How much time do you really have to clean? Not much.
That’s why I try to come up with great ideas to make cleaning easy.
I get inspiration from all over the place.
One spot I love visiting is the automotive section of stores.
Last week I found this awesome drill attachment called Mothers PowerBall.
First off, it has the BEST name ever.
What has me even more excited is how you can use the PowerBall to clean a bathtub quickly.
I think you’ll love this idea – it could be the newest way to clean your tub and entire bathroom!!
How to Clean a Bathtub…The ‘Tools’
I hate cleaning.
It’s messy, disgusting, and takes a lot of time.
We’re always on the run. Almost every night my wife or I have to take our daughters to an activity.
And the weekends are more frantic. Not to mention we have to somehow squeeze in grocery shopping. washing clothes, paying bills – the list goes on…
So anything that saves me time is a remarkable.
What I like best about the PowerBall is there’s no way it’ll scratch anything.
It’s made from foam and can attach to a power drill.
SWEET.
Anything that uses a power tool has to be awesome, right.
Here are all the supplies you’ll need to make your bathtub clean as a whistle
- Power Drill
- Mothers PowerBall
- Bucket
- Window Squeegee
- Cleaning Gloves
- Respirator
- Cleaning Solution of Choice (I used Kaboom but vinegar & water works too)
- Towel
- These Amazon Affiliate links help keep the lights on at HRT headquarters…gracias
This isn’t a bad supply list.
I bet you have most of it already.
You can pickup the PowerBall at Walmart in the automotive department. There were a ton of other items I wanted but they’ll have to wait 🙂
Let’s get started and see how the PowerBall works in the tub.
How to clean a bathtub without sweating like Boss Hogg
Gone are the days when we could take 2 hours to deep clean the bathroom.
Seriously, between work and kids’ activities we barely have time to go grocery shopping.
My Mom warned me this would be the busiest time in my life and she was totally right.
But at least today we have more cleaning short cuts than in the 80s.
The first step is to remove all the stuff from your shower: soap, loofahs, etc.
Fill a bucket with about 1 gallon of warm water.
Then spray your favorite cleaning solution onto the tub and surround.
I always wear cleaning gloves and a respirator when using chemicals.
Especially when using stuff that’s really potent. Stay safe – that’s the #1 priority above all else.
We have a tile wall surround with grout that needs to be deep cleaned. That’s not what I’ll be tackling today.
There will be a whole separate post on vertical grout cleaning tactics. So stay posted.
Place the PowerBall into your power drill.
Then go to town. Clean the bathtub, drain, faucet handles, spout, and surround (whether plastic or tile).
Once you’re satisfied you can either spray down the tub with a detachable shower head or rinse it off with a sponge and water.
I do have a few extra tips that help get a streak free look. Of course they’re in the video.
My apologies ahead of time, I’m looking just a tad haggard.
That’s what a pipe leak and kitchen ceiling collapse will do to a 37 year old guy who needs more sleep.
What’s Next
We also have a great tutorial showing how to caulk a bathtub – great tips!
If you’re doing a bathroom remodel and need help, join one of our online courses – they’ll make your bathroom renovation much easier!
Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to help.
Thanks as always for reading, watching, and being part of our awesome community.
Cheers,
Jeff
Very cool idea….can’t wait to try this!
I think you’ll be impressed Ginny.
I’d like to try the bathtub –
It works wonders Pam. And depending on your cleaning solution it could be a great way to save your back over time.
I would use the power ball to clean the exterior surface of my gas burning stoves in my home. I would probably just use water to do this without additives because the surfaces of both stoves a finish to them that doesn’t respond well to chemicals.
Oh yah, I like how you think Brian. That’s a great idea 🙂
I’d use it the same way that you are, in the tub/shower. Anything to get done cleaning faster so that I can spend more time with the family!
That’s the one thing that drives me crazy Andrea, I know that if I say “yes” to cleaning then I’m saying “no” to family.
Family is everything, Comet cleanser is just a chemical in a can.
Getting to use a drill to clean the tub – heck yeah!
LOL, that’s what I was thinking Brenda. I’m thinking of getting a custom holster for my drill. Yes, I love it that much.
I would definitely use this to clean my kitchen sink. Hate doing it!
Me too Rich. The tub and kitchen sink both gross me out.
Sounds like a great way to clean my fiberglass tub and My sliding doors on the outside!!
Oooh, sliding glass doors. That’s another fantastic option for this Cheryl. Thanks so much 🙂
This will help me in the house we just bought to clean and disinfect my bath and kitchen.
Thank you
You’re in good shape already Donna – having the new house. If you could just use this for maintenance then you’ll free up time to do the things you really enjoy!!
Hi, Jeff,
Great tutorial! I absolutely hate cleaning grout and this looks like it will be a BIG help in the elbow grease department. My biggest problem in the bathroom is cleaning the shower glass. It is ripple glass so that helps some but getting the soap scum off is such a pain. My go-to homemade cleaning solution is 2 cups of vinegar, 1/2 cup of baking soda and a Tbs of Dawn. It does a great job on weeds, too!
