18 Gifts for People Who Love to Clean in 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Samantha Schoech

Samantha Schoech is a writer focusing on gifts. She spends her time finding things that combine quality, beauty, usefulness, and delight.

We’ve updated and added to our list of gifts to delight the clean freaks you love including Beyoncé-worthy sponges, Japanese veggie scrubbers, and a seminal housekeeping handbook.

For some people, a day spent buffing the house to a sparkle is a day well spent. As such, those scrubbers and washers deserve excellent, well-designed, beautiful tools to make cleaning that much more satisfying.

We’ve collected some of our favorite cleaning potions and gadgets. They are all extremely great gifts (even for those who see house cleaning as a chore), and they make scouring, sweeping, dusting, and general spick-and-spanning even more enjoyable.

Looking for tips on how to clean absolutely everything? Check out Wirecutter’s extensive library of tested, proven, and sworn-by methods and products.

A no-rinse whiz kid, Soak gently cleans with a minimum of handling, and its all-purpose formula is ideal for hand-washing all of your delicate garments.

Many dry-clean-only garments can actually be safely hand-washed, and the gentle Soak Laundry Rinse is our top pick for the job. It’s free of protein-digesting enzymes called proteases, so it’s especially good for natural fibers like silk and wool, and its name encompasses the totality of its instructions: Simply soak delicates, squeeze out the water, and hang or dry flat. No need to agitate or rinse. This soap comes in a few subtle, non-clingy scents and an unscented version.

This 750-page guide to housekeeping goes way beyond cleaning to offer tips on buying, organization, safety, and stylish living.

Of course, Wirecutter can help you clean everything, but if there exists a more complete and charming homekeeping book, we don’t know it. Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook was originally published almost 20 years ago, but it’s still an indispensable reference manual for supervising editor Hannah Morrill. The straightforward tips and instructions cover everything from cleaning regular bathroom sinks to marble floors. This book is extremely comprehensive, tackles both indoors and outdoors, and goes way beyond just cleaning. Martha and her team teach us how to fold a fitted sheet, target pesky stains, arrange rooms, and store wine varietals.

Don’t let this great-looking set of three sparkly scrubbing sponges fool you: They’re effective for dish jobs big and small.

These glittering Hawkins New York Lurex Sponges don’t do anything a regular scrubbing sponge doesn’t do, but they look fabulous and somehow make scouring morning eggs out of the pan a little more fun. They come in a set of three different blingy metallic colors, and when they get yucky, they can be thrown in the dishwasher. Also, while they’re tough enough to tackle stuck-on jobs, I find them useful for cleaning my overly delicate Always Pan as well.

This streamlined metal caddy has six compartments to house and tote cleaning tools and products.

As your cleaning enthusiast moves from room to room, scrubbing tile and spraying countertops, they are going to need a way to lug all those accoutrements. The generous and handsome Williams Sonoma Hold Everything Cleaning Caddy is up to the job of toting bottles, dusters, rags, and sponges. The powder-coated metal caddy is divided into six vertical cubbies, and it has a tall wooden handle for easy schlepping and silicon feet to prevent scratching. It’s only a foot tall, so it can fit under most sinks, but we think it’s stylish enough to leave out. Our one complaint? It’s a skosh heavier than its plastic cousins.

These palm-fiber scrubbers work equally well to buff root vegetables and scour seasoned pans.

As most grandmas will tell you, the nutrients of fruits and vegetables are in the skin. This is not technically true, but there are lots of good flavor and aesthetic reasons to leave the skin intact. The natural-fiber Kamenoko Tawashi Scrub Brushes from Japan are especially designed for cleaning the delicate skins of produce, and they work wonders getting dirt off of root veggies. But the horseshoe-shaped brushes are also useful for scrubbing woks and cast-iron pans without damaging seasoning. What you can’t see in the package? A delicate wire hook to hang it to dry between scrubs.

