Cleaning and laundry tools that earn their space, all under £20

Most cleaning gadgets end up at the back of a cupboard. The ones that survive share two traits: they do a job the ordinary tools do badly, and they are cheap enough that nobody feels guilty about them. Here are the categories we would actually keep, with what to look for in each.

Lint and pet-hair removers

A reusable roller with a silicone or fabric head removes hair from sofas and car seats without consumables. Check that the head washes clean under a tap and that the handle is long enough for a sofa back. The disposable-sheet type is cheaper to buy and dearer to run.

Drain and sink tools

A plastic hair-catcher for the shower and a flexible drain snake for the basin cost a few pounds together and save a plumber’s call-out. The snake should be at least 45 cm long and stiff enough to push, flexible enough to turn the bend.

Grout and detail brushes

A stiff, narrow brush with an angled head reaches grout lines, window tracks and the seal on a washing-machine door. Two heads (one stiff, one soft) cover most jobs; a set of twenty is clutter.

Laundry helpers

Mesh bags for delicates and pet blankets, a collapsible basket that folds flat, and a lint brush for wool coats. Look for zips with a locking pull so the bag does not open mid-cycle.

What to skip

Anything that promises to replace a vacuum cleaner, and anything battery-powered for a job a hand does in thirty seconds.

From our range

• Browse Cleaning & Laundry and Under £20.

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