Cleaning. I know, I know: not the most exciting topic in the world.
But...
I love cleaning. Or rather, I love having clean things. Like, I
really love it. Even so, I'm really not a clean freak. I am, however, really opinionated about which cleaners I use. Mostly because I have spent so many hours scrubbing and using mediocre products. Use the right product, and life becomes So. Much. Easier. I just didn't know what to buy. The madness stops here because I am letting you in on my most prized secrets: my favorite cleaning supplies. Here they are (in no real order):
Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner - Clinging Bleach Gel
Make sure you get the clinging bleach gel kind. It's important. Mostly because it works 1,000,000,000 times better than the other kinds from Clorox. It's also my favorite compared to other brands. I like to scrub the toilet in the evening, right before going to bed. Here's the important part: after scrubbing,
I let the cleaner soak all night. I've even been known, on occasion, to squirt the cleaner and just leave it overnight. No scrubbing. Just flush in the morning, and your toilet is sparkly clean. As it should be.
While we're on the subject of Clorox, let's get this out of the way...
Clorox Wipes - Orange Scent
I love disinfectants of any kind because they put my mind at ease. I mean, really, what is the point of cleaning if you aren't getting rid of germs and bacteria? I especially love Clorox wipes. Any Clorox wipe will do, but the orange scent is my fave. These wipes are great on a multitude of surfaces, and they are just so darn convenient. Love 'em for every room.
DIY Floor Cleaner (as found on Pinterest)
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(source)
The picture has washing soda in it, but I use baking soda, like the description says. It works great! I also add blue Dawn, which I maintain is the best liquid dish soap. |
I
love this floor cleaner. Love, love. It cleans really well without much scrubbing, and there is no film or residue left behind (which happens to be my biggest complaint with most commercial floor cleaners). I have never had any problems with this solution, but my mom (who has a mop similar to
this one) said that the baking soda tends to clog the spray head on her mop. I don't have a fancy spray mop, so I've never had a problem. A good old mop-and-bucket works just fine with this solution. I also like this as a multi-purpose solution. Mix up a bucket, and wipe down counters, sinks, etc.
Original (blue) Dawn Dish Soap
My mom has always bought blue Dawn. It is a wonderful degreaser and cleanser. And it is cheap!
Score! I learned during my college years that not all dish soaps are created equal. I tried a few too many duds before I realized that my mom bought Dawn for a reason. Ever since I figured out that Dawn is both awesome and affordable, I have never bought anything else. I use Dawn for dishes, but also for homemade cleaners like the one above. Dawn is also an excellent laundry pretreatment for oil/grease stains. Blue Dawn gets my recommendation 110%.
DIY Shower Cleaner (as found on Pinterest)
This shower cleaner is bomb. Seriously. It gets rid of soap scum buildup like nothing else I've seen. I provided in-home care for an elderly man for some time, and one of the services I provided was home cleaning. I have no idea when his showers were cleaned before my employment with him, but I tried
everything to get those glass doors transparent again. This cleaner finally worked--and worked well. It didn't take a lot of scrubbing, and those shower doors were
shiny--no streaks left behind! The only problem I have with this cleaner is the smell. I hate the smell of vinegar, and this smells really strongly. But hey, it gets the job done.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great multi-purpose cleaner. You can add it to homemade cleaners, like the floor cleaner above. You can also use it as a laundry additive--it really boosts your detergent's cleaning power in my opinion. Baking soda is awesome at getting rid of funky smells. Keep a box of baking soda in your refrigerator, and strong food smells won't linger. You can also sprinkle baking soda over carpet or furniture to rid them of odors. Just vacuum it up afterwards. I usually give the baking soda some time to work, maybe half an hour to an hour, before vacuuming. Baking soda is mildly abrasive, so you can also use it to scrub stubborn, grimy surfaces, especially in the kitchen.
Arm & Hammer Liquid Laundry Detergent plus OxiClean
Love this stuff. I have super sensitive skin, and changes in laundry detergent or fabric softener can be catastrophic. I used to use solely Tide, which is a great laundry detergent, but it is pricey. I was terrified to try anything else because of my past experiences (like hives covering my entire body). I finally gave Arm & Hammer a try because the box said it was dermatologist tested. And whaddaya know, no hives! I have been using it ever since. I prefer the liquid to the powder, and I really like the ones with OxiClean. My favorite scent is the one with the blue lid.
I know there are lots of homemade laundry detergents out there, but I can't give you an opinion because I haven't tried them (see
: fear of hives).
Playtex Living Gloves
I like to wear gloves when I clean, especially if I am going to spend some time scrubbing. This is more of a personal preference than anything else. I just hate trashing my nails while cleaning, not to mention my skin. These particular gloves are a bit thicker than your average yellow rubber gloves. The extra thickness helps shield my hands from the heat of scalding water. The cuff is longer, too which means extra protection again. I have a pair for kitchen use and a separate pair for bathroom cleaning. (I labeled the bathroom pair with a Sharpie, so I don't get them confused. Because that would be grody.) The Playtex Living gloves are durable, they don't rip or tear like some other gloves I've tried. Seriously, they are the best.
What about you? What are your favorite cleaning methods/products?
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