Andrea Dekker

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The Ultimate List of Cleaning Products I Use In My Home

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.

Do you have a favorite cleaning product?

What about a go-to cleaning tool?

And do you use cleaning routines or not?

These are all questions I’m asked fairly regularly… so I recently went through all my cleaning supplies and made one giant list of every single cleaning product and tool I use, along with how I use these products and tools to keep our home neat and clean enough.

dusting the office desk

Of course, my ultimate list” of cleaning products is an evolving list.

Due to the nature of my job (and my personality) I’m always on the lookout for new, better, less expensive, more helpful, more natural cleaning tools to use in my own home (and to share with you.)

So while I can assure you that none of the links below are sponsored, I can’t promise I will always use these exact cleaning products forever and ever.

Deal?

A Quick List of My Favorite Cleaning Tools

If I had to pare down my cleaning products to the bare minimum — the ones I use every single day, this would be my list.

GENERAL:

LAUNDRY:

FLOORS:

favorite dust pan and broom

For those who prefer a more thorough list, I did a walk-through of my entire home this past weekend and compiled a list of all the cleaning products in our home, where I store them, and what I use them for!

In my experience, cleaning is more enjoyable when your supplies are easily accessible and somewhat organized.

If you need a little motivation to clean up and declutter your cleaning supplies, this post oughta do it!

making my own hand soap

Cleaning the Kitchen:

Although I spend a fair amount of time cleaning the kitchen, I actually don’t keep all that many cleaning products in the kitchen — just whatever will fit under the sink.

kitchen sink area

I clean our kitchen counters multiples times per day. And, in general, I try to wipe down the kitchen surfaces as often as possible.

Here’s a list of cleaning products I currently keep in the kitchen.

cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink

Related Reading:

Cleaning Our Master Bathroom:

Although our bathroom isn’t actually attached to our bedroom, we still call it the “master bath” because it’s the bathroom Dave and I use. Plus, it’s tucked back right next to our bedroom so it almost feels like a master suite!

how we clean our master bathroom

I clean our bathroom on a weekly basis — with a few touch-ups throughout the week as necessary.

We keep the following cleaning supplies in our bathroom — all tucked nicely under my sink (the left one).

Related Reading:

Cleaning the Kids’ Bathroom:

We are so thankful to have a separate, very large full bathroom upstairs for the kids.

We have done some work to update this space, but it’s far from “finished”. However, it’s super functional for the kids and meets our current needs just fine.

how to clean our kids' bathroom

I thoroughly clean the kids’ bathroom once a week, but I also wipe down the sink and the toilet almost every night (usually during Clara’s bath).

We keep the following cleaning products in the kids’ bathroom (in the red hutch above the toilet so little kiddos can’t reach).

  • Disinfecting wipes
  • Paper towels
  • Toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner
the kids' bathroom

Related Reading:

Cleaning Our Half Bathroom

A couple of years ago, we turned our previously TINY laundry room into a fairly spacious half bath located right off our back door and mudroom area.

It’s perfect for our needs!

how to clean our half bathroom

Our half bath is in near-constant use as our kids always wash their hands immediately after coming inside, and this is the bathroom all guests use when they’re on the main floor.

Because of the heavy traffic, I clean this bathroom every night, often swapping out the hand towels multiple times per day so they aren’t soaking wet.

Related Reading:

We designed this room with a huge amount of storage, so we store the bulk of all our cleaning supplies in the half bath.

Under the sink:

In the cabinets above the sink:

extra storage in half bathroom

Cleaning Our Laundry “Room”:

As I mentioned above, our former laundry room is now our new half bathroom — and our former full bathroom (right next door) is not-so-patiently waiting to be transformed into a new (much larger) laundry room.

We’ve been waiting for 2 years already because once we finally decided how we wanted to renovate this space, my dad was too busy to help.

Hopefully it will happen within the next year!

For the time being, our only laundry area is in the basement. It’s not ideal, but it has worked for over 2 years now and I’m not complaining (well, maybe a little complaining every now and then!)

our basement laundry area

Because of the inconvenient basement location, we don’t keep many cleaning supplies in the laundry area.

