Aurelia Butler

Shelves are the unsung heroes of home design; they do it all, from showcasing treasures to corralling chaos. Whether you’re looking to maximize storage space in a city apartment, or want to proudly show off your plant collection in a spacious sunroom, adding a few shelves to any space can be a great way to declutter and bring interest to virtually every part of your home. If you’re ready to take your display game to the next level, read on for five smart — and stylish — shelving tips from Los Angeles-based interior designer Hema Persad, plus ideas for what to stock up on from The Home Depot (bonus: You can shop everything online!).Select complementary elements for a cohesive lookBy definition, shelves bring together disparate options—vases, frames, coffee table books. In order to make sure all of these items stick together, Persad has some key words of advice. “Choose a color palette and stick to it,” she says. “Choose no more than three main colors — for example black, white and green — and make sure all of the items you’re displaying fall within these color families.” You’ll get a similar effect by working within the same design references; if your style is rustic, you have a weakness for all things Mid-century Modern, or you love Art Deco, let that aesthetic guide you. That way, says Persad, “no matter what’s on each shelf, everything seems like it belongs together without looking too matchy-matchy.”Banish clutter to create more spaceWhen you’re using shelves as display space or decor similar to wall art, less is definitely more. Persad advises that wall-mounted shelves should definitely have some blank areas. “If I am styling a set of shelves, I’ll typically do one with three or four items on it, and the next one down or up might have one statement item on it,” she explains. “You have to give your eyes a chance to rest on something.” Above all, she says to listen to your own instincts. If you feel anxious when your eye lands on the shelf, it’s a sign to edit your collection. Litton Lane Multi Colored Metal Contemporary TraysCosmoLiving by Cosmopolitan Gold Metal Contemporary Geometric SculpturesLitton Lane Aluminum Gold Jacks Sculptures Artistic Weavers Serena Pink Glass Decorative VaseTurn storage containers into stylish decorIf you’ve got a lot of stuff to wrangle, “baskets and cute stacking boxes are your best friends here,” says Persad. “They can be used to corral items like photos, trinkets, or games,” reducing the amount of objects on display while still keeping all of your beloved things handy. You can also rotate souvenirs in and out of the boxes to mix up your decor when you’re ready for a change; think of your home as a gallery with seasonal “exhibits.”Trays are another fun addition to shelves — in bedrooms, use them to show off a pretty collection of perfume bottles (and keep liquids from dripping onto, and staining, your furniture). In the kitchen, arrange some of your most colorful spices on trays as art you can use. Bring your shelves to life with plantsIf you have a green thumb, shelves are an ideal way to display that plant collection. (And if you don’t have plants already, consider starting with one or two to bring greenery and oxygen into your home—or go for faux.) For maximum impact and healthy foliage, choose plants based on the shelf location. “Pothos and other trailing plants tend to do really well on shelves because they don’t need a lot of water or light, and they trail as they grow instead of getting taller,” says Persad. “If your shelf sits high on the wall and beyond arm’s reach of a window, think about going for a faux option or a succulent like a string of pearls or a small echeveria.”Peach & Pebble Tan Ceramic Planter SetNearly Natural Artificial Pothos with Decorative VaseFlora Bunda Artificial String of PearlsPeach & Pebble Ceramic Indoor Planter Plus Medium Wood Stand Save some headspace above your books and objectsWhen assembling shelving, “I leave a minimum of 16 inches between shelves, which leaves enough room for taller items. You want that variation on heights of things to add interest,” Persad explains. “If there’s not enough space between shelves, you end up with a bunch of short items which can fall flat, visually.” A certain amount of blank space serves as a frame, spotlighting the objects on display and making the whole room look more serene. More

There’s nothing like a big score — you see “the one,” place a bid and wait. After refreshing and refreshing (and refreshing some more), the auction ends and the treasure is yours. Whether you shop eBay to build your library of 1950s comic books or you’re on the hunt for more Depression-era milk glass, investing time and money in a collection of objects you love can be a hobby that sparks both joy and decorating inspiration. Your treasures should have pride of place in your home, but incorporating dozens of antique teapots seamlessly into your decor can pose a challenge.To help you parlay your collectibles into a stylish display — and give guests the pleasure of marveling at your online shopping prowess and your excellent taste in vintage movie posters — we turned to Washington-based interior designer Jessica Nelson. Here are her expert tips on how to best show off a beloved collection.Play favoritesNelson recommends starting with what you love the most. For her, that would be a collection of vintage mirrors in her hallway that she regularly updates. “It’s so fun to keep adding to this and building it out with new finds,” she says. HomeSquare Stratton Home Decor Metal Eye Wall MirrorMoe’s Home Collection Remi MirrorGDFStudio McKay Contemporary Bell Shaped Wall MirrorIf your weakness is European posters for American movies, choose the most special few pieces and hang them — nicely framed, of course — in the living room. When the mood strikes, swap out the posters so the display is always fresh. That way, you’ll get to have some of your prized possessions on display without turning your space into a poster museum. Put like items with likeOne souvenir plate from Portugal is, well, one souvenir plate from Portugal. But 10 souvenir plates from countries all over the world? That’s a collection.“Try to find something in common with the pieces — like color or texture — and display them in an interesting way,” says Nelson. “Hanging things in a group can make something feel cool and fresh.” Another method is to dedicate an entire shelf or bookcase to your treasures. For a modern look, eschew the dated glass-door cabinet and opt for open shelving. Keep the display from looking cluttered by placing items in a single row per shelf, evenly spaced. Boom! You just turned your pepper mills into artful sculptures.Bridgevine Home Fully Assembled Home Office BookcaseMoe’s Home Collection Vancouver BookshelfGDFStudio Jahzir Scandinavian Design EtagereColor coordinateAn easy, impactful way to make a small collection feel cohesive and a large one feel organized is to keep things grouped by color, says Nelson. That doesn’t mean you have to set an eBay alert exclusively for books with blue spines, of course, but arranging your vintage cookbook collection by color can be a great way to focus the eye — and help you keep track of which books you already have before you click “Buy It Now.” Take your timeCollections aren’t built all at once, even when the item you seek is in steady supply. Take jadeite, for example. It’s a highly collectible material, often seen in kitchen wares — think salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, and cake plates in that signature shade of pale green. It’s wildly popular, and also easily accessible (there are usually more than 100,000 listings for jadeite items on eBay at any given time). But you don’t want any piece of jadeite you can find — picking the ones that are most beautiful to you, or that fit in with your current favorites, is what makes collecting fun. If your collection is getting started, says Nelson, don’t rush to fill it up. “It’s okay to build your home as you go,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be perfect or totally finished, in my opinion. Part of the beauty of the home is layering and creating spaces over time. If you think your collection isn’t ready yet, don’t let that stop you from displaying it.” More

