30 Handy Products to Refresh Your Home This Spring

Spring is near, and it's time to throw open those windows, let in some fresh air, and get your house in order. We've rounded up inexpensive essentials that will come in handy as you scrub, stow, straighten up, and shake away winter's doldrums — and germs. From everyday cleaning and organizational tools to air purifiers and energy-saving thermostats, we've got just about every inch of your home and yard covered.

Prices and availability subject to change.

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$10 from Home Depot
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A home can never have enough buckets. They're not only good for mopping; they're fantastic for storing cleaning products for easy portability. Stock one with cleaning essentials and keep them ever-ready under the sink, or gather sponges, soap, wax, and cloths to create a car-wash bin for the corner of the garage. 

Related: 30 Essentials You Need to Buy to Keep Your House Organized

$24 from Amazon
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Microfiber cleaning cloths generally cost more than standard cotton towels, but even the priciest options pay for themselves over time factoring in durability and savings on cleaning products. They can clean all manner of surfaces, from the kitchen to the bathroom. In addition to a host of other benefits, they help reduce bacteria and cross-contamination.

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$14 from Walmart
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It's time to clear the dust out of those nooks and crannies, but there's no reason to waste tons of time and dozens of paper towels (if you haven't switched to microfiber cloths) dusting the old-school way. A pack of 18 Swiffer Dusters and a dusting handle can help make the job quick and hassle-free. There are also clever ways to keep costs down.

$1 from Target
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Commonly used to disinfect minor scrapes and scratches, hydrogen peroxide also makes a great, inexpensive multi-purpose household cleaner. There is a huge list of in-home uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide, including many spring-cleaning targets: cutting boards, dishwashers, and refrigerators, for example.

Related: 25 Spring Cleaning Mistakes You Keep Making Every Year

$6 from Walmart
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Borax is a cheap and effective natural cleaner used in many homemade laundry detergents. It can also be sprinkled in to boost the cleaning power of regular detergent and eliminate molds and fungus that leave towels smelling musty. To improve the smell in the dishwasher, sprinkle some Borax in the bottom and let it sit a few hours, then wipe down and run the next cycle as usual. Borax also does a number on pots, pans, and tough tea- and coffee-cup stains.

Related: 31 Ways to Spring Clean With Everyday Household Items

$15 from Walmart
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Stackable containers are essential for efficient storage in small spaces. They also keep pests out of edibles and keep food fresh longer. This Rubbermaid set boasts 24 pieces in various sizes, from one-half cup to seven cups. It's also BPA-free, so it takes away some of the worry about toxic chemicals leaching into foods.

Related: 50 Food Storage Tips to Help Cut Waste

$14 from Amazon
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These sheets are designed to line produce drawers in the fridge and help keep fruits and vegetables fresh up to four times longer. Many consumers reviewing the product on Amazon confirm that the sheets help extend the life of produce, significantly reducing waste. Shoppers must decide if that's worth the price. Each bag contains eight sheets.

Related: 25 Germ Magnets That Need Spring Cleaning Now

$108 from Walmart 
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Do the floors need intense cleaning after months of winter wear, tear, and dirt tracked in on boots? This cheap steam mop can make short work of mud and other caked-on messes. It also purports to clear out 99.9% of household bacteria.

$101 from Amazon
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Consumers who want to rejuvenate their carpets — and keep them clean — will be well satisfied with this vacuum. It comes equipped with suction that rivals the performance of higher-priced uprights and a proprietary brush that rotates deep into carpets, giving them a fresh, clean look. Maintenance is easy with an easy-empty dirt tank and washable filter.

$179 from Walmart
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This lightweight stick vacuum is a top contender for anyone seeking a cord-free household appliance for quick, everyday cleanup. With enough suction to pull up stray hair and kitty litter from carpets and bare floors, this vacuum is a boon to pet owners.  

$156 from Amazon
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Chances are your carpet needs a little TLC after a long winter. Freshen up without calling in the pros using this portable Rug Doctor. It has a handheld rubberized brush and retractable handle and wheels for easy transport. 

$65 from Target
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A host of pollutants and allergens such as dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen tracked in from outside can make the air harder to breathe. This spring, consider an air purifier for some relief. This updated version of the Hamilton Beach TrueAir is an improvement on the original due to its three filtration stages (up from one). It can be used in small rooms up to 160 square feet, and its permanent filter need never be replaced (in theory), potentially saving hundreds in filter-replacement costs over the years.

$30 from Amazon
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This compact Holmes purifier is ideal for small rooms up to 110 square feet. This basic budget air purifier can be outfitted with any of four different Holmes AER1 filters, each individually designed to focus on dust, odors, overall air quality, or higher-level allergen sensitivity. It's also equipped with a separate carbon pre-filter to help with smoke and odor absorption.

$139 from Amazon
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A recent upgrade to the Winix PlasmaWave 5300 earns even more expert praise than the original. The brand is known for taking the tried-and-true combination of HEPA and carbon filters and kicking it into overdrive with patented PlasmaWave technology. The 5300-2, designed for larger rooms up to 360 square feet, sports a streamlined look and revamped controls, including a timer and an LED air-quality indicator light.

