clothes, and other items.

10. Bobby Pins

Bobby pins are another one of those items I just can’t seem to hang on to. But I can rest a little easier knowing that I can usually pick up a set of 72 new bobby pins for around a buck at the dollar store. ;-)

11. Dinnerware

The biggest advantage of the dinnerware, mugs, and drinking glasses available at the dollar store is that they’re often available to buy individually. I like to buy one or two extra mugs or plates to keep on hand, so that way I have a quick replacement I can grab in case something breaks.

12. Travel Toiletries

You can usually get a good deal on travel-sized toiletries like toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, and soap at the dollar store. They’re great for travel (especially if you’re flying with just a carry-on bag) or to keep handy in a purse, car, or backpack.

13. Card Games, Balls, and Bubbles

Card games, balls, bubbles, and other low-tech toys don’t tend to vary much in quality no matter where you buy them. So save a few bucks and pick up these items at the dollar store instead.

14. Small Notebooks

You can usually get standard-sized notebooks for less than $1 at Walmart, but other sizes tend to be more expensive. That’s why I like getting small notebooks (and notecards too) at the dollar store, which are great for making lists and jotting down reminders for myself.

15. Mailing Supplies

Mailing supplies can be dirt cheap at some stores, but cost an arm and a leg at others! I’ve found that dollar stores are a good place to save on mailing supplies, especially on things like bubble mailers, bubble wrap, and packing tape.

16. Pens & Markers

If you can find name-brand pens or markers at your local dollar store, go ahead and stock up! If not, you may want to steer clear—nothing is more frustrating than ending up with a whole box of pens that refuse to work properly.

17. Craft Supplies

Have kids or grandkids that love art or making crafts? You can save a lot of money by stocking up on craft supplies like stickers, popsicle sticks, pom poms, beads, and other items at the dollar store.

All in all, dollar stores can be a great place to find a bargain. Just make sure you shop carefully and mindfully because it’s easy to buy things you don’t necessarily need when everything costs a dollar!

What do you like to buy at the dollar store?

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Recently, it seems like everyone on Instagram has been posting “before and after” pictures of Folex stain remover spray next to miraculously spotless (formerly soiled) shirts, chairs, and carpets. After seeing the same product over and over alongside claims like “you NEED this in your life!”, I needed to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

The product is Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover, and unbeknownst to me, it’s actually been around for decades. I ordered some on Amazon and put it to the test, and even in my limited experience with it, it certainly seems to be living up to its 5-star average rating.

Today, I’ll be sharing the most important things for you to know about this stain remover. My goal is to give you the information you need to decide whether it could make a useful addition to your cleaning arsenal.

6 Things You Should Know About Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover

1. It Works on a Variety of Stains and Fabrics

Old stains, new stains, carpet stains, clothing stains, furniture upholstery, car interiors—so far, this stain remover seems to work well on just about any stain on any sort of fabric. For example, I tried using Folex on an outline around a pet stain I had treated a few months previously, and it had no trouble removing that months-old mark.

2. It’s Easy to Use

This stain remover is not only easy to use, but it’s pretty fun to use too! It’s especially great to use on fresh stains because you get to watch them essentially disappear before your very eyes!

It’s a gentle yet powerful formula, which means you can keep elbow grease to a minimum. No rinsing or scrubbing is required—simply spray and blot, and the stain will be gone in no time.

3. It’s Unscented

Harsh chemicals and synthetic fragrances in cleaning formulas can easily irritate allergies, and you don’t necessarily want to use them around children or pets. But this formula doesn’t have any fragrance or harsh chemicals, so that’s one less thing for you to worry about.

4. It’s Water-Based

One of the downsides of stain removal is that they can sometimes—regardless of whether they’re homemade, natural, store-bought, or commercial—leave marks behind, especially if they’re difficult to “rinse” or lift out after you’ve applied them. But Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover is a water-based formula, which makes it much less likely to leave behind residues, marks, or discoloration.

5. It Can Be Expensive

There are a couple of potential downsides to this stain remover that you ought to be aware of, the first being its price. If you buy Folex at a home improvement store, the price is more reasonable, but it’s fairly expensive to get it on Amazon.

So I would say that if you already have a compelling reason to stop by Home Depot, you might as well add it to your shopping list if you’re interested in trying it. Otherwise, it’ll be more cost-effective to make your own stain remover at home.