I also don’t do much to clean this area — just wipe down the machines every now and then and sweep the floor.

These are the cleaning supplies I keep in the laundry area:

Related Reading:

folding laundry

Cleaning the Garage:

We’re outside a lot, so it makes sense to have a few cleaning tools in both our garage and outbuilding.

  • Paper towel
  • Baby wipes (for sticky, messy fingers)
  • Push broom and wicker broom
  • Buckets and dish soap for washing cars, bikes, scooters, etc.
cleaning the garage

We try to pick up the garage every evening before heading inside. I also sweep it out at least once a week. And we powerwash the floors twice a year.

Related Reading:

Whew… I think that’s everything!

But before I wrap up this comprehensive post, I want to share a few more of my favorite cleaning resources.

The cleaning routines that work for us.

I’ve always been the type to clean when it’s dirty and not worry too much about it in the meantime. But as we’ve added more people to our family and more schedules to our calendar, I realize that utilizing a few cleaning routines simplifies my days and make it easier to keep our home clean enough.

Here are a few of the cleaning routines that work well for our family.

And… 2 more links to round out this comprehensive post!

cleaning the kitchen cabinets

Now… for the vacuum:

I get so many questions about what vacuum I use or what vacuum I’d recommend, but I don’t have a great answer because I don’t think I’ve ever had one vacuum that I love for years and years.

We’ve used a handful of Hoover and Oreck vacuums over the last decade because I was a Hoover Ambassador for several years. I liked all the vacuums I was given, but I’ve never completely LOVED any of them. They all seem to die out after a couple of years of regular use and abuse.

We also had a Kirby when we were first married and it was so heavy I ended up selling it on Craigslist only about a year later.

Two years ago, I purchased a Sanitaire from a local vacuum cleaning store, but I’m already having some issues with it and the shop is now closed due to COVID.

my sanitaire vacuum

So… I’m back in the market for a vacuum and I’d love to get YOUR recommendations!

Our home is about 50/50 hardwood and carpet (with a little tile thrown in too.)

It would be ideal if I could find something that works well on hard floors, carpets, stairs, etc. I’d also like a few attachments so I can quickly do the baseboards and get under couch cushions. 

I don’t have a preference when it comes to bag/bagless or corded/cordless… but if it’s cordless, it better have a GOOD battery life!

Feel free to share YOUR favorite cleaning products and tools in the comments… as well as your vacuum recommendation.

Thanks for any suggestions you offer! 😊

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Comments

  1. lyss says

    I have a shark rocket stick vacuum and really like it. I only have hardwoods and area rugs ( no wall to wall carpet) and I wanted a vacuum that could do both easily and this one fits the bill. I love how easy it is to change attachments, empty the canister, and even remove and clean the filters. Super easy. Also love that it can easily change to a small handheld vac to vacuum the car or the sofa.

    I know dysons are highly praised, but one time I cleaned someones house with a dyson ball and it was SO heavy and hard to vacuum the stairs. I also couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to use any of the attachmets. So frustrating. I’ve also borrowed a dyson stick vacuum, not sure what model, but I really disliked that you have to hold the button down the whole time while vacuuming. I guess that’s to save power because it’s cordless, but I found that super annoying.

    When I first got my rocket, I had had our LR area rug for about a month that hadn’t’ been vacuumed (eek, I know!) I vacuumed the rug and the dirt filled the container! You could say that it has a small container, but I thought, wow, it sucked up all that!! When vacuuming my whole house regularly now, I only have to empty it every few times and it takes like 2 seconds.

    Like I said, I don’t have wall to wall carpet, so I’m guessing you might want a regular upright as opposed to the stick? I’ve heard the shark navigator is really good.

