Organizing Your Spring Cleaning Supplies
Last week we discussed some of our organizational hurdles and the challenges with getting our home into gear for company. I really understood and felt the same way when many of you shared that your real challenge was getting over your own perfectionism and feeling like your home is not as worthy as other people's homes for doing any entertaining. I have often felt this way myself so I can completely relate and I am trying to challenge myself to stop doing this so that I can enjoy more time with loved ones, instead of using my home as an excuse to not entertain. My homeowner projects and perfectionisms need to stop holding me back from opening my door to others.
We will kick off this series by gathering up and getting our cleaning supplies ready for the cleaning challenges ahead! I thought we could start by peeking into my caddy of tools that I use for cleaning:
All-Purpose Cleaner- Mix together two tablespoons of mild dishwashing soap and two cups of water in a spray bottle and give it a shake. Use these anywhere that you would use a commercial all-purpose spray. This cleaner is particularly great for countertops, bathroom surfaces, and high chairs. This cleaner is also great for wiping down your plastic outdoor furniture and getting it ready for the spring season.
Glass Cleaner- Mix together one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your mirrors and windows. Just swipe until you have a nice streak-free finish.
Scouring Scrub- Mix one cup Borax, one cup baking soda (or you can use washing soda), and ¼ cup salt. This can be used in your dishwasher to clean your dishes (only one tablespoon is needed) or this can be a great scrubbing agent to add to your toilets, tub, and sinks to make them gleaming white again.
WD-40- Sounds strange, but this is always never far from me. WD-40 helps remove any sticky residue lurking in my home and I use it constantly to remove crayon marks in our house (two year old + crayons= buying WD-40 in bulk!)
Microfiber Cloths- Available at discount retailers, dollar stores, and in the auto section of your local wholesale club. These are great with or without cleaners on them. Wet, they are great for cleaning the bathroom sink, fixtures, and to help get that nasty soap scum off of tubs. Dry, they work wonderfully to dust surfaces. Place one of these on the bottom of a Swiffer mop and use the handle as an extension to get up in the corners to release cobwebs and dust from the corners of your ceilings.
Newspaper- Recycle your papers by using these to dry your mirrors and windows. They offer a lint-free solution and are a great alternative to other cloths, which can leave a dusty finish.
Old Toothbrush- These are great to get in the crevices of sinks and to do detail work around tight areas. Keep one of these in your bag of tricks to make that tedious work a little less tedious.
Store your tools in a caddy or in a bucket to make it easier to lug around as you accomplish your tasks. Next week we will be taking our tools into the kitchen and begin our spring cleaning there. Don't forget to get your kids in on the action. After all, why should mom carry the burden of all the cleaning when able hands can help?
I am looking forward to the challenge and the encouragement that we can offer one another.
Sound Off: If I were to peek into your cleaning supplies, what would I find there? Do you have any great formulas for cleaners or any products you swear by?
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11 Responses to “Organizing Your Spring Cleaning Supplies”
March 4th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Do you follow FlyLady? She says next week is the kitchen zone too, that’s why I asked! I’m really excited about this since I started my spring cleaning last week & am working thru the zones this month. Kinda scary since I have almost 10″ snow on the ground today.
March 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I know of FlyLady, although I don’t follow the program. I am glad to hear though that these projects will be coinciding. Hopefully I can offer something new to the discussion and I will be checking out the site for some more inspiration.
Thank you for your comment!!
March 4th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Does the “dishwashing soap” in the all-purpose cleaner recipe hand dishwashing soap (liquid) or are you talking about dishwasher soap? Thanks so much!
March 4th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Andrea- It is the hand dish washing soap (like Palmolive, for example) that you use. Just the liquid stuff that you probably have by your sink!
March 4th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Great! Thanks for clarifying for me!
March 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Goodness, I keep forgetting to say things and having to post again. I really love the cleaning supplies at Mrs. Meyers:
http://www.mrsmeyers.com/Default.aspx
I especially love the lavender scent, but I plan on trying the others. They are more expensive, and perhaps if you were good with essential oils you could replicate them yourself. I tried a bottle of the countertop spray with some gift money someone had given me, and I love the fresh scent. Does a nice job on my counters & stainless, too. Next time, I’ll buy a bottle of the all-purpose and mix up my own “countertop spray”. If you’re interested in being “green” these are great for that, too.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I just started using, “Clean Green” and it is reall good!! :0) Hubby bought the big jug and we dilute it in water for various household tasks. So far I’ve used it on: the floors, the walls, the counters, the windows, and even in the laundry.
I’m looking forward to spring cleaning with you all this year!! :0)
March 4th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Goo Gone!
Hugs,
Melinda
March 4th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I have asthma and using the traditional chemical based cleaning products has caused me increasing problems. Just walking by the cleaning product aisle in stores causes my breathing to go south. That being said I have become a die-hard user of the entire Shaklee Get Clean Line. When compared, dollar for dollar, it is WAY cheaper than mainline products and ridiculously cheaper than other green products. For instance, the window cleaner (made from Basic H2 concentrate)cost less than a penny a gallon and works better than anything I’ve ever used before.
My other favorite (besides Shaklee) is using vinegar; a phenomenal degreaser, disinfectant, soup scum remover, deodorizer, etc. I have used it for years to clean floors, as a fabric softener replacement, washing walls, etc. And to answer the most common question, no you house does not smell like a salad. It dries completely odorless, taking any other odors with it.
There is rarely a spray bottle of vinegar and water (1:1) and a Shaklee Basic H2 All purpose cleaner far from me when cleaning and frankly my house has never been cleaner and I’m breathing a lot better
The best part of all, if my son gets into the various bottles, they are safe…you can’t say that for bleach. Not that I’m encouraging children playing with cleaning products. I give him a bottle of water and microfiber cloth to “clean” with and he’s happy as a clam
March 5th, 2008 at 9:22 am
I love using the baking soda/vinegar combo as an all purpose cleaner for bathtubs, sinks, and toilets. And, it’s fun for the kids to make the “volcano” by pouring the vinegar over the baking soda! I’m not too bothered by the vinegar smell–I’d rather have that scent than some of the commercial cleaners, in fact.
March 12th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
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