6. It’s Not Ideal for Every Stain

The other downside (well, it’s more of a reality check, really) is that it isn’t great for pet stains. The best stain remover for pet stains is an enzyme cleaner (as opposed to water-based Folex), which is more effective at eliminating the odors associated with bodily fluids, feces, etc.

The Takeaway

Overall, I would give Folex Instant Stain Remover a score of 9/10. It lives up to its reputation and it’s extremely user-friendly. For me, it has enough advantages to make up for the steeper price and the fact that it isn’t ideal for every single stain under the sun (which I don’t think any stain remover actually is).

If you decide to give it a try for yourself, let me know what you think!

Have you tried any new cleaners or stain removers lately?

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Say Goodbye to Hairbrush Buildup

Learning how to clean a hairbrush was essential for me, because for some reason my husband likes to spray his hairbrush first and then run in it through his hair. It causes this sticky layer of buildup on the hairbrush, and it is not attractive. Most of the time, though, he cleans his own hairbrush, so I don’t have to deal with that mess.

But even though I don’t usually get any sticky buildup on my hairbrush, I realized the other day that it had been a while since I cleaned my own brush! So I decided to do a little research and find out how I should be cleaning my hairbrushes, and how often. I also found out how to get dust and hair out of a hairbrush before cleaning it, and I’ll be sharing all of that with you today! :-)

I actually have 3 different hairbrush cleaning methods to share with you. Each method is best for a particular type of hairbrush, so make sure to read the descriptions carefully so you can choose the best method for your brush. But before we get to the cleaning methods, I want to begin by explaining a little bit about why it’s so important to keep your hairbrush clean.

Related: 9 Important Things You Should Replace in Your Bathroom

Why Clean Your Hairbrush?

Any brush or tool that you use on your skin or hair needs to be cleaned regularly, including your hair brush. Not only does hair build up on your brush over time, but it can also accumulate hair products, dead skin cells, dust mites, lint, dust, and the natural oils from your hair.

Buildup on your hair brush can turn into a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, and that’s definitely not what you want! Cleaning buildup out of your brush regularly ensures you’re not brushing bacteria and other gunk into your hair.

That brings us to the second reason to keep your brush clean: to keep your hair looking fabulous! If you use a hairbrush that’s covered in hair, product, and other gunk, brushing your hair could leave your hair looking less clean than it did before.

How to Get Hair out of a Brush

You should remove the hair trapped in your hairbrush around once a week. To get hair out of a brush, use a pair of scissors, a thin comb, a paper clip, or even a bamboo skewer to lift it out. (You can also buy a special comb cleaning tool online for just a few dollars!)

In addition to weekly hair removal, you should wash your brush thoroughly about once a month. (Unless it’s a delicate or natural brush, in which case you can clean it once every other month.) The best method for washing/deep cleaning your brush depends on what kind of brush it is, so I’ve included instructions for three common brush types below.

How to Clean a Hairbrush

Method #1 – For Sturdy Plastic Brushes & Combs

This method is great for vented brushes, combs, and any other hair tool made of sturdy plastic. That means no squishy parts, no wood, no natural fibers or materials. Just a good old plastic brush!

You’ll need:

• A toothbrush
• 4 cups hot water
• 1 Tbsp shampoo
• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• A large bowl

Directions:

Start by mixing the water, shampoo, and baking soda in the bowl. Place your brush(es) in the bowl and allow them to soak for 20 minutes or so.

Then use your toothbrush to scrub the base and bristles for a few minutes to cut through any remaining gunk. Once the brush is clean, rinse it under clean water and let it dry completely on your countertop.

Related: 11 Unexpected Things You Can Clean with Your Old Toothbrush

Method #2 – How to Clean Plastic & Metal Brushes

This method is good for a wide variety of brushes, including paddle brushes, round brushes, and wet brushes. Make sure your brush is made of plastic or metal before following these instructions. (We’ll focus on natural materials next!)

You’ll need:

• A toothbrush
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 tsp shampoo
• 1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Stir the shampoo and baking soda into the water, and swish it around to mix. Dip your toothbrush into the cleaning solution and apply it to the brush bristles and the base they are attached to. Brush gently, but thoroughly. (If your brush has a squishy base, try not to get it too wet to avoid mildew issues.

