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Wednesday, March 29, 2017

55

Spring Cleaning: Favorite Cleaning Supplies & Tools

I have been busy working on posts based on those amazing survey results, and thought that today I would start with all of my favorite cleaning products and tools. This post is a great base for stocking up on everything needed to clean a home; both for spring and everyday home maintenance. After my post last week, I received a flood of emails with more questions specific to cleaning and a very common theme was cleaning products and cleaning checklists. The checklists are coming soon, as is an update on homemade cleaners and my favorite recipes.


There is a lot of information packed into this post! I have acquired quite a few cleaning supplies over the years, and they all play different roles. I really believe that the right tools for the job make all of the difference when it comes to chores. There are a few items that are crucial in my day-to-day cleaning; microfiber and glass cloths, my caddy, all purpose spray, glass cleaner and my stick vac. I touch these items every single day and they are the base to my general home maintenance. But to dive deeper and clean windows and tile and around the base of the toilet (#ew), I use a variety of specific tools that lend a hand in getting the job quickly and effectively.

I tried to not only link my favorite products but to also share a quick explanation of how and why I use each one.


C A D D I E S   A N D   T H E I R   C O N T E N T S



Why a caddy? Because they make it easy to bring your cleaning supplies from room-to-room or right to the messy spot without frequent trips back to the cupboard or closet. My biggest tip when it comes to selecting a portable caddy is to look for items that are solid and sturdy and can easily hold and transport the weight of your cleaners and supplies. I have used a few bins over the years in which the handles couldn't support the weight and they were also awkward to tote around (which is opposite of what the overall goal is in the first place). I recommend avoiding bucket and pail-like handles that swing, stick to something securely attached and stable (I have been using this one and am super smitten). It is also important to select something light weight and easy to rinse out on occasion.

I have five total cleaning caddies, one upstairs, one downstairs and one in each of our bathrooms. I will cover bathroom contents in a moment, but in the main caddies I stock them with the following items:

GLASS CLEANER // Used for glass, mirrors, windows, fixtures and hardware.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER // Used for all other surfaces.

WOOD CLEANER // For occasional wood polishing.

MICROFIBER CLOTH & GLASS CLOTH // My "go-to" cloths for the majority of my cleaning.

SCRUB BRUSH // Generally for cleaning grout, but also works for other tough scrub jobs.

MINI BROOM/DUSTPAN // I love that this little dustpan fits in my caddy, works great on counters and for quick and small crumb clean-ups.

MAGIC ERASER // I know these get mixed reviews, but I personally love the heck out of these things. I feel like anything I clean with them is really, really clean! I especially love these for removing marker/kid goo from almost any surface and also for cleaning doors, trim and stair treads. 

DUSTING MITT // For quick surface cleanings in the living room and bedrooms.

BAKING SODA // Place in a shaker and it turns into an instant scouring powder. I use frequently for cleaning our stainless sinks, but also use it for other odd jobs around the home. 

COTTON SWABS // These are great for cleaning small nooks, crevices, and corners. Think moulding, windows, and even computer keyboards.

ESSENTIAL OILS // Add to cleaners for some disinfecting traits and amazing scents.

CASTILE SOAP // I love that these now come in travel sizes since a tiny bit goes a very long way (And now I can keep a couple in my caddy). This allowed me to pick up a few scents for different jobs.



C L E A N I N G   C L O T H S   A N D   S P O N G E S



The majority of my cleaning is done with microfiber cloths, however, there are a few additional items that I prefer for specific cleaning tasks:

MICROFIBER CLOTHS // These can be used to clean just about anything. I use them daily for counters, spills, dusting, spot cleaning... I keep stacks under each sink and wash them together, drying without any fabric softener or dryer sheets. These can also be wrapped around a Swiffer for reusable floor sweeps or around a pencil for cleaning between the slats of blinds.

