Cleaning the house is pretty low on most people’s list of ways to spend their free time. If you’ve finally found the motivation to get the job done, you don’t want to be delayed because you either don’t have, or can’t find, the supplies you need.
Here are tips that will make the tedious task of cleaning your home less frustrating and more efficient.
There are so many cleaning products to pick from, and new ones seem to pop up every day. It’s easy to accumulate too many bottles of too many cleaners by grabbing something each time you’re in a store, “just in case.” And before you know it, your cleaning products are themselves clutter in need of tidying.
Many basic cleaning products are incredibly versatile, so you don’t need a carload of specialized supplies. Most households can get by with this simple list:
An ample supply of your favorite multiuse cleaning liquid for surfaces such as glass, tile, countertops and cabinets: There is little to no regulation for the ingredients in cleaning products, says Becky Rapinchuk, author of Simply Clean and owner of the Clean Mama blog. So do some research. The Environmental Working Group has rated thousands of products on its website, ewg.org. It gives products an overall letter grade and scores them based on level of concern for respiratory effects, cancer-causing agents and potential harm to the environment. Good Housekeeping recently rated the best all-purpose cleaners, naming Simple Green the most versatile.
A broom or a brush with a dustpan: Brooms with densely packed synthetic bristles are best for indoor use. They are soft enough to use on hardwood floors and work well for dust and larger pieces of dirt. Angled brooms will help you reach into corners. A dustpan made with a soft plastic or rubber will be the lightest and won’t scratch your wood floors. Almost all dustpans can be stored with the broom or brush handle inside the dustpan handle; buying them together will ensure that this is the case.
A mop with reusable cloths: Reusable cloths can be washed and used again, which will save you money. They’re also more environmentally friendly than disposable cloths.
Cleaning supplies, like all household items, should be stored in designated spots, not just tucked away here and there. Some people prefer to keep their cleaning supplies in or near the rooms where they use them most. I find it’s easier to keep track of what I have if everything is in one location.
If you don’t have a closet dedicated to cleaning supplies, good options include a cabinet or shelves in the laundry room or under the kitchen sink. Read product labels for instructions on how best to store each item, but it is generally important to keep cleaning agents out of extreme cold and heat and away from gas appliances.