New cleaning products are constantly appearing on store shelves, but once you have found what you need for a specific area of your cleaning, you need not look further. However, until that time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with so many decisions.
Here are a few tried and true suggestions for cleaning supplies and some helpful tips from a professional house cleaner.
THE VACUUM SWEEPER - The most important cleaning item for many of us is the vacuum cleaner. Nothing is more frustrating than to be all set for cleaning and have a vacuum cleaner that is not picking up well, or not appropriate for the job at hand! Take some time and shop around to find a vacuum cleaner that will help both the floors, and yourself in your role of a house cleaner, look great!
The person whose house you clean may have their own vacuum sweeper and tell you that you can use theirs. If it is too heavy, or does not work as well as you would like, do not be afraid of bringing your own sweeper.
PERSONAL SUGGESTION: Especially if you are a woman, it is important to find a light weight vacuum. You normally have to the big bucks if you go to a manufacturer's store. Shopping online will help you find brand new 8 lb. Oreck for $198.00 or an 11.5 lb. Hoover for only $129.00. Whatever your favorite brand, you can probably find it.
THE MOP
The mop is probably the second most important cleaning item. There are so many styles and brands of mops to choose from that you may go through two or three different ones before finding the right one for you.
For me, the Swifter spray mop works well because it is light weight, does not require a bucket of water/cleanser solution, and the cleaning pads can be replaced quickly and easily. I've seen other great spray mops, besides the Swifter brand, as well.
The downside to using a spray mop is the need to replace the batteries from time to time and keep a supply of spray solution and cleaning pads available at all times. It is more expensive than the squeeze sponge mop, but saves in time and physically energy.
THE DUSTER
Dust is one of the first tell-tale signs of whether-or-not a house has been thoroughly cleaned. If you are cleaning someone home, it is best to ''not'' use a cleaning rag in most instances. It is easy to knock something over and break it while dusting with a rag. Also, do not use a feather duster for general dusting as feather dusters simply move the dust from one place to another.
The best thing for dusting is a dusting wand and the great microfiber duster sleeves. Without using chemicals, you can actually see how much dirt you are collecting as you lightly dust over furniture, door facings, cabinets, pictures, etc. Microfiber dusting removes 90% of the dust!
GENERAL HELPFUL CLEANING TIPS
THE SHOWER... One of the best cleaning tips I have found has come from another ''How to'' writer who goes by the name of askapeach! (How to Clean a Bathtub or Shower Using a Sponge Mop) The article suggests using a sponge mop to clean shower stall walls. I adapted this suggestion by using a different kind of mop, and I attach an old wash cloth to it. I spray the tile cleaner on the shower walls and mop them clean. What a time saver!
MILDEW IN GROUT
For mildewed grout in tubs or showers; use a grout brush with a one to five solution of chlorine bleach and water. When using bleach, be sure the area is well-ventilated, and rinse well to remove all traces of bleach when finished.
CLEANING RAGS
Whenever you find old wash clothes for sale at yard sales, flea markets, or charity shops, grab them up for your cleaning rags. Or, you can go to the Dollar Store and purchase thin inexpensive clothes as well. Always take along more cleaning rags than you think you will need when you clean someone's house. Place dirty rage in a plastic bag and bring them home to wash right away.