GLASS CLEANING CLOTHS // Did you know there are very specific cloths for cleaning glass? They are life changing; I receive a streak-free finish every time. And I also love utilizing them for all of our bathroom and kitchen fixtures and hardware to keep those shining bright as well.

SOFT SCRUBBING & ABRASIVE SPONGES // We do use dish cloths on occasion, but I typically gravitate to sponges. I love that I can sanitize them and that they don't seem to get gross and smelly as quickly as rags. I like to keep both softer/squishy sponges and more abrasive options on hand. Both work great for different types of cleaning tasks, depending on the surface and the amount of scrubbing power necessary.

MAGIC ERASER // I know these get mixed reviews, but I personally love the heck out of these things. I feel like anything I clean with them is really, really clean! I especially love these for removing marker/kid goo from almost any surface and also for cleaning doors, trim and stair treads. 

STAINLESS STEEL MITT // After experimenting with a variety of stainless steel cleaning solutions, I finally fell in love with these wipes paired with this mitt. I use it for all of our stainless appliances once or twice a week.

DUSTER // Great for dusting anything and everything. Grabs the dust and holds it tight. To clean, shake outside and then vacuum with an attachment. Occasionally soak it in warm oxy water and let air dry.

DUSTING MITT // I purchased this mitt years ago and my kids think it is so much fun to use, so it stays! Great for dusting any main surfaces, and after a quick shake outside it can be tossed right into the washer.

TURKISH TOWELS // After trying a couple of different towels for drying dishes, hands, and counters, I prefer the softness and absorbency of Turkish style towels best. On a separate note, I am not a fan of them as bath/shower towels at all.



F A V O R I T E   B O T T L E S



With all of the homemade cleaners I have made over the years, I have used a few different types of bottles. I began by using inexpensive plastic spray bottles, and after learning that some cleaners will eventually break down the plastic, I slowly transitioned to glass. I still love the plastic version for simply water or quick batches of cleaners and never did experience any problems with them. But I will say, the glass options are so nice and surprisingly durable. I also recently added a few smaller glass spray bottles to my arsenal, which you will see when I share my favorite cleaner recipes in an upcoming post.

PLASTIC SPRAY BOTTLES // Lightweight with a great spray nozzle.

GLASS SPRAY BOTTLES // My favorite glass option.

AMBER SPRAY BOTTLES // Some cleaners thrive in amber colored bottles, I like these.

MINI SPRAY BOTTLES // Perfect for room freshening spray and screen cleaner!

SQUEEZE BOTTLE // Specialty item for squeezing cleaner down into small cracks and crevices. Also great for running cleaner into grout lines.

SHAKER // Baking soda's best friend; shake baking soda into sinks, toilets, and onto mattresses. Use a salt/spice shaker, or make one by poking holes into the lid of a mason jar.



W I N D O W   C L E A N I N G



There are major differences in how I clean the exterior side of our windows vs. the interior side, especially because our garden hose is involved outside. Outside I use a mop bucket and specific tool, while interior glass and windows are tackled with glass cleaner (water & vinegar) paired with specialty rags.

CLEANER // Generally just a water/vinegar combo.

MICROFIBER CLOTH // Good for really tough spots on glass, start with the microfiber first and finish up with the glass specific cloth.

GLASS CLEANING CLOTHS // Did you know there are very specific cloths for cleaning glass? They are life changing; I receive a streak-free finish every time. And I also love utilizing them for all of our bathroom and kitchen fixtures and hardware to keep them shining bright as well.

COTTON SWABS // These are great for cleaning the small nooks, tracks, crevices, and corners of windows.

EXTERIOR WINDOW SCRUBBER/SQUEEGEE // This works so great for those hard to reach exterior windows. Wet the window with water from a hose, dip your scrubber into a bucket of water/vinegar and clean windows with the scrubbing/moppy portion of the tool. Follow up with the squeegee for a streak-free finish.