Working from home presents a lot of challenges — namely, the fact that your comfortable bed, super-cuddly pup, and smart TV with all your favorite streaming services are mere steps away. A snooze-inducing space may not be the best for your productivity. A quick curation and creative thinking to personalize your WFH space and fuel creative thinking can also help keep you focused. All it takes are a few simple styling tricks, from adding key organizational accessories to setting the scene with color-changing smart lights from Philips Hue. Check out these dynamic setups for tips on how to turn your desk into your favorite part of the house.For focusCody UlrichDecluttering your workstation is an easy way to help maximize productivity and reduce distractions. Similarly, quiet lighting and sleek lines can also enhance your focus. Simplify your lighting with a slender Philips Hue Signe Table Lamp. It blends multiple colors together to paint the walls with a unique gradient for a calming ambient light. Level up a regular lamp with a Philips Hue smart LED bulb, which can emit different shades of white and colored light depending on your needs or mood — use a bright task light for writing or a warm orange for after-hours emails. Keep a Philips Hue Smart Button on your desk so you can turn both lights on and off with a single click. You can even program it to turn on your preferred color and brightness based on the time of day.When you’re comfortable it’s easier to concentrate, so it’s worth creating an ergonomic setup with a laptop stand, wireless mouse, and supportive pillow for your chair. Add mood-boosting personal touches, like a potted succulent, as well as a bulletin board to help you stay on top of your to-do list.For inspirationCody UlrichA vibrant setup can help spur out-of-the-box problem solving. Let your inner maximalist run wild by surrounding yourself with everything from abstract prints and unique floral arrangements to a bold, textured throw blanket in your favorite shade. Incorporate even more color by using the Philips Hue Go Portable Light and Philips Hue smart LED bulbs in the space. The brains of the Philips Hue smart lighting system, the Hue Bridge allows you to connect and control up to 50 lights and accessories. Simply plug it in and use the Philips Hue App to set routines and easily personalize your lighting using pictures, custom colors and varying brightness levels.Feeling uninspired during a painting or brainstorm session? Switch on some blue light. Struggling to focus while editing your latest short story? Try red. According to a study by the University of British Columbia, blue can boost our ability to think creatively while red can help improve performance on more detail-oriented tasks. For organizationCody UlrichYou don’t have to waste time looking for supplies when everything has its own place. Keep your workspace neat and tidy with storage cups, folder organizers, and stationary boxes. You can also clip loose papers and your running to-do list onto a wire wall frame for visibility. Spruce up the space with a small leafy plant in a chic ceramic pot.Need ambient light that doesn’t eat up desk space? Tuck a Philips Hue Lightstrip behind your desk. You can personalize it based on your needs by cutting it down to the right length or extending it up to 10 meters with connectors. Turn one of your favorite lamps into a smart lamp with a Philips Hue LED bulb, and easily control all the lights in your home office with a Philips Hue Smart Button.Art direction and production by Arminé Altiparmakian and Sabrina Contratti. Photography by Cody Ulrich. Prop styling by Karin Olsen. More