I love that recipe too Sally. It works wonders and I bet combined with the PowerBall would be a 1-2 punch to soap scum.
Hi Jeff,
I already use Mother’s chrome polish on my Harley but I have never seen this product. First, this would be awesome to clean and polish my wire spoke rims on my bike. It would make it a lot easier and faster on me. I had 5 back surgeries and can’t bend down and use as much elbow grease these days.
Second, I would use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, soap and water along with the mothers power ball to clean and polish my grandmothers old dinnerware she gave me. I would put each one in a vice and clean and polish the heck out of them. I can stand up and be comfortable. Let the drill do the work.
Thanks Jeff. I hope you pick me as I can sure use it.
Steve Sewell
Atlanta, GA.
I can tell you’ve got all sorts of great plans for this Steve. And having back problems myself I can relate to the bending over part that hurts like heck.
Thanks for all the great suggestions, too. I never even thought of using the PowerBall for polishing dinnerware 😀
I L-O-V-E This!!! Thank you thank you!! I will use this with my power drill and clean my bathroom with a smile on my face!! I like to use vingar and water mix because it really gets the mildew!!
Thank you for this tip!! (again!) and if I don’t win this, i’m going straight to Amazon to get one!!
I love getting your tips!! Keep them coming…
Mary
You’re the best Mary. Thank you for your awesome enthusiasm.
I too was smiling ear to ear while cleaning the tub and tile.
Thanks goodness for Amazon, especially for those of us who are more rural 🙂
I would try it on my old metal kitchen cabinets, which are painted white and always getting dirty, plus the foam head would prolly work well on the chrome handles, could also work on the dadoes under the cabinet where its hard to get at. Im also thinking it might do well on my shower doors too. I read your post on them with rainx but for initial cleaning this could do the trick.
Shower doors would certainly benefit from the PowerBall Lee. It’s wonderful to at least have this option for maintenance purposes.
And if you’ve someone has back problems like Steve it’s even better.
I am thinking more along the lines of what wouldn’t I clean with this thing?! For sure the bathtubs, but my white “farm” kitchen sink could use it… what about the stove hood? and the stove top? And the cars of course. The tile floor in our dining room (maybe… ). The mudroom sink. Would it work on our wood railing out front? That is so pathetic anyway, that it couldn’t hurt to try it (unless it might damage the sponge). Ooooh….. the little ‘drip pan’ in the water dispenser of my refrigerator, maybe. Basically, I think I would use my very long extension cord and start at one end of the house and work towards the other and use it on anything I could. 🙂
As for natural cleaner. I have tried a lot of mixtures (the one with dawn & vinegar, one with a lot of ingredients, etc). But eventually I got tired of mixing them all up and so one day I tried something: I sprinkled baking soda around the inside of the tub. I squirted some liquid Castile soap onto a green scrubby pad, add a couple of drops of lemon essential oil to the pad, and scrubbed. And it worked just as well as all the others for the tub. The others worked well, but ultimately, at least for me, it is not so much about what I use, but about how often I clean it. 🙂
Good point Delores about just cleaning often. I feel bad that we fall behind. It’s so tough with a busy schedule. But really it only takes a few minutes with shortcuts like the PowerBall. Maybe I’ll be able to clean more often now 😀
Boy, would I use that power ball at my house! I would use it in the kitchen sink for scrubbing that. I would use it in the bathroom in the shower and in the bathtub and maybe a shot at the toilet when I was doing deep down cleaning. I would use it to scrub my patio furniture before I put it away for the season. I would use it for cleaning the drum of my washing machine after washing my husbands farm clothes. I would use it for scrubbing my mopboard in my kitchen below my cabinets. They seem to always be dirty from spills! I am sure I could come up with more but that is all I have right now. Also, you asked for tips for cleaning – I take 2 oz of warm vinegar and 2 oz of regular Dawn in a spray bottle. I spray the whole area down and let it sit for 2 hours. After two hours, I come back and rinse everything off with the shower sprayer and then wipe down with a dry terry cloth rag. My shower sparkles for weeks after I do think. Right now, I am on a once a month schedule. Also, for cleaning the mold around caulk in corners – soak cotton balls with bleach and let them sit a couple hours. It will be bright white when you are finished after about 1/2 hour.
You’ve got plans Renee 😀
Thank you so much for your great cleaning tips. I’m gonna try them both, especially the cotton balls and bleach. I love that idea.
Just a FYI – bleach can discolor grout — learned it the hard way! After I cleaned by grout with bleach and it turned a brownish color I did some research and also talked with some tile contractors — bleach breaks down the sealers and grout. Isn’t recommended for cleaning grout by most professionals. Sould do more research before trying this tip.
