CLEANING TIPS: BEST PRODUCTS for FAST CLEANING

Cleaning tips and a list of best cleaning products that help your home stay clean and smell fresh. Featuring five of my favorite cleaning tools for $2 each!

Cleaning tips for anyone on any budget! I have a large family so keeping the house clean- especially the kitchen- is a priority for me. I’m not just talking about Spring Cleaning here! A cluttered, dirty house seems to negatively affect my sanity so I’ve found simple, easy ways to keep my home clean all year round.

How do you clean your house?

Everyone is a little different when it comes to cleaning their home. I’ve had a variety of cleaning jobs over the years- school buildings, office buildings and others’ homes and I’ve learned so many tips from each one. I’ll be honest, most cleaning is a result of time and effort- elbow grease, literally! However there are several ways to cut down on time spent cleaning. Here are 5 products that I love, as well as a variety of ways to use each of them.

1. CLEANING VINEGAR: My all-time favorite household cleaning product, Cleaning Vinegar is a stronger form of regular distilled vinegar and cleans amazingly well. You can find it in the cleaning section as well as by the vinegar at many grocery stores, but I find it’s cheapest to buy it at hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. It comes in a 64 oz bottle and is incredibly versatile.
   • Ways to use it: Cleans countertops, hard water spots on glass, stainless steel, microfiber couches, laundry brightener, dishwasher cleaner, sanitize bathroom, stove top degreaser and more!
   • Homemade Cleaning Solution: In a 32-oz bottle, add 2-3 drops of Dawn dish soap, then fill half way with cleaning vinegar and the remaining way with hot water. You can also add 5-6 drops Lemon Grass (or Lemon) essential oil to add a lovely scent. 
2. MICROFIBER CLOTHS: I use these everywhere! They usually come in a 12×12 rag and I’like to cut each rag into fourths. I then use a new rag each day in the kitchen to wipe down countertops, the table, fridge handles, etc.
   • I also like to use specific microfiber cloths for cleaning stainless steel and windows. I find these types of rags do a great job at not streaking glass.
   • Cleaning Tips: When I cut the microfiber cloths, they make a bit of a mess and tiny particles of fabric fall off. They only do this once, so I cut them in my laundry room, then put them through a quick wash immediately. They’re ready to go after that! Also, microfiber cloths should not be washed with fabric softener. I do my best, but honestly, I wash them with a variety of other household laundry all the time and while they do lose effectiveness over time, I don’t think they’re meant to last forever! They’re like any other cleaning rag, eventually they just need to be replaced. 
3. BAR KEEPER’S FRIEND: It’s a handy cleanser I originally began using to clean my stainless steel pots and pans. I quickly discovered it’s very versatile, so I also like to clean my stainless steel sink, cooktop and even my grill with it! Bar Keeper’s Friend is a powdered cleanser but it also comes in spray form and can be found on the cleaning aisle of the grocery store. If you have stainless steel pots, it’s a must!
4. IKEA SCRUBBER BRUSH: I’ve tried many, many, MANY scrub brushes and sponges over the years and oh my word, IKEA you made the perfect brush! It’s think, lightweight and the bristles are the perfect stiffness. It has a suction cup on the end if you’d like to store it that way. They clean tough messes well and they last a couple months with daily use. They’re super cheap- they cost about $2. We don’t go to IKEA often, so I make sure to stock up when we do! Don’t laugh, but I love them so much I’ve even given them as gifts with a cute dish towel during the holidays! If you don’t have an IKEA, never fear, Amazon offers them as well– Ikea Scrub Brush.
5. MEYERS CLEAN DAY PRODUCTS: Ok, so when I need to clean fast, I forego my homemade cleanser and use a Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner instead. Why? Because it pulls double duty- it cleans and acts as an air freshener in one. My favorite scents are Geranium and Lemon Verbena. I use them in the kitchen, but also in my car in bedrooms because they smell so good. I also love their hand soap and over the years has become the only hand soap I purchase. You can find them in grocery stores, but I find them cheaper on Amazon.

How can I clean my house fast?

We’ve all had those times where we need to have a clean home on a moment’s notice. Here are 5 cleaning tips for easy ways I clean my house FAST:

1. Quick Gathering– Grab a laundry basket and pick everything up that doesn’t belong in that room. Depending on just how much time you have, you can return the items to their correct locations right then, or store the basket in an out-of-the-way spot and tend to it later.
2. Wipe Down– Quickly wipe down countertops and kitchen table. Run a duster over coffee tables and end tables.
3. Straighten up– arrange pillows on couches nicely. Fold linens in bathrooms. Arrange a clean towel on the holder in the kitchen.
4. Bathrooms– grab a clean cloth and do a quick wipe down of toilets, sinks and countertops in the bathroom.
5. Smell that?! Diffuse some essential oils! I am incredibly sensitive to scents and I find that if a space smells clean, other people interpret it as clean, even if its really not! I’m not a fan of generic scents like spray air freshener- I think most of those smell pretty terrible! My favorite is to diffuse essential oils like Lemon Grass. It’s my absolute favorite way to get my house to smell clean & fresh. Other favorites are Lemon, Wild Orange and Lavender.

More of my Favorite cleaning tools: I have a large family and we HAVE to stay on top of the cleaning or things can get out of control fast. Here are even more cleaning tools and products that I love.

• O-Cedar Spin Mop & Bucket– For several years now I’ve been using a variety of steam mops. I can’t say I’ve loved ANY of them and so several months ago I decided to go back to the basics and get a regular mop and bucket. I opted for this Cedar Mop and IT’S AMAZING!! It’s so easy to use and one of my favorite things about it is how simple it is to rinse out the mop. I really feel like I’m cleaning my floor with this mop!
• Magic Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish– If you have stainless steel appliances, you’ve got to start using this product to clean. I’ve used at least a dozen other stainless steel cleaners over the years and this one is easily the best. I can clean my fridge and even with 7 people in our house, even 5 or 6 days later, it still looks clean. AMAZING.
• Comfit Microfiber Rags for Windows & Mirrors– I love using regular microfiber cloths for cleaning, but when it comes to windows and mirrors, you have to use a different cloth if you want then to be streak free. I love these ones!

Cleaning tips and a list of best cleaning products that help your home stay clean and smell fresh. Featuring five of my favorite cleaning tools for $2 each!