5 Essential Cleaning Tools for a Spotless Home

To maintain the home spick and span one should master certain cleaning habits, true. Good, quality scouring, brushing, sponging, swabbing, cleaning, washing and wiping however won’t be a success without using the proper tools and supplies. So, let’s open that closet and check whether we have all the essential cleaning tools no household can do without.

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The good old sponge can do miracles when dealing with soiled surfaces. Not only this soft, squishy, squashy lump is excellent for cleaning and wiping, but due to its porous structure, it’s also perfect for absorbing water and other liquids.

Through time, classic sponge has seen various upgrades, enhancements and refinements in materials, shapes and colors, and today the market offers a huge variety to choose from.

• classic sponges – ideal for cleaning, but also for personal hygiene;
• dish washing sponges – very convenient, and for multipurpose use;
• heavy-duty sponges with a rough, abrasive side – great for scrubbing off dirt and dried deposits;
• dual sided, nylon mesh and terry cloth sponges – super effective, non-stick cleaning sponge, a must-have in the kitchen and the bathroom;
• sponge wipes – perfect for wiping and cleaning tiled and other glossy surfaces;
• temperature controlled, scrubbing sponges – rough in cold water, and soft and gentle in hot water;
• melamine foam sponges – great for cleaning off scuffs, grease etc. stains, and other debris from various surfaces;
• the eco-friendly, soap-free spaghetti sponges.

Fabric wipes are a must-have, all-time, any-purpose, multi-functional cleaning tool, we simply cannot do without, be it for deep-cleaning or just for every-day housekeeping. Cleaning towels come in a large variety of materials and intended application, both for dry and wet cleaning.

• Cotton towels: Soft and highly absorbent, ideal for wiping, drying, dusting, polishing, etc.; can be washed at high temperatures, bleached and disinfected; reusable.
• Dishcloths: made of natural materials or microfiber, ideal for wiping any surface, incl. marble, stainless steel, tile, wood, as well as for cleaning of and removing spills and splashes from surfaces in the kitchen and the bathroom;
• Dusters: usually made of cotton, microfiber or flannelette, perfect for dusting and buffing; gentle on the surface, hence the perfect choice for cleaning flatscreens, monitors, lacquered furniture, etc. delicate surfaces; can be used both dry and wet (sprayed or slightly moistened with a cleaning product).
• Glass cloths: usually made of tow linen or microfiber; soft and gentle, don’t leave streaks and don’t scratch the surface, hence ideal for cleaning windows, mirrors and any glass or glossy surface; a great alternative are the chamois leather wipes that, when wet, sparkle-clean glass, and when dry, are perfect for polishing silver and other metallic surfaces.

Mucky floors, sticky tiles, greasy kitchen, dusty windows, dirty toilets … these surely need some serious scrubbing, and neither sponges nor wipes can do the job. In comes its “majesty” the brush – one of the most important, “can’t do without” cleaning tools!

There are many different types of cleaning brushes, with bristles varying in hardness and made either of natural or synthetic fibers, as well as of various sizes and shapes for the best grip convenience. Here are the essential types of cleaning brushes no household can do without:

• Scrub brush: all-purpose brush for cleaning floors, tiles, tubs, fixtures, as well as carpets, mats and upholstery;
• Grout brush: scrubs grout clean, removes soot from the fireplace, removes crud from all sorts of nooks and crannies;
• Toilet brush: for proper cleaning and sanitation of toilet bowls;
• Duster: for cleaning dust off all kinds of surfaces and hard-to-reach places, including ceilings,, ceiling fans, light fixtures and chandeliers, cabinet tops;
• Lint brush/roller: ideal little helper in homes where pets rule;
• Bottle brush: scrubs and cleans tubes, bottles, tea kettles, etc.;
• Air vents and ducts cleaning brush: cleans chimneys, air vents and pipes;
• Broom: cleans dirt and dust from floors and floor coverings; best, paired with a suitable dustpan.

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The vacuum cleaner basks in the bliss and glory of the “Olympus” of the greatest inventions of human technology. Its application should not even be discussed, nor its presence in the household questioned. Suffice to say that this unit has an extensive and multipurpose use in housekeeping, with the latest designs being strongly dedicated to environment and health protection, featuring state-of-the-art HEPA filters, ergonomic engines, noise and dust reduction innovations, and dozens of different designs. Whether you go with a traditional or a combination like wet dry vacuum cleaners, vacuums are a must for any spotless home.

Mops and buckets, too, wear the “laurel wreaths of glory” among the most useful and most needed cleaning tools in any household.

Intended and used mainly for cleaning floors, mops have seen quite a transformation in design and application. From the once simple device made of a bundle of coarse strings of yarn or cotton, or just a piece of cloth attached to a wooden stick, contemporary mops feature new, advanced designs and a variety of accessories for new methods of both dry and wet cleaning, with steam mops crowning the top of the line.

Buckets have for long kept their original shape and material. But we live in exciting times, where everything changes rapidly. Buckets, too! Plastic has replaced almost completely wood and metal, and the new mops for wet cleaning needed buckets of new shapes to better dip in and better drain water off. Still, with all these changes, buckets keep their original intended use and that’s why we need them for – to hold and carry water and other liquids.

Other cleaning tools very much welcomed for good quality and safe cleaning.

• Spray bottles: to cover a larger surface with the cleaning solution, applying it in a gentle spray, and avoiding unwanted spilling and splashing;
• Squeegee: perfect for window washing, but also a must-have tool in the bathroom to keep the shower free from mold and mildew, to clean off soap scum, and keep shower glass doors spotless;
• Rubber gloves: to protect the hands from the effect of various cleaning liquids, soaps, detergents, etc. cleaning products.

Published in: Home advice | Author: Rossitsa