INTERIOR SQUEEGEE // We don't have glass shower doors (#someday), but from what I have read, a squeegee is your best friend for keeping doors free of soap scum.



B A T H R O O M   C A D D Y   T O O L S




As I mentioned above, we keep a couple of bins under each sink to hold a variety of bathroom-specific cleaners and tools. I clean the bathrooms almost daily and find it much easier to just organize all of those products right within reach. One bin holds the products and another the cleaning rags.

SINK SCRUBBER // I use this baby daily for cleaning out our bathroom sinks; it works great for quickly getting rid of toothpaste, soap and the random face whisker.

MICROFIBER CLOTHS // Perfect for wiping down counters and other surfaces such as shelving and cabinet faces.

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER // Pair it with the microfiber cloth to remove grime.

GLASS CLEANING CLOTHS & GLASS CLEANER // For the mirrors and fixtures!

DISH SCRUBBER // A quick scrub a day keeps the soap scum away. Keep one in the shower and fill the reservoir with half water and half dish soap or vinegar.

GROUT SCRUBBER // For deep cleaning those grout lines.

TOILET BRUSH // For the obvious purpose.

SHAKER W/BAKING SODA // Sprinkle into the toilet bowl and spray with your vinegar-based glass cleaner. Let sit for a few minutes then scrub away the odor and stains.

GLOVES // One word... Germs.

INTERIOR SQUEEGEE // We don't have glass shower doors (#someday), but from what I have read, a squeegee is your best friend for keeping doors free of soap scum.



F L O O R S



Floors are my least favorite surface to clean because it feels like with the dogs and kids that it is a daily battle. My efforts rarely last long, so I am always looking for ways to keep up on it in the easiest ways possible.

HANDLED BROOM // I once read that sweeping a floor causes most of the dust and pet hair to fly right back into the air, but there are times when you just need a quick brooming inside or out on the porch/deck.

BRUSH/DUSTPAN // For quick floor clean-ups, also easier to store away than the larger broom. And really, I didn't know I could love a dust pan so much! This one has a comb-like edge to grab all of the dust and dirt from the bristles of your broom! Must keep the cleaning tools clean! 

MINI BROOM/DUSTPAN // I love that this little dustpan fits in my caddy; it also works well on counters and for small crumb clean-ups.

SPRAY MOP // I prefer this for a quick cleaning of our kitchen, living room and hallway floors. I run this every couple of days and it only takes me a minute or two because the cleaner is already stored right within the mop. Just spray and go! A bonus is that the cleaning pads can just be tossed into the wash and reused time and time again. I also find that with the small amount of spray and microfiber pad, the floor dries within seconds and I don't have to caution-tape off the room each time I clean the floors.

TWIST MOP // This type of mop is my choice for heavy duty floor cleaning, especially in bathrooms. I find the mop shape and yarn to be a better choice for navigating around fixtures and furniture (especially toilets and table legs). I recently spotted this spin and spray mop, which seems to be the best of both worlds and I am thinking of giving it a try.

MOP BUCKET // For the twist mop, and any other hard core cleaning job that requires a mixing of water and cleaner.

PRIMARY VACUUM // This is our main vacuum for all of our rugs and carpet, and it also easily transitions to hard floors so there is rarely a day that it isn't used. We purchased it quite a few years ago refurbished from a daily deals website, and have loved it ever since. It is easy to clean and maintain; we just ordered a replacement roller head but it that is the first part that has ever gone bad. Although these vacuums are an investment, I am happy to report that ours has really held up nicely over the years.

FLOOR/HAND-VAC // After falling in love with our primary vacuum, we decided to add a sibling. This one purchased on Black Friday (always great Dyson deals to be found on Black Friday), this vacuum goes everywhere the other one can't. It easily transitions from a hand-vac to a stick vac; the hand vac is ideal for quickly vacuuming furniture, down the wood stairs, and along baseboards, while the stick vac lays flat to get far under furniture and cabinets. Oh! And it is cordless!