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      I’m totally open to a stick vacuum if it’s powerful enough. My sister is trying to convince me to go the stick route too 🙂

      Reply

  2. Liane says

    I guess I’m old fashioned when it comes to vacuum cleaners. I have a 20 yr old Sears Kenmore canister with the power head and it’s my deep cleaning vac since it has attachments and a long METAL unbreakable extendable wand. For every day traffic areas I use my mom’s Oreck which was nearly new when she passed away. It’s super light weight, has no frills but does have little bristles at the sides that get the edges. I have only a single story and the whole house is carpeted. My daughter has lived in two story homes for 15 yrs now and swears by have two vacuums, one of upstairs and one for the first floor. She had a Dyson and it died a violent fiery death so now she has a Shark. I’m not sure of the other one. I’m also the owner of a tiny corded Dirt Devil bagless vac for my large motor home. It’s way too small for a house but perfect for getting into the fairly narrow spaces in the coach like between the table and dinette seats, and along side the bed where there is only 12 1/2 inches. I bought that model after measuring. The entire coach is carpeted except the toilet closet and a small area in front of the kitchen sink so I need a vac that’s light and easy. I love that it’s bagless. I take it outside to empty it and then it fits neatly in the closet behind the heavy coats. I also bought a inexpensive stick vac, like an old handheld dirt devil for picking up the kitchen but I prefer a broom. Sweeping after every cooking session is imperative because the next thing I know there will be food parts from chopping on the carpet tracked out of the kitchen by my husband who refuses to wear anything but socks in the house. Me, I keep an old pair of flip flops by the door and I’m never without them or slippers. You won’t find me with a smooshed piece of zucchini on the bottom of my sock!

    Reply

  3. Debbie says

    I too recommend Dyson vacuums. We have the cordless V8 and I use it for minor cleaning and for our non-carpeted areas but it can also be used for carpet. It’s amazing how much dirt it sucks. We also gave the Dyson upright vacuum and love it as well. We’ve had it for 10 years without any issues.

    Reply

  4. Debbie says

    I’ve had a Dyson DC25 for about 10 years and it has worked great for me! Love that I can empty the canister easily with no bag. Last year, I bought a Dyson V8 Absolute cordless stick vacuum and love it! The kids like to use it whenever I ask them to vacuum (win-win) and it has been great for a quick cleanup of the tile floor whenever I don’t want to sweep. The attachments have been great for vacuuming the car as well. I bought it from Dyson on Black Friday and haven’t seen a better price since.

    Reply

  5. Chris says

    I have a Dyson and I love it. I looked at their website to link one like it and they don’t have it anymore. The ones on their website are the ones with the “ball” which I do not like at all. (I used a family members). Mine is between 10 and 15 years old. Now that I looked at their website, I hope mine never breaks. 🙁 It’s also pink (a breast cancer support associated thing at the time). 🙂

    I also have a window cloth that is a “Norwex knock off.” I love it. You don’t have to use cleaner.

    Reply

    • Chris says

      It’s the best vacuum cleaner I ever had. I had a Rainbow, which probably cleaned better but was cumbersome and you always had to put water in and empty the water.

      Reply

  6. Julia Irvin says

    I have the Dyson v8 Absolute. It is a cordless bagless stick vacuum cleaner. We got it on a great Black Friday sale. I love it. It has attachments for carpet or hard floors plus lots of extras. The battery life is up to 40 minutes. We have two large very furry dogs and two cats and it handles pet fur well. I do have to empty the canister often when I’m vacuuming, because of pet hair, so I will keep a trash can near me for emptying the canister into. It cleans very very well. I am ALWAYS amazed at how much it sucks up. I have also had good experiences with Dyson’s customer service.
    I saw that you have Soft Scrub on your list for cleaning your porcelain sink. My sink isn’t porcelain, but here’s a fantastic DIY sink scrub recipe to try (from my SIL): In an empty jar or container, mix together 3/4 c baking soda, 1/4 c liquid castille soap, 2-4 T water, and 10 drops essential oils of choice (optional, but Peppermint EO is awesome in this). That’s it! Works like soft scrub on sinks or even as a mild scrub for stuck on food on dishes or removing stains from countertops (at least on laminate countertops).
    Also, if you’ve never tried Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds, that’s one to check out. We use a couple of drops in a spray bottle of water as a degreaser (stoves, cooking messes) and all-purpose spray (dining table, walls, etc), a quarter sized amount in a bucket of water for mopping floors and it cleans gunk in ovens really well.
    A trick for cleaning pans with burned on food: let them soak for an hour or overnight with hot water, a squirt of dish soap and a generous sprinkle of baking soda. Wipes right off in the morning.
    Occasionally I will soak my clean water bottle lids in hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them and get out any residue or particles that get stuck in them. When the hydrogen peroxide stops fizzing, you know all the germs are dead!
    One more to try: Lemon Essential Oil instead of Goo Gone. It gets off sticky residue very easily from labels/stickers and it even got gum off my hardwood floor in less than a minute. Smells great too!
    (I like Plant Therapy brand essential oils).
    Thanks for sharing your list!!

