We sell a lot of good stuff for cleaning your home [1], but sometimes the most basic tools get overlooked or passed by in favor of fancier, more specialized options. The following tip is a guest post that shines the spot light on some important, but simple tools that will help to keep any house clean. Having these items at your disposal is a great place to start, and will ensure that you are prepared for cleaning all sorts of messes. Once you master the essentials, you should certainly check out some of the more advanced options we carry because they will save time and money when compared to traditional options.
By having the right tools for the job, you can make cleaning around the home much simpler and faster. There are a few things that are essential for any cleaning cupboard, not to mention cheap and eco friendly alternatives to expensive cleaning products.
White vinegar
Vinegar is very cheap and easy to get hold of, so buying in bulk can save you even more money. It is a great all purpose cleaner, and can be used to wipe and disinfect surfaces, fridges worktops and so on. It is also a very useful when mixed with other essential items, and can be used to clean just about anything in the home, as well as removing stains. It is also very Eco-friendly. Even if you have left over products that need to be used up, having some vinegar can be a useful back up. More on cleaning with vinegar. [2]
Salt and Baking Soda
These are another two essential items, and will more often than not be in your kitchen anyway. They are also very cheap to buy, so there’s no harm in having separate salt and baking soda for cleaning purposes alone. Salt can be used to make saline solution, which is anti bacterial, when mixed with boiling water, and can be very good at removing stains if applied to a stained area generously and quickly.
Baking soda too, is very good at removing stains, but also becomes even more potent when mixed with vinegar. You can also use it to unblock sinks and plug holes by pouring some down followed by vinegar to make it froth up. Both of these things are completely harmless and eco friendly too, so are a must have.
Sponges, Scourers and Cloths
It makes sense to get supplies of these in bulk, as most dual purpose sponges and scourers can be bought very cheaply, and you will likely get through quite a lot in day to day cleaning. Having some cloths and dusters is also very useful for mopping up spillages and wiping more delicate surfaces.
You can also make your own cloths out of unwanted or damaged clothing by simply cutting a square out of them. If you want to make sure your cloths last a bit longer and are clean, then soaking them in water with a little bleach can freshen them up, as well as putting them through the washing machine. Recycling your cloths in this way will also save you some money.
Bleach
Another cheap product, bleach is very useful for more determined stains on things that won’t be damaged if you use it on them, and for thorough cleaning of the bathroom and kitchen sink. Because it is very potent, you often won’t need to use much, and when you do you can simply dilute it with water to make it last longer. Even diluted it will generally be strong enough to get the job done. Be aware though, that bleach is very dangerous, and can burn the skin, so you should never handle it without gloves and make sure that it is out of reach of children.
Generally then, you can make use of all these essential items and have everything you need to keep your home clean without spending a fortune. In order to make sure the cleaning doesn’t get on top of you, try to do a little bit everyday, as this goes a long way to preventing a build up of mess and clutter that can take far longer to deal with if left.