DOG GROOM ATTACHMENT // I was SO skeptical about this, but after feeling defeated by an abundance of dog hair on a daily basis, I finally bit the bullet and purchased this little tool out of desperation. It is amazing! We have a labradoodle pup and she sheds ridiculous amounts of hair (she is more of a wiry hair than a curly version, and yes, some don't shed but ours always has). This tool has a great grooming brush that attaches to the hose of the vacuum and the hair is sucked right into the canister as she is being groomed. I typically will brush her right in the middle of our hard floor and I was shocked that not a hair was to be found when I was done. And her coat looked so pretty! This is especially great for us cold winter folks because it can be tricky to get her outdoors for her frequent brushing during harsher temps.





D I S H   W A S H I N G



Although the majority of our dishes are washed in the dishwasher, I really dislike going to bed with dishes in the sink and find myself doing some handwashing on a frequent basis. We also have some specialty dishes that I don't want to put through a high-heat dishwasher (wood utensils, wood cutting boards, specific pots and pans, finer dishes, etc...).

GLOVES // My hands are always dry so I prefer to use gloves when I have a larger stack of dishes.

SCRUB BRUSH // My favorite dish tool, I use this to scrub pots and pans and then again to clean the sink when I am done with the dishes.

SOFT SCRUBBING & ABRASIVE SPONGES // We do use dish cloths on occasion, but I typically gravitate to sponges. I love that I can sanitize them and that they don't seem to get gross and smelly as quickly as rags. I like to keep both softer/squishy sponges and more abrasive options on hand. Both work great for different types of cleaning tasks, depending on the surface and the amount of scrubbing power necessary.

GLASS WAND // Reaches down into vases, bottles, decanters and glasses when my hands can't.

TURKISH TOWELS // After trying a couple of different towels for drying dishes, hands, and counters, I prefer the softness and absorbency of Turkish style towels best. On a separate note, I am not a fan of them as bath/shower towels at all.

DRYING RACK // I love the purpose of a dish drying rack and they all pretty much work the same, but most are ridiculously bulky to store. I was astonished by how this rack folded down nice and slim to take up very little space under our sink, yet it is generously sized for all of our odd shaped hand-wash specific items.
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What did I miss? Do you have any favorite cleaning products or tools to add to this super-sized list? How about one of those fancy robot vacs? Are they as amazing as I want them to be?




P.S. Want to know where I find a lot of my cleaning inspiration? Check out my favorite cleaning books at the bottom of this post here.


* Affiliate links used

55 comments:

  1. Last year, after becoming fed up with the constant recurring mould in our shower grout, we paid for professionals to remove the old grout and then regrout and seal. As it was A LOT of money, we vowed to do the grownup, responsible thing and squeegee after every shower. Wow - what a difference! The shower is ALWAYS CLEAN now. We use a $2 Ikea squeegee and it's the best thing ever. Our tiles never get calcium buildup on them now. Our entire shower recess still looks brand new, 9 months later. So yes, highly recommend the squeegee. xx

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  2. Wow, I want to jump up and start cleaning! Love all these tips and ideas to keep on top of the daily grind of cleaning. Who wouldn't want a mint green caddy?
    Would you share which spray mop you recommend? Thinking of getting one for the daily stickies in the kitchen and family room.
    Thanks so much for this motivating post!

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    1. Hi Sharon! I currently use the Up & Up spray mop linked in my descriptions above, found at Target. It works great, but as I mentioned in the post I am really tempted to try the spray and spin mop to better navigate around the table, furniture and bathroom fixtures. I will be sure to report in if I decide to make the switch! :)

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  3. Hi Jenn!
    What tools do you use to clean your car(s)?
    Thank you! Such a great post!
    Dana

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    1. Hi Dana,

      I typically use my Dyson with attachments for the deep cleaning of the seats, floors and mats. You can see more details of a top to bottom auto cleaning/organizing post here: http://www.iheartorganizing.com/2015/06/four-week-wait-no-more-organizing_19.html.