Related: 20 Cleaning Products That Are a Complete Waste of Money

$26 from Walmart
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When a coffee table is strewn with a remote control, books, and candles, it can make the room feel cluttered. Create a focal point with this stylish geometric woven tray, gathering all the objects into a stylish vignette.

$25 and up from World Market
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Store anything and everything in spacious, attractive baskets. Keep favorite magazines for posterity, or collect paper recycling indoors. Perhaps a designated bin for exercise gear would help keep summer shape-up plans on track. Fill one with freshly laundered T-shirts, yoga pants, and other essentials to make the "I have nothing to wear" excuse a thing of the past.

Related: 11 Marie Kondo-Inspired Storage Ideas to Organize Your Home

$53 from Amazon
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Parents, is the playroom such a mess that you just want to scream? A colorful toy organizer is an easy, bright, and affordable solution for taming the turmoil. This one is a best-seller on Amazon for a reason: It's simple to assemble and relatively sturdy, and offers storage space for kit and caboodle of all kinds. It might even encourage the kids to pick up after themselves. (We can dream.) 

$28 from Ikea
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This sturdy three-drawer mini chest is a chic place to gather smaller items that might otherwise make for clutter. With three drawers and a fishscale pattern, use it to gather cords, makeup, pens and paper, jewelry, craft items, and more.   

$12 from Amazon
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Yes, digital photography rules these days, but many families have shoeboxes full of old snapshots. It's fun to pull out those photos every so often, so be sure they stay in good condition by transferring them to archival-quality storage. A photo storage box from Pioneer Photo Albums is made of acid-free materials and holds more than 1,000 4-by-7-inch pictures. It has a metal plate for labeling and divider index cards inside.

$9 from Ikea
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Whip that disorganized closet back into shape this spring. A good place to start is by buying some high-quality hangers. Sturdier than their plastic or wire counterparts, solid wood clothes hangers are a closet staple built for a lifetime of use. Ikea also offers eight-packs in black or white for $1 more.

$47 from Amazon
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Many people have more shoes than they know what to do with. Some lucky ones have walk-in closets with designated slots; the rest of us struggle with pair after pair spilling out of the closet. Avoid that with a 36-pair, coated metal shoe rack that latches to the top of a closet door and offers 12 rows of organizational bliss.

$16 from Bed Bath & Beyond
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For sock drawers that don't look like the cat just finished playing in them, opt for a handy honeycomb organizer. Eight snap-together pieces create up to 32 compartments and can be cut to customize the shape to fit most any drawer. They can also be used to tidy up rolled ties and underwear. Or move beyond clothing to organize accessories and any other small items that could benefit from a little compartmentalization.

$22 for six from Amazon
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Towels and sheets never seem to stay in neat piles. Instead of living with an untidy mess, pick up a few cloth storage cubes with handles and designate each for a particular use: towels (rolled up), sheets and pillowcases, stacks of washcloths.

$10 for two from Amazon
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Another easy solution to keep items organized in the linen closet are shelf dividers. Heavy-gauge steel dividers from Lynk slip over the shelf and help create cubby-like spaces for neat piles of towels, sheets, and more. Pair these with storage cubes to make a tidy home for boxes of tissues and backup supplies of shampoo, soap, and toothpaste.

$222 from Amazon

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Perfect for organizing tools, house supplies, and gardening equipment, this storage cabinet offers four adjustable shelves that can hold up to 44 pounds each. Its compact design means it can fit into small spaces, and extra security can be applied by adding a padlock to its doors. The best part? All you need to put it together is a screwdriver. 

$27 from Walmart
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Who hasn't had the lights go out and had to fumble for a flashlight? Unpredictable spring weather can bring storms that cause power outages and more. Keep your family prepared with a designated box filled with emergency essentials such as flashlights, batteries, candles and matches, and a transistor radio. The plastic construction of this Sterilite Footlocker helps prevent water damage.

$80 from Home Depot
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Shelving can transform a disorganized garage, workshop, or basement. Buyers without a lot to spend might consider a durable, ventilated HDX shelving unit. Each of the five heavy-duty plastic shelves supports up to 150 pounds, and many users say the unit is sturdy and easy to assemble.

$12 from Home Depot
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Tame clutter just about anywhere with versatile plastic storage bins. These are stackable, and there's something clean and cheerful-looking about the yellow lids, which snap securely. Smaller and larger bins are also available.

$249 from Walmart
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If you have a lot of garden tools but no garage or full-size shed, consider a relatively inexpensive Rubbermaid outdoor storage shed. The compact but roomy unit is made of maintenance-free resin and offers 18 cubic feet of storage space for gardening gear, pool supplies, or even patio furniture cushions.

$294 from Amazon
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If the deck or siding is looking dingy, a good blasting from a pressure washer might do the trick. Its 25-foot high-pressure hose and 12-inch wheels allow for easy maneuverability, while its beefy engine and five quick-connect nozzles provide more than enough muscle.

Need more home and garden tips? You can find a lot more right here.