If All The Cleaning And “Fix It” Costs In Your Home Are Adding Up, Try These 45 Fast, Reliable, Cheap Products
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Let’s get through that to-do list that’s starting to look like a CVS receipt.
Posted 12 hours ago
by Elizabeth Lilly BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff
As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.
Some chipped paint on bathroom cabinets here and a water stain on your coffee table there can be overlooked as eyesores. But they don't need to become part of the landscape of your home. There's a whole list of little fixes and DIYs you can pull off in your home without spending a lot of time or money...take it from someone who used to work at a home improvement magazine (This Old House, FYI). Check out just a few problem-solvers that'll help you clean and fix things around your home without blowing your budget or taking up a whole afternoon. Happy DIY-ing!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Okay, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn't know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it's still an awesome product for the price! I have a Keurig 2.0 and I had no issues." —Mads0421
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. I had THIS very problem (as a renter) in the top socket in my sole bathroom outlet and one of these little things was a perfect, cheap fix!
Promising review: "I saw Snug Plug on TikTok and immediately ordered them. I have outlets at home AND at work that I couldn't keep anything plugged into because they're so loose. Snug Plug quickly and easily solved that problem and now I can finally have a phone charger in my den. Yay! I highly recommend this product." —KSay
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
PS: XFasten is a small biz.
Promising review: "My portable AC unit had gaps between the plastic piece where it mounts on my window. I tried tape but found it had no effect. I tried this tape, it lowered my room temperature by 5 degrees. Worth it!" —Tai T.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "The weather stripping (rubber tubing) on our front door was compromised, and our AC couldn't cool the house. After replacing the original stripping with this foam, the temperature inside dropped by 10 degrees. Your mileage may vary, but it worked well for me." —HrVanker
Get it from Amazon for $12.48+ (available in 18 sizes/lengths).
Promising review: "The attic drop-down door in the home I'm renting is located in the interior of the home in the bedroom hallway, plus the door is warped, leaving a half-inch gap open. In this flaming hot summer, the heat was pouring into the hallway, and my AC ran 12 hours per day to keep the house reasonably cool. The thermostat is 3 feet from this attic door (poor design), which exacerbated the problem. Within five minutes of installing this, I noticed a complete change! In the South, it doesn't get terribly cold in the winter, but this will keep the cold from leaking in as well. Great product for less than $40. Beats paying for a new attic door on a home I don't even own." —C A
Get it from Amazon for $25.95+ (available with or without a staple gun).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Also, built-up lint is a fire hazard! Make this a part of your weekly cleaning routine.
Promising review: "This brush is stiff but flexible enough to feed under my dryer's lint filter. Several weeks ago a trouble light came on that indicated the air flow in my dryer was becoming obstructed. I had the dryer vent and area under the lint filter cleaned. (Not much lint was pulled out, so maybe the dryer sensor gave a false alarm.) I felt a small investment in a brush such as this is better than paying for a future vent cleaning. I've been using it once a week and it picks up a little lint each time, but that's lint that won't have a chance to build up in the dryer vent!" —blueskys
Get it from Amazon for $5.88.
Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc.
Promising review: "I have tried numerous products on my wood kitchen cabinets, and nothing has worked. You can see from the photos that they were in really bad shape. I applied this product and let it sit for 45 minutes before I wiped the cabinets down. I can’t believe how well it worked! If this didn’t work, I figured I would have to refinish or paint the cabinets because they looked so bad. I’m so glad I tried it! It has saved me a lot of time and money!" —nicole feather
Get it from Amazon for $11.48.
Promising review: "Do you see that??? My husband was so mad and has said for years that our front doors are ruined by the dogs. I was so determined to prove him wrong and find a way to fix them!! Okay, so after wiping down the doors with a wood cleaner, I used an old sock to coat them with the Old English, and voila!! I saved us thousands of dollars!!! No new doors needed!! The scratches have disappeared, and the dogs get to stay!!" —Beth Young
Get it from Amazon for $4.82 (also available for light woods).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Tibet Almond Stick is a small business based in Illinois.
Promising review: "I recently got these Tibetan floor wax sticks, and they're like magic wands for your floors and furniture! Got a scratch? No problem. Just wave one of these sticks over it, and voilà — scratch be gone! It's like having a tiny wizard in your cleaning arsenal. These wax sticks fill in scratches on the floor and furniture like a charm. My floors and furniture look brand new, and I didn't even have to cast a spell. Highly recommend!" —b4komer
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in a pack of two).
