Keeping your house clean is hard work, but you know what makes it harder? Not having the right equipment to get the job done properly. Just imagine getting yourself all ready, setting aside the time on a precious weekend or weekday evening, and then realizing halfway through that you can’t finish cleaning because you’re missing (insert cleaning tool here).
Here at Summit Maids, all of our cleaners have a list of required cleaning tools, and that’s partly because we know what it takes to get a home truly clean. Even if you’re not ready to hire a cleaner or can’t make it work in your budget right now, you can still keep your home clean as long as you have the right equipment.
Grab your notepad and start taking notes for your next visit to the grocery store or snag at an online retailer. Below you’ll find the only 10 cleaning tools you need, and must incorporate into your cleaning kit, which will help make sure you’re able to work through our other cleaning checklists as you have time and energy.
1. Good Sponge
There are as many sponges in the market as items you have to clean at home. While you can choose the type of sponge that better suits the surface or chore you have to fulfill, you can’t go wrong with a cellulose sponge or combo sponge (cellulose and abrasive sides) if you want to broaden the cleaning spectrum. If you feel a bit lost, check out our guide with the different types of sponges and what they’re best used for.
2. Scrub Brush
Sometimes, a good sponge just doesn’t cut it; that’s when you need a scrub brush. Scrub brushes are your greatest allies when you need to clean grout or those stubborn hard water stains in your toilet and sink. Like sponges, there are plenty of scrub brushes in the market aimed at different tasks and surfaces.
3. Vacuum
Vacuums are one of those cleaning tools everyone should invest in at some point in their lives. This incredible invention is your key to achieving a home free of dust, dirt, and allergens. Moreover, you can use it to clean a ton of places, from the floor and carpets to the upholstery and blinds.
4. Mop (& Bucket)
A mop should have a secure spot in your floor cleaning arsenal. Mops are a savior when you have to clean up spills or scrub grime from the floor. And to make them shine bright! Oh, not to mention mops are also excellent tools to disinfect and sanitize floors.
Some cleaning tools must come in twos to work properly. To make the most of your mop, purchase a bucket. You can get a round or sauce one depending on your mop’s shape.
5. Broom (& Dustpan)
In today’s world, technology has provided us with hundreds of fancy cleaning tools that alleviate our busy lives. However, some items just can’t be replaced, like a broom and a dustpan. These classics are great for cleaning sprints throughout the week or when you just need to tackle a small area that doesn’t justify vacuuming.
6. Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are by far one of the best cleaning tools ever invented. Why? Because they are versatile. You can use them damp or you can use them dry. You can clean crumbs, liquids, even oil! Afterward, just throw them in the laundry and they come out ready for another round of cleaning up to keep your house tidy.
7. Spray Bottle
It may not seem like it, but having a couple of empty spray bottles in your cupboard is extremely useful. You can use them to spray water on your countertops or table or if you’re experimenting with making your own cleaning solutions. If you don’t want to buy spray bottles, keeping and reusing empty cleaning product spray bottles is a great way to reduce your plastic waste and save money.
8. Squeegee
Squeegees are a must when it comes to keeping your bathroom sparkling. Many people rely on microfiber cloths and sponges to clean the bathroom. However, some items, like the shower door and walls, retain a lot of moisture and soap scum, and a cloth alone just won’t do it. A squeegee will help you keep mildew and hard-water stains at bay. Moreover, you can also use it to wash your windows.
9. Gloves
Cleaning can take a (heavy) toll on your hands and skin, especially if you’re using chemical products. But the truth is that even the hot water you’re using to rinse away oil and grease from your dishes damage your hands and the skin barrier. Invest in at least two pairs of gloves. You can keep one for washing the dishes, and another one for the rest of the chores.
10. All-Purpose Cleaner
With so many products and tools to choose from, cleaning your house is no easy matter. In fact, it can get overwhelming quite fast! However, it’s important to try and keep it simple. That’s why you need an all-purpose cleaner in your cleaning kit. This product will always get you out of the jam, no matter what you’re cleaning.
While you may have some of these at home, you might need to stock up on others. If you’d rather skip the whole process of stocking up and cleaning, we can help.
