We suggest keeping these three cleaning tools in the house at all times. It’s easier to keep your house clean when you always have certain items on hand and ready to go when you’re ready to clean. Read to the end for a time-saving tip to make cleaning easier on you.
Vinegar. Vinegar is an all-natural, multipurpose cleaning tool. It can be used a wide variety of places safely for pets and kids alike. It has great disinfecting properties and can be diluted with water to clean almost anything without leaving behind residue or chemicals.
If you don’t want the harsh, vinegary smell, you can make your own scented vinegar. Simply peel washed citrus fruits with a vegetable peeler and place in a mason jar. Make sure you get just the colorful rind, not the white pith. Cover with white vinegar and steep in a cool, dark place for about two weeks. Then use as you normally would. Clean Mama shares her favorite recipes for homemade cleaners using vinegar here.
Microfiber cloths. Using microfiber cloths in place of paper towels is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. We recommend always having some on hand for dusting, wiping up spills, and for streak-free window and mirror cleaning. When they’re dirty, just pop them in the washing machine and they’re ready for the next round.
Spray lubricant (such as WD-40). While this isn’t a natural product, spray lubricants have a wide variety of uses as a cleaning tool. We’re sure you’re mostly thinking about silencing squeaky hinges, but it can also be used to un-stick hard-to-turn valves, remove adhesives from many kinds of surfaces, and break through stains (like crayon marks), among other household fixes.
The most common complaint is that cleaning takes time. While we can’t give you that, we can suggest having a caddy of tools like these or your regular arsenal of cleaning supplies handy in every bathroom in your house as well as in hall closets on every floor. That way, you never have an excuse that the Scrubbing Bubbles are too far away and you’ll get to it later. Moving items to where they’ll be used instead of a common storing ground will make it easier to get to work when it comes time to do some cleaning.