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  4. Thanks so much for the input. Love to buy based on recommendations. I'll start at Target and also see what you come up with. I've got the sweetest and stickiest grandsons ever and they take after me...they are spillers!

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  5. I love posts like these- thank you! I'm also really excited to read about any updates to your homemade cleaners!

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  6. Can you address how you clean your Dyson? I know mine is in need of a good cleaning but don't know where to start.

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    1. Hi Cheryl,
      I start by flipping the Dyson and cleaning the brushroll and snipping any tangled threads. I will also remove this section of the vac to check for clogs and blockages. I then completely remove the canister and filters. I use my hand vac to vacuum the upper cyclone parts and then wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth. The canister and filter are washed with mild dishsoap in our kitchen sink. It is important to let the parts dry for a minimum of 24 hours prior to reassembling the vacuum, so new dust doesn't go through and thicken/clog things. I think my husband googled/youtubed tutorials for our specific model prior to showing me the steps to take, so you might have luck searching online for cleaning instructions on your specific model as well. I try to clean it every 3 months or so. :)

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  7. FYI, under "favorite bottles" the squeeze bottle and the shaker share the same link (for the squeeze bottle).

    This is a great list! I especially appreciate that you've linked to *pretty* items, as I'm much more likely to enjoy the chore if my tools are aesthetically pleasing. I've been gradually replacing them as I find things that are prettier than what I've got, but you've made it easy for me!

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    1. Thanks for the link catch, April! Just fixed it. And yes! It is fun that cleaning products don't have to be boring, and that many of them are also good quality and have lasted me a really, really long time. Oh! And if you love cute and inexpensive supplies, another place to find a lot of these items is HomeGoods/Marshalls, but it can be a bit of a treasure hunt. xoxo!

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  8. Do you have any suggestions on cleaning your cleaning tools?

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    1. Hi Tasha! I mentioned a few cleaning tips within the post, but if there are specific tools that I didn't cover that you are curious about, let me know and I am happy to help! Just call me Danny Tanner! ;) #cleanthecleaners

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  9. I'm curious how you keep the toilets so clean with 3 boys...I seem to struggle with my 2 boys and the constant smell of urine (TMI??) Also, what solution do you use for your spray and mop? I will be interested to know if you make the switch to the spin and spray mop. This was helpful!

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    1. Not TMI, I completely understand and struggled with this for years! I plan to share some of my homemade cleaner recipes, but I think the baking soda (and occasional essential oils) do help with the scent issues. That said, I think the thing that really helped is putting my kids in charge of cleaning toilets from time to time! After a few times cleaning up their messes, the messes seamed to get much better. ;)

      In terms of the solution in my spray mop, the one I absolutely love the most is this Bona solution (no streaks!): http://amzn.to/2mRudFQ
      I purchased a large jug right after we installed our new floors and it has lasted me quite some time. I was planning on going back to a homemade solution after the Bona is empty, and will be experimenting with a couple of recipes in the next day or two and will definitely share if any pass my tests! Also, for really quick hard-floor spot cleaning - this stuff is pretty amazing too (think sticky spills, dog drool, etc..): http://bit.ly/2mRgm2e
      xo!

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    2. Here is a boy bathroom tip I learned a while ago that has been so helpful! You can use the pet clean up spray (green bottle) from the dollar store to spray down the toilet and surrounding area. It wipes smells out in a permanent way not just a covering up with scents way.I make sure to spray all the toilet crevices really well with it and let it do its thing while I wipe down the sink and mirror...and daily cleaning. :)

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    3. Thank you! Another question: do you use your microfiber cloths to wipe the rim and back of the toilet seat?

