17 Overhyped Cleaning Gadgets, Gizmos, and Cleaners That Are a Total Waste of Money

Maybe you saw a TikTok about a new cleaning gizmo that seemed too good to be true. Guess what? It was. There are so many tools that seem great but turn out to be a waste of money. Skip these (if you haven't already).

Why It's Bad: These were disliked by several Redditors, who said they left floors with a film and just spread around dirt. "Oh my goodness, I hate the Swiffer WetJet," wrote one Redditor. "It just doesn't clean and the floor felt sticky afterwards.

Try This Instead: A vacuum or mop that you probably already have will work just fine.

Why It's Bad: TikTok user Cleanwcarly says, "I genuinely think this is overhyped. There's nothing special. It doesn't do anything. I just don't get it." 

Try This Instead: She recommends Barkeeper's Friend as a better alternative. 

Why It's Bad: The Minimal Mom was influenced to buy the Steam Shot, but when she tried to clean her oven with it, "I sprayed it down and started scrubbing and scrubbing some more and nothing was coming off super easily, let's just put it that way. I was feeling a little discouraged about it." 

Try This Instead: She later used a paste of baking soda and water, waited three hours, and the oven cleaned up like a dream.

Why It's Bad:This was a decision that TikToker Cleanwcarly quickly came to regret. "TikTok said it worked with mold stains. No, it doesn't."

Try This Instead:The New York Times says Clorox Free and Clear is the top cleaning pick from a recent review, stating, "This scent-free spray cleans great, doesn’t leave streaks, and has a third-party health and environmental certification."

Why It's Bad: TikTok user Cleanwcarly says, "I know, I know, I fell for the Zep hype, too. It works okay for glass shower doors, but that's literally it."

Try This Instead: According to Good Housekeeping, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is the best at taking on a wide range of hard and soft surfaces.

Why They're Bad: It turns out these woolly balls may be more trouble than they're worth. One Redditor wrote, "Wool dryer balls weren't all that great and were kinda annoying to deal with when they'd go flying out of the dryer when I'd open it."

Try This Instead:Wad up some balls of aluminum foil and you might find they're just as effective and much cheaper.

Why It's Bad: It came as a surprise, but TikToker Cleanwcarly says, "I can't believe I'm actually saying this because I love Sprayway, but this smells like s--t and I literally cannot stand that." 

Try This Instead: She adds that she makes her own glass cleaner at home with water and white vinegar.

Why They're Bad:Apparently you're better off sticking with paper towels."They just hold odor and stink!" a Redditor complained. "Like the papaya brand. I washed mine in the washer, I set it in hot water and soap and let it soak and nada. It got gross in less than a month and I ended up just tossing them!"

Try This Instead: If you just can't go back to paper towels, try some old cotton T-shirts. 

Why They're Bad: These nubby cloths were apparently good for one thing, according to a Redditor, which wasn't enough. "They're good for dusting, but that’s it. If I’m drying dishes or cleaning up a spill, I want a terrycloth towel."

Try This Instead: Swedish dish cloths are versatile and eco-friendly, too. 

Why They're Bad: These smiley-faced sponges earned a frown from more than one Redditor. "I loathe the holes that make the face. It's just so inconvenient. Also, it's just a sponge. The hard size does scratch stuff. The soft side is just a sponge. It's not worth the $4. 

Try This Instead: The Redditor continued, "I'm sticking to my $1.25 for a pack of 10 yellow and green hideous sponges."

Why It's Bad: A Redditor has a suggestion for a cheaper alternative to the Angry Mama microwave steamer. "[It's] supposed to make cleaning the inside of your microwave easier. 

Try This Instead: The Redditor had a cheaper alternative. "Just use a Pyrex measuring cup, a mug, or even a microwave-safe bowl and boil water to create steam. No need for a $10 'cutesy' product to do it!"

Why It's Bad: This Redditor wasn't shy about loathing their Dyson: "We bought one of the Dyson cordless vacuums when it was on sale and I hate that thing. 

Try This Instead:The Redditor sings the praises of another vacuum brand. "I’m glad I told my wife we should hang on to the Shark because that’s all I use when it’s time to vacuum the entire house."

Why It's Bad: While some Redditors expressed love for theirs, one simply wrote, "Nah."

Try This Instead:The Redditor suggested, "Invest in a good vacuum that has attachments."

Why It's Bad: One Redditor said her drain filter went downhill fast. "The TubShroom started out great but got nasty so quickly with gunk and stains that I couldn’t get clean. I started avoiding dealing with it so the tub would get backed up more often from hair collecting on the TubShroom. 

Try This Instead:The Redditor thinks a cheap investment is preferable. "Would much rather use a cheap plastic drain snake a few times a year than to clean the TubShroom multiple times a week."

Why It's Bad: While this multi-surface cleaner from Bissel might sound great, but it doesn't deliver the goods according to one Redditor. "Seemed like such a good idea. As soon as I read the manual it says not to use it on our kind of floors, but nothing else said that before I bought it. And all the effort it takes to get the thing ready, just forget it!"

Try This Instead: Use a mop on hard surfaces, a vacuum on soft ones. A combination tool isn't worth it. 

Why They're Bad: These fuzzy, finger-like dusters are not a hit with several Redditors. "They slot over the blind and your supposed to be able to just slide and boom, dusted. But the yellow fuzz just goes EVERYWHERE, the dust does not cling to it, and at the end, there's usually still a ton of stuck on dust or random droplet stains you have to wipe off. Way more of a hassle than they seem to be," said one.

Try This Instead:Real Simple suggests the OXO Good Grips Microfiber Hand Duster grabs dust well and doesn't let it go, giving it kudos as the best microfiber duster in their survey. 

Why It's Bad: This mop is a flop for some Redditors. "I found the mop head to be very cheap quality and the handle to be short. Just felt gimmicky overall."

Try This Instead: While Southern Living gave kudos to OCedar in its rankings of spin mops, the magazine named the best lightweight spin mop as the Libman Tornado. 

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