Surprising things you don't realize you're doing that are making your house look sh*tty
Luckily, these ugly mistakes are easy to fix.
Everyone goes to bed with the living room a bit messy from time to time, right? It’s something I don’t even think about at night, but I definitely think about it in the morning when my throw blanket is all bunched up and throw pillows are scattered on the floor.
There are a ton of little things (like putting away that throw blanket) that are stopping our houses from living up to their full potential, and yes — look a little sh*tty. We might not even realize we’re doing them, but I’ve found all of the tidying-up solutions to fix them.
01
Mistake: Avoiding cleaning blinds & baseboards
Solution: Wiping away dust with this grippy, ribbed duster
This uniquely-shaped duster will take care of all of the most annoying-to-clean spots in your home (like all of your blinds). Instead of a microfiber cloth, it’s actually a sponge with ridges to scoop up all of the dust from baseboards, vents, and (of course) those frustrating blinds. Dust clings to the sponge instead of flying around the house, and you just need to rinse it with water to use it again.
02
Mistake: Letting rugs slide around all over the floor
Solution: Adhering a double-sided mesh rug tape that works on all surfaces
Keep this double-sided rug tape around, and taking care of slippery rugs won’t be a huge deal. You won’t even need to measure for a rug liner because you can simply stick this durable mesh tape to the corners or line the sides of a sliding rug, and the durable tape takes care of the rest. It also has an easy-to-tear design, so installation will take seconds.
03
Mistake: Ignoring the stray pet fur on your sofa
Solution: Removing hair with a reusable pet fur remover that’s easy to clean
This pet hair remover has a reusable fabric roller that you won’t have to clean off or wash every time you tackle the stray fur on your furniture. It uses an electrostatic charge to scoop up all of the fur from your couch without dropping any. So, all you have to do is empty the fur-catching design whenever it’s full.
04
Mistake: Avoiding cleaning small spots & between appliances
Solution: Getting into those slim spots with a slim, extendable duster
This duster saves you from moving appliances and furniture because the slim design will fit right between kitchen cabinets, next to your fridge, or behind your headboard. And, it extends from 18 to 55 inches, so you won’t have to awkwardly reach to clean every nook and cranny. This uniquely bendable duster also comes with a removable microfiber cover that’s grippy for dust yet easy to wash after cleaning day.
05
Mistake: Letting your backsplash or bathroom tile stay grimy
Solution: Brightening up grout with a waterproof pen that reviewers love
This grout pen makes fixing up grimy tiles way less intimidating because you simply use it like you would use any writing utensil. This waterproof paint is precise enough to take care of grout as small as 2 millimeters thin, and you can even cover up to 150 feet of your intricate backsplash or bathroom tile. This is a renter-friendly solution with over 14,000 five-star reviews.
06
Mistake: Shoving a bunch of clothes in your overstuffed closet
Solution: Keeping clothes in these dust-proof under-bed bags that are easy to pull out
Instead of shoving bulky coats into the closet before slamming the door shut, simply pack all of your out-of-season pieces away in these clear-top under-bed storage bags. These breathable yet dust-proof bags clean up your closet, and they come with a reinforced handle, so you slide them out all the time without tearing the durable fabric.
07
Mistake: Using mismatched hangers that clothes fall off of
Solution: Hanging up clothes on these matching, grippy velvet hangers
Swap out mismatched and flimsy hangers with this huge set of hangers with a chic, grippy velvet design. Your entire closet will match, and this set is thin enough to fit way more hangers (and clothes) than usual. They also have snag-proof notches and a durable design that can handle up to 10 pounds of fluffy jackets.
08
Mistake: Scratching & scuffing wood floors with chair legs
Solution: Protecting floors with these stretchy & soft chair leg covers
The stretchy silicone design of these chair leg covers comes with soft felt on the bottom, so your chairs won’t make that annoying sound when you slide them out — or leave unsightly scratches and scuffs on hardwood, vinyl, or other hard floor types. Adding these chair leg covers to your trendy furniture won’t ruin the vibe because they come in a variety of colors including brown, black, gray, and clear.