Thanks Margaret for letting us know about bleach. I’ve actually never tried it and am glad to learn from you that this isn’t a great option. Hope everyone reads your comment 🙂
I think I may try this out for cleaning stubborn dirt on my textured tile floors, perhaps also spots on my light rug and car apolstery
Textured tile is a real pain to clean Victoria. You’re right, this is exactly what to try on that kind of flooring or wall. Keep me posted on your progress.
OMG I could sure use this on my husbands shower doors. He likes to have his own
bathroom (and seriously I don’t mind at all LOL) But I am left with the cleaning of two
baths now. Not so LOL While I try to keep up on my shower doors his leave a lot
to the imagination on how to clean them. I’ve tried just about everything but TNT
and I’m about to take them out all together. I think the former owners of this home
never cleaned them. Shame Thanks Jeff for all your help. ♥
You’re so nice Trish, to me and your husband!!!
Yah, shower doors are a pain in the rear end. I do like the vinegar/baking soda slurry for really tough soap scum.
Let me know how it works 🙂
This would also be great for cleaning and polishing up the hot tub prior to getting it ready for winter. I always dread that job, but this looks as if it would make it super simple and easier than usual. Wait, it would be great for cleaning up lots of things I get ready for putting away for winter. I know it’s a bit unusual, but what about my metal dining set. Heck, I’d have one for indoors and outdoor items.
I don’t have any special cleaning solutions, but do like using Simple Green when cleaning many of our outdoor things.
Thanks for introducing this to us!
Oh yah, hot tub cleaning!! Never thought about that Deb. Great thinking.
I might just use that powerball idea to clean my toilets! 😉
You could, just be careful with the spinning. LOL.
I would use the PowerBall to clean the bathroom also. It’s my least favorite room to tackle on cleaning day. I’d also probably try the PowerBall on our stainless kitchen sink and for that I mix Barkeeper’s Friend with water and scrub away to make it shine. In the bathroom I use a mixture of lemon scent Lysol with water, that’s the cleaning solution I use in that room. Guess I’ll have to try Kaboom, never have used it but have seen it advertised.
Stay with your cleaning solution Frann if it works. Kaboom is okay but very smelly. Love the natural cleaning solutions 😉
This would be great to use on vinyl siding – the part at the bottom that gets all splattered with dirt, etc
Great idea Donna, I know exactly what you’re talking about. It happens at one of our rental homes.
I would use the power ball to clean my windows on the outside. That way it would get into all the cracks and spider webs and I think would do a fantastic job! Making my job of preparing for winter much faster. I would use the same method you used on the bathtub, only using a hose to rinse and the squeegee.
Love it Sharon, we need to do the same thing!! It’s starting to look spooky on the exterior of our house.
I love the idea of using the Mother’s Power Ball to clean the tub! Using a white vinegar solution , I’d also clean the kitchen sink, range top, and stove. The power of the drill will help get into the corners and edges where my mop doesn’t reach on the kitchen/bathroom floors, too! Great idea to clean off the outside furniture , as the Fall is beginning to drop stuff onto the chairs and furniture. Love the idea of thinking outside the box when using different items! Thanks for your ideas, Jeff !
Thanks Lyn, I love seeing all the fantastic ideas from our community. That’s the fuel that keeps me doing the tutorials. Our leaves are falling here in the Burgh, too. So the spring might be a good time to use the PowerBall to clean the seats.
Thanks for the chance to win. I would use this in my bathtub and shower, in my sinks and even on the car. I have arthritis so anything that will make cleaning time easier would be great! Thanks Jeff for the great newsletter.
Glad you like the ideas Julie. I was just mentioning to Patricia that something like this could help anyone with arthritis or joint problems.
I use a spray bottle and add Vinegar 1/2 full, Dawn dishwashing detergent, (1/4 cup)and warm water. This makes a great spray for bathtubs and toilets. Just let it soak for a few minutes, then wipe it off. I will definitely try the Power Ball Method as soon as my husband gets home and shows me where is drill is kept. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks Shirley for sharing your formula. I love all the homemade cleaning solutions. And dawn, water, and vinegar are pretty safe.
Where do you get a respirator for $4?
You’re right Mike, the one I wear costs about $30. But they have cheaper cloth ones for about $4. They’re not the best but work.
I think Mother’s PowerBall would make cleaning outdoor furniture a breeze! Thanks for the tip!
Haven’t heard that idea yet, great thinking Kelly.
OK Jeff…you are making a mountain out of a molehill….just like a man!
I’m no so sure about that Patricia. For people who have back problems or arthritis this could be a huge benefit.
I’ve been laid up with lower back pain and could barely walk. If I was single this would have helped with the major cleaning tasks.
Many people in our community need some extra help and this combination could be super helpful.
I would use on kitchen sink! My stainless steel sink has hard water deposits from a dripping faucet. I fixed the faucet, but the the thought of scrubbing the sink has kept mre procrastinating! (I like to call it prioritizing… lol)
I prioritize too Dianne, lol.
We have hard water deposits as well and I’m curious to see how the PowerBall works on them.
