Spring Cleaning 101

The best broom, dustpan, and mop; the truth about DIY cleaners; and more, in this week’s Sweethome newsletter. [View this email in your browser]( [Spring cleaning]( has always seemed to me like a fake ritual promoted by cleaning product companies that want people to shell out for a deep clean once a year. If you look at search trends in Google, interest in [“how to clean”]( peaks around New Year’s Day, not in spring—maybe as part of Americans’ resolutions. But whether you choose New Year’s Day, the Ides of March, or some rando day in August, it’s not a bad idea to take a moment to check on those [things you should be cleaning but probably forget about]( like rinsable vacuum filters, washing machine gaskets, and dishwasher food catchers. And if you’re not ready to even do that, just open your windows, let some fresh air in, and enjoy the weird record-high temperatures we’re experiencing across the country. —Ganda Suthivarakom [Spring Cleaning]( Cleaning doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. With the right supplies, tools, and accessories, cleaning can be easier and more efficient. From dish soap to your laundry detergent and [everything in between]( we’ve researched and tested hundreds of items that claim to help you clean your home. We dish the dirt on which cleaning products work best and which claims are hype, and we dig deep into what’s in the bottle. [16 Disgusting Home Items You’re Not Cleaning Enough]( Bacteria, mold, and more can hide in [unpredictable places]( where to find it and what to do about it. [Which Vacuum Should I Get?]( The complete set of questions to ask, factors to consider, and options available to find [the best vacuum to suit your needs](. [The Best Air Purifier]( The [Coway AP-1512HH Mighty]( is the [best air purifier we found]( in 180 hours of research, due to its excellent performance, affordable price, and low maintenance. [How to Pack Away and Protect Your Seasonal Clothing]( Whether you’re packing away your winter sweaters or summer flip flops, our experts share their [advice for storing seasonal stuff]( so it stays clean, organized, and free of bugs. [The Best Broom, Dustpan, and Dust Mop]( Over the past six months, we spent 125 hours researching 215 brooms, dustpans, and dust mops before [testing 36 of them firsthand](. The [Casabella Wayclean Wide Angle Broom]( is the best and least expensive broom we tested. The [OXO Good Grips Clip-On Dustpan]( outperformed every other dustpan when paired with the Casabella broom. The [O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Flip Mop]( held more dirt than any other dust mop we tested. [The Best All-Purpose Cleaner]( After over 60 hours of research, and [more than 500 swipes]( with paper towels on five different stains and four different surfaces, we think [Puracy Natural Multi-Surface Cleaner]( is the cleaner to get. [The Truth About DIY Cleaners]( Homemade cleaning products can work—or they can be wasteful, ineffective, and dangerous. Here are [four things you should know]( before you go mixing chemicals together. [How to Mix and Match Your Bed Sheets for the Season]( If you sleep hot, try using a linen top sheet with a percale fitted sheet, like the pros do. Here are [other seasonal combos]( you can use for optimal warmth all year long. [The Best Deals We Can Find]( Because we think we can make a small difference by being picky, here are [some great deals]( on solid pieces of gear. One of our favorites from this week: A great price on [our “extreme cases and large spaces” pick for air purifiers](. Updates and Other Stuff - We’ve tested [The Goby]( electric toothbrush, and added it to our piece as an alternative pick for anyone who wants a subscription service to periodically and automatically deliver new brush heads. [[Best Electric Toothbrush]( - After over 15 hours of research and testing, we think [Rubbermaid’s Premium Modular Canisters]( are the best dry storage containers. The containers are sturdy, the lids are airtight and interchangeable across multiple sizes, and a narrow design allows the containers to stack nicely. You can buy them individually or as a set, and they’re less expensive than some of the far-more-fragile models we tried. [[The Best Dry Food Storage Containers]( - After [40 hours]( of research, we think [The North Face Winter Warm]( is the best pair of men’s winter running tights and the [Sugoi MidZero]( is the best women’s option. Our testers favored both for their warmth, fit, and comfort. [[The Best Winter Running Tights]( Let’s be friends... 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