Everyone would love a tidy, clean home. However, for most of us, cleaning the whole house isn’t relaxing or fun. Regardless, cleaning tasks like scrubbing toilets, doing laundry, taking out the garbage, vacuuming the carpet, and other chores must be done.
In this article, we will look at the supplies required for home cleaning, as well as ideas for a daily or weekly cleaning routine. For a deep cleaning checklist, see our guide.
Must-Have Cleaning Supplies
When it comes to a cleaning routine, the right tools will make tackling grease, grime, dirt, spills, stains, and more much easier. Here are some of the essential cleaning tools you will need:
- Vacuum cleaner: Even if you don’t have carpeted floors, this is a must-have for your cleaning routine. If you don’t have the budget for an upright vacuum cleaner, get a handheld dustbuster. Besides carpets, the dustbuster will come in handy for vacuuming couches and baseboards.
- Sponge: There is a wide range of sponges in the market. The best kind of sponge has an abrasive side that can clean dirty, grimy surfaces.
- Microfiber cloth: This cloth is gentle enough to clean your glass, stainless steel, and other surfaces without leaving a scratch.
- Scrub brush: A sponge or cloth is not enough for getting your home clean. A scrub brush will help get rid of stains and dirt on fixtures, tubs, tiles, floors, and more.
- Toothbrush: To clean sink rims and other hard-to-reach areas, you need a toothbrush. Simply disinfect some old toothbrushes and put them to work.
- Broom and dustpan: These are a must for cleaning any dirt, fur, or dust that ends up on your floor. Just like a vacuum cleaner, you can buy a small broom and dustpan for cleaning tight spaces.
- Flat mop: Also known as a dust mop, a flat mop is a great alternative to the standard mop.
- Bucket: A bucket will be very essential for most of the cleaning chores around the house. When not in use, it can come in handy as a caddy for storing your cleaning supplies.
- Rubber gloves: A set of thick rubber gloves are absolutely essential for protecting your hands when cleaning. Be sure to get two pairs: one for the kitchen, and the other for bathrooms and toilets.
- Rugs: Old towels can be recycled and used as rugs for cleaning the home.
- Squeegee: A squeegee is very useful for preventing water and soap scum build-up on your bathroom tiles.
- Toilet brush and holder: To ensure your toilet bowl is sparkling clean, you will need a bristled toilet brush. Buy a reusable brush that only needs to be replaced once or twice a year.
- Extendable duster: To remove cobwebs and dust from the corners of your roof and lighting fixtures, get an extendable duster. You could even improvise your own using a ling stick and a rug.
- Cleaning solutions: For deep cleaning, water is not enough. Whether you go for a homemade or chemical product, you need the right cleaning solution to get the job done. Types of cleaners include all-purpose cleaners, wood cleaners, glass cleaners, antibacterial spray or wipes, tile cleaners, toilet bowl cleaner, baking soda, and white vinegar. Many options are available on Amazon.
Daily Cleaning Routine
Weekends should be for recharging and unwinding, not catching up with housework. For this to happen, you need to commit at least 15 to 20 minutes each day for basic cleaning.
A daily cleaning schedule is just a “bare bones” routine that will keep your home looking presentable and tidy on a daily basis.
Your daily cleaning routine will involve the following:
- Tidying up living spaces
- Making beds
- Cleaning out the coffee maker
- Wiping down counters
- Picking up laundry
- Sweeping the kitchen floor
- Taking out the trash
- Doing the dishes
- Decluttering and throwing out unwanted items
You might have more or fewer tasks than this. Your needs will be determined by factors such as the ages of your children, the size of your house, and your work schedule. However, there are some basic chores that we must all get done on a daily basis.
Weekly Cleaning Routine
Weekly cleaning involves tasks that only need to be done once a week. Here is a DIY checklist for a weekly cleaning schedule:
Monday: Living Room
Start by decluttering the room and placing toys, shoes, and other items back where they belong. Grab your vacuum cleaner and run it over your carpet and upholstery. Don’t forget to vacuum under your sofa cushions. Clean the floor using a flat mop dipped in soapy water. Any stubborn stains can be removed with a scrub brush. Dust all the surfaces using a microfiber cloth and extendable duster. A glass-cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth will come in handy for cleaning all glass surfaces.
