Treat the fashion- and beauty-obsessed people in your life to some of these cleaning-inspired gifts!
Stain removal may not be glamorous, but on the other hand, walking around with gravy dribbles on your cream-colored cashmere sweater is even less glamorous. This year, treat the fashion- and beauty-obsessed people in your life to some of these cleaning-inspired gifts and help to keep them looking great throughout 2017!
For the Gal Who Swaddles Herself in Cashmere All Winter Long
A friend recently told me that she had discovered cashmere T-shirts and that her life will never be the same. It was all I could do not to start blurting out all the cashmere care products I wanted her to invest in! I practiced restraint, however, consoling myself with the knowledge that I would be writing a gift guide and could channel my enthusiasm for the care and keeping of cashmere in healthier ways for literally everyone involved.
Soak Celebration | Soak Wash, $16
While machine washing or dry cleaning are fine ways to clean cashmere, the best way is to hand-wash it (I know, I know, I'm sorry!) Using a no-rinse detergent like Soak Wash makes the process a little less sloggy by cutting out a step. Soak comes in four different scents, as well as an unscented version, but for gifting purposes, I think that 'Celebration' is perfectly on the nose.
Deodorant Removing Sponge | Hollywood Fashion Secrets, $6
In between washings, a deodorant removing sponge is a great way to remove those horrible white streaks, as well as other small stains, from your sweaters.
Luxury Oxhorn Cashmere Garment Brush | Kirby Allison's Hanger Project, $100
A one hundred dollar garment brush is absurd and there's probably no justifying such a purchase. But what's the fun in overseeing an annual cleaning-related gift guide if I can't include outlandish suggestions along with more practical ones? After all, one of the great joys of gift-giving is splurging on things we wouldn't normally buy for ourselves.
Also, it's really a very lovely garment brush.
Retractable Lint Roller | Flint, $7.99-$9.99
Of course you're not going to tote a one hundred dollar garment brush around with you everywhere you roam, so for lint removal on the fly, the Flint retractable lint roller is the perfect thing. It comes in tons of colors, including metallics, so you can even match them to your outfit.
For the Bubble Bath Lover
One simply cannot take a restorative bath in a dirty tub! Of course, handing over a can of Scrubbing Bubbles, even if it's festively wrapped, is a bit of a bah-humbug move. Instead, treat your bath-loving bestie to a bundle of bubbles and all the accoutrements to help her soak her way to happiness.
Bathtub Cleaning Sponge | Aisen, $8.99
Under normal circumstances, I take a rather hard line against cutesy cleaning products. But these little guys are so darling, and the fact that they have a little suction cup that allows you to stash the sponge right where you need it makes it practical enough that I feel great about recommending it.
Pink Persimmon All-Purpose Cleaner | Method Home Rebecca Atwood Collection, $3.99
Method products are great for use on a tub that needs a quick wipe down before running a bath; the pink persimmon scent is lovely, as is the decorative bottle, designed by Rebecca Atwood, that it comes in.
Bubbletini Bath Bombs | Ulta, $10
Did you guys know that Mr. Bubble had gone high-end? I certainly did not know! And I'm tickled to death that the bubble bath of our youth has gotten an adult makeover.
Candle Subscription Box | Vellabox, $30-$360
A relaxing bath can only be made better by adding a lovely-smelling candle to the mix. If you, like me (and everyone else I work with!) is a lover of candles, the Vellabox candle subscription box is a fantastic gift. As a bonus, Racked readers can get $5 off their order using the code 'RACKED' at checkout.
For Your Favorite Wino
At this point, I might have to admit to both myself and to you that the archetypes I've identified for this gift guide are basically made up of my personal interests. Well, they do tell you to write what you know, so we shall continue onward with gifts for the wine lover in your life!
Crab Utility Tote | Crab & Cleek, $40
This utility tote — which, full disclosure, I shamelessly copied from Oprah's Favorite Things — is the perfect bag to fill up with all kinds of goodies for the wine lover in your life. Such as ...