I’d love to have a Power Ball. I could clean all of my counter tops with it along with the kitchen sink, my stainless steel appliances and even the chrome on my car. I think it would be handy to apply wax on the chrome to shine it! I have found the best way to clean shower walls is with vinegar & water, but clean white grout with a paste of peroxide. It works wonders. It also helps to clean the tile then give the wall a coat of lemon oil, it helps to slow down the build up of soap scum so you can clean the walls easier. Be careful it can make the tub slippery!!
You’ve got great tips Debbie. Thanks so much for sharing.
What do you mix with the Peroxide to make the paste?
Great alternative clean product advice. Love the lemon oil on the walls advice. As long as it doesn’t make the tub slippery, which it shouldn’t once you’ve cleaned it.
Wow, Jeff! I could use that in so many ways around here, (after the tubs were clean, of course). We have a set of mid century open weave furniture for the patio that we’ve been putting off cleaning and I think that power ball would work great on that! There’s also the vintage pair of wall racks for the kitchen that need shining up, etc., etc. Sorry about the pipe leak and ceiling collapse. Hope you can get more rest soon!
Thanks Lillace for your well wishes. Last weekend was all about that ceiling. Good thing is that it actually looks better than before.
You’ll have to test the PowerBall on the weave cause it might catch on it. It’s made of foam and is powerful but still can tear. It’s worth a shot though 🙂
OMG!!!!!!! I am heading to Walmart today and buying one of these and if my husband won’t let me borrow his drill, I will buy my own. I would assume that this would cut your time in half!!!! Can wait to try and will let you! You are the bomb diggity!!!!!!
LOL, thanks Joann. I hope it lives up to the hype. It’s not perfect but with the right cleaning solution could be a godsend. Keep me posted
another great tip jeff. I can see this being used for a lot of things. i’ll start with the shower though.
dennis
Glad to help any time Dennis. Thanks for giving it a shot.
Love this idea! Thanks. Wonder if will help with the hard water issues.
I’m not sure about the hard water issues Judith. That might require a bit of vinegar then the PowerBall.
Love, love, love this idea. Went right out and got one. Use to clean baths, kitchen sink area, was even using it in the corners of my tile floors. What a useful little gadget! Thanks Jeff, you make my life cleaner and more relaxing! Can’t wait to tell all my friends.
You’r the best Jacki. Thanks for confirming that the PowerBall can help around the house. I’m all about making cleaning fast and maybe a tad bit fun, haha.
That’s a great idea. I’m going to use the power ball to try to clean my filthy laundry tub in the basement so wish me luck. For $22. it should be worth it!!
ROFLMAO!! This is such a “guy” idea.
I might be laughing, but I’m already thinking how helpful this could be to people with arthritis. I have arthritis in my hands, but I can still hold a cordless drill. This would be much easier than all that hard scrubbing I do with my hands. Easier on the elbow joints too. (Not something you’d want to do with an electric drill, however.)
It’s a truly great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Deb, yes it kinda is a male cleaning idea or maybe not – who knows 🙂
Hope this helps since you’ve got joint problems. Keep me posted on what you think
Wow that makes quick work of the tub/shower cleaning! I’m going to try cleaning my windows and track frame with it!
Thanks Jeff!
Let me know how it works Mary. You should check out another tutorial with a different brush I made. It might work better for your track. Here’s the link
http://hrtllc.wpengine.com/the-best-way-to-clean-grout/
Thanks for the great idea. Bring on powerball to speed up bathroom cleaning!
Nothing like speed cleaning Brandon, haha.
Power Ball looks awesome! As an avid DIYer, I am constantly getting sinks dirty with gunky, sticky substances. Looks like the Power Ball could be great solution to the messes I make
Cleaning the bath can get time consuming-and who needs that?
I would use baking soda on a damp power ball to clean the entire bathroom.
After scrubbing the surround and floor of the shower with baking soda, I add vinegar and rinse it all away
I can’t wait to try the Power Ball out with them! Bet my cleaning time will be cut in half!
Great tips Martha, I love vinegar and baking soda as well. I bet your cleaning time would be cut in half. Mine was 🙂
OK. How do I keep dust off of my computer monitors? And how to keep dust from collecting in my computer vents?
Hmm, this seems random Bill but you could cover the monitors with 3 mil plastic which you can find at the home store. It’s in the paint section.
Then use compressed air to blow out the dust, they sell this at Staples or other office supply locations.
Hope this helps
This looks so cool – just happen to have company coming this weekend and wanted to clean the bathroom with limited time…. Walmart (US) has this for $20, while in Canada here Canadian Tire sells it for $30 (boo for a huge price difference, but I know ill be worth it as you always give great tips/DIY projects).
I’ll update this weekend with my results.
Let me know how it goes Ann-Marie. Try some of the cleaning recipes in the comments here, too. I bet you’ll get better results than me 🙂
Can’t wait to try this! We have a VERY old bathtub that’s pitty, and we can’t ever seem to get it clean!