    Reply

  7. Carrie says

    Sadly I recently had to replace my Sharp Twin Energy vacuum cleaner (no longer available) after almost 24 years of terrific service. The motor is still going strong but pieces and parts could no longer be duct taped…I’m sure someone with better repair skills could replace the hoses. I purchased a Shark Rotator Pet Plus Upright from Sam’s Club for $129. It is lightweight and seems to pick up plenty of dirt. It isn’t as powerful as my beloved Sharp as the edge of my area rugs aren’t sucked up. It also doesn’t appear to pick up on the sides. I do like the ease of going from wood floors to carpet. It is just a switch to control this. It is going to take some adjusting as I miss my old vacuum cleaner.
    I agree with using Fels Naptha for poison ivy. My son is a poison ivy magnet so we just keep a bar in the shower. I also soften the Fels Naptha in a mason jar with water and use it for laundry stains especially for grease. I also make a spray with the softened Fels Naptha, Blue Dawn dish soap and water. My sons play baseball and this is terrific at getting mud or grass stains out of their white uniforms.

    Reply

  8. Cheryl Vetter says

    We have a shark vacuum. I don’t think they sell the exact version anymore (it’s been upgraded!) but it is lightweight, bag-less, and has tools that are easy to access. This is the one closest to what I have: https://www.sharkclean.com/exclusive-offer/NV150WBKT/shark-navigator-swivel-pro-complete-upright-vacuum/ I am sure you could find it for less than on their website. My mom has a dyson, and she thinks my shark cleans better (for much less cost!) Hope it helps.

    Reply

  9. Cathy says

    I have had a Dyson DC33 for 8 years. I have hardwood, tile and carpet throughout my house. It is bagless and I love that(not that I love seeing all the dog hair) but it picks up the dog hair and I love the attachments. Easy to use to get under cabinets, with stairs and also the nasty cobwebs. Love that there are two filters I get to clean, very easy and functional! Only have had to replace the hose once and it was easy peasy!

    Reply

  11. Ashley says

    Hey Andrea! My hubby and I each owned a Dyson when we got married so we now have 2! They’re both 10 years old or better and still going strong. The canister is super easy to empty, it’s easy to pull the hose out to do the smaller jobs, and there’s several attachments that have a home on the vacuum. If you don’t like pushing the vacuum across your hard floors there’s an extra-wide (about 12″) attachment just like the 4″ one that comes with the vacuum. I prefer to sweep my floors in general though. Costco used to sell Dysons, at least on occasion, so you might watch there!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      that’s nice that you have 2 vacuums! One for each level (if you have 2 levels!) Our Costco does still sell Dysons, but they are still $500+ a piece. I’ll watch for a deal around Thanksgiving!
      and yes, I also prefer to sweep — it’s my favorite household “chore”, but sometimes when I’m already vacuuming the carpet, I just want to quickly press a button and switch to hard floors to suck up the big crumbs!

      Reply

  13. Christy says

    I have a shark navigator. I’m not even sure if this model is still available I’ve had it for 10 years or more?? I bought it at kohl’s. Using a coupon and probably got kohl’s cash! It’s purple and grey. It’s lightweight. Has a few extra tools. The canister detaches so you can easily use it on stairs and works on carpet or hardwood. It’s lightweight. Easy to empty. No bags to change. No belts that break. The hose does not get clogged. It’s thin so it easily goes under furniture. It’s light weight and my 9 year old can use it!

