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Good (Enough) Housekeeping (5 of 6)

Posted: 2008-01-07 11:08:24

Tools for the Lazy Cleaner

A variety of new products claim to take the elbow grease out of scrubbing and dusting. How well do they perform? To find out, the Good Housekeeping Research Institute put these grime-fighters to the test. Here, the results plus a handy cleaning tool you won't read about in the magazine:

Hands-Free Mop

The iRobot Scooba ($300; 800-727-9077; irobot.com) is a robot that takes care of your kitchen, foyer, or any sealed hard floor area. The Scooba first picks up dirt; then it washes the floor with water and a Clorox cleaner; finally, it squeegees and dries the floor. It takes about 45 minutes for the Scooba to finish an average-size kitchen floor.

Erase the Mess

Crayon on walls, scuffs on floors, even dried-out refrigerator spills wipe up easily with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Duo ($3; 800-248-1612; mrclean.com). This item is a two-sided cleaner that's the size of a sponge. Dampen the white side to erase messes; use the blue side to soak up any soil or drips.

Clean Your Shower Automatically

If cleaning the shower or tub is a headache, try the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner ($25; 800-558-5252; automaticshowercleaner.com). You hang the gadget from your showerhead and turn it on right after you step out of the shower. In 15 seconds, the shower cleaner will spray the walls and tub with a solution that dissolves soap scum and mildew stains, working with the water left behind. So there's no need to scour or wipe plus it really extends the time between serious shower cleanings.

Cut Through Greasy Dishes

To get crusty cookware clean without scrubbing, drop a Grease Bullet tablet ($10 for 12; 800-261-9131; greasebullet.com) into a sink of hot water and soak the items for a half hour. In Good Housekeeping Research Institute tests, pans covered with stuck-on hamburger, mac and cheese, and baked beans wiped clean. Plus, testers found the super-cleaner easy to use.

Remove Carpet Stains

One of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute's favorite new products is the Woolite Pod (Portable Oxy Deep, $4; 800-451-7847; woolitecarpet.com). It's a handy, handheld carpet-cleaning tool that's about the size of a computer mouse. The Woolite Pod contains a stain-removal formula that clears away spots as you scrub and groom the rug. In the Institute's tests, coffee and wine stains vanished, while the carpet stayed soft and fluffy. Caveat: For best results, blot the excess stain before using.

Extra-Gripper Gloves

Slipping your hands into a pair of superthick Grab & Dry gloves ($15; 310-826-2636; grabdry.com) can help you get a better grip on slippery dishes and finish the job faster than with a kitchen towel. One drawback: Testers had trouble reaching down into the bottoms of tall glasses.

Super Sweeper

No matter how many times you sweep, it seems as though you're always left with a line of dirt in front of your dustpan. Ditch the mess with Powerpan Cordless Dust Pan Vacuum ($20; 800-982-5233; readivac.com). In tests, it sucked up the dust nearly one-third faster than a traditional broom and pan.

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Robtsolomon 01:56:11 PM May 02 2008

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I find myself in disagreement with some of the quickie cleanup tips portrayed. The best way to have a clean house/apartment is to make neatness automatic and a part of your daily life. When you're finished with something, clean it right away and put it away where it belongs. Stashing items hurriedly in a handy space is a sure way to be unable to find them later. While cooking, there are always those moments (waiting for a pot to boil, etc.) that you can wash, dry, and put away the implements that you're done with. And stop watching TV - I found that, having more time when the boob-tube went on the fritz, it was easier to allocate those wasted hours to things that needed to be done (like housekeeping, paperwork, repairs). Bonus: By doing what had to be done instead of mindlessly munching and staring stupidly with my butt on the couch, I lost 8 lbs. It's a win-win situation.

Schiabo 06:00:05 PM Mar 12 2008

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Since I have 5 dogs, I have a housecleaner in 2 times a week. I need the help,she likes the money and working conditions(she gets free kisses from the dogs)She is a pleasant person and keeps after everything which is the ticket.When there is some major cleaning to do we work together.

Vickisnipes5 05:51:00 AM Jan 22 2008

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Overstating That! If I spent a QUARTER of the time cleaning, I would live in a much nicer place! Trouble is women get tired of doing all the work, and not being appreciated for it. They just take it for granted that it always looks this way, without the help of ALL members of the family, you help dirty it, you should help CLEAN it!