Whether it’s checkers, a classic ’round-the-board-style game of strategy, or an all-hands-on-deck team event, a game night is a great way to turn an ordinary Friday night into an epic battle for bragging rights.But to make game night legendary, don’t just throw down a board game and rip open a bag of pretzels. With some fun lighting from Philips Hue, the right accessories, and a few unexpected touches, you can take even a casual get-together to the next level. Here’s how to make your next game night a winner. Set the stageWhile your typical entertaining mantra may be “the more, the merrier,” when you’re hosting a game night, you need to consider the game and how many players are optimal before sending the invites. Think about whether it’s something you could play in teams, and consider who would bring the best vibes (sore losers or overly competitive types can bring down the mood). Once it’s time to email or text out the invites, snap a picture of what you’ll be playing and send it to your friends so they can get their game faces ready. Cody UlrichCustomize your lightingYou want to design a game night lighting scheme that won’t require you to spend the whole evening rushing around your living room turning lights on, off, up, and down. You can sync up to 50 lights and accessories with the Philips Hue Bridge and control everything from the app on your phone. Tap into the 16 million (yes, really) colors and shades of white available in Philips Hue bulbs and lamps by creating preset scenes for different stages of the night: warm orange and pink for the welcome, blues and purples for the competition, a kaleidoscope of colors to celebrate the winner. To keep things even simpler, use the Philips Hue Smart Button, which dims and brightens lights with a simple click — a must-have for trivia buffs who insist on a no-phones policy.Cody UlrichKeep it comfy, yet elevatedMix things up by moving the center of the party from the dining room table to the coffee table for a more relaxed vibe. Choose a colorful assortment of cushions to set on the floor to keep guests comfortable. You’ll have to clear off your perfectly styled coffee table books and objets d’art, so make the game itself part of your decor. Many board games come in luxe editions made with real wood and leather accents. If cards are the game of choice, choose an artsy or colorful deck. Extra games, like hand-carved tumbling blocks or a vintage backgammon board, make for stylish accents and also give guests something new to play when the main event is over. Spotlight key areasMake things feel special by shutting down the overhead lights and using Philips Hue table lamps to illuminate key parts of the room. Set a Philips Hue Flourish globe next to the snack table for a colorful glow; use a Philips Hue Go to highlight the game table; and spotlight the prize with a Philips Hue Iris — even a stuffed animal will look like an Academy Award with the right lighting.Cody UlrichFocus on finger foodsWhen it comes to the menu, focus on snacks your friends will be able to eat with their hands — think a gorgeous charcuterie display, mini samosas or seasonal skewers with fruit and veggies. Popcorn and pretzels even have a place when served in chic bowls. Look for dishes made from melamine, a durable material that won’t scratch or shatter if accidentally dropped. For drinks, make things feel fancy by setting up a DIY soda and seltzer bar with fresh herbs, syrups and sliced citrus. Place a sturdy set of acrylic glasses in bright primary colors and add a handful of reusable straws with a kitschy bamboo look.Art direction and production by Arminé Altiparmakian and Sabrina Contratti. Photography by Cody Ulrich. Prop styling by Karin Olsen. More

Jeffrey Westbrook

The results are in for this year’s Good Housekeeping Cleaning & Organizing Awards! Because it’s hard to keep a home clean without a little organization, for our fourth annual Cleaning Awards, our experts decided to include cleaning and organizing products. With over 1,000 of our GH+ consumer testers, our experts evaluated 209 products across dozens of different categories, including vacuum cleaners, washing machines, laundry detergents and dish soaps, plus organizers for your kitchen drawers, closet organizers and more. Here are our 65 all-star winners.MEET THE EXPERTS

How We TestedOur Institute experts and 1,036 of our consumer testers worked their way through 209 submissions to choose the winners of this year’s Cleaning & Organizing Awards. In our Home Care and Cleaning Lab, we spent just over three months testing every single product, using testing protocols that have been adopted from industry standards and developed by our experts, including how well a robot vacuum cleans different types of flooring, a stain remover removes stains and a grill cleaner cuts grease and grime from grill grates. Each product submission also included an application, which was carefully reviewed with special attention paid to responses to questions about innovation, consumer appeal and breakthrough features. We even reviewed product labels and company websites for ingredients and suspicious claims. Products were also shipped to our consumer testers who provided extensive feedback about how well they worked, what they loved, didn’t love and pictures from their testing too. In all, over 18,000 data points were collected, reviewed and tabulated to select only the best of the best in cleaning and organizing.

Top Kitchen Champs

Designer Wipes

All-Purpose Cleaning Wipes Starter Kit

Biom
getbiom.co

$46.00

Pre-moistened wipes are a convenient way to clean, but leaving them out for quick jobs is usually not the most decorative option. Biom has changed that with its discreet and chic refillable canister, which comes in four colors. LAB RESULTS: We found Biom’s plant-based wipes are a great solution for grease-splattered counters and cooktops. The stylish canister’s magnetic lid keeps the wipes moist and refills cut down on plastic waste too.

biom

Outstanding Odor Controller

Kitchen Odor Eliminator Air Freshener

Febreze
target.com

$3.99

Kitchen smells have a way of wafting well beyond the heart of the home. Just leave and come back and you’ll remember the bacon you made for breakfast. The new Febreze Air kitchen spray tackles tough kitchen and food odors. LAB RESULTS: With a light spritz, it zapped the smell of fish, and a spray in the trash made stinky garbage odors history too. A tester said it nixed garlic and onion odors pronto.

febreze

Perfect Stone Polisher

Clean & Shine

Granite Gold
homedepot.com

$11.99

Countertops take a beating in busy kitchens. To keep them up to the task and looking good, they should be cleaned and protected. Granite Gold’s formula cleans and polishes and works on granite, quartz, marble and more.LAB RESULTS: It not only cleaned dirt and stains, but also left test surfaces super smooth and with a subtle sheen. It works along with your sealer, and on our lab tables, spills beaded up after we used it. Said one tester, “The final result was beautiful!”

granite gold

Awesome Sink Saver

Perfect Sink Cleaner and Polish

HOPE’S
amazon.com

$11.37

$8.99 (21% off)

No sooner do you clean your kitchen sink than spots and stains are back. But Hope’s Perfect Sink will make you rethink how you care for all the sinks in your home. LAB RESULTS: In our tests, its non-scratching formula cleaned away grime and marks fast and rinsed off without leaving a gritty residue. It left our stainless steel and solid-surface sinks shiny and helped water drain faster to repel water spots.

hopes

Gentlest Cabinet Caretaker

Kitchen Cabinet Cream

Parker & Bailey
amazon.com

$8.97

A sticky issue with kitchen cabinets is that you don’t realize how tacky they can be until you touch them. Parker & Bailey’s cream cuts grease while protecting the finish.LAB RESULTS: A longtime GH and consumer favorite, this silky formula easily restored a smooth feel and a warm glow to a wooden range hood surround that was laden with greasy dust.

