It’s spring cleaning season, but if you’re struggling to muster the enthusiasm to get stuck in, it can be tempting to invest in a gadget or two to help.
But with so many on the market, how do you know which are worth the investment and which will end up collecting dust themselves?
“We spend millions on cleaning gadgets that are destined to be condemned to a lonely life in the cupboard beneath the sink,” says Martyn James, consumer expert for Resolver.
“Before you buy, ask yourself what it will cost to buy and source replacement parts, and in these environmentally conscious times, how much waste will it create?”
Here, we try some of the latest gadgets to see how well they work.
Mop slippers
Dusenly Mop Slippers, £4.99, amazon.co.uk
I thought these would be more gimmick than gizmo but there was something quite therapeutic about gliding around knowing you were getting housework done at the same time. These do a reasonable job, on the surface at least.
If you have any stains or spillages, squirt a bit of floor cleaner on the floor and shuffle away. Job done. They don’t take up much space in the cleaning cupboard. Even better, the kids loved using them too. 6/10
Bed blitz
Vonhaus 350W Handheld UV Bed Vacuum, £34.99, vonhaus.com
I wasn’t expecting great things from this but I was surprised how much cleaner the bed looked after I used it. It uses UV light to zap bacteria and it can also get rid of bed bugs and other nasties that live in the mattress.
I have a velvet sofa that gets dusty and it brought that up a treat. But it could do with a longer cord for better reach and is quite large to store. 6/10
Screen clean
Joseph Joseph EasyStore Compact Shower Squeegee, £10, josephjoseph.com
I hate clutter, so I was impressed with the sleek design of this squeegee. You barely notice it in the shower. It does a great job of keeping the shower screen clean and streak free. 7/10
Carpet blaster
Vax Platinum SmartWash, £299.99, vax.co.uk
I loved this. I used it on carpets, rugs and doormats and it managed to get rid of all the stains, bringing everything up good as new.
It has dual brushes, automatically mixes water and solution to clean and it comes with handheld tools for tough stains. It’s quite noisy to use but light enough to carry up and down stairs.
You’ll need a big cupboard or utility area to store it as it’s quite a beast. Well worth the price tag if you have lots of carpets, and pets. 9/10
Microwave makeover
Microwave Madge Microwave Cleaner, £6.99, coopersofstortford.co.uk
I’m ashamed of how dirty my microwave was. It is well-used and hard to scrub as we keep it inside a cupboard so it’s awkward to get to. Microwave Madge did a surprisingly good job. You fill her with a mix of vinegar and water, stick her inside and leave the microwave on for eight minutes. The house did smell of vinegar for a while afterwards but the microwave was spotless. 9/10
Super spray
Vileda 1-2 Spray Mop System, £26.99, vileda.co.uk
Simply add water or cleaning fluid to the tank and get mopping without the need to carry a bucket. It can be used on floor surfaces including lino, wood and vinyl.
I found it very easy to use. You whip around pretty quickly and it left the floor much cleaner. Far easier to store without the bucket,too. 6/10
Window whizz
Karcher Window WV Black Edition Window Vac, £49.99, karcher.com
I’ve never found a glass cleaner that leaves windows streak-free. So this is a game-changer.
There are two handheld bits – one you spray and wipe, then the other works as an electric squeegee that sucks up water, leaving windows streak-free. It would have taken ages to do with a spray and cloth, but I cleaned all my windows in half an hour.
I’m very happy to find a place for it in my cupboard. 8/10
