Special Spring Cleaning Tools That Are Really Useful
As you begin your spring cleaning this year, take it seriously. Upgrade your supplies and tools to do your job to the best of your ability. Some of the tools presented here will save you time, some will make your things even cleaner, and some will save you money by reducing the number of disposable products you rely on. When it’s time for a spring cleaning, this is a good starting point to get your home organized and in order.
Upgraded Kitchen Cleaning Products
It may be time to replace the tools in your kitchen that will help you clean everything from the floors to the countertops. This is a room where things get dirty faster than you’d expect, so it’s important to have tools to help you avoid clutter. Regular old brooms and mops will do, but a little upgrade can go a long way if you follow my room-by-room cleaning checklist .
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It’s time to invest in a mop bucket with a wringer attachment, but as it turns out, it’s not such a big investment at all: the O-Cedar set is reasonably priced (it also includes a cloth mop and a replacement attachment). You can also use a scourer wringer before cleaning to avoid getting the granite or hardwood too wet.
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Or check out this mop option that combines old-school techniques with a modern, eco-friendly approach: The Joymoop Mop and Bucket Set has a flat head similar to the Swiffer, but you place reusable cloth pads over it and wring them out in the included bucket. The bucket has a wet and dry chamber so you can squeeze dirty water out of clean items.
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While you’re at it, update your Swiffer too. I recommend the WetJet over the PowerMop , but take your time considering the two options, both of which include built-in spray bottles that make cleanup absurdly easy.
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If you use Swiffer, now is the time to invest in reusable Swiffer pads so you have something that’s durable for spring cleaning and ready to go all year round. There are several third-party options on the market, but the best option is a set of four microfiber mop heads with an elastic band that helps them fit tightly to the head of the unit.
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Another excellent broom replacement is the silicone sweeping set from Helio Air . You get a long-handled broom, but instead of bristles, it has silicone squeegee-like brushes, making it easy to sweep up everything from debris to liquids.
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If you’re really looking to improve your cleaning experience—not just in the kitchen, but everywhere in the house—I can’t say enough good things about the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce , a multi-surface wet/dry vacuum that has revolutionized the way I clean my floors. You can use it as a powerful vacuum cleaner or with a mop function, which also still has suction function, and with a fairly long charge (about half an hour), it significantly speeds up the process of cleaning carpets, rugs and hardwood. I always complete all surfaces in less than 30 minutes.
Upgraded Living Room Cleaning Products
The living room comes with a number of cleaning challenges that require the use of all types of cleaning products and methods to keep it looking presentable. Your spring cleaning here will include a thorough vacuuming, dusting and reupholstery, which is pretty basic, but to take it up a notch, try the following:
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Use a blind cleaner to easily clean the space between the individual blinds on your window. You can also use tongs with microfiber cloths wrapped with an elastic band around the sides, but wouldn’t using a specific device be a little more elegant?
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Upgrade your lint roller to the Chom Chom roller , which traps hair and lint in an inner chamber for easy vacuum-like cleaning. It never requires refilling and can be used again and again.
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I’m also going to make one more vacuum cleaner suggestion here: If you don’t have a robot vacuum, buy one now in honor of spring cleaning. You have a lot of options here that cover a wide range of prices and get into over $1,000 territory, but I’ve had the OKP robot vacuum for two years now and love it. The brand typically charges between $125 and $150 for its devices, which connect to your phone using an app and work fine. I let mine wander while I put other things away and it makes life so much easier by trapping dirt and dust and minimizing the effort I have to put in when I pull out my Bissell.
Upgraded Bathroom Cleaning Products
Bathrooms are the dirtiest rooms in the house, so they require more effort to clean. You have plenty of tools for this task, but some probably need a little updating.
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Stop using an old toothbrush to clean nooks and crannies when you can use a dedicated crevice brush, like this one from Rienar . Unlike the poor old toothbrush that has become your favorite scrubber, this one’s handle is actually designed to help you scrub things, and the bristles are extra long so you can get into cracks more easily.
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Improve the way you clean your shower with a cordless rotating brush that spins 500 times per minute and has a long shaft that will save you from having to squat down and try to clean the inside of your shower again. It has brushes for cleaning everything from tiles to windows.
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Leave behind glass cleaner stains with the Sharper Image Cordless Window Vacuum . You fill it with water, spray that water onto the glass, and then suck it into a separate tank for dirty water. The package includes a removable, washable filter and an extension handle for working on large surfaces.
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Since I upgraded my regular old melamine sponge to Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Ultra Foamy , I am constantly amazed at how much faster and more efficiently I can clean. I use it to remove sticky glue , bathtub rings , and basically any mess I come across. Obviously it’s perfect for the bathroom, but it works well in the kitchen too, so you’ll be lucky if you get five in a pack.
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Finally, consider a dual strength cleaner . I like my Pine Sol and Fabuloso at 2x strength because they reduce the amount of effort I have to put into cleaning. I’ve tested them on all types of dirt, compared to the standard versions (which actually don’t cost much less!), and I can say with confidence that they really do cut through dirt faster.