Try the PowerBall Jean with some of the cleaning recipes in the comments of this post. I bet you’ll have some good results.
hi,thanx for the tip,the Mother powerball i gotta try it,but just to make sure for $22 it is re-usable right?I would also like to know what you think would help out with the annoying grout,is there an easier way,then a scrubbing until your shoulder falls off,and where do you find that mask for $4?,i need one of them,with slight breathing issues.Thanx
Tod, you should get a 3M respirator. It’s about $30 but worth it if you have respiratory issues. The PowerBall is reuseable 🙂
I would use the Power Ball to clean thick black mold in the bathtub of a rental. I have tried everything else, and I mean everything, to no avail. I started with the vinegar and baking soda potions; then the cleaning products like Pine Sol, Lysol and Kaboom; and then stepped up to mold removal products found in the local stores and ordered off the Internet. Nothing works. If the Power Ball doesn’t work, I will have the tub removed and replaced with a used one. I know that sounds extreme, but I have to get rid of the mold; it looks horrible and is not healthy.
Hey Laura, try some of the great cleaning recipes in the comments of this post. It’s worth a shot before replacing the tub.
I would use it to clean my fiberglass shower pan. I make a homemade grout cleaner with 1 qt of white vinegar, 1 qt of hot water and 1/2 cup of baking soda, pour into spray bottle, apply to grout lines, let soak for about 3 minutes and brush away the dirt and grime! It is better than any commercial grout cleaner I have ever used!
Whoa, that’s a great recipe Judie. Thanks so much.
I usually love using vinegar and baking soda to clean but when I had my bathroom remodeled to all tile the tile guy said vinegar eats the grout faster (even sealed) and I would have to reseal and replace the grout more often. My weapon of choice lately has been a steam cleaner (for disinfecting) and as said above comment I made club soda. 3 years in and my grout looks great yet!
Thanks Dawn for your feedback, I can see how that might be a big concern. This sounds like my next long term experiment 😀
I didn’t read all the comments, but can the foam power ball be washed in the washing machine when you finish w cleaning? Because it sounds like a lot of germs being soaked up in the foam w all this cleaning! Call me germ phobic but I would not want to use it in my tub, kitchen, etc. And in my toilet! Not unless I could have two, one just for toilets and one for other places!!! And could it be sterilized in microwave ( yuck again ,toilet in microwave) or what would be the best way to keep power ball free of germs!!!
Probably not a good idea to use in the microwave Fay, it has a metal insert. But you could soak it in bleach and water to eliminate germs.
This would be awesome to use in my husband’s shower! He is a cigar smoker and he uses the other upstairs shower (can you say banished?) . Everything in the shower and tub reeks of tobacco and is stained yellow. The walls, the glass doors, handles, and tracks, the used-to-be clear floor mat. It’s so yucky, I can only bring myself to clean it a few times a year. This would speed up the process immensely! Sometimes, I use Scrubbing Bubbles, but the vinegar, baking soda, and water mixture works well to deodorize and clean, too. Heck, given this is a power tool attachment, he might maintain the shower himself! Awesome tip, Jeff! I would love to tell everyone about how well this works!
I’m currently having my entire condo unit remodeled… Removal of popcorn ceilings, painting, putting down tile everywhere. A thorough cleaning after the project is done is not included so I could use the Power Ball all over the place to get my “new” home looking shiny and bright!
This is a solution I found on the Internet years ago. Easy Off Oven Cleaner (fume free). I have a surround shower and I was leary so I tested it on a nasty spot that couldn’t get any worse. Spray it on, wait 10 minutes, then scrub it off with the new PowerBall. This will remove the scum better than ever. Carpal Tunnel no more!
This powerball is a great thing! I love your ideas! I definitely can use it on my stand up shower that has lime deposits, kids toys, tile floors, washing machine, car, light fixtures, doors that get marked up, stove top, oven, refrigerator, and especially the microwave. Can’t wait to use one!
I have used hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, water to create a paste and I’ve tried it with dawn as well! Works good!
Wow no elbow grease needed always a bonus in my book and the results are great!
I love using club soda in a spray bottle for mirrors and metal. Perfect shine with no streaks.
Sure just send me my win.
😀
Hi Jeff:
Another good idea. I expect this would be very helpful in cleaning our showers. My spouse says she expect Dawn dishwasher liquid to work well as a spray-on. I’m looking forward to your grout cleaning feature. Thanks.
thats a great idea
Jeff,
Love your ideas, love your homemade cleaner! I think this is another fabulous item brought to our attention by your website. Keep up the fantastic job!
And I think I would use this everywhere, but I would particularly like to try it on my flat ceramic stovetop. Thanks again, from the queen of clean!
Here’s the “best” homemade household cleaner I have found:
Sorry, I will need to send as an attachment.
