The 5 Biggest Cleaning Scams Hiding in Your Home

It's easy to get sucked into the promise of fancy cleaning products, especially when they're dressed up in sleek bottles and paired with clever marketing. But many of these products are simply unnecessary, and some even fail to perform better than a bit of elbow grease and essential household items you probably already have. Ready to stop wasting money on overhyped cleaning products? Here are five you can live without.

1. Multipurpose Cleaners vs. Room-Specific Sprays

Do you have different sprays for your kitchen, bathroom, and living room? Most multipurpose cleaners work just as well across various surfaces and rooms. Manufacturers want you to believe you need a specialized product for every area, but tests show there's virtually no difference between many of these sprays. While a dedicated bathroom cleaner may help with tougher grime like soap scum, one good multipurpose cleaner will tackle most messes throughout your home.

2. Floor Cleaners

Despite the images of sparkling tiles and pristine wood floors, floor cleaners often don't perform much better than plain water. That's right — many popular floor cleaner brands were tested and found to deliver little to no improvement over using just water and a mop. So, skip the fancy formulas and stick with water to keep your floors clean.

3. Cheap Stick Vacuums

Bargain stick vacuums might seem like a steal, but their poor performance often leaves you doing twice the work. These vacuums are typically lower quality, which means they don't last as long and often struggle with deeper cleaning, especially on carpets. If you want your vacuum to do a decent job, it's worth investing in a more reliable model.

4. Laundry Sheets

Laundry sheets are marketed as a convenient, eco-friendly alternative to traditional detergents but often fail to deliver. In recent tests by Consumer NZ, laundry sheets from popular brands didn't measure up to liquid or powder detergents. Given their poor cleaning performance and higher cost, you're better off sticking to more traditional, effective options.

5. Robot Vacuums

While they've become a staple for gadget lovers, robot vacuums aren't always the miracle cleaning tool they promise to be. Many models struggle to clean carpets, can't handle pet hair, and often get stuck on obstacles like rugs and furniture. While they might be fun to watch, their actual cleaning performance leaves much to be desired — especially considering the high price tag.

Don't fall for the hype! These products may look flashy, but they often overpromise and underdeliver. By sticking to simple, practical solutions, you'll save money and reduce clutter in your cleaning cupboard.

References: The cleaning products that might be a waste of your money | These 5 cleaning products are a waste of money