Last week we gave you a great roundup of eco-friendly cleaners. But sometimes even the best cleaner needs a hardworking tool to help get the job done. Here are some of the essentials that everyone should have for a clean home.
1. Sponge: There are a huge variety of sponges out there. It's nice to have a mix of regular sponges, some with an abrasive side, and then some with a microfiber side to tackle just about any dirty surface. If you plan on reusing a sponge, don't forget to clean it!
2. White Towels: I always keep a ton of white towels on hand. I picked up a couple of sets of organic cotton towels from Crate&Barrel, but you can find packs of these just about anywhere, even at the hardware store. They'll always match, you'll know when they're dirty, and they can be easily bleached and disinfected without getting ruined. An eco-friendly alternative is cut up old t-shirts.
3. Squeegee: These little tools are a must-have for keeping showers mold-free. They also work great on windows if that's a part of your cleaning regimine.
4. Microfiber Cloths: Just like the white towels, getting a ton of these to keep on hand is super helpful. Microfiber can often get surfaces clean on its own or with just a little water, and shouldn't scratch or leave streaks behind.
5. Spray Bottle: Keep spray bottles on hand if you ever need to rinse something off with water, or like to make your own cleaners.
6. Broom, Dustpan and Mop: This is obvious. If you have any hard surfaces like wood, tile, cork, and linoleum, you will need a broom and mop to get them clean. Dustpans help with the process, and of course are crucial for quickly cleaning up any spills.
7. Vacuum: Whether it's a Roomba or a Dyson vacuum, these machines help keep floors clean and allergies at bay.
8. Bucket: A nice sized bucket can not only stow your cleaning supplies, but also be used for mopping, or any other of a multitude of household tasks.
9. Scrub Brush: A sponge or cloth isn't always going to work, so keep a bristle scrub brush on hand to use on tough stains.
10. Toothbrush: When you need something a little more detailed than a scrub brush, a toothbrush is a great option. Disinfect some old toothbrushes and put them to work on grout, sink rims and all the other nooks and crannies in your house.
MORE CLEANING SUPPLIES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Checklist: Basic Cleaning Supplies for a Small Space
• 12 Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Supplies
• The Most Beautiful Cleaning Supplies & Tools
• Organizing Cleaning Supplies
• Odd, Weird, Wacky (& Possibly Helpful) Cleaning Supplies
• 10 Must-Have Essentials for a Well Stocked Housecleaning Kit
• Kid-Sized Cleaning Supplies
• Top Ten: Cleaning Supplies
• 8 Easy To Store Cleaning Products & Tools
(Image: Swedish Dustpan and Broom from the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum Store)
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Really, Thank god AT let me know what I need to clean. I just moved from Mars, we don't have dirt.
Ditto that, GregPGH. I'm so glad AT has introduced me to these exotic cleaning implements.
Gregory, your comment made me laugh harder than it probably should have. i tend to agree though, once you've lived away from home for more than a couple of weeks, you'll figure this basic information out soon enough.
oops, i guess the comment i was replying to was deleted. i swear i wasn't laughing at a ghost!Gregory!
ok well now i want to know what he said! :)
Why was Gregory's comment deleted? Seems it was funny.... now I have been robbed of a much needed laugh.
This is an inane question, but does anyone have a foolproof method for bleaching white towels and sheets? I've tried it in the past, but I always wind up with either really white linens with holes in them or yellowed, still-dirty sheets & towels.
Bring back Gregory! :D
Slangevar - you need oxygen bleach and washing soda to get out the yellow stains, not chlorine bleach.
At first when I saw toothbrush as a cleaning supply, I thought, yes, I hope everyone does use one to brush their teeth :)
i bought a set of bar keepers rags from Target on the advice of another blog. i use those for cleaning instead of paper towels & LOVE them!
Who has the money for white towels from Crate and Barrel? Sheesh... I got a 10 pack from Wal-Mart for like $6. Not everyone on AT is bougie.
I just bought a big bag of white cotton "shop" towels at the hardware store. There were probably 20 in the bag and I think I payed about $8.00. I bought a similar bag of towels five or six years ago that are now getting worn out. I use them constantly for all kinds of cleaning.
I bought all my towels at the dollar store. I agree with everything except for the scrub brush, I really have no need for that. And the vacuum has a typo, a vacuum keeps allergens at bay, not allergies...I wish.
Thanks, @Stormi - I didn't know there were multiple types of bleach! I'll give it a try.
And don't forget the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers... They work on walls so nicely!
I've lived away from home for 7 years, and didn't get my current apartment a dustpan. I've lived here for 1.5 years, and still find myself using old pieces of junk mail to scoop up dirt and spilled pasta.
However, I have such a little kitchen that I skipped the broom/mop combo. Instead I got a wet/dry swiffer. Works pretty well, not nearly as messy as a bucket.
I still don't get the squeege. I've never used one, and never gotten shower mold. Who has time to squeege the shower, moreover?
Why buy towels for cleaning? Just use worn out ones... you can cut them into smaller pieces if they're too big! I also like old t-shirts.
Well played.
Even I use old tshirt for cleaning ,nice tip about bleaching and disinfecting
http://www.quirky.com/products/108-Slimline-Drying-Rack?r=a4aa671fdd18256d4b668eb33af02f51
I really don't get why people like using sponges for cleaning. I have one but don't use it because every time I look at it I "mold and germs!"
What might be more useful for AT to write about is how to keep you cleaning supplies clean, or no-fail tips to maintain them.
I will say that microfiber and magic erasers are my favorite tools.