7 Essential Cleaning Tools and Materials Everyone Should Have at Home

July 27, 2021 | Posted at 2:04 am | by Andi (Follow User)

There are a couple of factors to consider if you want to have a perpetually clean house. One of them is having the right cleaning tools.

If you wonder what tools you should include in your cleaning kit, you are in the right place. In this post, we are listing down eight essential cleaning tools that you should have at home:

Microfiber Cloths

Compared to a feather duster, microfiber cloths do not shed and hold onto dust. This means that you are not moving the dust elsewhere, reducing your or your family members’ risk of allergic reactions.

Moreover, you can use microfiber cloths to clean almost any surface, from wood to stainless steel and granite countertops. This can also come in handy when removing pet hair on your clothes or the couch.

It is also reusable as long as you wash and dry it well. Thus, you are not sending more trash to the landfill.

PRO TIP: Use one color of microfiber cloth in the bathroom, one in the kitchen and dining area, and another for general cleaning purposes.

 

Squeegee

If you want a shower area that is free of mold and mildew, consider having a squeegee. That’s because this cleaning tool can remove excess moisture on the surface.

A squeegee is best used on glass surfaces like mirrors, shower panes, and windows.

When you rinse your shower pane clean, for example, you can wipe it off using a microfiber cloth. However, there are still drops of water that you might have missed. You can remove them using a squeegee.

Doing so prevents water spots from building on the glass surface.

 

Gloves and Masks

Cleaning will not be complete without all the cleaning solutions and chemicals. The use of latex gloves is recommended for cleaning as a precaution against touching dangerous chemicals. They also give you a better grip on surfaces that are slippery or have rough textures. Filtered air masks, on the other hand, make sure your mouth and nose do not come into contact with any harsh chemicals or fumes which would be inhaled by the lungs.

 

Scrub Brush

While you can use a microfiber cloth to clean almost every part of the house, it is less likely to work on stubborn dirt. This is where using a scrub brush comes in.

Similar to a microfiber cloth, you can use a scrub brush everywhere. And there are different kinds of scrub brushes that you can use depending on where or what you are cleaning.

For instance, a dish scrubber is used for cleaning the dishes, while a toilet brush is used in the bathroom. Meanwhile, a steel wool brush is best used when cleaning your oven grates. You can check out SweepScrub for a variety of scrub brushes suited for different tasks.

 

Sponge

Another cleaning must-have would be a sponge. That’s because it is as multi-purpose as a microfiber cloth.

It is commonly used to clean the dishes, although you can also use a sponge as a less abrasive alternative to scrub brushes. Meaning, you can use it to remove stuck-on food in your pots and pans, oven, and plates. 

The only caveat with a synthetic sponge is that you have to replace them at least once every two weeks. That’s because it can be a hotbed of germs and bacteria.

 

Spray Bottles

If you are the kind who makes your cleaning solutions, then you will need an ample supply of spray bottles.

That’s because it allows you to distribute your solution on the surface evenly. It also allows you to control the amount of solution you will use instead of pouring it into one spot.

Other than cleaning, a spray bottle can also come in handy for gardening purposes. If you are tending small plants, you can water them using a spray bottle instead of a hose.

You can also use it to mist your clothes with water before ironing them.

 

Mop and Bucket

Another cleaning must-have would be a mop and a bucket.

You fill a decent-sized bucket with water. You can choose to use just a pail of water or dilute a cleaning solution in it. This is also where you will dip the mop after use to give it an initial rinse.

Another great use of a bucket is to stow away your other cleaning supplies.

Meanwhile, you will need the mop to clean the floor, like wiping out spills or pet pee.

These days, though, it would be best to mop your floors regularly. Besides keeping the floor clean, it also prevents you from bringing in the Coronavirus through your footwear.

 

Broom and Dustpan

Aside from a mop and bucket, it would also be ideal to have a broom and a dustpan.

For one, it is not as noisy as a vacuum when sweeping the floor. Second, a broom can clean smaller areas and hard-to-reach crevices.

Meanwhile, we recommend that you invest in a quality dustpan with a rubber edge. That way, you will not miss even the finest dust on the floor.

We believe that the ideal cleaning kit is easy to transport, practical, and can get the job done. However, Maid Sailors also reminds us that it does not have to be expensive. If you are wondering what tools to include in your cleaning kit, we suggest that you start with the items on this list.