    Reply

  14. Shelley says

    My mom cleans houses for a living and sharks are the most durable by far. They clean the same as the dyson but for a fraction of the price. Love mine.

    Reply

  15. Sue Stein says

    We bought a Shark a few years ago, at the recommendation of several friends. Our daughter bought one at Costco a year ago, a larger model than ours. We all love our Sharks! There are different models, depending on how heavy-duty you need yours to be. Highly recommend Shark.

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      thanks — I don’t need super heavy-duty, but something with enough power 😉
      sounds like Sharks are super popular with many!

      Reply

  16. Elizabeth says

    We have been so impressed with our Shark. We’ve had it for 6+ years and it’s still going strong. I like that I can take the top part off and it will even fit in our van to vacuum it. And it does great on carpet and hardwood.

    Reply

  17. Briana Smith says

    We have a Shark liftaway and it’s hands down the best vaccum I’ve ever had. I LOVE IT.
    We have hard floors and rugs and the Shark goes seamlessly back and forth either surface, no need to change any settings or anything. It picks up dust great from the hard floors and crumbs and dirt from the rugs. The Lift Away part is super nice for being able to get under couches and tight spaces. We’ve had ours for three years, still love it as much as when we first got it. Only maintenance we’ve done is replace the filters and cut the hair off the roller, super easy because it detaches from the head.

    Reply

  18. Nikki says

    I’ve been a faithful Shark user for quite a few years! After reading a few reviews/comparison articles I purchased my first Shark. We now own a shark stick vacuum, robot vacuum, and shark steam mop. The stick vacuum is easy to use between the hardwood, tile, and carpet floors as well as the furniture and stairs. Can’t wait to hear what you decide on!!

    Reply

  19. Ann Y. says

    Ahhh…the search for the perfect vacuum. Had “central vac” in the walls in two previous homes. Liked it, but you had to use that BIG, LONG hose each time you wanted to do a quick clean up. Last move got a Simplicity canister and it was great, but heavy to carry up stairs and I kept pulling it into my ankle. Moved to an apartment with half hardwood and half carpet three years ago. Bought a Shark…cleaned ok, did not like the cord, cleaning the bin ( no bags) was not easy, stuff always remained. FINALLY got a Dyson V8 Animal – even though I don’t have animals. I LOVE IT. Very light, cordless and recharges in my laundry room, super easy to empty the bin, cleans amazingly well, and each night after dinner it is super easy to just quickly sweep up the hardwood in the kitchen ( dark wood shows everything) and do a quick run on the area rug in the living room. No changing heads, no flipping any switches. Pricey – yes. Worth ever penny – YEs1

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      yes — I don’t know if there is a “perfect” vacuum, but I agree with you about the central vac. I’ve used them before and strongly dislike lugging the huge hose around!

      Reply

  20. Jamie says

    Get WallVac installed. You will love it. We just had it added to our pre existing house and I love it. We have wood floors throughout most of the main floor and it is game changing. My kids can do it because it is light weight and has great suction.

    Reply

  21. Ann says

    I must be a reckless vacuumer because my vacuum breaks every 12-36 months. That said, I am thrilled that we bought a shark from Costco because they take the broken one back every time. I usually upgrade a model so I pay another $25-$50 each time. If you are rough on your vacuums or your kids use them a lot, you might want to limit where you look to Costco!
    There are features I don’t love about my current one but I don’t think I’ve ever used a vacuum that I loved every single feature. My friend has a Dyson and is in love with hers!

    Now, question for you: Tell me about Swiffers. We inherited one with our cottage and I don’t think I get it. When do you use it? (In place of sweeping? In place of vacuuming? In place of mopping?)

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      This is a great point — Costco takes everything back. I think I need to buy my vacuums from them because mine always seems to die around the 2-year mark too!

      As for the swiffer, I use it AFTER sweeping and/or vacuuming. it gets all the little hairs and dust particles that sometimes slip through the cracks. It picks up a surprising amount of dust!

      Reply

  22. Rachel says

    I love my Shark vacuum and recommend it to everyone! I’ve had it for 5 years and it’s still going strong.

