38 Items to Avoid Purchasing If You Plan to Keep Living in Mess Beyond 2025

1. A mold and mildew remover that works effortlessly—just apply, leave it, and return to spotless grout in hours. If visions of dirty shower grout haunt your thoughts, this is a must-have.

2. A bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray that eliminates soap scum and grime without any wiping. Rinse it off the next day, and watch hard water stains on your shower door disappear like magic.

3. A drain clog remover designed to tackle the hair buildup in your shower drain, leaving you both amazed and slightly grossed out. Alternatively, leave the hair clog untouched, and eventually, your shower will double as a bathtub. Exciting, right?

4. An air purifier designed for those who feel targeted by seasonal allergies. This powerful device eliminates dander, mold, dust, and pollen from the air, making it easier for you to breathe.

5. A fizzing toilet tablet for anyone who dreams of avoiding toilet brushes forever. These tablets turn that dream into reality, acting like a sanitizing bath bomb for your toilet.

6. A Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning stamp to keep your toilet sparkling. The stamp releases a cleaning gel that foams up and cleans the bowl effortlessly.

7. A mattress vacuum for those who’ve never cleaned their mattress (which is probably everyone). This device loosens and removes dust, dirt, and tiny particles trapped deep within your mattress.

8. A beeswax wood polisher to quickly restore your scratched, dented, and worn-out cabinets and tables. This method is far more affordable than replacing the wood or furniture, and regular use of this polish helps keep the wood hydrated, extending its lifespan.

9. A pet hair remover that effortlessly removes fur from your couch, bed, favorite blanket, and more. It’s magical proof that we can have nice things without pet hair ruining them!

10. A carpet cleaner designed to tackle stubborn stains on your white carpet that have resisted every other cleaner you’ve tried — until now.

11. A gel dust cleaner for those moments when crumbs are stuck between your R and T keys or dust clogs your car’s air vents. Pressing this lemon-scented slime onto surfaces is oddly satisfying, leaving your keyboard or vents spotless.

12. A toilet tank cleaner

to completely eliminate hard water deposits and unsightly stains inside your toilet tank.

13. An odor-eliminating spray designed to tackle the lingering smell of pet urine on your carpet, even after thorough cleaning. Each spray releases bacteria that break down ammonia from pet accidents, completely neutralizing the odor and discouraging pets from revisiting the same spot.

14. A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets to clean your dishwasher as it runs. Say goodbye to the frustration of opening a dirty dishwasher only to find your "clean" dishes still grimy.

15. A box of cleaning K-Cups to remove residue from your machine and prevent flavor transfer in just one cycle. Or, enjoy the thrill of descaling it repeatedly—your call!

16. A heavy-duty grout cleaner for tile and grout that’s endured years of neglect. This product delivers an Anne Hathaway-in-The Princess Diaries-level transformation, making dirt vanish like magic. What more can I say?

17. A plant-based stainless steel cleaner and polish for when your family forgets handles exist (handles, people!) and leaves fingerprints all over the fridge.

18. A pet hair broom designed to lift fur embedded in your carpet. It’s equally effective on wood and linoleum, with a rubber head that acts like a magnet for stray hairs. It also features a built-in squeegee for cleaning liquids or glass, and its handle extends from 36 to 60 inches, making it versatile for any mess.

19. A pack of carborundum sponges for tackling tough stains and grime that ordinary sponges can’t handle. These are the ultimate cleaning powerhouses.

20. A cooktop cleaner designed to help you maintain a spotless kitchen, even when your forgetful roommate conveniently ignores all the cleaning discussions you've had. This set includes a cleaning solution, a sponge, and a scraper — essentially everything you need, except perhaps a more responsible roommate.

21. An environmentally friendly hard water stain remover that effectively tackles tough soap scum and residue that other cleaners couldn't handle. Its biodegradable formula ensures a pleasant scent without overwhelming your senses, and it's versatile enough for use on various surfaces like shower glass, tile, granite, stainless steel, marble, brass, and porcelain.

22. A screen-cleaning brush perfect for those who can't see through their windows due to dirt-covered mesh screens. Is that a branch or a scratch on the glass? Perhaps it's a deceased bug stuck on the screen for so long that you've given it a name. (Say hi to Carl, everyone!)

23. A Windex outdoor glass cleaner for those who dread the sight of grimy windows but refuse to climb a ladder to clean towering panes. Simply connect the Windex bottle to your hose, spray the solution, and enjoy sparkling windows without the hassle!

24. A dual-layer cat litter-trapping mat designed to capture stray crystals and pebbles carried by your cat's paws, preventing them from scattering across your floors. Simply collect the litter and return it to the box!

25. A TikTok viral pink cleaning paste that transforms your oven door from a mess of baked-on food residue (left) to a spotless, gleaming surface (right).

26. A drill brush kit to save your arms from exhaustion after scrubbing stubborn stains. Simply attach the brush head to your drill, turn it on, and watch as grime disappears effortlessly.

27. A set of foaming garbage disposal cleaners designed to thoroughly clean your sink from within. Avoid the risk of sticking your hand into the disposal — let this handy product handle the messy and hazardous task for you.

28. A garbage disposal brush perfect for dislodging stuck food remnants inside your disposal, eliminating the *gag-inducing* odors that plague your kitchen.

29. An OXO brush set for those who demand precision cleaning. The set includes two brushes — one large and one small — perfect for tackling everything from dirty grout to stained stovetops.

30. A Baseboard Buddy equipped with a 4-foot extendable pole to effortlessly remove dust and cobwebs from high and low areas. Don’t hesitate to grab this — your grimy baseboards, ceiling fans, grates, and moldings are in for a shock!

31. Washing machine cleaning tablets that deep-clean and deodorize the interior while breaking down residue. Even with your machine left open, that lingering moldy smell persists — but these tablets have you covered.

32. An OXO duster designed to remove crumbs, dust bunnies, forgotten lip gloss, and countless hair ties that have formed their own ecosystem under appliances like your fridge, oven, or laundry machine.

33. A microwave steam cleaner that effortlessly dissolves stubborn, baked-on grime clinging to your microwave walls — no matter how long it’s been there (and trust us, it’s been a while).

34. A versatile laundry soap bar that brightens whites, removes stains, cleans makeup brushes, degreases surfaces, repels bugs (thanks to its citronella scent), and even doubles as catfish bait (reviewers swear by it!).

35. A set of bottle-cleaning tablets that dissolve effortlessly, perfect for caffeine lovers who prioritize convenience. These tablets handle the hard work, leaving your thermos spotless in no time — faster than it took to create those stubborn stains.

36. A cruelty-free Capri Blue Volcano-scented multipurpose cleaner that fills your home with the irresistible aroma of citrus and sugar. If you’ve ever wandered into Anthropologie and found yourself captivated by that signature scent, this is exactly what you’ve been smelling.

37. A pumice cleaning stone designed to tackle stubborn rust, lime, and calcium stains that have defeated countless toilet brushes. Save your arms the effort — this nontoxic tool effortlessly removes discoloration while being gentle on porcelain, ensuring your throne stays sparkling.

38. A cast-iron scrubber, essentially a piece of chainmail, designed to remove food residue without damaging the pan's seasoning. This tool saves you time and effort, eliminating the need to struggle with fragile sponges on stubborn stains.

Me staring at my chaotic apartment: