There was a long period in my life where I believed everything could and should be cleaned with Windex. While this saved me a lot of money, it wasn’t really practical or useful when it came to actually cleaning my home, but I’m someone who believes in always growing and evolving, so I swapped Windex for better products and kept moving deeper into adulthood, as one does. What I’ve learned along the way, though, is that no one ever really stops growing and improving; swaps and upgrades are necessary all the time! Here are a few of the recent cleaning swaps I’ve made that have been worth it.
Cleaning swaps for the floor
This isn't quite a "swap," but for a few weeks, I was using both the Swiffer WetJet and PowerMop. My opinion on the newer PowerMop and its additional features over the trusty old WetJet hasn't changed since I wrote this more detailed comparison—I still prefer the WetJet—but if you like a bigger pad and guide lights, it might be a solid swap for you. The WetJet starter kit is $28.24 and the PowerMop is just a little over a dollar more at $29.94.
A more significant shakeup in my floor-cleaning routine came courtesy of the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce, a multi-surface wet/dry vacuum that was sent to me by the company after I declared myself a Bissell fan in a roundup of good vacuum sales. It's true: I have loved and cherished my $33.98 Bissell Featherweight Stick, a cheap-but-powerful tool that switches from standard vacuum to handheld dust buster. The Featherweight met all my vacuuming needs and I was consistently surprised how much power it had for something so small. The CrossWave OmniForce, though, meets all my vacuuming needs and mopping needs, which is kind of a big deal, and it has even more of a suction force (obviously) because it's bigger and stronger. You can use the vacuum alone or go dual mode, vacuuming and mopping all at once, and it maintains a decent charge for about half an hour, so you're not tethered to a cord. Two tanks keep clean and dirty water separate and it even has a self-cleaning mode that refreshes the brush roll and moves debris into the dirty tank.
To be clear, I probably wouldn't have made a roughly $300 upgrade on my Featherweight if I hadn't been sent one of these to try out, but I'm really glad I was because it's replaced not only the little vacuum I was using, but my mops, too. Ultimately, it's that two-for-one deal that makes me recommend this as a solid swap, so if you're in the market for a new vacuum or mop, consider this, which speeds up cleaning time considerably simply by not forcing you to switch devices.
The final swap I've made to improve my floors lately is getting rid of my one big, nice rug and replacing it with smaller, cheaper ones in high-traffic areas. Little faux fur runners cost between $18 and $32 on Amazon, are easy to clean with a vacuum, and are cheap enough that I don't freak out if (well, when) I spill on them. They don't look any less cute than the big honking rug that was in the middle of the floor before, so it's been a win-win-win. (Bonus: They make a great, easy backdrop when I'm taking pictures of items I want to sell online.)
Other recent cleaning swaps
A few months ago, I swapped out my regular melamine sponges for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ultra Foamy ($8.89 for five). Obviously, a new-and-improved version of a classic is likely to be, well, improved, and I found these made cleaning things like my tub and tiles a lot faster and easier, but the moment I was truly convinced of the superiority of this swap came when I had to get sticker residue off a new glass tabletop the other night. Melamine sponges are already a go-to for getting stickers off surfaces, but they usually take a while. The Extra Foamy did not. The residue was off in maybe six seconds. It happened so fast I didn't notice at first; I was still scrubbing for a while before I realized there was nothing to scrub. A+ swap.
Cleaning power is one (important) thing, but I'm also really into scents. If a cleaning product doesn't have a nice smell, I'm not repurchasing it. Hell, I'm not using it a second time; it sits untouched on my shelf. For laundry, I usually use Gain, but that still doesn't give me as nice of a scent as I'm looking for. I found a display of laundry detergent at Bath & Body Works recently and after overcoming my surprise that it even existed, was moved to pick it up because it came with an optional corresponding scent booster. I got the Champagne Toast detergent ($19.95) and Champagne Toast booster ($19.95) and have felt very smug every time I get into bed and my sheets still smell like it. With the booster beads, I'd say the smell lasts about a week.
PineSol, the trusty standard in floor- and surface-cleaning, recently launched a formula that is twice as concentrated as the OG. In general, I've found using it similar to using regular PineSol, but I do notice it's a little stronger—and that goes for the smell, too, which is now longer-lasting. That's a big selling point for me, as someone who is very into smells, so I recommend this swap, which isn't very expensive, either. It's $17.49 for one bottle, but since it's stronger, you can use less and still get your jobs done, meaning it'll last.
Finally, I got some really cool products sent to me earlier this month: The spotLESS Bathroom Starter Set. The brand sent me toilet coating spray, mirror coating spray, and fixture coating spray, all of which are designed to repel water and grime, keeping the bathroom cleaner for longer. I didn't even know something like that existed and was, in fact, using baby oil for that purpose on my chrome fixtures. I tested them out, applying them a week ago, and can say I noticed less of a need for another wipe-down after seven days than I normally would. I do get tired of scrubbing, so this is going to be a major come-up for me in the long run and I plan to use these consistently to stave off the task. The starter pack is $24.99 on Amazon.