Household Cleaning Essentials To Keep Your Home Fresh and Tidy
Developing a routine for cleaning your home can be difficult if you always find yourself putting off certain tasks because you don’t have the right materials. Although you might be secretly relieved that you ran out of glass cleaner, that feeling is short-lived. Pretty soon, you’ll be squinting through mucky windows and wishing you had the needed products on hand.
A streamlined inventory can combat this cycle of procrastination and worry. If you always have the essentials to clean each room of your house, you’re less likely to turn to an excuse for putting it off.
Tidy Up Portland! provides a descriptive list of several items you can use to get all of your housekeeping chores done, including tools and cleaning agents.
Table of Contents
8 Essential Cleaning Supplies To Keep on Hand
Having the right supplies allows you to maximize the effort you put into cleaninginto cleaning. The following cleaning tools/supplies are necessary if you want to clean with excellence and efficiency.
Tidy Up Portland! has all the essentials for maintaining the cleanliness and attractiveness of your home. We are committed to environmentally friendly cleaning at any time of year. Call us today to learn how we serve our clients.
#1: Floor Cleaning Supplies
Depending on what kind of floor you’re cleaning, you’ll need:
Vacuum: This is essential to get rid of dust, grit, pet fur, etc. from surfaces you cannot sweep and mop. Ideally, your vacuum should be capable of cleaning different kinds of surfaces, such as carpets, rugs, and hard surface floorings. It should have a detachable hose, upholstery brush, and crevice tool.
Mop: This is a must-have for cleaning hard floors of any kind. There are many types available, depending on your preference, including mops with washable heads or disposable cloths and built-in spray mops. The key is to avoid cleaningcleaning with a dirty mop.
Dust mop: These dry mops help you remove dust and debris from large areas at a time.
Broom and dustpan: Although you can use a vacuum instead, brooms can becan be much handier because they don’t have to be plugged in. Always sweep before mopping to get rid of larger debris and make mopping more effective.
#2: Sponges and Micro Cloths
Whether you’re cleaning your table, counters, bathroom, oven, or stubborn grime off your floors, sponges are your go-to tool. Sponges with a soft side and an abrasive side will give you the option of gentler or more powerful cleansing.
Microfiber cloths, because of their static charge, are great for removing dust and hair, polishing, or cleaning grime/stains. They can be used dry, but for tougher stains,, you can spray them lightly (overwetting them will not increase their cleaning power). Using harsh chemicals on microfiber cloths will reduce their effectiveness over time.
#3: Squeegee
This simple and low-maintenance tool is extremely effective at removing water and cleaning agents left behind on windows and showers that have just been washed. Removing this moisture with a cloth requires a lot more work and isn’t as efficient. Prevent soap stains and mold growth by removing moisture as soon as possible from shower walls and windows withwith a few swipes from a squeegee.
#4: Spray Bottles and Labels
Spray bottles are handy for storing your homemade cleaning solutions. Glass bottles are preferable to plastic bottles because the latter can be degraded by certain chemicals, such as essential oils (which add a lovely scent to your solution). You can reuse these bottles ad infinitem. Just be sure to label them appropriately.
#5: Scrubbing Brush and Toothbrush
You’ll need a scrub brush for removing extra difficult stains from those areas that can withstand more abrasive cleaningcleaning, such as grout, grills, sinks, and even carpet. The latter two require a brush with soft bristles, but stiff bristles are necessary for many cleaning jobs. Be sure your scrub brush has a handle with a comfortable grip.
#6: Toilet Brush
For removing grime from hard-to-reach corners, vents, and grout, an old toothbrush — with some all-purpose cleaner on it — will do the trick.
A toilet brush is used in one area only and should be kept carefully contained in its holder or stand to avoid contamination of any other surface. Replace it at least once every six months. Or you might opt for a toilet-cleaning “wand” with a disposable head.
#7: Duster
Respect the age-old wisdom of cleaning from top to bottom. With your duster, you can reach the dust along the molding at the edge of your ceiling, the top edge of doors, in high corners, and ceiling fan blades. Next, you can dust along window sills, blinds, bookshelves, and coffee tables. Any remaining dust will settle on the floor, which can be swept or vacuumed.
If you buy a duster with an extendable handle, you need not climb any chairs to do this chore. Consider which kind of duster you’d prefer: a feather duster, a disposable duster, or a microfiber duster.
#8: Plastic Bucket
A heavy-duty bucket is another versatile essential that can be used for various chores, including mopping and soaking soiled items. Keep your sink free by using a plastic bucket instead.
Have two buckets for mopping — one for dirty water and one for clean water — to ensure you’re actually getting your floor clean.
You can also store compost in a plastic bucket until it’s full and you’re ready to toss the contents outside in your compost pile. Buy one with a tight-fitting lid to avoid unpleasant odors.
6 Cleaning Products To Include on Your Home Cleaning Essentials Checklist
#1: All-Purpose Cleaner
Tidy Up Portland! focuses on green cleaning and uses mostly inexpensive products that most people have in their homesmes. You can use easy-to-find, safe, and budget-friendly ingredients to make a powerful all-purpose cleaner that is versatile enough to be used on almost any surface:
1 cup water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-2 drops dish soap
This combination can be used to clean kitchen and bathroom surfaces as well as for spot-cleaning clothes. You can use this homemade concoction in just about every room in your house.
If you prefer other cleaning agents, do some research to ease your mind about the safety of the products you’re using or to find the safest products on the market. Other homemade cleansers have earned support among housekeepers who lean toward natural products.
#2: Window/Glass Cleaner
All-purpose cleaners don’t actually serve all purposes. Window glass and mirrors require specialized glass cleanerss that won’t damage the glass or leave streaks. Keep these surfaces clear and shiny by spraying, then wiping them them clean with a paper towel or rag.
#3: Disinfectant
Disinfectant is designed to kill bacteria and other germs. It is especially important to use in places like the bathroom, the kitchen (not during meal times), and the laundry room (if you store a litter box there). Spray disinfectant in the desired area, then wipe it clean as you would glass cleaner. Try to avoid inhaling it, as it may be harmful to the respiratory system.
#4: Toilet Cleaner
The toilet bowl, because of its unique job among all the fixtures in your home, is another surface that needs its own special cleaner. Generally, the cleaner is added into the bowl, where it rests for a specified time before being scrubbed with a toilet brush. Do this at least once per week. A dirty toilet bowl can drastically diminish the look of an otherwise spotless bathroom.
#5: Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is an inexpensive ingredient whose acidic content allows it to break down grease, grimee, mold, and soap scum. It can be used as part of a homemade all-purpose cleaner or just in diluted form to perform its work. Avoid using it on natural stones or wood, however, as this may cause damagethis may cause damage.
#6: Baking Soda
Baking soda is another cheap ingredient that has the following helpful qualities for cleaning:
It is gently abrasive.
It is a natural deodorizer.
Its reaction with vinegar helps dislodge grime.
Use baking soda to clean urine stains from carpet, tough laundry stains, smelly drains, and much more.
Maintain a Clean Home With the Tidy Up Portland! Home Cleaning Experts
Tidy Up Portland! is pleased to provide house cleaning in Portland for anyone who wants to simplify their life by hiring out certain housekeeping tasks, whether on a regular basis or as a one-time service.
Our team is made up of hardworking, trusted, and professional house cleaners who perform their work in a timely manner using products that are safe for you and the environment. You can contact us easily by using our online booking service.
Visit our website today to learn about our deep cleaning package, mommy’s helper package, and maintenance cleaning package. We alsoalso offer customized options, so give us a call to discuss your particular needs!
