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Collection by Megan Hamaker

What a Chore: 8 Modern Cleaning Tools

It's coming. Just two months away marks the beginning of the holiday entertaining season. Forget spring cleaning, this is fall guest cleaning time. Not only will you need to prep for their arrival, but extra people equals extra mess. Here, we've pulled together some of our favorite modern cleaning supplies to make the process feel less like a chore.

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CRATE AND BARREL LAUNCHES NEW UTILITY BRAND, CLEAN SLATE Crate and Barrel introduces Clean Slate, their new line of well-designed cleaning and organizing products for the modern home.
CRATE AND BARREL LAUNCHES NEW UTILITY BRAND, CLEAN SLATE Crate and Barrel introduces Clean Slate, their new line of well-designed cleaning and organizing products for the modern home.
SHOE CLEANING BOX Hide all your shoe cleaning brushes, balms, and polishes in this beautiful beechwood box, complete with nylon brushes by Donata Paruccini.
SHOE CLEANING BOX Hide all your shoe cleaning brushes, balms, and polishes in this beautiful beechwood box, complete with nylon brushes by Donata Paruccini.
ORECK HALO UV-C GERM-KILLING VACUUM (HALO100) The HALO100 works not only on carpet but tile and hardwood floors as well and uses Oreck's UV-C light chamber--in addition to a HEPA filter--to ensure that all germs, dirt, and debris are cleaned out of the carpets.
ORECK HALO UV-C GERM-KILLING VACUUM (HALO100) The HALO100 works not only on carpet but tile and hardwood floors as well and uses Oreck's UV-C light chamber--in addition to a HEPA filter--to ensure that all germs, dirt, and debris are cleaned out of the carpets.
BALLO TOILET BRUSH Tis the season for having guests—and thus a clean house, as well. And while you'll want a toilet brush on hand, you may not want your current one out on display. Danish manufacturer Normann-Copenhagen recently released a new take on the cleaning tool, featuring a sleek design you'll actually want to put on display.
BALLO TOILET BRUSH Tis the season for having guests—and thus a clean house, as well. And while you'll want a toilet brush on hand, you may not want your current one out on display. Danish manufacturer Normann-Copenhagen recently released a new take on the cleaning tool, featuring a sleek design you'll actually want to put on display.
DISHMOP SPONGE Washing up is rarely as enjoyable as the eating that precedes it, which makes us appreciate simple cleaning tools that somehow manage to bring a little levity to the sudsy process. Dutch industrial designer Gijs Bakker made the Dishmop for Droog (the company he co-founded in 1993), and using it is not unlike taking tongs the serving dish to sneak the last meatball. Simply grasp the round sponge between the ends of the steel utensil, secure, and start scrubbing.
DISHMOP SPONGE Washing up is rarely as enjoyable as the eating that precedes it, which makes us appreciate simple cleaning tools that somehow manage to bring a little levity to the sudsy process. Dutch industrial designer Gijs Bakker made the Dishmop for Droog (the company he co-founded in 1993), and using it is not unlike taking tongs the serving dish to sneak the last meatball. Simply grasp the round sponge between the ends of the steel utensil, secure, and start scrubbing.
KITCHEN SCRUBBING CLOTHS What may look like a couple of piles of colorful rubber bands are in fact kitchen scrubbing cloths made from some surprising natural materials. Recycled corn cobs compose the coarse yellow one and the gentler red version is made from peach pits; Both can be used for months without wearing out, and apparently no dishsoap is needed (!) to clean your tableware.
KITCHEN SCRUBBING CLOTHS What may look like a couple of piles of colorful rubber bands are in fact kitchen scrubbing cloths made from some surprising natural materials. Recycled corn cobs compose the coarse yellow one and the gentler red version is made from peach pits; Both can be used for months without wearing out, and apparently no dishsoap is needed (!) to clean your tableware.
REPLENISH REUSABLE BOTTLE SYSTEM Did you know that most surface cleaners are a mix of 5% solution and a whopping 95% water? That's a whole lot of bottle you're buying every time for such a small amount of concentrate. Replenish recognizes that ratio can be made the most of with their new bottle design. The large, top half is designed to be reused; The bottom portion carries enough cleanser for four h20-from-the-tap refills, and buying a replacement requires a quick trip to the online store (with free shipping, no less!). We have it on excellent authority from a decidedly tidy and ever-clean colleague that the stuff works wonders.
REPLENISH REUSABLE BOTTLE SYSTEM Did you know that most surface cleaners are a mix of 5% solution and a whopping 95% water? That's a whole lot of bottle you're buying every time for such a small amount of concentrate. Replenish recognizes that ratio can be made the most of with their new bottle design. The large, top half is designed to be reused; The bottom portion carries enough cleanser for four h20-from-the-tap refills, and buying a replacement requires a quick trip to the online store (with free shipping, no less!). We have it on excellent authority from a decidedly tidy and ever-clean colleague that the stuff works wonders.