Have you walked down the cleaning aisle lately? It is almost scary! “New and Improved” “Natural” “Certified Green” and the list goes on. There are so many colors, sizes, types, and tempting slogans where do you begin? The first question is: What are you cleaning? What scents do you like or what scents make your home “feel” clean? How often do you clean? Daily, weekly, when it needs it? Do you have allergies? Do you have pets? What kind of flooring do you have?
I recommend keeping it simple. But where do you begin? All you really need to clean your home are a few simple products: glass cleaner, cleanser, bathroom cleaner, polish, multi-purpose cleaner and vinegar. Here at Rag Mops we began by using products that we used to clean our own homes: name brand cleaners. However, I’ve found that keeping it simple and staying away from known brands has actually given me more choices. Read the labels and stay with one scent or no scent. Find what you like and keep them all in one place. It could be under the sink, above the dryer, or in a caddy. I love to keep ours in a caddy so I have everything I need in one place and can take it with me from room to room. Remember to keep it simple and only keep what works.
Glass Cleaner – Glass cleaners can be used to clean mirrors, appliances, picture frames and glass. Pick one brand and stick to it. Glass cleaners are tricky. When you change products you will see a difference. It usually takes a few cleanings to get the results you want because the new cleaner has to “remove” the old cleaner before it will start working.
Cleanser – A good general cleanser can clean everything from the shower floor, kitchen sink, inside a toilet to tough stains on counter tops. Some contain bleach, some are safe for all surfaces and some scratch. Read your labels carefully. The alternative to commercial cleansers is baking soda and borax. Both are natural and “green” and will not scratch the surface.
Bathroom Cleaner – You can use something as simple as a cleanser to clean your whole bathroom or purchase multiple spray products. Do you have hard water build up? Soap Scum? Mildew? I like to use a combo of a good spray cleaner that breaks down hard water build up and disinfects as well as a mildew spray. You can add a sponge, magic eraser, an old toothbrush or old fashioned elbow grease for tough areas. Routine cleaning is the only way to avoid mold and mildew. Most mildew sprays contain bleach. Based on the content percentage it will either kill the mold or make it invisible only to return again in a few days. Mold and mildew are not healthy. Killing it is a must. Once the shower is clean and mildew free, a general disinfectant will keep it sanitary. Another alternative is to lightly coat the shower with lemon oil to help repel water and keep mold from starting.
Polish – Polish comes with multiple surface options, oil based, water based, scented, unscented, etc. Chose one based on your furniture. I like to use a water based polish. Oil based tends to attract dust while water based repels dust. If you have real wood furnishings, a natural polish works to hydrate your wood and keep it looking its best.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner – Multi-purpose cleaners can go from one surface to the next without leaving streaks. I like to use one that has a disinfectant or cleaning agent. You can clean appliances, knick knacks, lamps, counters, and painted furniture.
Vinegar – Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and neutralizes odors from pets. Vinegar is safe for tile, wood and laminate flooring. It is a natural grease remover for counter tops and stoves. And it can also be used in the shower to remove soap scum.
Do you think we forgot something? Or did we include everything we should have? Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know!