When you’re finished cleaning, dip the toothbrush into clean water and go back over any soap areas to “rinse” them clean. Use a towel to dry the brush as much as you can, and allow it to dry on your countertop bristle-side down.

Method #3 – How to Clean Wooden Brushes & Natural Bristles

This method is the one you want to use if your brush has a wood handle or natural bristles. It’s the gentlest method and will help keep a delicate brush clean without causing damage.

You’ll need:

• A toothbrush
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil

Directions:

Add the Tea Tree oil to the water and stir. Dip your toothbrush in, and use it to gently brush the bristles and handle.

Don’t use too much of the water mixture, because you want to keep it as dry as possible. Once you’re finished cleaning it, simply wipe the brush down with a clean, dry cloth, then let the brush dry bristle-side down.

You might also enjoy these posts:

• 11 Simple Tips for Taking Care of Your Aging Hair
• 11 Simple Things You Can Do to Stop Hair Loss

When is the last time you cleaned your hairbrush?

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The only thing that beats the feeling of unwrapping a protective layer of bubble wrap to reveal what’s inside is popping a few of the bubbles afterward! But while we already love bubble wrap as a packing material and as a fun form of stress relief, today’s post will give you even more reason to appreciate bubble wrap.

Along with protecting valuables in storage or in the mail, you can use bubble wrap in a number of other ways that you may have never even considered! To show you just what this versatile material is capable of, I’ll be sharing 9 uses for bubble wrap below that I’ve found to be useful around the house.

These 9 uses are reason enough to hang onto every piece of bubble wrap that comes into your home—even if it means resisting the urge to pop all those bubbles!

Note: We used both large-style bubble wrap and standard bubble wrap with smaller bubbles in these photos. Either type will work for the majority of these uses, but it’s nice to have options!

9 Practical Uses for Bubble Wrap

1. Protect Your Produce

Protect your fresh produce by cutting a piece of bubble wrap to fit snugly inside the produce drawer in your fridge. Once the bubble wrap is in place, replace the fruits and veggies in your produce drawer.

The bubble wrap will help prevent the produce from rolling around as much when you open and close the drawer. And fewer bumps in the drawer means fewer bruises!

2. Make an Insulated Grocery Tote

Instead of buying a fancy insulated bag to keep your groceries cold on the way home from the store, you can DIY one using bubble wrap! Just line the inside of one of your reusable grocery bags with bubble wrap, and the bubbles will help insulate your groceries so they don’t melt before you can bring them inside. (Bonus: You can also use your insulated tote to keep hot foods warm!)

3. Insulate Drafty Windows

Feeling chilly due to drafty windows? You can insulate those windows to keep your house warmer with just some bubble wrap and a bit of water. To learn how to use bubble wrap to insulate your windows, check out this post.

4. Protect Your Windshield from Frost

Bubble wrap can be just as effective at insulating car windows as it can be for the windows in your home. This can be particularly useful when it’s supposed to get cold overnight and you’d like to avoid the delay that comes along with having to scrape ice off your windshield in the morning!

Protect your windshield from frosting over by covering it in a sheet of bubble wrap overnight, using your windshield wipers to hold it in place. The next morning, simply remove the bubble wrap and you’ll be ready to go!

5. Cushion Uncomfortable Handles

The handles on buckets, crutches, brooms, and other items can be uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time, and even cause painful blisters. But you can cushion troublesome handles to make them easier to hold by wrapping a piece of bubble wrap around them and securing it with a couple of rubber bands.

I’ve found that cushioning my broom handle has been especially helpful when I use it for my favorite bathtub cleaning method. It makes it easier to scrub thoroughly without any added discomfort!

6. Protect Your Knees in the Garden

A few hours of working out in the yard or garden can be really tough on the knees! But you can make it easier on them by fashioning some knee pads out of bubble wrap.

Use a few pieces of bubble wrap and some tape to fasten “bubble patches” onto the knees of your pants. Whether you’re kneeling on concrete or grass, the bubble wrap will protect your knees from hours of discomfort—both while you work and afterward!

7. Silence and Protect Storage Boxes

Whether it’s your tool box or a storage box of craft supplies, the box itself can get pretty banged up if there are heavy or sharp objects inside. (Not to mention the racket it probably makes when you’re moving it from place to place!)

But you can protect hard cases and tool boxes by lining their interior with bubble wrap. Not only will this protect the box and the contents inside it, but it’ll make it much less noisy too!

