Four ways to ease cleaning tasks

Cleaning becomes slightly less of a chore with these helpers:

Some people swear by Dysons -- the suction, the sleek design, the no-bag thing. If you're a devotee, you'll want to check out the new Dyson City, which, we can attest, cleans as powerfully as a full upright Dyson, but is a lot easier to lug up and down stairs and store in a tight space.

Cost: $399.99 at dyson.com

If sweeping and then mopping strikes you as insult and then injury, consider Bissell's Steam and Sweep for hard floors. In one swoop, it vacuums the dirt and steam cleans the gunk from your floor. We love how it leaves floors shiny without the residue of some mop-and-shine cleaners.

Cost: $129.99 at bissell.com

One bottle of Replenish becomes four bottles of Replenish when you mix the accompanying 98 percent plant-derived concentrate with water. Saves you from purchasing and tossing bottle after bottle of premixed cleaner.

Cost: $7.99 for 64-oz. bottle at myreplenish.com

Dropps let you replace your giant jug of laundry soap with premeasured, dissolving packs of highly concentrated detergent. We tried them on whites and colors with equally impressive results. Cost: $7 for a 20-load pouch at dropps.com.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE