Cleaning Supplies

Music is the secret weapon in your cleaning arsenal. Before you pick up so much as a dust rag, go to the cabinet and pull out a rocking, hopping CD. It will boost your energy and put some rhythm into your mopping; or at the very least it will distract you from the drudgery. The best to be said for the rest of this stuff is that the right cleaning tools and potions will make the job easier and will allow you to keep pace with the music.

CLEANING TOOLS

1. Rubber gloves. A sturdy pair will enable you to tackle jobs you might otherwise shrink from. They’ll also keep your hands and nails from looking like you just spent the day, well, cleaning.

2. Vacuum cleaner. If you have allergies, invest in one with a Hepa filter. If you don’t have the room to store an upright, buy the best canister style you can find.

3. Sponge mop. Buy one with a replaceable sponge head. Purchase a few replacements at a time so you can change them quickly when one wears out in the middle of a job.

4. Feather dusters. They may evoke images of French maids in frilly aprons, but these are serious work tools and can’t be beat for quickly dusting many items at once, like books or knick-knacks.

5. Dust cloths. An old cotton dish towel or diaper is ideal. Or consider giving new life to old favorites by cutting T-shirts or flannel nightgowns down to duster size. Keep separate cloths for shining wood furniture with polish and oils and for cleaning surfaces (like windows and walls) that should be oil-free.

6. Sponges. A variety of sizes will be useful for different cleaning chores: wiping down woodwork and countertops, cleaning out sinks, tubs, ovens, and so forth. Buy a few combination sponge/scrubbers for heavy-duty jobs like cleaning the oven and scrubbing the tub.

7. Toilet brush with its own holder. Do yourself a favor and keep one behind each toilet in the house. You’ll find the job much easier to tackle when all you need to do is whip the brush from its holder and scrub, swish, shake, and stow.

8. Plastic bucket. This is essential for cleaning floors, walls, or any other surface that calls for mixing cleaning solutions with water, or rinsing large surfaces with water.

CLEANING POTIONS

1. Spray-on glass cleaner. Use for cleaning windows, mirrors, pictures, and other glass surfaces.

2. All-purpose liquid cleaner. Use this for floors, counters, or walls. But use it carefully (first spray on the cloth, then wipe surface) so you don’t remove paint along with the fingerprints on walls and woodwork. Consider purchasing a gentle formula that is easy on paint and nontoxic to humans.

3. Disinfectant. If your all-purpose cleaner doesn’t contain a disinfectant, keep Lysol or a similar product on hand for sanitizing garbage cans, children’s play areas, or any surface where germs are a special problem.

4. Powdered cleanser. Use it on toilets, sinks, and tubs, but never on paint or any surface that will scratch easily.

5. Bleach. It can work miracles removing mold and mildew in the bathroom. It can also save you unpleasant digging and scrubbing on discolored tile grouting. Pour on some bleach, let sit for a minute or two to loosen dirt or mildew, and rinse away. A few words of caution: Never use bleach around upholstered furniture or carpets and never wear anything that you wouldn’t like to see decorated with white drip and splash marks. No matter how careful you think you’re being, they will appear on your clothing. Never mix bleach with ammonia. It will cause a toxic gas. Read product labels to be sure of contents.

6. Furniture polish. A spray can is easy to use and helps capture the dust while leaving a glossy finish on furniture.

7. Furniture oil. It comes in dark or light and should be used frequently on open-grained (nonveneered) furniture to keep the wood gleaming and prevent drying and cracking.