The kit includes a 10-ounce bottle of Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner, one cleaning pad, and one scraper to make it a quick and easy job.
Promising review: "Works on my new range and cleans up beautifully so that my cooktop looks as shiny and clean as it did the day it was installed. Follow the directions exactly, and you can't go wrong. Very easy and quick to use. Not a lot of cleaner is needed, so the bottle will last a long time. I clean the cooktop with this almost every day, and I find that it cleans better than with regular cleaner." —Darcy
Get it from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in three styles).
Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and dishes just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener was no longer doing its job so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway so I added that to my order. When it came, I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine per the instructions and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully every month, as recommended. I can even put it on my subscribe and save order so I will get a new pack every six months. I am amazed!" —Sheila
Get them from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in a carton and pouch).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "So easy to set up! All you do is peel tape and adhere to a CLEAN and DRY door. Also looks great, I don't even notice it. I had a huge gap under my door. I could smell and hear everything from the hallway. Smells, drafts, and sound all are less of an issue now." —Brit B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." —BBP623
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.49.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Cleaned three items in less than five minutes. Vacuum brush head and two hair brushes that have three girls' long hair. I can’t wait to get the whole vacuum and rug cleaner bristles cleaned. I had to write this review after testing it out. Design is strong, sturdy, and handles great. Highly recommended." —Rob
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
Promising review: "Love this stuff! My stove had two chips in it for many years. Very pleased, so easy to apply! Would definitely recommend for small touch-ups!" —Sally Jo
Get it from Amazon for $6.29+ (available in four colors and in multipacks).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Just make sure that the paint is a match!
Promising review: "Rather than ditching furniture into a landfill, which is bad for the environment and one's pocketbook, this product allows you to give new life to existing furniture. Between the Soto touchup and new handles, my entertainment center looks like new....for less than $35. If you can use liquid paper, you can use this. I just ordered another bottle for porcelain. This is a fantastic product. You will love it!" —LexiNYC
Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in 23 colors).
Promising review: "This is one of my favorite things I've ever purchased from Amazon! The fact that they're so customizable allows you to cut them and shape them to any drawer size! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can so easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for sure buy!" —momonono
Get a 10-foot roll from Amazon for $19.99.
Promising review: "We moved into our house a year ago and I’ve been on a quest to clean the grout next to the stove ever since then. As a last resort I got this and holy cow! I left it on for three minutes as a spot test at first and I could already see a huge difference. I then did two more rounds letting it sit for five minutes each. The scent's not bad, it was fine if I had the window open, it was just being down close to it that got me. Seriously, stop looking and buy this." —Britney Phillips
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
I've used this several times on my rental bathroom tiled floor and normally have to redo annually. But it's so cheap that it's totally worth it. If you're doing it on tiled walls or backsplashes, the effect tends to last longer.
Promising review: "I installed an expensive soft white tile (if there is such a thing) floor in the kitchen when I bought my house. At the time, it was a new product and it was beautiful — that fuzzy, warm feeling changed the first time I dropped a fork. I have been so frustrated no wanting to rip up and put down replacement tiles. The grout pen made it look new again, I am thrilled with the results!" —K. Robles
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).
I used this gadget to de-fuzz a coat that I FORGOT isn't mean to be fuzzy. You can read my full fabric shaver review here.
Promising review: "Literally stopped mid-use to write this review. I never write reviews, but just wanted everyone who has cats to know that you can save your furniture! This thing is awesome!" —Melanie Abrams
Get it from Amazon for $9.69+ (available in six colors).
Promising review: "I have never been so excited about a slipcover. Total transformation of our couch and loveseat. I was worried about it not working on our leather couch, but it stays on really well due to the straps and the separate cushion covers. LOVE." —Brian/Liz
Get it from Amazon for $34.49+ (available in five sizes and 21 colors).
Promising review: "I'm a clean freak with hard water, and this stuff took off the build-up like magic. I would recommend using a slightly damp scratch pad. It takes a little elbow grease, but I have tried a ton of products, and this one is the only one that worked!" —Lori
Get it from Amazon for $23.77.
