Moving In? Start Fresh With New Cleaning Tools, Devices, and Concepts

If you really want to pick up every last speck of dirt, you need a microfiber cloth. Seriously, these things lift up grime you didn't even know you had — and since they're washable and reusable, investing in a set is just plain smart. This set of 10 Simply Essential Microfiber Cloths ($10) is color-coded, so you can assign one hue to the kitchen, another to the bathroom, and so forth.

How clever is this Kikkerland 5-Liter Collapsible Bucket ($10)? Expand it when it's time to clean, then pop its silicone walls down for easy and space-saving storage.

Fun fact: before listing their clients' homes, many real estate agents advise having the windows cleaned. That's because streak-free, sparkling windows make rooms look bigger — and the entire home look cleaner. Borrow a page from their book, and DIY your windows with Unger Outdoor Window Squeegee and Scrubber Kit ($23). You'll be astounded by how much grime comes off, and the end result will have your home looking like a million bucks. (Actually, in this market, more like $1.2M.)

Dirty grout makes bathrooms and kitchens look dingy; clean grout makes tile seem brand new. Scrubbing showers and countertops takes a lot of elbow grease, but at least it's ergonomically easy with the OXO Good Grips Grout Brush ($7). It's designed to get into nooks and crannies, and the nonslip handle is surprisingly comfortable in the hand.

For those inevitable little messes, a handheld vacuum is essential. The Shark WANDVAC Cord-Free Handheld Vacuum ($130) is a good choice, thanks to its lightweight construction and surprisingly powerful suction. The battery-powered device is cordless, too, so you can take it wherever spills happen. (And they will happen.)

Then again, sometimes you need to bring out the mother vacuum for bigger jobs. The Bissell ReadyClean Cordless XRT Vacuum ($170) offers a ton of suction power, but it's similarly cordless — which means it's not a hassle to take it from one room to the next. It also has an incorporated, removable hand vac in case you like your tools extra efficient.

Meet the new thing in cleaning: environmentally conscious, refillable spray bottles. Instead of buying all-purpose cleaner in a plastic bottle at the store, just buy refills or concentrates that you can pour into the same spray bottle again and again. This red Cleancult Glass All-Purpose Spray Bottle ($6) looks great, has a protective silicone sleeve, and is made of shatter-resistant glass. The future is here — and it's spick and span.

Also from Cleancult, these Dishwasher Tablets ($9) will have you rethinking your approach to dishwashing. Not only do these plant-based tablets smell great, they clean beautifully — and they're 100 percent plastic-free. They also bring just the right amount of fancy to what is otherwise a very boring task, and that's no small feat.

If space is at a premium, then your trash/recycling setup needs to be flawlessly engineered. Good thing this Joseph Joseph® Totem 60-Liter Trash/Recycle Combo Bin ($200) has a compact, stackable design. The vertical layout is pretty brilliant, actually: trash goes on top, with recycling below in a separate drawer. We know what you're thinking: "Sounds great, but what about my compost?" Well, you're in luck, because this setup has a little compost bin as well.

Does your pet seem intent on marking the new home with her fur . . . everywhere? Beat Fluffy at her shedding game with this Fur Daddy Sonic Pet Hair Remover ($20). The wide cleaning surface has thousands of micro bristles that trap fur, and the sonic vibrations literally lift up ultra-fine pet hair from sofas, sheets, and everywhere else your pretty little pet likes to leave fur.