It can be difficult to sift through all the
home cleaning supplies at your local grocer, hardware store or large
retailer. All the detergents, cleaning materials and types of cleaning
cloths could drive you insane, but we here at IdealHomeGarden.com think
that the process should be at least a little simpler than throwing darts
in the dark. Here are the nine cleaning essentials that we think every
cleaning cabinet should have.
- Latex gloves: No matter what you're cleaning or when, there's always the risk of harming your hands, skin and nails with cleaning materials and other, just plain gross, stuff on your walls or floors. Find a good pair of latex gloves that extend to the forearms, for maximum coverage.
- All-purpose cleaner: There will be plenty of surfaces you come across in your cleaning days that just don't have a specified cleaning chemical. For those, and for a few others, there's all-purpose cleaner. Choose one that's in a scent you love, to make cleaning rewarding and easier.
- Disposable wipes: When you're in a hurry and that stain on the counter isn't going to clean itself, disposable wipes are the perfect solution. They work on fixtures, floor corners and other typically grimy places, and you don't have to deal with heavy-duty cleaners or rags. Can I get an amen?
- Nylon sponges: There will always be dried-up stains and materials that need a little extra scrubbing to get them clean. To pick up the grime in less time, buy a pack of nylon sponges, with both soft and scrubber sides, to make your scrubbing and swiping as easy as one-two.
- Half-height bucket: While everyone wants to hold more water in their mop bucket or the like, nothing is more frustrating than needing to fill it and having it not fit under the sink faucet. A typical half-height bucket holds around a few gallons, so you'll have plenty of water for your cleanup job without the extra hassle.
- Distilled white vinegar: Many cleaning aficionados call vinegar their savior, a simple solution to so many un-simple problems. It works great on cutting boards, coffee stains, the dishwasher and even a load of laundry. Honestly, there's no end to this cleaner's abilities. Just ask its label.
- High-octane disinfectant: Bathroom bacterium is the scariest, nastiest, most repulsive dirty area in our home, and there's no question as to why. To get at all the mold, mildew, and (ahem) stains out, use a high-octane disinfectant. It will kill germs and still get you that sparkly clean.
- Mild abrasive: Whether it's Stearn, Soft Scrub or Bar Keeper's Friend, a mild abrasive works on all those iffy material surfaces in your home, from stainless-steel pans to rust and lime marks on tile. This is also a great friend of yours in the bathroom, so always have it on hand.
- Microfiber cloths: I don't know who invented these things, but that person is a genius. Microfiber cloths only need a spritz of water on them to clean something up, and they don't need any help at all in dusting. It's an all-in-one service cloth that can be used anywhere, from your kitchen to your bedroom to your car. You can never have too many. Also, if you can't find your fabric softener sheets, then throw a couple microfiber cloths in the dryer! They'll pick up the lint and keep static at bay.