8. Keep Your Plants Warm

Another useful way to take advantage of bubble wrap’s insulating qualities is for keeping your plants warm during a cold snap. If there’s a hard freeze warning in your area or a cold front approaching, wrap your pots up with bubble wrap to keep them warm (or wrap bubble wrap around a plant cage and set it over plants in your garden.) Your plants will thank you!

9. Fix a “Sweaty” Toilet Tank

Since toilets are almost always connected to the cold water line, the water in the tank is often significantly colder than the air in the bathroom. Much like it does on a cold can of Diet Coke, this can cause condensation to form on the outside of your toilet’s water tank and make it look “sweaty.”

But you can eliminate the condensation issue by lining the inside of your toilet tank with bubble wrap. Just turn off the water, flush the toilet to empty the tank, and use a silicone sealant to glue a few sheets of bubble wrap to the walls of the inside of the tank.

When the sealant has dried, you can turn the water back on to refill the tank. No more condensation issues, all thanks to a little bubble wrap!

Are there any other uses for bubble wrap you would add to this list?

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I really hate to admit it, but I can be a pretty forgetful person at times. Despite my best intentions, if I have a lot on my plate, text messages are often left half-written, online purchases are left in the shopping cart, and chores get pushed to tomorrow.

But I also know that many home maintenance tasks are too important to forget, procrastinate, or ignore! I was sure that there were tasks that I wasn’t addressing as often as I should, but I was also sure that I wasn’t alone in that!

So I did some research on the topic, and I’ve come up with a list of nine important home maintenance tasks that we could all probably stand to address more often. So here’s to us all taking a step toward diligent and attentive home maintenance! :-)

9 Important Home Maintenance Tasks You Might Be Neglecting

1. Air Filters, Vents, & Ducts

It’s important to change the air filter in your home’s HVAC system at regular intervals. Dirty air filters can actually inflate your energy bill and aggravate allergies or breathing problems! But how often you should you change your air filter?

That depends on a few different factors, like how many people live in the house, if anyone has allergies, if you have pets, etc. So someone who lives alone might be fine replacing their filter every 3 months, but an allergy-sufferer with a few kids and a couple of dogs would be better off replacing their filter every month.

In addition to changing your air filter, you also need to keep the vents and ducts of your HVAC system clean. Keep your vents clear by tackling them with your vacuum every few months. Cleaning your ducts is probably a job you’ll want to hire a professional for, and that can be done just once per year. (Add “get ducts cleaned” to your annual spring cleaning list!)

2. Dryer Hose & Vent

Did you know that clothes dryers are one of the leading causes of residential fires? And it’s not because dryers are inherently dangerous – it’s because a lot of people don’t clear out their lint traps and dryer hoses nearly as often as they should!

If it’s not a habit already, you should start emptying your lint trap every time you use your dryer. You should also inspect your dryer’s exhaust hose a couple of times per year. Just unhook it, use your vacuum to clear out anything stuck in there, and hook it back up. Easy!

There are all kinds of special vacuum attachments that can help you get into the nooks and crannies of your dryer to clean out lint and dirt. This dryer vent cleaning kit is less than $15, but it would be really useful for keeping your dryer well-maintained!

Related: How to Clean and Maintain Your Dryer to Avoid a Fire

3. Refrigerator Coils

Refrigerators have a system of coils that cool and condense the refrigerant that keeps the inside of the fridge cold, and those coils can be real dust and dirt magnets! On some makes and models, the coils are located at the bottom of the fridge. Dust and dirt accumulate under appliances anyways, so those coils can get caked in grime over time.

Grimy coils can’t operate efficiently, which means bad things for your energy bill. (Fridge coils that are on the back of the fridge can also get pretty grimy, so check your coils no matter where they’re located!)

Once or twice a year, you should use your vacuum to clean out your fridge coils. (It would be even easier with a flexible hose like the one I mentioned above!) It’s a simple job, but it has the potential to lower your energy costs and extend the life of one of your major appliances!

4. Gutters

The gutters along your roof can only do their job if they’re kept free of debris. Experts suggest cleaning them twice a year, once as part of your spring cleaning, and then again in late fall when the leaves have fallen.

If you have any trees in your yard that drop fruit, pinecones, or anything else on your roof, you’ll probably want to check your gutters every few months.