    Reply

  23. Linda says

    I wouldn’t bother with a Kirby. They are VERY expensive, super heavy, and my Dyson actually picks up carpet dirt the Kirby leaves behind. On th3 other hand, (due to their weight), they are very sturdy.

    Reply

    • Margaret says

      Heavy though it undoubtedly is, you can’t beat the Kirby for longevity. When I first started housekeeping in the 1980s, I had my grandmother’s Kirby, which was at least 50 years old when it finally died. I went through 3 or 4 other vacuums (the amount of dog hair in my house and life is massive and death to a lesser vacuum), and I finally sucked it up and bought another Kirby. 15 years old and going strong.
      I do have it set up in “canister” mode, which makes it much easier to switch out the other tools.
      The one I have now has a HEPA filter and uses bags, which does add to the cost, but is worth it to me since I have both animals and asthma.
      The only other vacuum I’d seriously consider would be a Miele.
      Happy hunting!

      Reply

  24. Jen says

    I love the Kirkland dishwasher tabs too, but that Amazon price is just under double what you pay in the club! Might be worth a membership, depending on how many you use and other things you find that might save you money with a membership!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      yes yes, I definitely buy mine straight from Costco — I just wanted to point out that you COULD get them from Amazaon if you didn’t have a membership but wanted to try them out first.

      Reply

  25. Calliope says

    Oh Andrea I love these kind of posts!
    I store my products where I use them. So every bathroom has all I need and each floor too. So I have two vacuums, two mops, two brooms, two swiffers etc
    I make my own cleaners so I only really have one or two spray bottles and a clorine bottle
    I have a dyson that I use only on carpets. It’s just too heavy to move around the house. But for carpets it is awesome. I have laminate flooring in my house and only a few area IKEA low pile carpets only in winter so they clean easily with a Miele canister vacuum. I’ve been through A LOT of vacuums and Miele is the most expensive but it gets the job done easily, efficiently and it lasts! I love it so much that I decided to buy another one for upstairs. I bought a slightly smaller version because I want to store it inside a cabinet. I also want a vacuum with a bag.

    Reply

  26. Erin says

    So my husband is really into vacuum cleaners. We have an oreck but seems to break down a lot although it is so lightweight and great for stairs. My husband recently bought a Sebo. It does a great job lifting the carpet pile but is very heavy. The Sebo is also great for tile and hardwoods and it self adjusts for the flooring type. Most of our carpet is upstairs so we keep the Sebo upstairs and use the oreck downstairs. My MIL has a Riccar that she loves. She is a vacuum snob like her son so I trust her opinion.

    Reply

  27. Bridget says

    I think You would love Norwex…one envirocloth can replace all of these products!

    I had a dyson, went to shark and now I’m back to dyson. 🙂

    Reply

    • Abbie says

      I agree with the Norwex comment. (And I am not a seller;)) Have you ever tried any of their products? As far as vacuums, I love our Shark!

      Reply

  28. Jean says

    I love a good vacuum and am willing to pay more for something that lasts. We have both a Riccar (upright) and Miehle (canister) from our locally owned vacuum store. They can be service and repaired and they last.

    For laundry, I really like the Norwex detergent. You only have to use a scant amount, a bag lasts us a very long time and it takes up little space in the laundry cupboard.

    I will also put a plug in for good old fashioned Fels Naptha soap. It I great for scrubbing out really difficult stains. If you “shave” it, it is a great old fashioned remedy for poison ivy. Our kids came home more than once from summer camp with poison ivy and the camp nurse sent a baggie of shaved Fels Naptha soap along with them. It worked!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      oh yes, Fels Naptha! We have that too — although I wish I would have known about the poison ivy trick! Dave and I both got poison ivy last month!

      Reply

  29. wilma says

    We have two Dyson vacuums. We have a Dyson container vacuum, with the turbine driven head. I would NOT recommend this vacuum for carpet, as the turbine driven motor (basically there is no motor in the attachment, it rotates from the suction of the vacuum) doesn’t work well on carpet. I also have the cheapest Dyson stick vacuum. This vacuum has a motor driven head.

