Everyday Cleaning Supply Essentials

One thing I've learned from cleaning other people's homes is that it is difficult to clean when you don't have the right stuff, or the stuff you have isn't organized well.  If you have to go hunting for toilet bowl cleaner you will turn a 30 second job in to a 10 minute job.  Conversely, you don't need a giant stash of cleaning supplies in every room.

I clean most of my house with a 1:5 parts mixture of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  Vinegar is cheap and can be used for more than cleaning hard surfaces.  In the wash it'll act as a fabric softener and deodorizer. If you ever forget a load in the wash and it smells musty or sour, run it again with a cup of white vinegar and dry as usual. You can also use vinegar in place of more expensive rinsing agents in the dish washer.  It's also non-toxic and fairly environmentally friendly.  If you're worried about the smell, it dissipates quickly and it is a lot healthier to breath than bleach or ammonia.

I have powdered scrubbing cleanser that I use for cleaning sinks, tubs, and toilets or I can mix it with a small amount of water to make a soft scrub for stubborn kitchen messes.  I also keep a bottle of multi surface floor cleaner /polish; I prefer the kind that is sprayed directly on the floor so I don't have to drag a bucket around with me.  I don't have any wood furniture that would warrant it but if you do you might want to add furniture wax to your caddy as well.  I also keep dish washing detergent under the kitchen sink, and laundry detergent along with a stain stick in the laundry area. 

In order to keep your supplies handy but organized, look for a cleaning supply caddy like the one pictured here.  It will allow you to carry the supplies around from room to room, then put it back in one spot so you know where to find it when you're ready to clean again.  You should use this for the supplies you use on daily basis, but not things like oven cleaner which you might use only ever few months.

Everday Cleaning Shopping List

• Combination glass and surface cleaner (or a vinegar water solution)
• Powdered scrubbing cleanser
• Hand dish washing soap
• Laundry and dish washing detergent
• A stain stick for stubborn laundry stains
• Multi-surface floor cleaner/polish
• A caddy for your supplies

Stay tuned next week for essential cleaning tools and how to choose the right tools for the job.