5. Ceiling Fans

If your house has any ceiling fans, then you probably already know how dusty they can get. But they’re also easy to overlook when you’re doing your everyday cleaning, especially if you have tall ceilings!

Try to tackle your ceiling fans at least once a month to make sure they’re not just spreading dirt around when you turn them on. I’ve written a whole post about the quickest and easiest way to clean ceiling fans, so no excuses! ;-)

Related: How to Clean Your Ceiling Fan in Seconds

6. Bathroom Fan

When was the last time you really looked at the state of your bathroom exhaust fan? Probably never, right? It’s easy to overlook when you’re not actively using it!

But your bathroom exhaust fan does an important job by whisking moisture out of the bathroom. (Without an exhaust fan, your bathroom would likely be quite humid, soggy, and even mildew-y.)

I wrote a post detailing how to clean your bathroom exhaust fan, which you can view at the link below. Do this process once a month or so to keep your fan running in tip-top shape!

Related: How to Clean That Neglected Bathroom Exhaust Fan

7. Siding

If the outside of your house looks like it could use a facelift, it may be time to clean your siding. I was never quite sure how to clean all the siding on our house, until a couple of years ago when I bought a pressure washer that I found on sale online.

Pressure washers aren’t as expensive as you’d think, and they make jobs like cleaning your siding so easy! It’s actually pretty fun to watch the dirt get blasted away, so my boys usually jump at the chance to do chores that involve the pressure washer. And that suits me just fine! :-)

If you don’t own a pressure washer or want to buy one, you can often rent them for an hourly rate at major hardware stores.

Related: Surprising Things You Can Clean at the Car Wash

8. Stove/Range Hood

Similar to the fan in your bathroom, the fan above your stove has an important job to do. The fan helps draw the air above your stove into a filter, which captures all the greasy airborne oils that are produced when you’re cooking.

But the filter in your range hood can eventually get bogged down with grease and grime, making it much less effective. Replacement filters are easy enough to find online or at hardware stores, or you can try cleaning it following the instructions in my post about how to clean your range hood filter! Either way, you should check the state of your hood filter at least once a year.

Related: How to Clean a Greasy Stove Hood Filter

9. Underneath Appliances & Furniture

Finally, the last easily forgotten household maintenance task I’ll mention is the area underneath your large appliances and furniture. This came to mind just the other day when I was reaching for something I had stored under my bed. I saw how dusty it was down there and thought to myself, “Have I ever vacuumed under there?”

A layer of dust under your bed, couch, or oven may not be a problem for some people. But for others who have allergies or breathing problems, any sort of dust or dirt build-up can be problematic. Shoot to clean under your big furniture and appliances at least once a year.

To help you move your heavy items, recruit a few strong friends or family members for an afternoon. I find that bribing people with food is usually pretty effective! ;-)

I hope these tips have helped empower you to take charge of your home maintenance! With a bit of extra effort, you’re sure to be the best homeowner on the block in no time!

Which of these tasks is at the top of your home maintenance to-do list?

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It’s hard to think of a more frustrating situation than when you finish cleaning something and it looks worse than when you started. The mirror dries streaky. The glasses come out spotted. The stainless steel ends up smeared.

I can promise you that you are not the problem—your tools are!

They say a workman is only as good as his tools, and the same goes for cleaning: any old tool will do an okay job, but the right one does a great job, faster and with less effort.

Today I want to focus on one tool in particular: microfiber cloths. Microfiber cloths are gentle enough for delicate surfaces, yet they have the grip and absorbency to trap messes like few other tools can.

Here are 7 different cleaning tasks that I only trust to microfiber cloths. And by the end of this post, I think you’ll understand exactly why!

7 Things You Should Clean with Microfiber Cloths

1. Shower Walls

Not only are microfiber cloths great for cleaning your shower, but they can help you keep it clean too. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower walls after each use. It’ll pick up any soapy residue and moisture lingering on the walls, helping to prevent soap scum and mildew from taking hold. Use microfiber cloths along with my daily shower cleaner spray to keep your shower looking beautifully clean for weeks.

These towels are incredible. They are great for my new glass shower doors. They work better than a squeegee for a quick, streak free shine.

