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Before you start buying gifts for a clean freak, it’s important to know if they’re the kind of person who actually wants a high-end cleaning gadget or if they might interpret a vacuum cleaner as a passive aggressive slight.
Luckily, it’s easy enough to tell the difference. For example, if someone tells you they want a cashmere sweater or a new KitchenAid stand mixer, they definitely do not want cleaning supplies. And if they tell you they want a cleaning service as their gift, then don’t even think about that fancy broom and dustpan set. But if they talk about vacuum cleaners and dish soap scents the way some people talk about cars, or if they’ve been dropping not-so-subtle hints about a mop vac for months, then you better bring your A game. And maybe your credit card.
Giving a great cleaning gift doesn’t have to mean spending $700 on a new floor-cleaning appliance (well, unless you do want to splurge on that mop vac)—in fact, some of the cleaning products Epi readers buy and love the most are dish scrubbers and microfiber cloths—all of which come at stocking-stuffer price points. So if your giftee is obsessed with sanitizing every surface in the house or organizing the fridge for fun, here are the 46 best gift ideas for clean freaks in 2023.
Cleaning gifts for perfectionists
These high-quality microfiber cloths were one of our readers’ most purchased products last year. They’re the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who won’t rest until every piece of glassware is spotless and there’s not a smudged stainless steel appliance in sight.
Serious cooks know that cutting boards require a careful cleaning ritual. To help their favorite boards last for years to come, give a bottle of Boos Mystery Oil—an industry favorite. It’s a great gift for folks with butcher block countertops, too.
Give the clean freak in your life another one of our most popular cleaning items: a vegetable scrub brush that’s gentle enough for scrubbing potatoes, but even better as a hardy sponge alternative.
This little electric sweater shaver is the perfect giftable cleaning tool for the friend who’s always picking lint and pilled fabric off of clothes, coats, couches, and table linens.
The truth about those ultra-tiny vacuum cleaners is that they kinda suck, and not in the way they’re supposed to. A tiny table brush is a much better gift for that person who obsesses over crumbs in every crevice and cranny of the kitchen and beyond. They can use it to clean the countertop, stovetop, appliances, and so much more.
Gifts for the person who always does the dishes
A tube of ultra-rich, plant-based hand cream is the perfect self-care stocking stuffer. The giftee who’s always on dish duty can leave it by the sink to use as post-wash hand lotion.
This luxe Williams Sonoma exclusive is the best pine-scented dish soap you can buy. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer for the clean freak who wishes the holiday season would never end.
For a modern take on holiday hand towels, give a pack of Swedish dishcloths. They’re ideal for quick cleanups and easy on the environment—and since they come in dozens of cheery designs, they’ll add a pop of bright color to any kitchen.
This colorful dish scrubber pretty much eliminates the need for any other dishwashing tools, which is why it was one of our best-selling products of 2022. One scrubby can last up to two years,and you can toss it in the dishwasher or washing machine for a deep clean.
Most cast-iron skillet owners know the rules when it comes to cleaning, but do they know about The Ringer? Blow their mind by stuffing their stocking with this medieval looking accessory that really works.
This set of luxurious cotton-lined dish gloves will protect anyone’s hands from hot water and harsh chemicals—and they’re available in three sizes (and two colors).
Standing at the sink for extended periods of time can wreak havoc on anyone’s back and knees. So this cute and comfy anti-fatigue mat is a super thoughtful gift for the person who always does the dishes
Cleaning gifts for the all-natural crowd
For the DIY clean freak whose cleaning routine involves mixing their own concoctions in reusable glass spray bottles, go for a set of the best essential oils for cleaning.
If the cleaning-obsessed person in your life would rather use products made by the pros, consider a starter set of refillable eco-friendly cleaning products. You can even throw in a subscription so never have to think about buying spray cleaner ever again.
Paper towels are so passé. For a practical yet pretty gift, this set of a dozen Organic Cotton Unpaper Towels will go a long way toward a greener, cleaner new year. They’re a much better (and more sustainable) way to wipe away spills.
Steam cleaning is a great way to remove germs and bacteria from hard surfaces without harsh chemicals, and this handheld steam cleaner is pretty fun to use.
Cleaning gifts for people who love pretty things
Think washing dishes can’t be pretty? Think again. This sleek dish brush has a metallic handle that comes in four different finishes and is magnetized to store upright on a stand. Replaceable brush heads make it make sense.
These spray bottles are the perfect gift for that person who already decants their hand soap (and maybe even their dish soap) into a cuter container. You can order them without labels or choose from a variety of general generic labels, so there’s no question as to which bottle holds the multi-purpose cleaner and which is upholstery cleaner.
Clearing away the food scraps you dropped while preparing dinner is never pretty—unless you’re using a beautifully designed broom and dustpan to do it. Either of these sets would make an especially delightful, slightly-over the top gift for your stylish, tidy holiday hosts.
Yes, a trash can is kind of a weird thing to wrap up and give to someone. But it’s the kind of thing even clean freaks don’t love spending money on—which is exactly why this high-tech trash can makes a perfect gift.
These reusable lint removers are so much more eco-friendly than the sticky kind, and they can be used on clothes, carpets, and upholstery.
A fancy feather duster is a fabulously fancy house cleaning gift for the loved one who keeps lots of delicate items on display.
No one can ever have too many tea towels, so they always make good gifts or stocking stuffers. Here are a few of our favorites right now:
Gifts for germaphobes
This sleek little device from Phonesoap uses UV light to safely sanitize a phone. It’s the perfect gift for the person who's still cleaning theirs with Clorox wipes every night.
Even the most mundane household item can make a good gift if it’s expensive or cute enough. For example, a rechargeable, touchless soap dispenser for hand soap, or dish soap, or dish soap that you can also use as hand soap.
This minimalist hand sanitizer dispenser with skin-friendly sanitizing gel is pretty enough to leave out in the living room or kitchen.
We know—you don’t need to be a true germaphobe to keep a shoe-free home, but those who fall into both categories will absolutely appreciate an aesthetically-pleasing boot tray or a door sign that lays down the law for guests so they don't have to.
Most dogs don’t wear shoes, so a dirt-trapping doormat is a perfect gift for dog owners who always feel like they’re in an uphill battle whatever their furry family members track in.
How does that old saying go? If you can’t stand the heat, add a Dyson cooling fan? That’s not right, but this futuristic air purifier is absolutely the right gift for someone who cares about air quality and maintaining a comfortable temperature while they cook. It removes gasses and pollutants while also cooling down the kitchen.
For something that blends in a little better and costs a lot less, consider this modern, boxy Coway air purifier. With three layers of filters, it can capture more than 99% of food smells.
Cleaning gifts for people who love gadgets and tools
This adorable bluetooth label maker makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the neat freak who truly enjoys reorganizing the fridge. After a quick setup, they can make labels for anything and everything on the fly right from their phone.
When you pop these brushes onto a hand-held drill, they become deep cleaning power scrubbers that can remove grease and grime from the sink, grout, or oven with the push of a button. They’re the perfect gift for the handy person who’s also really into keeping a clean house.
Miele's canister vacuums are the best all-purpose sucker-uppers you can buy, and this bagless model makes an amazing gift for the kind of person who regularly vacuums their curtains, couch, and ceiling.
A cordless mop vac is the perfect gift for the busy clean freak with kids or pets because it's a fully-functioning vacuum cleaner that also mops the floor at the same time. It cuts the time spent cleaning hard floors in half (at least) and it’s very satisfying to use.
If you’re feeling super spendy, give the busy clean freak in your life the gift of a robot that will do all the work of sweeping and mopping for them.