I got your email Cecile and it’s awesome. Thank you so much 😀
I am like you Jeff. I hate to clean…This looks like a good investment…….Hope to win one….
Toilet cleaning is easy if you learn to use denture tablets. Drop a denture tablet (or two) into the bowl of a toilet & let it do it’s job. Denture tablets have powerful cleaning agents & once the tablets have done their work, flush & then clean as usual. This is extremely effective & easy to do. (Denture tablets work in glass vases & glass lined thermos’ too.)
Thanks Ann for the great tip, I need to try this one 😀
I have (had) shower doors in both bathrooms. When I remodeled one bath, I replaced the shower door with one of those shower curtains with a bent rod. The bent rod creates more room that is appreciated. Now I just wash the shower curtains and hang them back up damp after a quick rinse in dilute vinegar water for mold. That is about once a year. After a shower, I shake the curtains out and hang the curtains outside the tub. Without all the tracks for a glass door, it cleans up a lot faster. Besides, in a white bath, I can change the color scheme by getting different color curtains and throw rugs. At our age, there is danger of falling through glass shower doors. Of course, to each his own. This is off the subject, but I wash down clothing and comforters each year. Dry cleaning down coats is $30 each. On a nice day, I hang the comforters over a series of lawn chains in the sun and I can see them fluff up like a balloon. They dry in less than a day. Then I beat them with a broom stick to make sure the down is distributed well. After 10 or more years, they still look and feel good. After all, birds to get wet.
Jeff,
I would very much like to win the PowerBall from your website. The jackpot is up to like $190,000,000 right? I like my odds here better than the lottery ticket store.
Ohhhhh… just actually read the post. That makes more sense. What a great idea though, I’m going to try it.
LOL, I wish I could give away the REAL Power Ball John. That would be awesome. Although I’d probably like to give away a bunch of tools instead 😀
I am worried that people will use an electric drill with the power ball. Wouldn’t that be a danger with the use of water?
Only if you dip the drill in water Lois, which I bet people won’t do. Especially since drills aren’t cheap. But I understand your concern.
Looks like a very efficient tool…inside and out!!!
Can’t wait to try this with my cleaning solution of vinegar, water and a drop of Dawn dishsoap in a spray bottle. The trick is to head the water and vinegar in the microwave and spray in on warm.
Try using The Works as your cleaning solution. It is awesome!!!!
One inch white ceramic tile with white grout on every bathroom counter, kitchen counter, and the stall shower in the bathroom. I definitely think the power ball/drill combo would be fabulous! For white grout I usually create a pasted of baking soda or Borax and chlorine bleach and let it sit before scrubbing it off. I think the powerball would be great for cleaning off the grout and buffing the tile at the same time.
Great advice! This will make our life much easier and decrease our marital discord:) our tub is such a pain!
I’m looking forward to the day when dirt comes back into style.
It could be sooner rather than later Linda, lol. Me too on this thought 🙂
I am deserving of this item because I am the one in charge of keeping our house clean and this item would cut my workload in half…
Ditto Al, haha
Sounds super !!!
Great looking product Jeff, I’ll uae it to reach the neck of the drain I. My kitchen sink. It gets a little grimey and it’s hard to swirl a dishrag in there. Thanks much Jeff!!
Cleaning the inside of a washing machine comes to mind.
Jeff, this looks like a great product and the uses are memorable. You can use this for so much more than the bathtub.
Wow – what a terrific gadget, and equally great tips from other members of the Nifty Fifty! Thank you all. Like another lady here, we have ‘his’ and hers (plus guest) bathrooms. Mine are the size of broom closets,and require a contortionist to get behind the toilets and other nooks and crannies, just to get it clean enough to pass inspection in poor light, without my glasses on. ; ) Worse, some crazy builder long ago put heavily textured wallboard above the shower, and surrounding the upper tub area…And everywhere else in the house. An extremely unsightly dark colored grunge has taken over – just beyond my reach on the ceiling and upper walls of the shower. I suspect mold. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. When I’ve attempted to vanquish the crud while tottering on a ladder, I’ve gotten nowhere! It’s just too difficult to get into the texture. I think the Super Ball just might do the trick! Similar spots have appeared on the bedroom carpet. I’ve been told that color safe bleach will remove it, but elbow grease just isn’t enough. I believe the Super Ball would loosen them enough for the wet vac to suck them up!
Gently used, this – and
some detergent would clean the air conditioner unit which sits outside.
The possibilities are endless, and with the unique design, there is no need to use toxic chemicals! I might even use it on my car. ; )
Thanks Jeff, for the great video and to everyone else for sharing your cleaning secrets.
Would love to win a powerball. Oh what I could do with that! My favorite cleaning tip is using vinegar as a toilet bowl cleaner. Just add a cup to the toilet bowl, let sit for about 30 minutes then brush and flush.
Your Power Ball tool reminds me of something Tim Taylor would have designed on the show “Home Improvement”, except your design didn’t blow anything up. You are very clever to use the Power Ball for cleaning your tub. I would use it to buff up some old brass window hardware.