Tuesday: Kitchen
Daily tasks include cleaning dishes and wiping down countertops, appliances, tabletops, and cabinets. However, weekly cleaning should focus on cleaning the inside of your microwave, toaster, refrigerator, and other appliances. You can use an all-purpose cleaner and sponge for this. Don’t forget to clean the stovetop and vent hood as well.
Wednesday: Toilet
On a daily basis, you need to clean the bowl using a brush and toilet cleaner. However, be sure to check your drains at least once a week. To prevent your toilet drains from getting clogged in the future, you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Simply pour 1 cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed immediately by 1 cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for about 20 minutes, then flush the toilet. This will break up any clogs that might be building in your drains.
If your drain ever gets clogged, you will need a plunger. One of the best plungers in the market is the revolutionary ToiletShroom. Made from natural ABS plastics and rust-proof stainless steel, this tool is made to last the test of time. Besides being a dredging tool for clogged toilets, ToiletShroom is also a squeegee that you can use to clean the insides of your toilet bowl. It comes with a caddy holder which you can use to store the plunger when not in use.
Thursday: Bathroom
Spray the all-purpose cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe down all the surfaces of your bathroom. This includes shelves, bathroom counters, faucets, towel racks, baseboards, doors, and window sills. If you find some grime or stains on the surfaces, use warm, soapy water and a scrub brush to get it off. For mirrors, you can clean them using a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth. Use half a bucket of water mixed with all-purpose cleaner to scrub your sinks, walls, and floors before rinsing.
Don’t forget to check your drains during bathroom cleaning. If you have a slow draining shower, tub, or sink, then you might be having a clog caused by hair, soap scum, minerals, grease, or dirt. To clear such clogs, you can first try using a plunger. If it doesn’t work, use a wire hanger or drain snake to reach clogs that might be further down the drain. You should also check if there are any problems with the main sewer system.
A better way of keeping your drains clear is by using drain protectors. The stainless steel SinkShroom is your best bet for protecting your sink drains. This drain protector fits any standard sink drain and is designed to catch hair. To catch hair in your tub, you need TubShroom.
Unlike other hair catchers that go over the drain, TubShroom fits neatly inside the drain and collects hair around it. For your shower, the ideal hair strainer is ShowerShroom. It is compatible with almost all 2-inch stand-up shower stall drains. Retailing at only $11.99, ShowerShroom comes in three great colors; neutral gray, marina blue, and clean white.
Friday: Laundry
The end of the week is a good time to clean your load of laundry. Wash your dirty clothes, bedsheets, pillowcases, and towels. Items with tough stains should be soaked for at least three hours before washing.
When you are done with cleaning, wipe down the washing machine and dryer. Fold clean laundry and put them away.
Saturday: Outdoors
Clean the outside of windows, wipe down outdoor furniture, and sweep the porch and deck. Pick up and get rid of litter that may have been blown into your yard by the wind. Using a power nozzle attached to the garden hose, wash recycling bins and garbage containers. And remember to shake out outdoor welcome mats.
A Cleaning Routine Is Crucial for a Clean House
An effective house cleaning routine begins with having the right tools. This includes a sponge, squeegee, microfiber cloth, cleaning solutions, broom and dustpan, rubber gloves, toilet brush, and a bucket.
Divide your cleaning routine into daily and weekly tasks. A daily cleaning routine involves simple things like taking out the trash, cleaning dirty dishes, wiping counters, making beds, and tidying up living spaces. For a weekly cleaning routine, you can assign specific tasks to a specific day of the week.
Are you looking to eliminate plumbing problems and clogged drains for good? Look no further than our complete 'Shroom drain protection line! We have award-winning solutions for every drain in your home.
0 comments