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  10. These are great tools!! Thanks for sharing! And I'm so relieved to hear I'm not the only person who still loves a good mop to clean the floor. Some of my friends look at my like I'm crazy. I would love it if you shared your recipes for homemade cleaners. I've tried a few, but am always afraid they aren't getting things clean enough.

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    1. I will definitely be sharing in the next few days. Thanks Jill!

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  11. Great post! I've never used castile soap. Could you please tell me what you use it for?

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    1. Hi Lori! Castile soap is a great cleaner/degreaser. I use it in my daily all-purpose cleaners as well as for some specialty cleaning. It is very concentrated so a little bit mixed with distilled water really goes a long way. There really are endless uses for this type of natural soap - I know a lot of people that use it in their beauty routines as well.

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  12. Great post and it was nice to check out all the current cleaning supplies. I really like the idea of a mop for the bathrooms.

    Jennifer, what do you have out on your kitchen counter for cleaning daily or do you keep all your supplies under the sink?

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    1. I try not to leave anything out on the counter - everything for my daily cleaning fits in the caddy and is stored under our kitchen sink (you can see it at the bottom of this post here: http://www.iheartorganizing.com/2016/03/iheart-organized-cleaning-caddy.html). The taller floor cleaners (mops, brooms, vac, etc..) are either stored in our hall closet or in our cleaning closet in our laundry room.

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  13. Excellent information. Thank you so much!

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  14. What about the shower stall? I have stone tile, and I can't seem to keep it clean. UGH!

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    1. That is a great question Tammy! I don't have natural stone in my home, so I am not too familiar with the maintenance of that specifically, especially with homemade cleaners. This article seems to cover just about everything, which may be helpful to you: http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/living-area/cleaning-natural-stone-tiles.html. My guess is that with just about any shower finish, frequent wipe downs a couple of times per week will really help in preventing deep cleaning/scrubbing. I really like to use the sponged dish wands with the soap mix in the handle - makes wiping down the shower a breeze (which I can do right after I am done showering).

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  15. I was wondering if you had any tips or tricks for cleaning after an elderly little dog that occasionally has accidents in the house - mostly peeing. Sometimes I find I can't get the smell out, even after mopping with Clorox.

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    1. Have you tried any oxy based spray cleaners? You can make them homemade by combining washing soda, water and hydrogen peroxide. The only problem with the homemade version is that it can't be stored for too long or it loses effectiveness. But there are also store bought oxy options that are great for pets and odors.

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  16. Look... I've been an adult for a long time but I have been dying for a list like this. THANK YOU!

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  17. Hi Jen! Do you mind sharing your cleaning schedule as well? Thanks!

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  18. Any tips for cleaning mirrored furniture? I have 2 beautiful dressers that constantly have fingerprints around the drawer knobs. i use windex but find that I really need to scrub to get the fingerprints off.

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    1. Hi Erin! Have you tried the specialty glass cleaning clothes? I swear by them, and use them for all of our glass furniture. And they seem to work great for fingerprints on our mirrored cabinet doors. xo!

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  19. One of my most favorite posts you've ever done! Spring cleaning doesn't seem as scary with organized supplies and everything ready to go in a cleaning caddy!!! Thank you!!!!

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  20. I'm curious about the Dyson stick vacuum you linked...do you think it would be up to the task of being a primary vacuum? I need a new vacuum and LOVE the idea of cordless.

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    1. It think it would really depend on your flooring types. We have some plusher carpeting in our upstairs bedrooms, as well as a very plush rug in our lower level, and I don't think that our stick vac would have the power for those areas. Our battery also would not last long enough for me to do the entire house at a single time. It does work like a champ for our hard floors, flat rugs and with attachments for specialty cleaning. However, we also have the V6 model and from what I understand the V8's have longer lasting battery and more brushroll power. I have yet to hear/see about any heavy duty vacuum that is cordless, but I agree, that would be amazing!

