In this site...
A Little Goes a
Long Way
Use chemical products sparingly. A small amount will often be enough for the cleaning
job at hand.
Be Safe
Never combine commercial household cleaning products, because some
create noxious fumes when combined. Especially important is to NEVER combine
bleach with ammonia or vinegar.
Photo by
Adina Crisan.
Cleaners & Children
Keep all household cleaning products securely away from children and
pets. Ammonia, bleach, cleansers, detergents, drain cleaners, and other common
cleansers can cause rashes, respiratory problems, or worse.
Cleaning Tools & Supplies
Cleaning
will be easier
and faster if
you have the
proper tools and
supplies.
| Tool |
Use For... |
| Broom, hard-bristled | Porch, sidewalk, fireplace, garage, concrete basement floor |
| Broom, soft-bristled | Non-carpeted floors inside the house |
|
General
cleaning cloths or sponges |
Appliances; surfaces; cupboards in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry; lawn and porch furniture; doors; exercise equipment; car interiors (Thick cotton cloths the size of kitchen washcloths and dish towels work well.) |
|
Lint-free dust
cloths or microfiber cloths |
Furniture (non-upholstered), books, nick-knacks, windowsills, woodwork, picture frames, artwork frames, doorknobs |
|
Mop or
floor sponge and bucket |
Non-carpeted floors |
| Old toothbrush | Small spaces such as around toilet seat handles, inside woodwork grooves, and around sink faucet handles |
|
Paper
towels or lint-free rags or towels |
Windows; mirrors; kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances; spills |
| Scrub brush | Bathtub, stubborn floor stains |
| Toilet bowl brush | All interior sections of toilets |
| Vacuum Cleaner with attachable tools | All carpeted floors; use attachments to clean blinds and drapes |
| Tool | Use For... |
| Cleaning gloves | Cleaning with harsh chemicals, such as lime remover, bleach, and ammonia |
|
Dust mop
for floors (such as a Swiffer) |
Non-carpeted floors |
|
Hand-held duster
with long handle |
Dusting out-of-reach places such as chandeliers, crown molding, tops of doors |
| Hand-held vacuum cleaner | Carpeted steps, car interiors |
| Multi-pronged brush | Venetian blinds |
| Wall mop | Walls (during seasonal or occasional cleaning) |
| Window squeegee | Windows |
| Tool | Use For... |
| All-purpose cleaner | Bathroom and kitchen surfaces; appliances; wall smudges; door knobs |
| Ammonia | Heavy-duty window cleaning |
| Bathroom cleaner / disinfectant | Outer surface of toilet; bathtub; bathroom counter and sink |
| Bleach | Disinfecting kitchen sinks and surfaces |
| Floor cleaner | Non-carpeted floors |
| Floor wax | Non-carpeted floors (Warning: Some newer linoleum floors are designed as "no wax floors," and should not be waxed.) |
| Furniture polish | Wood furniture |
| Liquid dish washing detergent | Kitchen counters and outer surface of cupboards; bathtub |
| Spot cleaner or spot eraser. | Smudges and other spots on walls and doors |
| Toilet bowl cleaner | Inside of toilet bowl |
| Window cleaner | Mirrors, windows, and other hard surfaces |