My father was always looking for new gadgets to do ordinary jobs faster, better and using less elbow grease. This just looks messy! With a round ball of foam only about 2-4 inches will actually rub on anything, right? Wouldn’t you get it done faster by spraying the tub/shower with vinegar before you leave for an activity, then taking an old wet towel and wiping it down just before you shower? Then when your done showering you just rinse it all down…
Hey, from TN, Jeff! I absolutely love anything that will save my back-YAY!!
I would use the power ball to clean my cats’ boxes. I have four and what a dreaded chore it is. Of course, I would have to dedicate the ball to that chore only. But it would be well worth it.
I would love to win the PowerBall.I would buy the drill. Maybe this is the kick-start I need to keep my bathroom ship shape. I buy the stuff, but the elbow grease involved makes me procrastinate. Thanks! I read most of the comments. There are some really great ideas. Now I just have to get off the couch and do it!
I know I’m late on this post (I don’t get entered), but I still thought I’d give it a try. There are sooo many great ideas (and I’ve definitely written down some that I haven’t tried before). It seems almost everything has been said or listed. Windows, shower/bath, cabinets,washing machine, frig, stove, silverware, outside furniture, hot tub…. I’m actually a little surprised fans and lamps haven’t been listed. You know how much easier it would be to just dust the whole house with this. Getting in those spaces on the fans with the lights that are in every room of the house! Standing lamps too. Also some ideas I’ve come up with to try: swing sets, small kiddie pools, bikes, wagon, using it dry to get all all the corners and crevices of the house that tends to get cobwebs (just wrap it all up and throw them away), vents, car/truck dashboards, consoles, radio buttons, steering column, radios, chimes, cleaning out the trash cans (I really don’t like when a bag ends up leaking), cleaning other tools (wrenches, ratchets and sockets, oh my!), the bottom of an iron where starch tends to build up, all the door knobs and light switches in the house (just spray some cleaner/vinegar on the ball and relay from one side of the house to the other…Time me!), porch lights, the list just goes on and on and on… I wouldn’t have even thought of this, but now that the seed and been planted, it just keeps growing. And I get to run around the house with a drill like a maniac (and having a little fun while the family looks on in confused bafflement and shakes their heads and snickers from the sidelines)!!! Thanks for the tips, Jeff, and keep ’em coming. I love DIY and cutting my cleaning time in half for just these things frees up tons of time to spend with the family. More board games with the kids!!! Kudos and keep the ideas flowing. Pretty Please!
Thanks so much Caro for your great ideas. That’s what makes DIY so fun, seeing everyone’s take on the basic plan.
I’ll keep the videos and tips coming, don’t worry 🙂
There are so many cleaning solutions I have gathered through the years, I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite. So I asked my husband what did he think would be a good cleaning tip; he answered “Don’t get it dirty”. Duh!
LOL, good tip
Love this idea! I’ll go steal hubby’s (he uses his for our chrome rims, and sleds when we had them). 🙂 I’m thinking I’ll stick with my baking soda, vinegar and water solution. I have no measurements for that. Works good for rust spots when you make it more of a paste. Also, Barkeepers Friend works very well on rust for areas you can use a scrub. Do not recommend for plastic or easily scratched surfaces.
Thanks Cyndi 🙂
I really can’t imagine anyone allowing their home to get into the kind of shape that would require a power drill. lol That being said, I believe if one has rentals and the past tenants aren’t so discerning, this would be one way of making the residence habitable once again. I love the idea of how you made this chore appealing for guys.
Thanks Kaleb
easy way out,like to try it.
I think you’d like it Ina
Power ball looks fantastic and i bet there are even more uses…………….However using a product that requires a respirator is scary for sure. Vinegar and baking soda–wouldn’t that be better for all? For YOU, for the kids [sprays could last in the air? and for how long?] Then there is the water supply to consider…… what about hydrogen peroxide?
Hope to hear some other ideas to use here…………… What about old fashioned Comet/Ajax ? Something safer !
First time I find it necessary to question you—sorry.
char
No problem Char, I completely agree with you.
After this tutorial I’m done using the powerful cleaners. It’s way too overpowering and not the best for anyone to breathe in. Plus, there are a ton of other great natural options -especially the recipes in this post!
Thanks for your ideas cause they are super important 😀
OK Jeff–loved hint by Delores—the natural mix! Now that sounds fantastic.
As you said, the hits are great.
And for SHOWER DOORS—-genius, now that is just what i would need it for.
For the tub I use a designated ‘bathtub only’ toilet brush as it saves on my back, especially when reaching around those dang shower doors. Especially at a short term rental [ugh for the tub there especially]
Having less than successful back surgery I see this as a major help.
Need this for sure now for the shower doors especially and polishing many many things.
Keep bringing these wonderful ideas!
Great idea…thanks, Jeff! I think I will be using the PowerBall for a lot of cleaning and polishing tasks.