Ramona

2. Windows & Mirrors

Cleaning your windows and mirrors with microfiber will leave them super shiny and streak-free. Add equal parts water and vinegar to a spray bottle, spray it onto your cloth, and use it to wipe down your mirrors and windows.

I just love these for my mirrors and windows. Just use water, a quick swipe and you are done. Talk about instant gratification!

Shelley M.

3. Granite, Stainless Steel, & Other Kitchen Surfaces

Microfiber is great for cleaning and shining up any surface in your kitchen. It will leave your stone countertops gleaming, and remove smudges and smears from stainless steel. My homemade granite cleaner works great on both stone and stainless steel, and you can learn how to make it here.

Shine, shine, shine! I am shocked at how well these cloths shine my stainless steel appliances. I used to use paper towels for cleaning, but not anymore! 

Teresa A.

4. Eyeglasses & Screens

Use a dry microfiber cloth to clean everyday smears and smudges off your glasses and sunglasses—and your phone, tablet, and TV screens too. And for those rare occasions when you need a bit of extra cleaning power to clean really smeared lenses, you can make a great lens and screen cleaning solution at home—get the instructions here.

I use these smaller cloths to clean my glasses. I don’t know how they get so dirty just sitting on my face, but smudgy glasses drive me crazy. These cloths are soft enough that there is no worry of any damage to the lens, but they clean without streaking, and I don’t need any additional cleaner.

Laurene S.

5. Glassware

Sick of water spots on your glasses and stemware? Just buff them with a microfiber cloth! The cloth will pick up any residue or mineral deposits without the need for additional cleaners.

We have hard water and they are perfect for drying dishes without leaving any spots on wine glasses!

Lynda B.

6. Dusting

Microfiber cloths are excellent for dusting. You can use a dry cloth to pick up light dust and dirt or use a damp cloth to power through thicker dust and grime. And since microfiber is so effective at trapping dirt, you don’t have to worry about spreading the dust around like you do with other types of dusters.

I am so pleased with how these microfiber cloths perform! I am using one with Jillee’s dust spray recipe, and what a difference! Instead of just pushing the dust around, it clings to the microfiber cloth and leaves a sparkling, shiny finish to the surface. I promise you will love these cloths!

Jacqueline F.

7. Spills

Use a dry microfiber cloth to absorb spilled liquids—one cloth can absorb as much as a whole can of soda! You can also use a damp microfiber cloth to clean up spilled dry ingredients, like flour, salt, etc. The wet fibers grab onto even the tiniest particles to make cleaning up spills a breeze.

Very absorbent! They have been very handy for accidental liquid spills where the liquid is immediately captured in the towel, preventing further cleanup!

Joanne

Which Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Should I Buy?

Wondering which microfiber cloths I trust in my own home? I won’t pretend I’m not biased—but only because I spent a long time searching for cloths that checked all my boxes for quality, durability, and performance. And I’m thrilled to say these waffle weave microfiber cloths do exactly that!

Whether you’re drying dishes, wiping down countertops, shining up stainless steel, or cleaning up spills, there’s a cloth in my lineup that’s made for the job:

• Microfiber Kitchen Towels (16” x 23”), set of 2: Perfect for drying dishes, and hands, and soaking up big spills.
• Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (13” x 13”), set of 4: Great for dusting, polishing, and wiping down mirrors and countertops.
• Microfiber Dishcloths (10” x 10”), set of 4: Ideal for scrubbing dishes and keeping the sink area clean.

Why You’ll Love Them

• Quick-Drying & Odor-Free: No more musty-smelling towels—just fresh and ready when you need them.
• Super Absorbent: Holds up to six times its weight in water for effortless drying.
• Built to Last: Machine washable and resistant to fraying, these towels are in it for the long haul.
• Lint-Free Shine: Waffle weave texture leaves glass, stainless steel, and counters streak- and lint-free.
• Soft & Fluffy: They’re as satisfying to use as they are effective—luxuriously soft and ready to tackle any mess.

Stock Up While They’re On Sale

Now is the perfect time to try my microfiber cloths! All three sizes are 30% off, and when you buy three sets, you’ll get a fourth one free.

Or get one set of each size in my Microfiber Cloth Kit for 40% off. That’s $32.38 for all three, and you pick your colors. It’s the easiest way to try all the sizes and find your favorites!

OGT Plus members save more, as always: 40% off the individual sets and 50% off the kit, plus free U.S. shipping on every order.