5 Time-Saving Tools You Must Have to Clean Your House

If you clean your own home, or want to teach your kids how to help out, get prepared with these five must-have cleaning accessories for making the job super easy.

This weekend, I implemented the “clean the bathroom” rule in our house and my kids jumped right on board (yeah, I was amazed too). They are old enough to know how to properly use the cleaners without squirting themselves in the eye so I figured they’re old enough to clean their own bathrooms.

“If you have a plan of attack, and then equip yourself with a few time-saving tools, you really can get your house clean in a lot less time,” says Debra Johnson, training manager at Merry Maids, a nationwide cleaning company.

Here are the 5 tools Johnson says you should consider when you start you own home cleaning projects:

• Heavy-duty 50-foot extension cord – this allows you to plug the vacuum in one place and not have to keep plugging and unplugging to move around.
• 2-Step or 3-Step ladder – this allows you to get up higher to clean light fixtures and the tops of cabinets or water hanging plants.
• A caddy of cleaning supplies – this keeps everything together and portable for moving from room to room.  In the caddy, include all-purpose cleaner, wood oil soap, latex gloves, sponges, a squeegee, paper towels, non-abrasive cleaner, and microfiber dusting cloths. Johnson says you might want one for each floor, depending on how big your house is.
• A carpenter’s apron – make sure it has lots of pockets for toothbrushes for cleaning grout, a widget tool for removing stubborn dirt, and a stock of dryer sheets for cleaning mini-blinds and screens on tvs and computers.
• A steamer – either upright or handheld, depending on what you are using these for. Johnson says the best part of this tool is that it only uses water, not cleaning products. If you have sealed hard wood floors, make sure you find a steamer model to work for these.

“Make sure your spray bottles have enough cleaner in them, and that your brushes, sponges and wipes are clean, dry and ready to go. That way, when it comes time to clean again, you can just grab your tools and get started. And the quicker you can start, the quicker you can get done,” Johnson says for when you have finished the job.

For more tips to easily keep your home fresh and clean, visit www.merrymaids.com/cleaningtips/.