amazon

Stainless Star

Stainless Steel Cleaner

Therapy Clean
amazon.com

$19.95

Popular in kitchens, stainless steel is stunning — when it’s clean. Use the wrong cleaning product, though, and all you see are streaks. Therapy Clean zaps existing marks and helps ward off new ones.LAB RESULTS: This plant-based stainless steel cleaner, formulated with lavender oil, cleaned without a lot of buffing. It even helped a fridge that wasn’t fingerprint-resistant stay cleaner longer.

amazon

Dutiful Disposal Cleaner

Garbage Disposal Cleaner and Deodorizer

Lemi Shine
amazon.com

$21.99

Garbage disposals can get smelly fast, stinking up not just your sink but the space around it too. Lemi Shine’s garbage disposal cleaner requires no scrubbing, has a pleasant citrus scent and is done in less than five minutes. LAB RESULTS: The foaming action made it easy to tell when clean up was done and it even flushed gunk out from under the rubber collar of a tester’s disposal at home.

lemi shine

Savvy Storage Solutions

Prettiest Canisters

Stack & Store Jars

Ball
target.com

$34.99

Clear containers make finding what you need easy. And when they are as gorgeous as these from Ball, you’ll want them in full view.LAB RESULTS: Wide mouths and flat tops make these glass jars easy to fill and stack. The seal is airtight, so foods stay fresh — it’s so tight, in fact, that not a speck of dust from one tester’s kitchen reno got inside.

Ball

Ultimate Utensil Sorter

Good Grips Large Expandable Kitchen Tool Drawer Organizer

OXO
amazon.com

$21.95

Keep your flatware orderly and accessible with Oxo’s expanding drawer organizer. LAB RESULTS: This plastic caddy extends nine inches, so serving utensils stay handy too. Removable inserts make it easy to take forks, etc., from the drawer to the table without handling them.

OXO

Phenomenal Freezer Bin

12″ FreezeUp Freezer Bin

YouCopia
amazon.com

$24.99

If you’re not careful, a bottom freezer can quickly turn into a bottomless pit. YouCopia’s sturdy bin comes with four adjustable dividers to hold frozen snacks, veggies and more so they are easy to sort, see and grab.LAB RESULTS: We filled it with ice cream treats, tossed the bulky boxes and freed up tons of space for other items.

Youcopia

Best Bathroom Performers

Custom Caddy

Organizer

Poke a Dot
pokeadotorganizer.com

$19.95

Organizers with divided sections are helpful, but ever wish you could configure them to better fit your own stash? Now you can. Poke A Dot’s box comes with eight mini dividers you position where you need them to hold makeup, desk tools, craft supplies and more securely in place. LAB RESULTS: We like the flexibility this box offers and that it can be readjusted to hold new items. The tight lid makes it good for travel.

Poke a Dot

Super-Duper Shower Spray

Daily Shower Spray 3-Pack

Sensitive Home
amazon.com

$24.99

Sensitive Home offers cleaners for those with respiratory, skin and other sensitivities. This work-saving spray is fragrance-free and 100% USDA Certified Biobased and EPA Safer Choice certified. LAB RESULTS: A quick spritz every day kept a tub clean, shiny and without a speck of soap scum for weeks. We were impressed, and our consumer testers agreed, rating it a top cleaner in the bathroom category.

Amazon

Freshest Shower Liner

The Shower Liner System + Hooks

Outlines
livingoutlines.com

$75.00

Though it’s not exactly a cleaning product, we’re recognizing Outlines here for all the cleaning it saves! You receive a new liner every three, six or nine months (depending on your subscription preference), snap it in place and return the used one for recycling. Smart!LAB RESULTS: We’re huge fans. It is easy to install, comes with or without hooks and doesn’t billow into the tub.

Outlines

Dependable Wipes

Plant-Based Disinfecting Wipes

Lysol
walmart.com

$5.47

Disinfecting wipes are a must-have in any cleaning arsenal, especially in the bathroom, and these new ones from Lysol are made from 100% plant-based fibers. They sanitize hard surfaces in 10 seconds and disinfect in four minutes, killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. LAB RESULTS: We liked the size and cleaning power and that they are 95% USDA Certified Biobased.

Amazon

Blue-Ribbon Bath Cleaner

Bathroom Foamer Refillable Cleaner Starter Kit

Clorox
amazon.com

$9.99

$8.50 (15% off)

This new spray from Clorox uses a refillable bottle and pod system. Buy the bottle once, add water, then twist on the pod to release the concentrate into the bottle.LAB RESULTS: Other refillable bath cleaners we’ve tested haven’t impressed us, but Clorox is a bathroom cleaning expert, and this system helps reduce plastic waste by 80%.

amazon

Mighty Mildew Eraser

Mold & Mildew Clear Stain Remover Spray

CLR
amazon.com

$9.10

$7.85 (14% off)

These pesky marks pop up wherever moisture lingers and, while most common in the bathroom, can surface anywhere. CLR’s formula tackles stains in minutes.LAB RESULTS: CLR did a great job zapping mildew stains in bathrooms and even on a painted garage wall. One tester who used it on her boat said she practically sailed through cleaning it without hard scrubbing.

Amazon

Top-Shelf Drawers

Stackable Bin with Pull Out Drawer

mDesign
mdesignhomedecor.com

$37.99

Mini toiletries, tweezers and other utensils make organizing a bathroom challenging. M Design’s clear plastic pantry drawers are right at home in this room too, corralling small tubes, jars and more so they stay neat and handy.LAB RESULTS: We found these stackable drawers life-changing in a bathroom vanity cabinet. They come in multiple sizes, but even the smallest is roomy and maximizes space.