Kitchen Basics Set in Peppermint | Mrs. Meyer's, $10.99
You guys, I kind of lost my mind when I saw that Mrs. Meyer's released a new holiday scent for 2016. LET US CAST OFF THE YOKE OF IOWA PINE AND ORANGE CLOVE, FOR NOW A NEW KING HAS BEEN BROUGHT UNTO US, AND HIS NAME IS PEPPERMINT.
Like I said, I kind of lost my mind.
This is a great little set to give during the holidays because not only is it festive, but also because the dish soap can be put to use to clean up red wine stains on clothes.
Wine Wipes Compact | Borracha, $15
You know what's great? Red wine. You know what's the total opposite of great? Red wine teeth. These wipes will take care of the latter, leaving you free to enjoy more of the former.
OxiClean Splot | Casabella, $29.99
This new product from Casabella mimics the mechanisms of spendier (and bulkier!) extraction cleaners like the Little Green Machine or Rug Doctor, making it a great choice for hostesses who are worried about red wine spills on carpet. It's compact enough to fit right in the utility tote with enough room left for you to stick a bottle of wine in there for good measure!
For Your Friend With the Fresh Manicure
Homekeeping will do a number on a manicure, but the dishes still need to get done and the floors still need to be cleaned. And then there's the problem of the polish itself, which, if spilled, is a pretty tricky thing to clean up. Help is here.
gel setter | essie, $10
I abuse the tarnation out of my manicures, but I can't commit to a full gel mani because the removal process is so grim. This top coat is basically a miracle in a bottle for those of us who are committed to a good-looking hand, because it can withstand a full week worth of dish washing, toilet cleaning, and tub scrubbing.
Head to Toe Balm | Trader Joe's, $3.99
This jumbo tin of balm is great for dishpan hands or for softening dry cuticles. It's on the thick side, so you'll want to allow a few minutes for it to sink into your skin before moving on to other activities.
Motsenbocker's Lift Off #3 | Walmart, $8.86
There's a ton of advice on the internet about removing spilled nail polish from textiles, including clothes and bedding. Almost all of it is bad (to wit: Nail polish remover really doesn't work). But this Motsenbocker's stuff, which is formulated for use on markers, pen, and ink, can also be used to effectively remove nail polish from textiles and hard surfaces, making it a very smart thing for any nail polish gal to keep on hand for emergencies.
Braava Jet | iRobot, $199
What does a robot mop have to do with a fly manicure? Well, you can't expect her to scrub the floors and risk ruining her hands!
For the Gym Rat
The hardest part about going to the gym is actually going. The second hardest part is figuring out to keep your pricey athleisure from permanently smelling like the inside of a locker. Fortunately, I spend a lot of time thinking about these things so you don't have to.
Sea Salt Neroli Sport Wash | Caldrea, $10
As our wardrobes march inevitably toward a place where all we wear are yoga pants, it makes sense to invest in a detergent designed specifically for use on the technical fabrics that are used in athleisure. There are lots of great sports detergents out there, but the Caldrea makes for a nice gift because of its lovely scent and pretty packaging.
On Demand Spray & Go | HEX, $9.99
This deodorizing spray is primarily meant for use on accessories like yoga mats, running shoes or helmets. It can also be pressed into double duty to freshen up workout clothes, so you can go straight from the gym to brunch in your favorite yoga pants without worrying that you smell like an old sneaker.
Telescoping Wall Mount Drying Rack | Jet.com, $24.76
Speaking of smells! One of the trickiest things to manage is what to do about the foul smells that develop in between the wearing and washing of our workout clothes. A good way to handle the problem is to hang just-worn yoga pants and sports bras, so that they can dry and air out a bit before getting tossed into the laundry hamper, and this expandable drying rack provides the perfect set up to do just that.
Dash Portable Garment Steamer | Reliable Corporation, $79
This steamer is small and lightweight enough to toss into a gym bag so you can freshen up your post-workout outfit before heading to work or out on a date. It also has a plate, so it can be used like a traditional iron for touch-ups on collars or creases that steaming alone can't coax out.