New products

Grandma may have cleaned with lye and elbow grease, but you don't have to. A variety of products — everything from microfiber dust cloths to revolutionary new vacuum cleaners — are available to help with modern cleaning.

The key is to try products and find what works best for you, says Marilyn Albertson, family and consumer specialist with the Salt Lake County USU Extension Service.

For example, bagless vacuums have become quite popular in recent years, she says, because they are good at picking up dust and dirt. But some consumers find the bagless bin harder to empty without releasing dust back into the room, and because bins hold less than bags, they must be emptied more often. Consumer Reports magazine prefers the bag-equipped models. But House Beautiful magazine recently gave top kudos to the no-bag English-made Dyson DCO7 vacuum, with a see-through bin and cyclone-like sucking action.

Other new products you might want to check out include:

• All-in-one mops. These systems have disposable pads to absorb dirt. Some eject the cleaner through the mop head; others use pads filled with the cleaning product. With some, you can flip the mop head on its side for harder scrubbing when necessary.

• Flushable bathroom wipes. These biodegradable tissues clip into the head of a brush and can be flushed away after use.

• High-tech dust cloths. Feather dusters and rags often move the dust around, while super-absorbent nylon weave, microfiber cloths tend to absorb and trap dust particles. Most cloths can be washed between using. Electrostatic dust cloths and mitts eliminate the need for a separate dust spray.

• Bleach pens. For small stains, these penlike tools let you apply bleach only to the spot where it is needed.

• Microwave cleaning cloths. Heat-activated wipes that you heat for a few seconds in the microwave and then use to clean the oven's interior.

• Extendible dusters and scrubbers. Telescoping tools let you reach high places while keeping your feet on the ground.