In case you’ve forgotten, it’s Spring Cleaning Week at The Home Know-It-All. And today’s post is all about cool cleaning tools.
Are you waiting for some amazing revelations—for specialized, must-have gadgets—with bated breath? OK. Maybe you should go ahead and take a gulp of air. Because you aren’t going to find too many outrageously innovative and absurd cleaning products here.
Sierra Backpack Vacuum.
Photo courtesy of ProTeam.
That’s because when it comes to cleaning quickly and well, a few basic tools really are the coolest things you can add to your cleaning caddy. I’m talking about a broom, mop, vacuum, classic feather duster, lamb’s wool duster, lint roller, squeegee, sponge, and some plain old cloth rags. Really? What more do you need?
If you don’t believe me, head on over to Organized Home, where you’ll learn that cleaning pros don’t use gadgets and one-use tools. Rather, the secret is to invest in a few durable-, long-lasting products that will get you through years of spring cleaning, rather than purchasing one-use items you toss as soon as they’re dirty. (Besides, if you get too many gadgets, you’re going to have to lug them all around the house—and find a place to store them.)
Here are a few basics worth trying. (Don’t worry—near the end of the post, I’ll throw in a few more frivolous cleaning products too.)
Cleaning Caddy
Every smart spring cleaner has a caddy for hauling cleaning supplies from room to room. A cleaning caddy doesn’t have to be fancy. This one from the Container Store will certainly do the trick.
If you don’t have to mess with going up and down stairs, the Rolling Cleaning Caddy may be for you. You can keep absolutely everything you need—from buckets to brooms—with you, without worrying about hefting an overloaded tote or making multiple trips.
Tote-ally Cool! Tote2.
Photo courtesy of Rex Art.
And this neat tote from Rex Art may be designed for craft supplies, but it could come in pretty handy for cleaning too.
MicroFiber Dust & Wash Mitt
The Unger MicroFiber Dust & Wash Mitt can be machine-washed and used over and over again. One side is absorbent—perfect for cleaning with wet products—and the other side is made of low-pile microfiber for dusting and polishing. It works well on countertops, wood, glass, metal, you name it.
Another option is the Unger Total Reach Microfiber Duster. This flexible tool can fit into tight spaces, and when you attach it to a tele-pole it can reach almost anywhere in the house.
Vacuum
For easy, speedy cleaning in hard-to-reach spots, consider investing in a ProTeam backpack vacuum, which allows you to move around and clean window treatments, dirty corners, and such with ease.
Dyson upright vacuums can’t be beat, of course. But if you have pets (and extra cash to spend), try this handheld model made specifically for tackling pesky pet hair.
Disposable Products
Admittedly, I just got done promoting the use of heavy-duty, reusable cleaning tools rather than one-use wonders. But I also acknowledge the popularity of disposable cleaning products, so I’d be remiss not to mention a few here.
One of the most popular products is the Scrubbing Bubbles flushable toilet brush (called the Fresh Brush), which has biodegradable pads you flush after you scrub the bowl. Then there’s the line of Swiffer floor-cleaning products, including dusters, mops, and vacuums, which get rave reviews for their convenience.
Another product I’m curious about but have never tried: the Mr. Clean Eraser. It’s supposed to work magic on cleaning up all sorts of scuffs, scratches, and stains. What do you think of it?
Now that I’ve shown you a few of the most popular disposable cleaning products, I’m hopping back on the soapbox for a minute. Because, as this great Wisebread post cites from a Chicago Tribune article: “If someone were to load all of the disposable wipes purchased by consumers in North America last year onto 18-wheel semis, the caravan would number 9,000 trucks and stretch for 68 miles. And it would be carrying 83,000 tons of these seemingly ephemeral cloths, which are anything but fleeting.”
Wow. Makes me want to stick to the basics. Or try cleaning expert Schar Ward’s creative ideas for DIY cleaning tools to get the job done.
What products do you swear by?
Until tomorrow,
The Home Know-It-All
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