Washable, compostable, and quick-drying, each colorful reusable cloth takes the place of 17 rolls of paper towels, according to the company.

Despite their name, these cute printed dishcloths are made in the US from wood cellulose and cotton, and they’re beloved by multiple Wirecutter staffers. They arrive as crispy as rice crackers, but once you wet them, they transform into light, spongy dishcloths that can absorb 20 times their weight in water. Swedish dishcloths take the place of paper towels, but they can be rinsed, wrung out, and reused like a sponge, plus they dry out much faster than cotton. If they get stained or smelly, launder them in hot water; when they wear out completely (staffers have enjoyed some for over a year), simply snip them up and throw them in the compost. They come in 45 cheerful prints.

This rust-resistant, stainless chain-mail pot scrubber eliminates the need for steel wool or dish soap when you’re scouring cast iron and other metals; it’s also guaranteed for life.

This surgical-grade stainless steel chain-mail scrubber feels drapey in the hand, and it works wonders on gunk stuck to cast iron, glass, carbon steel, and other nonscratch surfaces. Supervising editor Hannah Morrill says the Knapp Made chain-mail scrubber has added precious minutes back to her morning routine, scrubbing the satin enameled interior of a Le Creuset skillet after eggs. It rinses spotless with no odor but can also be thrown in the dishwasher if any particles get stuck.

This high-quality stainless steel dish rack drains well, looks nice, and holds a generous amount of dishes, but it’s expensive.

Made of thick-gauge stainless steel (except for the plastic feet), this rack may never need to be replaced. It has a sleek, industrial look and a creased, tilted base for drainage. I have used mine daily for about six years, and it looks and works as well as it did on day one.

This concentrated all-purpose cleaner can be used for nearly every household cleaning project, from laundry to dishes.

Leave it to our old friend Dr. Bronner to create a supremely versatile multipurpose cleaner. Most neatniks would love a bottle: The cleaner’s naturally derived surfactants readily break up grease on glass cooktops, oven hoods, and cabinets. It’s also not too heavy for wood or tile floors, windowsills and baseboards, and cars. The text-heavy bottle is also pleasing and would be lovely presented alongside a pretty pail, such as this steel bucket.

This kit’s moist wipes are strong enough for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces, and they don’t contain plastic; the sleek dispenser is refillable.

Biom wipes have two major things going for them: Their reusable capsule container looks great in plain view, and the wipes themselves are tough, plastic-free, and home-compostable. Although they’re not disinfecting, they do a excellent job of wiping down a greasy stovetop, an icky toilet, or sticky countertops. They’re made from sustainably grown wood fiber, moisturized with aloe, and scented (barely) with essential oils. Refills of 50 wipes are about $24 for a pack of three, or about 16¢ per wipe.

This superior stain remover works on pigment, oil, and protein-based stains, and it won’t leave ghost stains on laundry, upholstery, or carpeting.

This creamy, non-toxic (PDF) laundry stain remover has been a decade-long go-to for Hannah Morrill, who has two children and a subscription to the stuff—and now it’s one of our favorite stain removers as well. Just pretreat common stains—blueberries, marinara, blood—and they’re gone in a single wash. But the real kicker is how it dissolves formidable opponents, such as paint, ink, and permanent marker; it’s the only stain remover recommended by the maker of Sharpies. Amodex stain remover can be left on a stain anywhere from 15 minutes to 12 hours before laundering, and as long as some of the mark fades, repeated applications will fully remove it.

A handsome floor-and-wall duster is made in Vermont from loops of dust-attracting wool yarn.

The Sladust Big Wooly mop proves the old chestnut that the best things are the simplest. Made in Vermont in essentially the same way since 1909, this pretty dust mop naturally attracts dust and pet hair with wool fibers and lanolin. The multicolored, shaggy head reaches cobwebs on the ceilings as easily as it collects the dust on floors. To clean it, just give it a vigorous shake (a cold-water hand-wash on occasion also works). It’s available in three handle options, including a extendable metal handle. The company also makes hand dusters for smaller jobs.

