#40: Better cleaning gear, bedding intel + high-level secrets
Little-known secret—this is actually the best time of year to buy and restock cleaning supplies and equipment (almost everything is marked down for the next few days).
I’ll do a whole video on that tomorrow (yay!), but in the meantime, I want to share a bunch of tried-and-true items that I think should be in every home’s arsenal.
And some stuff to stop overpaying for.
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Cleaning gear I swear by (and why/how)
Little Green Machine (currently on sale under $90/free shipping). When I say I am obsessed with this thing, I mean I am OBSESSED. I use it nonstop on everything from upholstered sofas to parts of my car interior, etc. You don’t need to buy the expensive cleaning fluid! See below.
Off-label upholstery & carpet cleaner ($12/free shipping for a one-year supply for my house). See the above video; this stuff has the same chemical ratios (slightly different scent) and is half the price of the Bissell fluid. Works really well and one giant $12 bottle is enough to last a year or so in my house.
This specific Lysol Grease & Grime spray ($2.97/free shipping). It does pretty much everything from gnarly stoves to weird bathroom messes. It’s super heavy-duty, though, so avoid using it on marble, etc. Truly an unsung hero and an excellent use of $3 and some elbow grease. Short video on it here.
Oxiclean with optical brighteners ($11.78/free shipping for a massive 5 lb container). If you’re new here, I’m obsessed. If you’ve been with me a while, you know I have this stuff coursing through my veins. Refresher course on how to use it.
Washing soda (about $5/free shipping for a GIANT box). This is an alkalinity booster. It’s going to chemically loosen stains, grease, etc. so your detergent can actually work.
Floor washing vacuum. I have the Tineco model (currently on sale for $259), but there are lots of good ones out there if you have lots of tile or hardwood and hate mopping. I hate mopping with every fiber of my soul. And you don’t need to buy the expensive floor washing fluid!
Bona hard surface floor cleaner (under $20/free shipping for an enormous bottle). Way, way cheaper than the Tineco fluid they sell you with the machine and possibly a bit better. Dilute with lukewarm water—you’re set for loads of washes.
Leather Honey ($17/free shipping). I use this on my leather club chairs, jackets, bags… you name it. Unsung hero. Do we want a whole video on how to use it??
Tide Pens are under $3/free shipping right now. Just saying.
Carbona Stain Devils Starter Set ($14/free shipping). I explained why these are great in-depth in this video. I especially love the one that works on protein-based stains (ie chocolate ice cream, lattes, blood, etc.). They’re also super concentrated and in small containers to make ‘em easy to store. Great for tiny laundry spaces and apartments. A little goes a long way!
Rocco & Roxie Stain Remover ($23/free shipping). This one is a bit pricier, but if you have pets, this’ll cut through just about anything they can pee/poop/puke out. Yay? Lots of enzymes to break up proteins in this, and that’s really what’s going on with bodily-fluid stains. Worthwhile if you have a messy or sick pet. A little goes a long way and it’s EXCELLENT with the Little Green Machine I mentioned above.
But let’s get back to bedding! There’s more to say.
If you caught last week’s newsletter on cooling bamboo and Tencel-based bedding, you know that I was super eager to keep going… but it was a lot of info. Recap on my fave bamboo/tencel bedding options:
Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheets set from $93/free shipping (loads of colors! my top personal pick and I have these in a soft pink shade that I love to whip out in May/June)
Bamboo-based sheets set from $55 (lots of colors and options, organically-grown bamboo)
Quince bamboo-based set from $99 (lots of options, genuinely nice bundles)
Cooling cotton bedding: what to look for
Cotton is naturally breathable and allows air to circulate, which releases body heat instead of trapping it like synthetic fabrics. The fibers also wick moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry and comfortable through the night. That combo of airflow and moisture control is why cotton is constantly wonderful.
Look for percale or crisp plain-weave finishes, which feel cool to the touch and allow more airflow than heavier weaves. Also prioritize long-staple cotton with a matte (not silky) finish, since it breathes better and traps less heat.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Sateen finishes are gorgeous and seem like they’d be cooler to sleep on, but they’re actually more efficient at trapping heat and will leave you warmer. Sateen is for winter!
What is percale, anyway?
Percale refers to a one-over, one-under weave (also called a plain weave). That’s the simplest, tightest weaving pattern:
One thread goes over
The next goes under
Repeated evenly across the fabric
This creates a matte, crisp, breathable fabric—very different from silky or shiny sheets.
Does thread count matter?
Honestly, not as much as you’d think unless you’re buying low-quality cotton. Any long-staple or extra-long staple cotton will be pretty good (btw, Egyptian, Turkish, Pima an Supima are all automatically long or extra-long staple). Junky cottons or synthetic blends will boast thread count as a marketing ploy to rope you into some shit you don’t want or need.
Anyone pushing thread count over cotton quality is stuck in the year 2007 (or earlier. I love that for them. I wish I had a time machine to visit and wave hello.
