Essential Cleaning Supplies

Using the correct cleaning supplies is important when the task of household cleaning rears its ugly head. This is vitally important so the surfaces you are cleaning do not get damaged. It also will elevate the overall time it takes to clean and the cleaning is usually finished with less effort on the part of the cleaner.

Before you even buy the product from the store, it is important to read the label on the bottle. The labels will list its common uses, any precautions, and solutions. Even though a product might be labeled as an “all-purpose” cleaner, it may not be good for every surface. Products that contain strong chemical like ammonia may permanently damage laminates or other plastic surfaces. Sometimes strong cleaners are not necessary to get the job done. The only thing you might need is mild soap and warm water.

When trying to clean the house for a large annual cleaning or a light everyday cleaning, it is a good idea to get your essential cleaning supplies together before you start your cleaning. But, what are the essential supplies that will be needed most often? Think about the things that you will need to clean.

Start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor. An essential cleaning supply would be rags to dust cobwebs in the corners, ceiling fan blades, and the tops of shelves and ledges. There are a lot of products out recently that advertise “a better way to dust”. The truth is that an old rag will work just as well as these new products. Plus, they are more cost effective because the rag is probably an old shirt or sock that has lost it’s mate and can therefore be washed and used again rather then thrown out adding to the planet’s waste. Rags work well with cobwebs on their own but, to dust shelves and some ledges, use a little bit of furniture polish. So in addition to rags in your cleaning kit, make sure to tow along furniture polish.

Another essential cleaning supply to add to your cleaning kit would be window washing liquid. Most brand name products advertise a streak free shine with their product but, there is a trick to get streak free windows without coughing up the extra dough on products that work just as well as the bargain brands; use newspaper to wipe down the window glass instead of paper towels. Include a brown paper bag in your cleaning kit to toss used newspapers in. When you’re done with your cleaning, the whole bag can be thrown into the recycling bin. 

Other essential cleaning supplies include anti-bacterial spray. There are a lot of products out there that work well and are specifically made for cleaning different parts of the house. Most are okay to use on an array of surfaces. So, include in your cleaning kit, a spray that is specifically designed hard to clean soap scum and mildew for the bathroom and then a spray that can be used on their kitchen or bathroom surfaces. 

The last thing to clean in a room is the floor. Besides the vacuuming and the mopping, what are some other essential supplies that you will need to include in your kit to tackle the floor? Mop, bucket, and floor cleaner are essential for cleaning a non-carpeted area but it is hardly practical to carry these things from room to room as you accomplish your cleaning. Keep these things together and pull them out when you are ready to use them. Instead, keep a rug freshener like a powder or spray in your cleaning kit.

When your cleaning supplies are organized and easily accessible, the job of household cleaning can be fast, easy and efficient on a regular basis.