These durable plastic nail brushes come in a rainbow of pretty colors, and they double as all-purpose scrubbers and dishwashers.

Don’t let the name fool you. These nail brushes are actually all-purpose scrubbers that dedicated cleaners would want in every room. Senior staff writer Tim Heffernan says, “I love these Vikan Nail Brushes, but I use them for dishwashing and other scrubbing jobs. They’re compact, comfortable to hold, incredibly durable, and as someone who notices manufacturing details, beautifully finished—not a rough seam or sharp bristle anywhere.” The brushes are 5 inches long, and the bristles are stiff but soft, perfect for all manner of sloughing.

This mini beechwood-and-horsehair broom set is perfect for cleaning small messes like desktop crumbs, and it nests together for easy storage.

The 5-inch oiled-beechwood-and-horsehair dustpan-and-brush set is diminutive and attractive enough to be left nearly anywhere around the house. It can be used to sweep up dust, crumbs, and other small debris, and the soft bristles don’t mar surfaces. Because the brush nests neatly in a semicircle, it stays out of the way between uses. Your tidiest friend will appreciate how easy this set makes whisking away coffee grounds, fallen petals, and morning toast crumbs.

Despite being made with the same materials as virtually every other cloth, the Fixsmith cloths were the most absorbent and most affordable, and they survived multiple washes.

Microfiber cloths have an extremely tight weave and an electrostatic charge that grabs dust and tiny particles of dirt. They are inexpensive, machine-washable, and perfect for cleaning and shining any reflective surface. (Anyone who loves to clean knows this already.) Senior staff writer Rachel Wharton uses them to clean her glass cooktop, and I have them all over the house (and car) for returning glasses and screens to their crystalline glory. We recommend microfiber for cleaning the oven, countertops, and all devices. This eight-pack is our go-to, and it would look absolutely great wrapped with a floppy, festive ribbon.

Embellished latex dishwashing gloves have a winking 1950s vibe. They hold up for years, and the decorative cuffs prevent wet sleeves.

A favorite of senior staff writer Lesley Stockton, these reusable latex gloves protect hands from heat, chemicals, and chapping. The long, decorative cuffs are more than just cute, though. They also protect sleeves from slipping into the dishwater. However, even though they claim to be one-size-fits-all, they can only accommodate a 3.5-inch palm.

This handheld cleaner’s back-and-forth rolling generates an electrostatic charge that effectively clears even the most hair-matted upholstery; it holds up for years and doesn't require refills.

If the neatnik in your life has pets, they definitely do battle with fur. Rolling this simple plastic device back and forth over fur-covered fabric creates an electrostatic charge that picks up hair and then collects it in an easy-to-empty chamber. It feels like magic, but it’s actually the rubber lip and the fur-grabbing brushes that capture even worked-in fibers. Empty the collection chamber with the touch of a button, and there is nothing more to clean, replace, or refill. This is my go-to gift for new pet owners because it’s the only thing that can keep up with the amount of fur left behind by my two fluff balls.

This cordless handheld vacuum’s powerful suction, long battery life, and large bin make short work of tidying up around the home and in the car.

Our handheld-vac pick has a long battery life and a larger bin than almost any other cordless handheld vacuum we’ve tested. The Ryobi 18V One+ runs for a respectable 18 minutes, recharges in under an hour, and includes a pivoting dust brush and crevice tool. But best of all, it really sucks, picking up dust, cracker crumbs, and sand with ease. It will be a go-to for the cleaners who can’t rest until the floor is spotless.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See our gift guide here.

This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.

Samantha Schoech

Except for the time she gave a boyfriend her mother’s old toaster for Christmas, staff writer Samantha Schoech has a reputation as an excellent gift giver. She lives in San Francisco with two teens, two cats, a geriatric betta fish, and a bookseller husband. Her first book of short stories, My Mother’s Boyfriends, is coming out in 2024.

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