09
Mistake: Slamming & scuffing up the inside of kitchen cabinets
Solution: Installing these clear, self-adhesive bumpers to protect cabinets
These clear little bumpers keep the inside of your kitchen cabinets looking nice and scuff-free because they act as a cushion every time you accidentally slam a cabinet door — which also dampens unnecessary noise. They come with adhesive already on the back, and you get 100 of these durable bumpers to stick all over your cabinets, drawers, and more.
10
Mistake: Ignoring smudged TV & computer screens
Solution: Spritzing this odor-free screen cleaner on everything
This streak- and odor-free screen cleaning spray is gentle enough for your TV or work laptop, leaving your surfaces scratch-free. The bottle itself is filled with an alcohol-, sulfate-, and phosphate-free cleaner, and you get a microfiber cloth, so you always have a dust-free one specifically for your screens.
11
Mistake: Keeping scratched & chipped floors or furniture as-is
Solution: Touching up scratches & dents with these fan-favorite wood markers
These wood repair markers are obviously perfect for every scratched and scuffed piece in your home, but it will also take care of your wood floors. You get six different wood-tone colors (including black), so you can easily match that chipped floorboard or coffee table. It also comes with wax sticks if the chip is a little too deep for the quick-drying markers.
12
Mistake: Leaving power strips scattered on the floor
Solution: Using an outlet extender & nightlight with a compact, tidy design
Pick up all of those power strips scattered around the floor of your home and stick this genius outlet extender in your outlet instead. The tidy design gives you five traditional outlets, three USBs, and a USB-C, while the three-edged design means that plugs won’t be bumping into one another. To seriously keep everything off of your floor, this extender has a built-in shelf on top, and there’s a bonus nightlight on the bottom.
13
Mistake: Having a cluttered tub with bottles on the edge
Solution: Tidying up your products with a shower caddy with a 4.8-star rating
Your tub won’t get all grimy and cluttered if you display all of your products and bottles in this quick-drying shower caddy with adjustable hooks. Not only will you keep the corners of your tub completely clean and empty, but the matte-black or polished silver finish will make your shower feel more modern.
14
Mistake: Letting things topple over in the closet when you reach for a shirt
Solution: Keeping all of your sweaters in place with these secure shelf dividers
These gentle fabric dividers save your shirts and towels from toppling to your closet floor every time you reach for one. The slim and durable acrylic frame slides right between all of your stacked clothes to keep them all in place — even a precarious stack of puffy sweaters.
15
Mistake: Allowing curtains & sheers to stay wrinkled
Solution: Steaming away creases with a handheld steamer that has a long cord
This lightweight, handheld steamer makes it so easy to take care of wrinkled curtains or sheers. It has a 9-foot cord to allow you to steam without taking the curtains down, and the gentle steam will work for 15 minutes per 240-milliliter fill-up. It’s an easy, budget-friendly solution, why is why this is a best-seller on Amazon with over 61,000 five-star reviews.
16
Mistake: Keeping tangled cords out in the open
Solution: Hiding bulky power strips & cords in these sleek, neutral boxes
Grab these cable management boxes because it’s so easy to end up with a tangle of cords and chargers under your desk, on your bedside table, and pretty much all over your home. The aesthetic bamboo lid fits on top of a ventilated white container that will blend in with your decor, all while holding power strips and cords inside.
17
Mistake: Letting years of buildup sit in your dryer vent
Solution: Using this vacuum attachment to remove all lint
Not being able to see the mess doesn’t mean it’s not there. With this dryer vent cleaner, you’ll be able to easily remove all built-up lint so that your machine performs more efficiently. The hose attaches to any handheld vacuum and is nearly 4 feet long so that it’s able to reach deep inside. This can prevent dangerous fires and even help lower your electricity bill.
18
Mistake: Having paper towels take up a bunch of counter space
Solution: Installing a best-selling paper towel holder that hangs on the wall
This stainless steel paper towel holder looks like a pricey built-in piece, because you stick it on your wall or kitchen backsplash with the adhesive backing or included screws. It’s completely waterproof, so you can grab a paper towel with wet hands after dishes multiple times a day without worrying about it rusting (or falling off the wall).
19
Mistake: Ignoring hard water stains when you clean the toilet
Solution: Scrubbing with a pumice stone scrubber that’s eco-friendly
Scrubbing hard water stains won’t be a gross chore with this pumice stone — even if you’re cleaning the toilet. You won’t even have to reach for a toilet cleaning spray when you use this odorless scrubber. It’s also worth keeping one of these fine-grit scrubbers in a kitchen cabinet for your sink.
