Inside the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab: Carolyn Forté on the Products and Habits That Actually Work

Good Better Best. The Not Old Better Show, Good Housekeeping Interview Series

"Your home must be immaculate!" That's what people say to Carolyn Forté — but the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab has a refreshingly honest answer: not always.

In this new episode of the Good Housekeeping: Good Better Best series on The Not Old Better Show, Carolyn shares what 40+ years of product testing and cleaning expertise have taught her — and why a clean-enough home can be far more comforting than a spotless one.

We talk about why maintenance beats marathon cleaning, her favorite overlooked cleaning zones (hello, faucet sprayers and door frames), and how even a full-time expert still has dust on top of her bookcases. And yes, she gives us her take on grandma's old-school tips — the good, the bad, and the sticky (we're looking at you, hairspray-on-curtains).

This episode is filled with humor, smart habits, and product picks that work — like Stink Stopper, Diptyque's Odor Removing Candle, and good old vinegar (with a few caveats).

If you're looking for practical advice, a little reassurance, and a few good laughs about the mess we all live with, this one's worth your time.

🎧 Listen now at [notold-better.com] or wherever you get your podcasts.