MDesign

First Place Floor Faves

Very Impressive Vacuum Mop

H11 Max Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Dreametech
amazon.com

$499.99

This new category is taking floor cleaning by storm. Now you can pick up dry debris and wet spills and wash your floors at the same time.LAB RESULTS: A winner in our last review of vacuum mops, the Dreametech picked up spills quickly and ramped up suction when it needed to. It was also quiet, had a long run time and was easy to maneuver.

Dreametech

Wood-Worthy Floor Cleaner

Hardwood Floor Cleaner Machine Formulation

Bona
walmart.com

$9.97

While it’s safe to occasionally wet-clean hardwood floors, it’s important to use the right solution. Bona knows how to care for wood, and this new formula is specially designed to work in all the newest wet/dry vacuum mops. LAB RESULTS: In our tests, this Bona formula cleaned and shined our test hardwoods, dried quickly and left no residue.

Bona

Out-of-This-World Robot Mop

W10 Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop

Dreametech
amazon.com

$1,089.00

Robot mops and vacuums are getting smarter, but Dreametech’s model is like nothing we’ve seen. It sucks up dry dirt, wet-mops with two spinning pads and washes and dries the pads when it’s done. Move over, Rosie! LAB RESULTS: We couldn’t contain ourselves. Beautifully designed, the Dreametech worked like a charm and was easy to use.

Dreame

Full-Featured Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Pet Friendly Pop-N-Go Canister Vacuum

Kenmore
amazon.com

$349.99

A versatile vacuum is a must for homes with lots of different surfaces to clean. This Kenmore canister vacuum stashes all its attachments — even a motorized tool for pet hair — on board and has a floor brush that pops up with the press of a button. No more lost tools!LAB RESULTS: This machine aced our floor-cleaning tests. Simple controls, big wheels and a telescoping wand made it easy to use. Its disposable dust bag and sealed system are a plus for allergy sufferers, as they keep dust where it should stay, inside the vacuum.

Kenmore

Deluxe Stick Vacuum

CordZero Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

LG
amazon.com

$996.00

Stick vacs are convenient but messy to empty, and the tools are, well, who knows where? LG’s CordZero All in One solves these issues and more.LAB RESULTS: We applaud its design and performance. The dust is emptied automatically, the tools stash inside and it charges a second battery. One tester said, “I think I have a new love, and it’s a vacuum.”

LG

Totally Totable Canister Vacuum

Boost CX1 Parquet

Miele
mieleusa.com

$549.00

About the size of a small cooler and as easy to carry, Miele’s Boost sets a new standard for compact canisters. Its jumbo wheels make it very maneuverable, and a large dust bin is easy to empty.LAB RESULTS: We were wowed by its pick-up performance and all the high-end features packed into this vacuum. Bravo for the HEPA filter, cord rewind, parquet floor brush tool and extendable wand.

Miele

Unstoppable Upright Vacuum

NEU700 Upright Vacuum

Innova
walmart.com

$169.00

The first vacuum in Eureka’s new Innova line, the NEU700 has large wheels, a 30-foot cord, headlights to illuminate your cleaning path and washable HEPA filter. It’s easy to maneuver and comes packed with tools. LAB RESULTS: Our consumers loved that this vacuum was ready to go after a quick, easy assembly. In our lab tests, it picked up debris well on low- and medium-pile carpets and bare floors and nabbed every crumb even along the edges that are hard to reach.

Innova

Cute & Compact Upright Vacuum

Pure Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Lupe Technology
lupetechnology.com

$599.00

This little guy from Lupe packs a lot of charm in a small box. It can be used as an upright or handheld vacuum, comes with three attachments to tackle messes from floor to ceiling and on-board storage for all the included tools. Built to last, most parts and accessories can be purchased online as needed. LAB RESULTS: This lightweight (just over 10 lbs as an upright, 1 lb as a handheld) vacuum wowed our expert with its powerful suction, easy to use attachments and sleek look. One consumer tester said, “I would 100% buy this.”

Lupe

Super Stain Busters

Top-Notch Spray Solution

Stain & Odor Treatment Spray

Method
grove.co

$6.99

This new Method spray has plant-based ingredients and tackles stains and odors on household fabrics like carpet and upholstery. LAB RESULTS: Just spritz, wait 10 minutes and blot. For one tester, it removed old stains nothing else could. Two others said they would definitely buy it.

Grove

Portable Powerhouse

Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner

Bissell
bissell.com

$123.59

We’ve known for years that the Bissell Little Green carpet and upholstery cleaner is a winner, and now — thanks to TikTok — it’s back in the spotlight. LAB RESULTS: It’s easy to tote and store, with strong suction that pulls spills from carpets fast, and it cleans furniture without overwetting it.

Bissell

Spot-Chasing Deep Cleaner

SmartWash PET Complete Automatic Carpet Cleaner

Hoover
hoover.com

$319.99

Cleaning carpets at home usually means first having to find and pretreat stains. Hoover’s new carpet cleaning machine ends the bending once and for all. LAB RESULTS: The pullout spray wand with its on-board container of oxy stain solution is genius. Now it’s easy to zap stains as soon as you see them.

Hoover

Ace Laundry All-Stars

A+ Detergent

Pods Plus Ultra Oxi

Tide
walmart.com

$12.97

GH Seal star Tide once again came out on top of all detergents we tested. This new Power Pods version has oxi stain fighters and odor eliminators.LAB RESULTS: Tide Ultra Oxi did better than the other detergents in our test at erasing grass, wine and chocolate syrup from our cotton test swatches in warm and cold water. Testers praised it for its ability to remove odors. One said, “Made a huge difference. Amazing product!”

Tide

Smartest Laundry Pair

Profile Top Load 900 Series Washer

GE
geappliances.com

$1,299.00

GE Profile’s new washer and dryer do everything short of loading the clothes for you. The washer is Alexa-enabled to help with stains, handle hard-to-wash fabrics, set the dryer, play a song and more. The dryer dispenses fabric freshener and syncs to the washer via the intuitive app. LAB RESULTS: These large-capacity machines were easy to use and have technology to help prevent tangles. No more knotted sheets!

GE

Finest Fabric Wash

Wool & Cashmere Shampoo

The Laundress New York
amazon.com

$20.00

Sometimes regular detergent is a bit robust for delicate fabrics. The Laundress’s formula has a lower pH to better care for wool, mohair, cashmere and more as well as notes of cedar for a lovely scent. LAB RESULTS: Don’t let its gentleness fool you. Wool sweaters that had previously been dry-cleaned emerged soft and fresh after hand-washing in The Laundress. It can be used in the washer too.

The laundress

Coolest Cabinet

Bespoke AirDresser Grand Clothing Care System

samsung
samsung.com

$1,199.00

Almost like having a dry cleaner in your laundry room, Samsung’s Air Dresser steams, dries and sanitizes clothing and household items like plush toys and pillows.LAB RESULTS: We love having this in the Lab. Easy to operate, it requires no plumbing and has many cycle options, and the mirrored front is perfect for primping. In our tests, it smoothed wrinkled cotton and even linen garments and dried wet ones thoroughly.

Samsung

Stellar Stain Gel

Laundry Stain Scrubber

Carbona
amazon.com

$19.11

This pretreater from Carbona attacks stains on contact with help from its scrubber brush top. You can leave it on for 10 minutes before laundering.LAB RESULTS: Carbona’s enzyme formula erased grass, red wine and ink stains on cotton swatches in warm and cold water. One tester exclaimed, “Thank you for introducing me to a new stain remover that works amazingly well.”

Carbona

Devoted Detergent Carrier

Bottle

The Laundry Lab
shoplaundrylab.com

$19.99

This innovative bottle from The Laundry Lab has three leak-proof compartments big enough to carry liquid laundry detergents, packs and fabric softener for multiple loads. The compartments are interchangeable and the handle can be used with just one or two compartments attached, if that’s all you need. LAB RESULTS: We turned these upside down and shook them in all directions and had no leaks. Perfect for college dorms, trips to the laundromat or down the hall to your building’s laundry room, you can tuck in coins or anything else you need to tote along. And always keep it out of reach of children during use and when stored.

The Laundry Lab

Closet Clearing Champs

Clever Garment Hanger

Long Garment Hanger

Cove
createyourcove.com

$22.00

Cove’s cool two-piece hanger system keeps long dresses in shape and off the closet floor. LAB RESULTS: The one-click mechanism of this hanger was super simple and our reviewers thought so too, with one commenting “I have never seen another product like this. Ingenious idea!”

Cove

Neatest Clothing Organizer

Everyday Hangers

neatmethod.com

$38.00

Neat Method’s slim, sturdy hangers, made from recycled plastic, maximize closet space. The rubbery coating grips slippery fabric.LAB RESULTS: With four different color finishes and three size options, these hangers work well in closets with many different needs. We love how neat they made our closets look.

Neat Method

Dish-Cleaning Dynamos

Great-to-the-Last-Drop Dish Soap

EZ-Squeeze Platinum Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap

Dawn
walmart.com

$15.99

Dawn is a time- and expert-tested top cleaner that carries our GH Seal. With its new EZ-Squeeze bottle, none gets wasted. LAB RESULTS: This upside-down bottle works much better than others we’ve tested. It’s super easy to squeeze, even one-handed, and it’s simple to control how much is dispensed. Not a drop dripped on our counters.

Walmart

Champion Dish Packs

Heavy Duty Dishwasher Packs

Method
target.com

$11.49

Until now, automatic dish detergents were a hard nut for “green” brands to crack, as powerful chemistry is needed for good dishwasher cleaning and drying. Method has changed all that. LAB RESULTS: In our tests, this plant- and mineral-based formula dissolved 48-hour-old dried-on soils. Two testers vowed to switch to it.

Method

Miracle Dish Towel

Kitchen Towel

Skoy
amazon.com

$12.99

$9.59 (26% off)

Drying dishes by hand is never fun, especially when you use a wimpy towel. Skoy’s 100% recycled polyester kitchen towel is like none we’ve ever seen. It’s hefty in your hand and dries items so fast, you’ll be done in no time.LAB RESULTS: We think this towel is amazing, and our consumer testers did too. It left glassware sparkling and spot-free, held up well to washing and comes in nine colors and designs.

Amazon

Revolutionary Dish Gel

Shake & Clean Starter Kit

Palmolive
walmart.com

$2.53

Leave it to Palmolive to shake things up in the dish-cleaning category. To make this DIY dish liquid, fill the bottle with warm water, pour in the gel concentrate and shake side to side to mix. So cool to see!LAB RESULTS: The gel turns into 20 oz of dish soap with lasting suds that both cleans well and cuts grease. The reusable bottle is made of 100% recycled plastic.

