5 Cleaning Products I’m Obsessed With (They Actually Work!)

Posted October 10, 2025 by Prairie Wife -

If you’re tired of wasting money on gimmicky cleaners, I promise the 5 cleaning products listed below actually work and make cleaning so much easier!

I’ve used all of them multiple times, some of them for years, and YES, I have included links so you can purchase them for yourselves. As part of my real-life reviews, which you always get on here, I have also included a few tips, tricks, and any possible problems I’ve encountered when using the products. Also, I have received NO COMPENSATION at all for these reviews. All of these products have been paid for 100% by me…though if Clorox or Tide wants to partner with me, I’m open to it 😉

Tide Clean Boost

All of the Cowkids are busy multisport athletes. On top of that, they have daily outdoor chores, and we spend a lot of time on the go. All of this adds up to clothing that’s stinky, sweaty, and gross-smelling. Out on the prairie, we have incredibly hard water, which means that it’s really tough to get anything clean. I often found myself double-washing teenagers’ clothing because the sweaty smell seemed to linger. We tried doing smaller loads and using the hot water setting, hoping it would get the clothes clean, but nothing seemed to work. I bought our first bottle of Tide Clean Boost in a desperate bid to find a solution. Now we always have two bottles on hand, because there is no way I want to run out of this stuff! It works. It REALLY works. I love it so much that I even use it to wash our linens and my own sweaty, gross clothes from hiking. As far as I can tell, it does absolutely no damage to any type (or color) of clothing, and it absolutely keeps the Cowkid’s clothing smelling fresher! This is the only brand I’ve tried, but I know that Downey makes a similar product as well.

Bissel Steam Shot

I admit that it was 100% TikTok that led me to purchase this product. We’re not clean freaks at home, but we do deep clean every week. Yet, after watching a few too many Cleaning videos on TikTok (yes, that is a thing), I realized that there were a few things in my home that could use a little more attention. Seeing videos where people casually used their hand-held steam cleaners to wash cabinets, clean out the dirt-caked nooks and crannies in their windows, and even attack nasty toilets and oven doors caked in grease, led me to purchase one of my own. I LOVE the attachments on this and use the little round scrub brushes the most. I used this to clean off our outdoor Blackstone grill, and it was INSANE how well it worked. Make sure you have a rag to wipe/clean off the steamy mess as you clean. I use old dish towels that are too stained to display because they’re easy to wash. Pro Tip: You can put the attachments in the dishwasher to clean them…But I wouldn’t do that with the ones I use in the bathroom.

Clorox Fabric Sanitzer

Our OG followers have seen me talk about this product before…and that’s because it works! I bought this as an answer to the stink of wrestling shoes (and let’s be real, Hey Dude’s as well) that seemed to permeate my home at all times. I’d walk past the teenagers’ rooms and be hit with that stinky foot smell. Spray liberally on the inside and outside of your kids’ shoes, then set them outside to air dry in the sun. I recommend getting in the habit of doing this weekly to really keep their shoes smelling fresh. For a few of the Cowkids, it takes two applications to get the smell gone…and even then a whiff or two may remain…but it really does help make things so much better! We also use this spray on the inside and outside of their gear bags and in our cars, too. I’ve been using this for years without it discoloring anything we’ve applied it to.

Papaya Reusable Towels

To me, there is nothing grosser in the world than a kitchen dishcloth or sponge. They stink, they’re full of germs, and the Cowkids ALWAYS leave them in the sink where they become even nastier. I’ve been using Papaya Reusable Towels for years, and I love everything about them. They come with a hook that we stick above the sink, and when you’re done using them, you hang them up there to dry. The cute patterns add a pop of personality and when you’ve gotten your full use out of them (ours last weeks) you throw them away. Use them the exact same way you would a regular dishcloth or sponge. Washing off counters, cleaning up spills, rinsing off dishes. They seem stiff and rigid when dry, but add a bit of water, and they become flexible and absorbent. I use them with our regular kitchen cleaners. When you want to freshen it up, you can wash it in the dishwasher!

Homeika Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Our main living space has Vinyl Plank Flooring, and while we do have a robot vacuum, I still need to have a way to keep things clean. I used to sweep the house, but I felt it wasn’t as effective at picking up dust and dog hair as I’d like. I’ve had this vacuum for a long time, and I really do think it does a great job. I can quickly clean up a small mess with it, or use it to give our entire upstairs a quick cleaning (1,500 sq ft) without the battery dying. It’s easy to get out any clogs, and it’s lightweight, so even the youngest Cowkid can use it with no problem. I will say that it doesn’t handle larger things (pieces of paper and hair ties) well, so don’t go over those, or you’ll be spending more time unclogging it than cleaning. Also, if you live in a dry, dusty climate, make sure you clean out the filter often. I find a quick shake and a few hard taps over the trash is enough to keep the suction strong, but you may want to clean it with water and air-dry it every few weeks.

What do you think of my 5 cleaning products?

Do you use any of them too?

Or, do you have a favorite you think we need to know about?

Let us know in the comments!

5 Cleaning Products I’m Obsessed With (They Actually Work!)

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