Perhaps, this tip has been mentioned before, but I apply car wax to my acrylic tub and shower surround, laundry and garage sinks, kitchen and bathroom faucets and handles, and glass shower doors. Dirt and minerals do not adhere. Surfaces are easily maintained with a mild cleaning solution. Water beads up and is easily dried off. Just as with your car, reapply wax when water no longer beads up.
I love your suggestion Ann, is there any kind of wax that you prefer?
I would like to try using the ball to clean my venetian blinds in my bathroom and laundry
Jeff,
I like that you think outside the box when it comes to using tools in unconventional ways.
My shower has a fixed head, which makes wetting and rinsing an interesting, and some would say entertaining, challenge to overcome. I use an outdoor sprayer, the kind you use to spray weeds, bugs, etc.. Yes, I bought one only for this purpose. I pour in the water first and then whatever chemicals. I do it in this order to reduce my chance of creating a foamy mess and reduce the possibility of getting chemical splashback.
When I am done with the cleaning, I rinse out the sprayer and put in clean water which I use to rinse the walls. I really like the sprayer for this because it gives me a lot more control over where and how much I am spraying.
Hey Adam, I love the sprayer idea. For some reason it never crossed my mind to use one in the shower.
But now I’m going to recommend everyone give your idea shot. Especially if the shower doesn’t have a handheld sprayer.
I could really see a lot of people using this suggestion 😀
Wow, this is a great idea. For my new home, Ive been researching stainless steel appliances and have seen a lot of feedback concerning how hard they are to keep clean from fingerprints. So Im wondering if this would work on stainless steel- I dont see why it wouldn’t since it acts like a polisher/buffer. Great post!
You could give it a shot Jacinta but it might be a bit too big and clumsy. I’ve had good luck with using microfiber cloths with a mild soap. The cloth is soft and gets the surface looking pretty darn good.
Good tip, thanks!
Glad you liked them Jacinta
Hello everyone! I was the winner of the Power Ball cleaner and it is great on everything from the bathroom to the kitchen and even the chrome on the car. I makes cleaning fun! Everything comes out clean and sparkling! Thanks Jeff!
I just watched the video with the power ball. It is an excellent idea. I’m handicapped and I have a tough time cleaning. I can’t press down very long my hands start hurting. I think this could clean a lot of things. Walls, door frames, counter top that need extra cleaning, around the bottom of the toilet, WOW IM EXCITED TOO….Ty for the idea….
I would use the PowerBall on wood walls such as Knotty Pine. The solution I have used many times, it cleans beautifully and restores wood at the same time . This is the solution:
1/3 Turpentine
1/3 Linseed Oil
1/3 Vinegar
I would use this during the Spring or Summer so you can air out your house. I love the smell, but if your doing a lot of walls it can be a little overwhelming.
I’d like to use it on and around the toilet.
Jeff – you’ve given me hope. As the 63-year-old “artistic” wife of an immovable sports fan, I am faced with DIY EVERYTHING. Heck, I even washed and dried my used wedding gown on the outside clothes line.
I will attack the stinky dogged carpet in this 1960’s house tomorrow.
I also must find a way to remove rooms of ANCIENT wallpaper (and by ancient – the ceiling still has glitter popcorn for heavens’ sake). Any tips? It seems …well…daunting.
Thanks so much.
I was about to go buy a buffer/polisher to clean the tub but what a great way to clean and spend less $$$! Thanks sir!!!
Ive been searching for an idea just like yours. my only concern is about the strength and longevity of the foam. doesnt it tend to crumble? My tip is to add baking soda to the vinegar to provide a bit of grit. Much like dermabrasion products for skin.
Jeff, I am using the Dawn/vinegar solution on my tile bathroom floor and I am having a devil of a time getting all the soapy solution off the floor. I have just done a small area to see how things would go and I’m so thankful I did that. Please help me get all this soapy goo off.
Oh man…where do I start?
Automobile windows: Check
The toilet (for lesser used/cleaned toilets, the hard water ring) and up underneath the lip where the water distribution is.
House windows (getting in to the edges is a pain)
Aquariums..like all of them. Okay, I’m just going to say glass at this point because we all hate trying to clean glass.
I think this would be a pretty awesome way to get the cat hair off surfaces where they spend a lot of time. Lightly dampen the powerball and set the drill to slowest speed to quickly whip up all the hair off a cat window bench or the back side of curtains where they sleep.
I love this idea. It a great way to get the bathroom together fast when you have unexpected guest or preparing for the holidays. Great tip. I will share this with my customer base. I am sure they will enjoy.
Well I don’t play the lottery, but I’m going for the powerball! 😉
Good tips
I would love to use this idea but what can you use to clean travertine? No chemicals….I hate travertine. Installed it a few years ago when a store owner sold it to me without telling me you really can’t clean it with normal cleaning materials.
My favorite tip to cleaning the bathtub and shower head with dawn and vinegar solution. It works so well!