Some of my fave affordable long-staple cotton percale bedding sets:
Egyptian Cotton Extra Long Staple, percale finish. $79/set, ideal for hot sleepers. Easy to care for and will last for years with minimal care.
Brooklinen Percale Cotton Bundle. From $100ish/set, loads of colors/prints. Genuinely good bedding you’ll use for years. I still have a bundle from four to five years ago that looks genuinely perfect.
I’ll do more on cotton vs linen in the coming weeks as the weather warms, but I didn’t want to leave anyone hanging if they’re looking for nice cotton now.
Some entertaining stuff to get you through the weekend:
Not my stuff, just things that brought me a little bit of joy…
This cat is sort of a psychopath. Kinda love ‘er.
Clever pancake hack. How did I never think of this?!
And somehow I feel more spiritual than ever before. Honestly, may this man sing the soundtrack to my life.
Sales worth shopping right now
Sherpa coats are $22 + free shipping right now. Loads of colors/lots of sizes. So cute!
50% off Laura Geller palettes ($18/free shipping). This one is great on a variety of skin tones and easy to use.
Ninja Blenders $79.99/free shipping. The big ones!
For the new subscribers, you may be looking for these links:
And if you feel like being really nice, hit the restack button for me or share Extra Good with a friend <3
Newsletter #24 explained how everyone is overpaying for makeup. And you don’t have to. One juicy tidbit: If you like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz pencil ($18.20 right now for Black Friday), you’ll find a very close delivery system and wax profile in this ELF brow pencil for about $4. You’ll notice the spoolie is a bit wider and the angle of the pencil is slightly more rounded—those are the main differences, not the formulas.
Bougie hotel robes from newsletter #25: There are a few different types of robes available at Four Seasons Hotels (ranging from plush terry to a softer, slightly lighter spa robe). The spa robes are typically made by Monarch Cypress and cost about $100 (way less than the $300ish to buy from the hotel).
Aritzia dupes? Yes, please! Newsletter #37 explained exactly why some ON pieces look like (and feel better than) Aritzia pieces. The best ones: High-waist linen blend pants $20 (I have these! Love!), Half-zip sweatshirt $24, 100% cotton teed with reinforced necks, $7.49 each (you know the ones!), Wide leg pants $20 (great for work!).
And… from January:
Here’s how you’re going to get super cheap tretinoin (click here) and then watch this explainer video.
I keep all newsletters open and free for the first month they’re published, but after about 4.5 weeks, they end up in the paid-access-only archives (this prevents bots and copycats from stealing my work, which, yes, has become a bit of an issue… bleh).
And because I know so many of you have been so generous, I’m giving a bit of extra access from time to time with bonus content.
Subscriber question + loads of money-saving data below:
Love this question. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
Alastin HydraTint ($84!!!) is not really a “moisturizer”—it’s a tinted mineral sunscreen + skincare hybrid.
Core structure:
100% mineral SPF (zinc oxide ± titanium dioxide)
Iron oxides (give the tint and protect from visible light = key for aging + pigmentation)
Silicone + lightweight emollient base offer the silky, almost primer-like feel
Some peptides/antioxidants (their “TriHex” complex = nice, but not magic… especially in the low amounts per bottle)
So what people are loving is:
sheer tint
blurring effect
hydrated but not greasy skin
elegant texture (this is the big one)
Why this $41 bottle is a legit dupe (not just “similar category”)
EltaMD tinted SPFs (more than 50% off1) are built on almost the exact same backbone:
Same ACTIVE sunscreen system
Zinc oxide-based protection (sometimes hybrid with octinoxate)
Broad-spectrum UV protection
Designed for sensitive, aging and post-procedure skin
Same tint technology
Both use iron oxides
That gives: sheer “your skin but better” color & protection against visible light (huge for melasma/aging)
Very similar skincare add-ons
Alastin:
peptides (TriHex)
antioxidants
EltaMD:
hyaluronic acid + vitamin E (hydration + barrier support)
sometimes niacinamide (in UV Clear)
…Different marketing language, but same goal. Ultimately:
Alastin HydraTint
thinner, more fluid
slightly glowy, skin-like finish (wears down after five to ten minutes to match the Elta formula)
blends almost invisibly
EltaMD tinted (varies by version)
a bit thicker, more sunscreen-feeling (works in almost identically with fingers or a brush, though)
tint can be slightly more visible before working into the skin
leans slightly dewier at first
What not to buy now (and what’s worth it)
At the top of this newsletter, I explained that this is the best time of year, statistically-speaking, to buy cleaning products. It’s also one of the worst times of the year to buy a bunch of other things… and I want to save you a ton of money, so please keep the following items and dates in mind <3
And if you’re wondering how I know this, it’s because I’ve been a data-driven shopping editor at some of North America’s largest magazines for over 20 years and have sold that data to the largest publishers out there. If you trusted shopping advice from Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Living, The Today Show, NBC, MSN, Today’s Parent, FASHION!, or dozens of other titles—you’ve likely seen my work.
I’ve been tracking price data across hundreds of retailers for what seems like an insane amount of time. Use my info to your advantage.