Promising review: "I went in skeptical, I'm not going to lie. We had grease spilled on our brand-new paver patio. The grease had been sitting for a few weeks, and I saw an ad for this stuff. I ordered it to try because why not? Well, I'll be damned because this took the spots right off! No evidence we ever spilled anything! I'd buy it again." —Susan
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
Amazon
Promising review: "The towel kept falling from the handlebar on the dishwasher. I got sick and tired of constantly picking it up from the floor. Saw this clip on Amazon — it is absolutely perfect. The towel stays in place, and I just love it." —Dee
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $11.79.
Hope's is a small business based in Missouri that makes cleaning supplies.
My colleague Maitland Quitmeyer has this and LOVES it: "I bought this for my white porcelain kitchen sink and I've since texted five people about it, which is really a lot for such a boring grown-up product. It cleans beautifully, but the *best* thing about it is its ability to repel stains after cleaning. You know that thing when you rinse out your coffee cup and the coffee water just lingers in your sink and you have to purposefully rinse it out for two minutes? You don't have to do that — the coffee can't stick to the sink and just goes RIGHT down the drain. Time saved, sink clean — this is really a Virgo dream product right here."
Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! 10 year old sink looks brand new! Plus water beads right off, sweet stuff for a clean freak!" —Jenny Lynn
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two sizes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Very awesome stuff. The bottom of my cabinets had a rough, crumbly texture. This is a great fix to keep the silicone pieces of my dishes from picking it up. Feels a lot cleaner and it looks great! Highly recommend for looks and function!" —Kelsey Ware
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five sizes and 13 colors and patterns).
Promising review: "Wow! A degreaser that actually works! I love the foam, which starts to work immediately on my stove top as well as cookware and other kitchen surfaces." —P. Webb
Get it from Amazon for $4.91+ (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "I have purchased every type of kitchen sink strainer available and these are the best! So easy to clean, completely covers the drain and they catch everything. I would buy these again." —Mary
Get them from Amazon for $7.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Useful Products is a US-based small business established in 2007 by car wash owner, electrician, and former bodybuilder Anthony LaPolla that specializes in drill-cleaning brushes and attachments.
Each of the different brush colors indicates which tasks the brushes are meant for based on their bristle type, so be sure to check which one is best suited for whatever you need to for! Yellow is the “all-purpose” medium bristle, but some are softer and harder depending on what types of surfaces you’re cleaning. (But none of them will scratch!)
Promising review: "Superb. Had spent hours trying to scrub away probably years of dirt from the bathtub in my new rented place. Also hurt my shoulder in the process of hand scrubbing. This thing finished the job in under 10 minutes. Simple but genius." —David
Get it from Amazon for $24.98 (available in six colors).
It's super quick to install, and one cartridge can last up to three months!
Promising review: "I have hard water, and the constant ring in the toilet was super aggravating. This little thing took all of 30 seconds to install, and has kept my bowl ring-free for over a month now. I LOVE it. I can smell the bleach a tiny bit when the toilet is flushed, but that's not a bad thing, I kinda like that, as I know it's working. Also, excellent design that delivers on its promises. Refills can be on Subscribe & Save, woohoo!" —AmazonShopper
Get it from Amazon for $12.98.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the foaming pink drain cleaner in action.
Promising review: "Wow! I don't think I've ever been more excited to use a cleaning product before. Who knew you could get so much satisfaction from a drain cleaner. I could probably make an ASMR video and post it, as it is that satisfying! Even though I had to angle this over my sink drain, to avoid the low faucet, it worked perfectly. The foam went down the drain and up through the overflow, bringing lots of black, yucky gunk with it. I have used lots of drain cleaners before, but not one that actually came up through the overflow. I'd never even considered what stuff was in there. It did a great job of cleaning everything out and it left the sink smelling fresh and clean as well." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $25.98.
Promising review: "These babies have transformed and reformed my slobby life. My dog sitter thought I got a new sink and fridge. I have never had more fun cleaning in my life — wait, I have never had any fun cleaning. But these magical creatures make it so freaking satisfying. No toxic stuff. No fumes. Just heavenly cleanliness. These are also much, much bigger than Magic Erasers. I cut them in half lengthwise, and they are STILL bigger. And they are a ton cheaper. Buy these. I don’t have much of a life, but I finally have a spotless sink." —Jimmy Jim Ereeno
Get it from Amazon for $20.95.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This little wonder fits inside of the drain and you can easily remove it and pull off hair at least once a week. You'll even enjoy how grossed out seeing all that hair makes you!
