How to Make Cleaning Much Easier

Tidy things up quickly with these smart tools

By Catherine Roberts

Cleaning tasks can take a lot of effort in ways that can be hard on your joints and muscles.

Fortunately, there are now robots that can do the vacuuming for you, mops that save you the trouble of filling up a heavy bucket of water, and sponges that cut down on the scrubbing needed to get pots grime-free.

In fact, Consumer Reports experts have tested a wide variety of tools and products and have plenty of advice about making cleaning painless. Here’s what to try to make a variety of cleaning tasks easier.

To reveal each tip, click the dots (or tap on a mobile device) on the illustration below.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the June 2025 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.

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