Walmart

Brilliant Dishwasher

Fully Integrated Dishwasher

Beko
ajmadison.com

$1,389.00

Many consumers never remove their dishwasher filter to clean it. Beko fixed that by putting rinsing jets inside its dishwasher filter. Just press a button to start them. The lower spray arm goes deep into the corners for better coverage, and there are tons of other extras. LAB RESULTS: In our tests, this dishwashing machine did a great job cleaning our crusty cookware. Loading was easy, and we fit in an extra nine glasses and one dinner plate in addition to our standard test load!

Beko

Fabulous Dish Spray

Foaming Dish Spray

9 Elements
amazon.com

$20.99

Washing dishes by hand has gotten greener thanks to dish sprays. Gone are the days of wastefully running the water. 9 Elements uses vinegar to battle hard-water minerals, cut grease and remove spots. Simply spray, wipe and rinse.LAB RESULTS: It’s dispensed as a fine mist for great control, coverage and cleaning. When the bottle is empty, keep the sprayer to use with a refill.

amazon

Responsible Scrub Sponge

Greener Clean Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges

Scotch-Brite
amazon.com

$3.29

Sponges get tossed regularly, which can be wasteful. Scotch-Brite’s new Greener Clean option is made from 100% plant-based and recycled materials.LAB RESULTS: This little toughie in Scotch-Brite’s classic wavy shape was comfortable to hold and cleaned everything from grimy cookware to bathroom soap scum with ease and without scratching.

amazon

Power Packed Dishwasher Packs

Platinum Dishwasher Actionpacs

Cascade
amazon.com

$18.67

The gold standard other dish detergents aspire to, Cascade Platinum Actionpacs leave dishware, cookware, flatware, glassware and everything in the load clean and shiny even after foods have dried on. Plus, there are ingredients to aid rinsing, prevent etching and keep the dishwasher clean, too. LAB RESULTS: We’ve used these in our Cleaning Lab and GH Test Kitchen regularly for years because they leave dishes noticeably cleaner. “I thought our previous dishwasher detergent was cleaning our dishes well but these ones made our glasses sparkle,” said one of our testers.

amazon

Gift-Worthy Dish Soaps

Best Fruity Scent

Dish Soap

Caldrea
amazon.com

$11.63

Long known for its incredible fragrance blends, this Caldrea dish soap combines extracts of pear blossom and agave with melon and citrus. The suds really last, and it cuts grease very well. LAB RESULTS: Our consumer testers loved more than just the lovely scent of this dish soap. One tester said it was “extremely easy to use and looks nice on the counter.” After washing a full sink of dishes, this left our expert’s hands very soft too.

Caldrea

Best Floral Scent

Dish Soap

Homecourt
homecourt.co

$20.00

Homecourt, from Friends star Courteney Cox, is perfume for your home. We tested Steeped Rose (there are three other scents). It’s a great soap in a stunning bottle, and the pump top is a nice touch. LAB RESULTS: The sleek look of this dish soap was noted by five of our consumer testers. It cleaned dishes well and was a pleasant addition to our kitchen counter.

Homecourt

Best Fresh Scent

Bio-Degradable Dish Soap

Safely
walmart.com

$4.98

Treating yourself to a little pampering doesn’t have to be expensive. Safely’s Rise scented dish soap is invigorating and uplifting. In our test, it cleaned well and a little went a long way and the price is right!LAB RESULTS: This dish soap was a favorite in one of our experts’ homes. And one tester raved “We will be using it on a regular basis. Thank you!”

Safely

Awesome Outdoor & More Solutions

Multiuse Mist

Disinfecting Mist

Clorox
amazon.com

$13.17

$10.98 (17% off)

There are disinfecting sprays for hard surfaces, sanitizing sprays for fabrics and deodorizing sprays for the air. Clorox’s multi-surface mist does it all.LAB RESULTS: This easy-to-apply fine mist kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, on hard surfaces in 10 minutes and sanitizes soft ones in five. We found that it covered evenly without overwetting or leaving residue. Our testers even used it in the car and on patio cushions.

amazon

Twice-as-Nice Microfiber Cloth

The DUO Cloth

Maker’s Clean
makersclean.com

$29.00

Maker’s Clean does it again with a double-duty microfiber cloth that’s really more like a towel. It not only is large, but also has a short nap on one side for cleaning and a terry nap on the other to sop up spills. LAB RESULTS: This absorbent cloth is a workhorse and keeps going when others quit. Testers loved it for dusting, cleaning the car and even drying the dog.

Maker’s Clean

Unbelievable Outdoor Cleaner

Pro Care Oxy Powered Outdoor Cleaner

Carbona
amazon.com

$21.37

$17.99 (16% off)

Patios and decks need cleaning often to keep them guest-ready all season. Carbona’s oxy-powered foam formula with its built-in brush easily removes stains, mildew, dirt and more. LAB RESULTS: We cleaned planters, furniture covers and even vinyl siding with Carbona without needing extra brushes or cloths. One tester gushed, “Love it!”

Carbona

Most Powerful Cleaning Combo

Cleaning Paste

norwex.biz

$36.99

Cleaning pastes are making a comeback, as they offer more muscle than sprays. Norwex is safe to use on many surfaces, and with the brand’s microbial-resistant cloth, it’s a dynamic duo. LAB RESULTS: Testers loved the cloth, and we used the paste to zap scrapes from paint that even an eraser sponge couldn’t budge.

Norwex

Do-It-All Cloth Set

Home Cleaning Microfiber Cloth Set

E-Cloth
amazon.com

$25.99

Different surfaces have different cleaning needs, but what to use where? E-Cloth has got you covered. Its eight-piece set has task-specific cloths to clean and shine windows, mirrors, stainless steel, countertops, furniture and more.LAB RESULTS: We like having the right cloth for the job. All these microfiber marvels excelled at their assigned tasks. The glass cloths amazed us! They washed and dried well, too.