Promising review: "I was skeptical, but for a few bucks I gave it a go. I'm lazy and I live with two ladies (who are also lazy). The tub drain doesn't get addressed nearly enough. I'd usually be the one pulling nasty balls of long hair out of the drain catch just so the tub would actually drain during a shower EVERY DAY. With this bad boy, once a week and you don't even notice a slow down in the drainage." —Jason
Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in six colors; also in a sink version).
I put these on my kitchen cabinet doors and sliding closet doors. They're fantastic and have held up for YEARS!
Promising review: "Great little addition to cabinets and drawers to keep them from banging when closing. Used for an apartment. Easy to remove without damage. Includes various sizes and shapes. Would purchase again." —Gave it a try
Get a 272-pack from Amazon for $5.99.
Promising review: "I used this in my guest closet to put hats/gloves/mittens so you could see all the pairs of winter gear and get to pieces easily. It's so neat and organized. I love it." —Trisha
Get it from Amazon for $8.97+ (available in seven colors).
Check out aTikTok of the appliance sliders in action.
Promising review: "These are a game changer! I have some heavy appliances like my espresso machine and reverse osmosis filter that I hate to pull out to fill with water. These tiny sliders have been incredible! Immediately better, and so far (about three months in) no issues at all. Still gliding!" —sara
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in five sizes).
The Home Depot
Promising review: "Pricey but worth it! My patio cushion covers would have cost a fortune to replace, given their unique shape. This is the ONLY fabric spray that has EVER held true to its promise of preserving the fabric’s original soft texture. Shake Suddenly Sapphire well, it will need at least three coats for an even application because it comes out very fine. Example: I needed one whole can for the first coat on the tops and sides of two cushions. At $14 a can, it can get up there, but it’s still better than replacing cushions!" —Juanita
Get it from The Home Depot for $9.98 (available in eight colors).
Promising review: "Do you ever remove the rubber cap between your sink and disposal? It is beyond gross! This is shaped just right and makes quick work of a yucky job. Good to do to keep odors away." —Mom328LSA
Get it from Amazon for $7.20.
Amazon
Promising review: "Saw on TikTok (don’t judge) and automatically added to cart. So easy to use, takes probably a minute to fully bubble up and clean, and you’re left with a clean sink! I use with other drain cleaning products, but would 100% recommend for weekly maintenance." —Jessica Hamilton
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.99.
Psst, I use this with great success on my shower in my rental apartment!
Promising review: "Bought this because of the reviews, and I’m not disappointed. I moved into a rental house that had a dirty tub with those yellow ring stains. I couldn’t get on my knees and scrub them, so I was excited to try this product. It took three sprays with drying time in between, but they are almost invisible. But do be careful because the residue can leave a slippery surface, which the directions warn about." —Michele
Get it from Amazon for $18.50.
Promising review: "These plant supports each consist of two semi-circles that fit together to encircle the plant. I have two snake plants that are getting taller and need support. These plant stakes are working perfectly. They can easily be inserted into the soil to the desired height, and the green color obscures their appearance. My plants look prettier and stronger now that they are standing tall." —A.Consumer
Get a 4-pack from Amazon for $14.99.
I live in an apartment without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout food instead of cooking. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well.
Get the starter pack from Amazon for $17.50.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check it out in action on TikTok!
The plant-based, lavender-scented cleaner comes with a microfiber cloth for you to use on your appliances, and reviewers say you only have to use a little bit of the cleaner to clean your entire fridge or oven, which means one bottle will last you a really long time.
Promising review: "This stuff works great... and that’s coming from a clean freak. This cleaner/polish works awesome on stainless steel and any other material that the appliance is made of. It comes with a high-quality microfiber cloth, and it smells good. A little goes a long way, so it lasts through daily use." —RMK
Get the set of cleanser and polish from Amazon for $19.95+ (also available in a larger size and two-pack).
Promising review: "Some would say I'm a clean freak, no harsh feelings though! I have used many 'ring' remover cleaners and none have worked like this pumie stone. It doesn’t scratch your bowl and the best part, you're not gagging on fumes from other harsh toilet bowl cleaners that promise removal of harsh water stains in your toilet. Not sure how it affects a well system though I’ve read that it’s ok." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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