Katie Barton, Contributing Writer

Katie Barton

Contributing Writer

About

Katie Barton is a home improvement freelance writer based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has been writing for the Bob Vila team since July 2022 and specializes in topics such as cleaning, organizing, and gardening.

Experience

Katie is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement and home decor. Since 2012, she has written hundreds of articles on cleaning, home improvement, plant care, and design. Aside from writing for BobVila.com, she runs her own cleaning advice blog and is a managing editor at Homedit. Her cleaning and organizing advice has been featured on Yahoo!, Cabin Life, Realtor.com, GOBankingRates, and more.

 

Katie grew up working in her family’s flower shops in southern Ohio. As a result, she has over 20 years of experience working with and caring for plants. In addition to covering plant care at BobVila.com, Katie also tests products, having tested dozens of cleaning products throughout her career while always looking to give readers unbiased reviews.

Education

Katie attended Southern State Community College.

Highlights

  • Specialties and interests: Plants, cleaning, product testing, and practical organization
  • Experience: 20+ years of experience working in plant care, 10 years of experience working in the publishing industry
  • Other work: Yahoo!, Realtor.com, Homedit, GOBankingRates, and Cabin Life

Proudest DIY

“My proudest DIY moment was when I tiled my bathroom by myself. Before taking on the project, I was nervous about using any type of saw. It was a great learning experience, and the bathroom turned out better than I expected.”

More from Katie Barton

8 of the Best Hardwood Floor Cleaner Machines on wood floor in front of fireplace
Cleaning

The Best Hardwood Floor Cleaner Machines, Tested and Reviewed

By Katie Barton, Carol Benton

A group of the best handheld steam cleaners together before testing
Cleaning

This Handheld Steam Cleaner Makes Cleaning Multiple Surfaces Fast and Easy

By Katie Barton, Shannon Lee, Bob Beacham

A group photo of tested mops
Interior

The Best Electric Mops of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Katie Barton

The Best Mop Options
Cleaning

The Best Mops of 2024 for Sparkling Clean Floors, Tested

By Katie Barton, Debbie Wolfe, Kat Hodgins

GE 50-Pint Portable Dehumidifier With Built-In Pump
Basements

The GE 50-Pint Dehumidifier Kept My Humid Basement Bone-Dry

By Katie Barton

Testing the Vornado 660 fan in a bedroom
Interior

Our 10 Best Fans for Cooling the Home, Tested and Reviewed

By Katie Barton, Tom Scalisi

Green Jisulife Portable Neck Fan on top of its box with charging cord
Clothing & Gear

Jisulife Portable Neck Fan: A Must-Have for Muggy Outdoor Activities

By Katie Barton

Dyson vs Shark vacuums in use cleaning carpeting during testing.
Interior

The Best Vacuums for Clean Floors of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

By Katie Barton, Savannah Sher, Beth Cranston, Glenda Taylor, Anne Holub, Debbie Wolfe

Person using Dremel power scrubber to scour tough stains from a pan
Cleaning

The Best Power Scrubbers of 2024 for Deep-Cleaning, Tested

By Katie Barton, Savannah Sher, Glenda Taylor

Several robot mops lined up on hardwood floor
Cleaning

The Best Robot Mops for Effortlessly Clean Floors, Tested

By Manasa Reddigari, Mark Wolfe, Katie Barton

A group of the best oscillating sprinklers on a green lawn before testing.
Lawn & Garden

The Best Oscillating Sprinklers for Lawns of All Sizes of 2024, Tested

By Katie Barton, Tony Carrick

A group of the best lawn sprinkler systems on a patio table before testing.
DIY

The Best Lawn Sprinkler Systems of 2024, Tested

By Glenda Taylor, Katie Barton

Person using Ryobi Power Scrubber to clean back of camper
Cleaning Supplies

Messes Have Met Their Match: Ryobi One+ 18V Power Scrubber Review

By Katie Barton

The Best Dehumidifier Options
Heating & Cooling

The Best Dehumidifiers of 2024 for the Home, Tested

By Glenda Taylor, Katie Barton

Five of the Best Outdoor Rugs on a concrete patio surrounded by trees
Furniture & Decor

The Best Outdoor Rugs of 2024 for the Deck and Patio, Tested

By Katie Barton, Savannah Sher, Donna Boyle Schwartz

Eight of the Best Garage Fans in an insulated garage
Exterior

2024’s Best Garage Fans for Beating the Heat, Tested

By Katie Barton, Bob Beacham

White Air King Commercial-Grade Box Fan on wood floor in front of box
Reviews

Air King Commercial-Grade Box Fan Review: Perfect for Stuffy Bedrooms

By Katie Barton

The OtO Lawn Sprinkler watering a green lawn during testing.
DIY

The OtO Lawn Sprinkler Is a Game Changer for Forgetful Gardeners

By Katie Barton

A group of the best degreasers together before testing.
Cleaning

The Best Degreasers for Tackling Stubborn Messes, Tested and Reviewed

By Katie Barton

A group of the best fire pit tables on a cement patio near a wooded area.
Deck, Patio & Porch

The Best Fire Pit Tables for the Backyard, Patio, or Deck, Tested 

By Katie Barton