Target

Best Big-Space Air Purifier

Core 600S Air Purifier

Levoit
amazon.com

$299.99

Clean indoor air is important for the entire family, not just allergy sufferers. The H13 True HEPA and other filters in Levoit’s Core 600S air purifier can purify mid- to large-size spaces quickly. Air-quality monitors provide feedback via the display and the VeSync app.LAB RESULTS: We set up the Levoit in minutes and found it quiet with intuitive controls and a sleek design.

amazon

Rugged Hand Vac

ONE+ 18V Cordless Performance Hand Vacuum

Ryobi
homedepot.com

$51.40

Nothing’s easier for quick cleanups than a handheld vacuum, and this Ryobi is at home in the house, garage or car. The battery and charger are not included, but it uses the same removable batteries that power other Ryobi tools.LAB RESULTS: In our tests, it picked up well and was easy to use. We got 14 minutes of cleaning on one charge with the 2Ah battery, and it fully recharged in less than an hour. Its extra-long crevice tool is handy for the car.

Home Depot

Lustrous Wood Polish

Anytime Clean & Polish For Wood Furniture

Guardsman
amazon.com

$13.54

$9.30 (31% off)

This tried-and-true furniture polish from Guardsman cleans wood surfaces and leaves them with a warm glow and a light scent. With its long history in furniture care, Guardsman is a favorite brand of fine furniture manufacturers. The UV protective ingredients it contains help protect wood from drying, discoloration and fading from sunlight too. LAB RESULTS: Guardsman was a top performer in our previous test of furniture polishes and its performance now is just as good. It buffs away easily so there’s no smeary residue to mess with.

amazon

Cleverest Clutter Busters

Smoothest Spinner

Crazy Susan Turntable

YouCopia
amazon.com

$29.99

Nothing utilizes dead cabinet space better than a turntable, and YouCopia’s Crazy Susan sports features others don’t. Three removable sections have high sides to contain items and handles for easy grabbing, and nonslip feet keep the turntable in place. LAB RESULTS: It spun smoothly and was easy to disassemble for cleaning. A tester called it “much better than others.”

amazon

First-Rate Labeler

P-touch CUBE Plus Label Maker

Brother
amazon.com

$99.99

Labeling canisters and bins is any pro organizer’s number one rule, so a good label maker is a must-have. Brother’s P-touch Cube Plus works with your phone or computer and a Brother app or P-touch software to make labeling easy. LAB RESULTS: Once we started making labels with the P-touch Cube Plus, we couldn’t stop! It makes labels up to one inch wide with lots of color and design options.

amazon

All-Star Scanner

FastFoto FF-680W Wireless Photo and Document Scanning System

Epson
amazon.com

$590.90

Remember photo film? You do if you have boxes of pictures lying around that you never put into an album and never look at. With the Epson FastFoto high-speed scanner, you can digitize and organize photos, cards, documents and more quickly and easily!LAB RESULTS: Connecting the FastFoto wirelessly was easy. It scans both sides so notes are preserved, and it even corrects color and red-eye.

amazon

Genius Gadget Tray

DrawerStore Kitchen Drawer Organizer Tray

Joseph Joseph
amazon.com

$24.99

Flatware is pesky, but it’s the gadgets that get you when sorting kitchen drawers. Joseph Joseph’s DrawerStore Organizer handles both. LAB RESULTS: This organizer expands on both sides and has two square spots for mini items like peelers and pastry brushes that can get lost. Tiered sections make it easy to grab cutlery. A tester loved that it filled her drawer.

amazon

Heavyweight Hold-It-All

Large Organizing Caddy

Command
amazon.com

$19.99

$17.88 (11% off)

Wall-mounted caddies maximize often-unused space, but unless you permanently affix them, many can fall off. But not Command Brand’s new one, which holds up to 10 lbs.LAB RESULTS: We installed ours in the Lab and filled it with cans, and it’s still there. It is roomy and works in the house or the garage. And you can remove it and reattach it without damage.

amazon

Beautiful Bins

Rump Roost

Scout Bags
scoutbags.com

$65.00

Sturdy bins are a must for storing everything from books to extra bedding, but you don’t always have the closet space to stash them. No worries here. Scout’s Rump Roost bins are too pretty to hide and are rigid enough to double as seating. They come in two sizes and many colors and patterns, and they flatten for storage.LAB RESULTS: We were wowed by their capacity, the wipe-clean fabric and the solid lids and handles. A tester said, “Too good for the basement!”

Scout

Elegant Gem Box

Linen Jewelry Bento Box

The Container Store x KonMari
konmari.com

$59.99

Jewelry can easily become a tangled mess, and storing items in little boxes is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Enter The Container Store x KonMari’s Linen Jewelry Bento Box. It has four large sections and a removable tray with nine small ones to hold rings, bracelets, earrings and more.LAB RESULTS: It’s compact and pretty enough to leave out; your go-to pieces will be ready when you are.

Konmari

Carolyn Forté
Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director
Carolyn Forté, a consumer products expert, is the executive director of the Home Care & Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees all testing, research and editorial production involving cleaning appliances and products, like vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, detergents and more.

Jodhaira Rodriguez
Home Care & Cleaning Lab Analyst
Jodhaira Rodriguez is a test analyst in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute who graduated from Hofstra Unversity with a Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science before going on to work as an analyst in an environmental lab. More