Believing the packaging of a cleaning product, spending your hard-earned money on it, and taking it home to discover it’s a dud is infuriating. With an overabundance of products in the cleaning aisle, though, it’s hard to tell which bottles you should grab and which you should leave on the shelf.
Nowadays, it’s in before-and-after photos we trust, so we’ve rounded up some photos that show the power of successful cleaning products. Because while wasting money on subpar sprays is frustrating, browsing photos of a messy countertop transformed into a gleaming surface is so oddly satisfying.
1. Star Drops The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste
$5 from Amazon
Star Drops has an entire line of The Pink Stuff cleaning products, and this cleaning paste is one of its most popular — and versatile. From the stovetop to the bathtub, this stuff is great at getting rid of tough messes through its — as one reviewer put it — spellbinding sorcery. Pesky rust stains in the tub don’t stand a chance.
2. Sprayway Glass Cleaner
$8 from Amazon
Windex, who? Sprayway is the real MVP when it comes to glass cleaner. The foaming power of this stuff combined with a towel that’s a bit more rough (as suggested by the reviewer who posted these photos) is a mirror cleaning game changer.
3. Wink Rust Stain Remover
$18 from Amazon
“Living in a small town in Michigan with horrible rusty well water this has been a staple in our house since I was very young,” writes an Amazon reviewer. Interestingly, I too live in a small town in Michigan with rust-ridden bathtubs and toilets when the water softener is running low on salt (thanks, hard water). And I also swear by Wink. No, I did not write the review, and no, that is not my toilet. Still, the proof is in the pictures, and I agree with the reviewer. It’s magic.
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4. Weiman Cooktop Max Cleaner
$12 from Amazon
“Less than 5 minutes using the sponge thing with this smelly sand gunk worked great,” writes a reviewer. We can’t help but love the description here, folks. And let’s be real: Finding a good cleaner to remove hard messes from a glass stovetop can be a real pain, so this seems worth a shot. According to reviews, you might want to turn on a fan or open a window, though, because the smell isn’t the most appealing.
Related: Spring Cleaning 101: The Definitive Guide to a Tidy Home
5. Therapy Clean Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish
$25 for two bottles from Amazon
Stainless steel appliances are a dangerous thing. The surfaces practically beg for fingerprints to taint their shiny appearance. If you have stainless steel in your home, you’re going to want a good stainless steel cleaner, and the people of the internet claim that this bottle of Therapy is the best, well, therapy for your appliances!
Related: 31 Ways to Spring Clean With Everyday Household Items
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6. Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser
$8 from Amazon
Bar Keepers Friend is the OG of cleaning supplies. The powdered stuff is still a staple, but in recent years, the brand’s soft cleanser has become quite sought after. As one reviewer put it, “I thought this stuff was just another gimmick until it arrived. After trying it on my first pan, and it worked so well, I went on to the next, and then the next, and by the time I was done, I was 8 pots and pans in! Buy it! You will NOT regret it!” Pretty convincing stuff, folks.
Related: 25 Spring Cleaning Mistakes You Keep Making Every Year
7. Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover
$25 from Amazon
Chom Chom is a bit of a weird name for a tool meant to clean pet hair off your furniture, but this thing is incredibly viral. Reviewers say it’s a must if you have pets who shed all over your couch.
8. Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
$7 from Amazon
“This is a household MUST have! After tripping and spilling a chocolate protein shake on my BRAND new (dry-clean only) white couch, I was nearly in tears that I had ruined my couch beyond repair, HOWEVER a friend suggested Folex and thank goodness because a miracle was performed,” writes a reviewer. Once again, the proof is in the pictures.
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9. Grout-Eez Grout Cleaner
$23 from Amazon
A good grout cleaner is a must if you’ve got tile floors to maintain. “My husband and I were amazed with the results! It was super easy and if you let it sit for a few minutes, it works even better,” writes a reviewer, “I didn’t wait and I am thrilled with the results. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do. I will definitely be using this again.” Sounds legit to us.
10. Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner
$10 from AmazonShop Now
Sure, you’ve got your Pledge and Murphy wood cleaners, but this stuff is apparently next-level. According to a review, “Initially, when you put the product on, it looks significantly better. I was skeptical about how it would look after I wiped it off. When I did however, there was very little to remove. The wood must’ve been extremely dry because it did absorb quite a bit. … The resulting finish looked richer and deeper than before.”
11. Star Drops The Pink Stuff Miracle All Purpose Floor Cleaner
$10 from Amazon
We told you the Pink Stuff has options, and the floor cleaner is not to be slept on. “This product is absolutely amazing,” says a reviewer. “Wasn’t able to clean the grout on my kitchen floor with anything until I found Pink Stuff cleaner.”
