With the New Year upon us, here at Homes & Gardens, our attention is turning swiftly from festivities and celebrating to cleaning, tidying, and resetting our homes.
And, while we see so many weird and wonderful cleaning trends come and go, trying and testing them in our own homes is the best way to gauge what really works, and what really doesn't.
So, which cleaning trends and cleaning tips are our Solved home editors planning on trying in 2026? I spoke to them to find out the ones they're adopting in 2026.
3 Low-Effort Cleaning Trends Our Home Editors Are Trying In 2026
1. Steam Cleaning to Skip Harsh Chemicals
First things first, Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, is planning on cleaning with a steamer in 2026.
'It's all over my TikTok feed all the time and looks so effective,' she explains. 'It's something many of our professional cleaners recommend for its lack of harsh chemicals (all you need is a steam cleaner and water), and as someone who has to use adaptive pacing when cleaning, this low-energy, no-scrub method is the perfect habit to pick up in the new year.
'I'm going to give two key areas a go first: Cleaning my oven, which will be filthy after all the Christmas cooking, and the small gaps between my shower glass and basin. No matter how small a scrubbing brush I've tried, it won't clear the debris built up in the tiny but visible gaps.'
If, along with Punteha, you'd also like to try deep-cleaning your kitchen with a steam cleaner, for example, we recommend using the bestselling BISSELL Steam Shot Omni Pressurized Handheld Multi-Surface Steam Cleaner, available at Amazon, which comes with seven different tools for tiles, grout, windows, bathrooms, kitchens, and more.
Importantly, there are a few things to never steam clean to keep in mind, such as unsealed or unwaxed wooden flooring, porous stone surfaces, silk and delicate fabrics, as well as memory foam. The heat could warp and damage these items so steer clear.
2. Proactive, Rather Than Reactive Cleaning
Next, Chiana Dickson, content editor on Solved, says for 2026, she's finally committing to proactive cleaning, rather than reactive cleaning.
'Over the last very busy year, I have certainly fallen into some bad cleaning habits that leave mess piling up, and make cleaning up stressful at best,' she admits.
'So, I am going to be making better use of cleaning as I go, and taking advantage of automatic cleaning tools such as the best robot vacuums to stop mess before I end up cleaning when I feel overwhelmed.'
Aside from cleaning, this proactive mindset shift also works just as effectively to avoid tidying when overwhelmed, and decluttering when overwhelmed, too.
You can also try expert tips from psychologists to stop your nervous system's panic or stress response when decluttering or doing housework you don't like. It's amazing how simple tweaks can stop a full slide into despair when you're battling fatigue.
3. Smart Home Cleaning
Speaking of robot vacuums, Dan Fauzi, our home tech editor, is also fully embracing using smart home cleaning tools in 2026.
'I'm all for making cleaning as low-effort and easy as possible,' they explain, 'and using robot vacuums, smart mops, appliances with timers, and smart plugs to turn cleaning appliances on and off, are among the simplest ways to do so.
'I'm going to begin setting up my smart home by using an Amazon Smart Plug, available at Amazon, with my best air purifier, to save me from having to turn it on and off whenever I need to use it.'
How often you choose to use your air purifier will depend on a number of different factors, like whether you live with pets or need to combat common allergens. But, in general, every day is best advised, and using a smart plug will mean you don't have to keep remembering to switch it on.
What to Shop
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This deluxe steam cleaner features a two-hour run-time for convenient chemical-free cleaning all around the home. The large capacity tank quickly and efficiently heats up in under 12 minutes.
If you're looking to try proactive rather than reactive cleaning next year, this book is filled with handy checklists and trackers to tick off and keep track of, with bright, colorful pages designed to bring energy and motivation.
This Wi-Fi indoor smart plug allows you to power your outlets from your phone or with a voice assistant, and is easy to set up and set weekly schedules to turn outlets on and off automatically.
After 150 hours of testing, this air purifier is rated our best of the best. It captures and removes over 99.98% of particles and dust, and automatically tracks and improves air quality.
Though an expensive investment, this robot vacuum is home tech editor Dan's favorite for both vacuuming and mopping your floors. In fact, it left floors so spotless, our tester was able to walk around barefoot comfortably.
This affordable steam cleaner is equipped with a 350 milliliter water tank, allowing for 10 minutes of continuous steam after a speedy three-minute heating time. It also comes with nine accessories, including an extended hose and two types of nozzles.
Meet the Experts
Interested in more handy housekeeping tips? Check out our cleaning library and our best decluttering methods for inspiration.
