Keeping a home clean is hard enough without obsessing over the bits you can barely reach. So when a product comes along claiming to make things a little easier, we’re all for it.
Kmart’s Window Sill Cleaning Set has been making the rounds as a must-have $4 hack for one of the most annoying household chores: cleaning those narrow window tracks that collect dust, grime and mystery debris year-round. I bought one to find out if it lives up to the hype.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Kmart Window Sill Cleaning Set costs $4 and comes with one duster head and a replacement.
- It works, but only in shallow tracks.
- If your window or door tracks are deep, it won’t have the reach to make much difference.
- You probably already own something better that will last longer.
What is the Kmart window sill cleaner?
The Kmart Window Sill Cleaning Set is a small handheld duster designed for cleaning window and door tracks. It’s easy to see why people are loving this product: it’s cheap, compact, and made for a job most of us put off.
What’s actually in the packet
For $4, you get the duster (13.2cm x 8.5cm x 2.5cm), one replacement duster head, and not much else, all tucked into a small plastic bag. It’s white and grey, lightweight, and looks exactly like a $4 cleaning tool.
Did it actually work?
I can see why this product appeals to people. Window tracks are awkward to clean, so yes, the Kmart Window Sill Cleaning Set does work to shift dust and grime in the right windows. But so does a sponge with a couple of grooves cut into it. Or a cloth. And both will last a lot longer.
Some of the reviews on the Kmart website tell a similar story.
One buyer said, “It’s okay, it is easier to use a wet wipe that you can throw away.”
Another verified purchaser said, “I have only used it once, and it was okay, but it needs more depth to it.”
The problems I found
I tested this on the windowsill in my son’s room. The window is very old, and the tracks are fairly deep, and that’s where it fell down for me. It just didn’t have the reach I needed to make any kind of difference.
The tool also felt flimsy and cheap in my hand, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was headed straight for the bin. At least a sponge gives you a few rounds before you toss it.
Who might still find the Kmart window sill cleaner useful?
To be fair, plenty of people have found this product worthwhile. With a current 4.4-star rating on the Kmart website, it’s probably not as bad as I’m making it out to be.
In fact, fans of the set say it genuinely surprised them. Several reviewers admit they were sceptical at first, but ended up thinking it was fantastic and heading off to buy another one.
Others say it’s perfect for window and sliding-door tracks, and it even picks up pet hair better than a vacuum.
The verdict
Save your $4 and put it towards a coffee instead; you’ll get far more satisfaction out of it. Window tracks are annoying to clean no matter what, and the tools you already have at home will do the job just as well, and last a whole lot longer.