20
Mistake: Creating a pile of bags & purses in your entryway
Solution: Hanging up a tidy purse organizer that’s so easy to use
Tossing your bag or purse in the entryway feels like the easiest option after work, but this purse organizer is actually way easier. It hangs in your closet and the sides are completely open, so you can quickly toss your bag into the transparent, dust-proof slots. It also has reinforced trim, so it can handle your heavier purses or laptop bags.
21
Mistake: Trying to fix watermarks with your usual cleaning supplies
Solution: Taking care of watermarks & stains with a reusable cloth
This little cleaning cloth might look like your usual dusting cloth, but it actually takes care of watermarks and stains on your furniture. It won’t strip your furniture’s stain, and you won’t even have to reach for your usual cleaning spray to scrub away those watermarks or even paint and marker stains.
22
Mistake: Constantly having to wipe down your fridge shelves
Solution: Covering each level with a washable liner
To keep sticky spills from reaching your clean shelves, line each with these refrigerator mats. They’re made of high-quality EVA that is covered in a convex dot pattern that keeps them from sliding around. This pack comes with six pieces that can each be cut to fit any shelf perfectly.
23
Mistake: Neglecting to sweep up pet fur or get it out of your rug
Solution: Sweeping up fur with an extendable rubber broom that reviewers love
This unique-looking and extendable broom is the thing to reach for when there’s way too much pet fur on your rug. The rubber bristles stick to all of the fur, so it’s way better than trying to sweep it all with a normal broom. Plus, you can easily wash the durable bristles if they start to get a little grimy with pet fur. This best-selling cleaning tool also comes with a squeegee on one end, which makes it great for cleaning all kinds of surfaces.
24
Mistake: Cluttering up your utensil drawer with every tool imaginable
Solution: Keeping things tidy with this sleek, rotating utensil holder
Instead of trying to cram spatulas and ladles in your kitchen utensil drawer that barely closes, display this stainless steel utensil holder on this countertop. It has a removable divider with three slots, so it will keep all of your utensils tidy with barely any effort. You can also spin it 360 degrees to easily grab the exact cooking tool you need.
25
Mistake: Skipping fans & light fixtures on dusting day
Solution: Cleaning with this gentle, 100-inch extendable duster that bends
The microfiber fabric on this extendable duster takes care of all of the gross dust on fan blades or light fixtures. It extends from 30 to 100 inches, and the washable microfiber fabric is also fluffy and gentle enough to sweep across your walls or ceiling without worrying about scratches.
26
Mistake: Hiding holes in the wall instead of fixing them
Solution: Using this wall-repair putty that doesn’t require any tools
This repair putty makes it way less intimidating to take care of holes in your walls from old wall art because you won’t even need a putty knife. You won’t even have to grab sanding paper because this putty won’t shrink or crack, and you can simply wipe off any extra putty with your hand.
27
Mistake: Ignoring scuffed walls & stained counters
Solution: Wiping away stains with these trimmable melamine sponges
These melamine sponges save you from trying all of your cleaning products on scuffed-up walls because they take care of all kinds of stains. Each order comes with 50 trimmable, residue-free sponges, and they work on everything from built-up kitchen grease to stains on shoes to scuffs on walls and floors.
28
Mistake: Manually cleaning dirty grout
Solution: Using this power scrubber that works 2 times faster
With a head that oscillates 60 times per second, your hands and a sponge are no match for this power scrubber. It has two different settings with a pulsing and continuous scrub so you can most accurately attack built-up dirt no matter which corner, crevice, or grout line it’s taken over.
29
Mistake: Straightening your wall art every other day
Solution: Using this laser level to properly hang your pieces
Instead of “straightening up” your wall art every few days because it doesn’t look quite right, grab this laser level. It comes with that self-leveling laser to help you quickly fix all of your wall art (even if you want to align multiple pieces), but it also comes with two classic back-lit bubble levels to double-check.
30
Mistake: Tossing everything in the fridge wherever
Solution: Organizing your food with these clear, shatterproof bins
These clear fridge bins will save you from getting frustrated every time you open your fridge because it makes it so easy to keep all of your produce and condiments clean and organized. This shatterproof set even comes with an egg holder with a protective lid. These washable bins also have handles to easily pull out all of your veggies and ingredients when you’re prepping dinner.
31
Mistake: Letting mosquitoes in your home
Solution: Repelling the insects with plant-based incense
With this 12-pack of mosquito-repellent sticks, you’ll be able to create a zone of protection. Each can stay lit for up to three hours, warding off the pesky insects as it burns. The repellent is 100% plant-based and made with natural essential oils like rosemary, lemongrass, and citronella. They emit a sweet smell that you’ll actually enjoy.
32
Mistake: Spending a ton on electricity
Solution: Illuminating your backyard with solar-powered lights
Rather than spending your hard-earned cash on electricity, harness the power of the sun with these solar-powered lights. They have flexible necks that will sway in the wind and brighten up your front walkway or backyard. And because they’re made of specialized iron wire, they can withstand any weather.
33
Mistake: Letting wet dishes hang out on your countertop
Solution: Using a dishwasher-safe drying mat that doubles as a hot pad
This unique drying mat won’t take up a ton of space like a usual drying rack because it’s simply a quick-drying silicone mat. Instead of letting your dishes hang out on your countertop, this dishwasher-safe mat gives your freshly-washed dishes plenty of airflow. Plus, this mat has other uses including as a heat-resistant mat for hair tools and hot pans.
34
Mistake: Letting your sheets hang out of your duvet
Solution: Making your bed with a sheet tucker to avoid that messy look
Instead of ignoring that corner or bit of sheet sticking out below your duvet, grab this bed sheet tucker for a crisp, cleanly made bed every day. It’s small enough to keep it with your spare sheets, so it’s easy to reach when you make your bed. Plus, you won’t have to lift up the mattress with this durable little tool — so you’re way more likely to make your bed.
35
Mistake: Using storebought sprays to try to mask odors
Solution: Keeping these bamboo charcoal bags around the house
By absorbing excess moisture in the air, these deodorizing charcoal bags naturally remove bad smells without the use of any perfumes or storebought sprays. Each 60-gram bag in this pack of six can fit just about anywhere. Place one in your gym bag, another directly in your shoes, and anywhere else you want to keep fresh. The activated charcoal can be recharged in sunlight and reused for up to two years.
36
Mistake: Keeping your coffee maker on the edge of the counter 24/7
Solution: Reducing clutter with this sliding appliance tray that holds 30 pounds
A coffee maker on the edge of the counter looks a bit cluttered, but with this appliance tray, you can tuck it right against your kitchen backsplash. In the morning, simply pull this sliding tray toward you to reach your coffee maker. This tray is super easy-to-clean if you have any coffee or coffee syrup spills. Plus, it’s sturdy enough to hold up to 30 pounds, which means you can use it for your air fryer, blender, stand mixer, and more.
37
Mistake: Letting windows or glass shower stay streaky
Solution: Using a budget-friendly squeegee to sweep away streaks
This little silicone squeegee might seem like a unique cleaning tool, but it’s actually perfect for sweeping away streaks on windows, mirrors, and even glass shower doors. It’s also lightweight enough to tackle a bunch of windows at once without tiring out your arm. It comes with an adhesive wall-mounted holder, so it won’t take up any space in your bathroom or cleaning closet.
38
Mistake: Decorating your couch the same way you did years ago
Solution: Slipping on these textured throw pillow covers for an upgrade
One of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to refresh your home's decor is by switching out your throw pillow covers. This chic pair with a striped corduroy design has a 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon. They’re silky-smooth and come in tons of colors within the listing.
39
Mistake: Not making use of every inch of space in your fridge
Solution: Installing this sliding egg drawer
To make room for all your favorite condiments, drinks, and more, you’ll need to maximize the space you have with this refrigerator egg drawer. It can firmly snap onto any shelf and store 18 eggs. To ensure that it fits, simply adjust the depth by sliding.
40
Mistake: Letting hair clog your pipes
Solution: Keeping them free of buildup with a drain protector
To avoid hefty plumbing bills and expensive repairs, all you need is this drain protector with over 83,000 five-star reviews. The compact rubber piece fits in most standard drains to allow water to flow while keeping strands of hair from finding their way into your pipes. And because of its handy mushroom shape, it’s a breeze to pull out and clean after each use.