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  21. I LOVE using baking soda as a gentle scrub in my stainless steel kitchen sink, but I've also started using it for bathtubs and our tiled shower. I reuse parmesan cheese shakers to fill up with baking soda and keep one in each of the caddies in our bathrooms. So convenient.

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    1. Parmesan shakers are a perfect option! Love that, thanks for sharing!

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  22. LOVE this post! And to follow up on your question - the robot vacuums can be pure magic. Hubs and I bought one three years ago and run it almost daily, and it's still going strong. We have three cats, and it catches loads of fur and litter dust each day. It's cut our need to vacuum with a standard vacuum on carpet to once a week and even less on laminate and tile. It can easily scoot under the bed, sofas, tables, etc. Best Black Friday purchase to date, and while hubs was dubious at first he's now a Roomba champion. ;)

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing the review! That is great to know, I am considering one for our main living area upstairs to help keep up on crumbs and puppy hair. I have heard a few mixed reviews, so I appreciate you chiming in. ♥

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    2. If you end up buying one, I hope you love it too and it ends up working like a charm! Quick question around the dish scrubber you mentioned for the shower; you mention a reservoir, but the linked sponge doesn't have one. Do you keep something else in the shower to use with the sponge, or does the link need to be updated by any chance? I really like this idea, and was just about to buy but wanted to make sure I had the right recommendation! :)

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    3. Great catch! I intended to link to this one: https://fullcirclehome.com/suds-up.html, but I am having a hard time tracking it down on Amazon (gotta love their free shipping). I will update the post accordingly. I really love the Full Circle brand, but you can also find a variety of soap-dispensing sponge brushes at most home and grocery stores as well.

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    4. Update - found it on Amazon with multiple head replacement options: http://amzn.to/2nwYBBB xoxo!

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  23. I was wondering if you've ever used the Thieves cleaner. I read an article about how it's a great natural cleaner and when it's diluted in different ways it can be used to clean anything from dishes to toilets.

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    1. I haven't personally tried it, but I have also heard good things. I found some at a local Natural store and it was quite expensive so I didn't end up purchasing any.

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  24. Thanks for such a great post!! I am so inspired to buy all the stuffs in the links and start cleaning, no more afraid of dirt! I am just curious to know, you use microfibre cloth in most cleaning, do you face difficulty in cleaning the dirt out of them? Do u just toss them into the washer and dry them? Do you have to eventually replace them with new cloth, when they turn grey or brown from the dirt time to time?

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  25. That Rose sofa is just what I'm looking for!

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  26. I have been lusting over the Rose sofa in ivory ever since it came out! (I blame Danielle and Alaina from The Everygirl!) I would love one for my new place!

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  27. Can you recommend any shakers to use with the baking soda?

    Thanks

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    1. Just about anything will work! An all purpose or restaurant style shaker is a great option (http://amzn.to/2oOENg5), and a reader above also mentioned a recycled Parmesan container worked great. I generally just punch some holes in the lid of a jar to make my own shaker. :)

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  28. Where did you purchase the blue/teal contoured brick looking sponge in picture 3 and the round purple sponge in picture 9?

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    1. Hello! They are Euroscrubby brand but I can't seem to find them on their website any longer: https://www.euroscrubby.com/collections/all

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  29. Any tips on how to keep your clothes that you use to wipe down the counters from smelling nasty? I really want to be using towels vs paper towels, but I can't seem to find a system/method that doesn't end up with gross smelling towels. :/

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    1. Hi Mary! Have you tried a Wet Bag? They absorb/hide odors of wet items (typically made for baby diapers). They work great and I keep them under most of our sinks. http://www.iheartorganizing.com/2015/01/quick-tip-tuesday-bag-for-rags.html

      I keep a pretty large stack of clean cloths under each sink as well, that way I can toss the wet ones in the bag and use clean, fresh rags for cleaning. I run the dirty rags through a load of laundry every week or two.

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