    For both vacuums I have an extra attachment–the floor brush. It is AMAZING. you can lay the whole vacuum flat so it can get under almost anything. It works extremely well.

    The stick vacuum works so well, I rarely even use the big old Dyson anymore (which I’ve had for about 10 years and still works great). I keep the big Dyson in the basement, and use it almost exclusively there. The stick vacuum goes in a drawer in our living room, and the stick park just lives under the same piece of furniture–you can only see it if you’re on the floor.

    I just run the vacuum when I get home from work, and again before bed (usually). it’s especially nice for a quick clean up after meals. Of course, both vacuums need crevice tools, etc., and those work just fine.

    To conclude (haha), I would highly recommend Dyson, but not anything turbine driven for carpets, and I would pay extra for the floor brush (it works amazing on all hard surfaces–no more brooms for me!!).

    Reply

  30. Kelly Hess says

    I’m like you and keep bathroom cleaning products on the first floor for our half bath and then upstairs in the linen closet for our two full baths. It is so much easier not to have to take cleaning products up and down the stairs. I just grab my bucket, rag, and paper towels and head upstairs to clean.

    Reply

  31. Shelley says

    Hands down, get a Shark! I have a Kirby and they work well but they are unbelievably heavy. I also have a rainbow and they are amazing, but very cumbersome. My mother has cleaned houses for years and they only use sharks. They work better and hold up better than any other vacuum, way better than the Dyson.

    Reply

  32. Michelle says

    For hard wood, blinds, baseboards, stairs, cars, cobwebs, shoe cabinets, dryer lint, around appliances, furniture, closets, under the kitchen table… I can’t recommend the Dyson stick enough. I use mine on carpet too and think it does a good job. My husband likes to use the Dyson animal on the carpet every week or two. It does. Lot of the other tasks too but not as simple quick and easy to use. Having a cordless and lightweight vacuum is just awesome.

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Thanks Michelle! I do really want a cordless one for the main floor (kitchen area) but I’m worried about batteries dying after 6 months or a year. Does your battery hold up well?

      Reply

      • Wilma Hovius says

        We had a problem with the battery after the expiry ended on the Dyson stick (3 year warranty) and because they had no batteries in stock, the company sent my a brand new stick vacuum for free. I’ve had great service from Dyson.

        Reply

  33. Katie says

    Great rundown!

    Clorox Wipes are a go-to in my bathrooms. Each day I wipe down the vanities and the toilets with one – I buy them through my Amazon subscribe and save subscription. I also keep Glas cleaner and a roll of paper towels under every sink so I can easily wipe mirrors.

    Being on a septic system, we cannot use powder detergents of any kind, so I stock up on Cascade Dishwashing liquid at Costco, and purchase Ecover laundry detergent and fabric softener through Vitacost.

    I’m a huge fan of Better Life cleaning products so I buy the following direct from them: Window Cleaner, All-Purpose Spray cleaner, Floor Cleaner.

    As far as actual tools go, I am in love with my Eufy Robo-vacuum, which runs everyday while I’m gone and takes care of most day to day floor stuff, which mostly consists of picking up dog hair. Knowing the vacuum will run also makes me make sure stuff is picked up off of the floor! I have a central vac system for my more thorough manual vacuuming.

    But I really love the XL Mop with the telescoping handle and microfiber Mop clothes from Fly Lady, which I use for both dry mopping and wet mopping, along with the Microfiber Multi-wand for dusting. I can use the telescoping handle with the multi-wand to reach high things, and shorten up the handle with the mop to let me 4 year old help too 🙂

    Reply

  34. Rhonda says

    I have had a Dyson animal (not the hand-held one, this one is the big one that plugs in with a cord) for 11 years, and it’s now just on it’s way out (I think it was the brush motor that’s going, and can’t be repaired). It is an expensive vacuum, but we’ve put it to good use. I have had belts replaced on it a few times, but other than that, I think I’ve been happy (like you said, if you had a less expensive vacuum that lasts only a few years…well, maybe it’s just “you get what you pay for” and that’s the life expectancy.) I’ve also had a Dyson animal DC44 cordless/rechargeable for about 4-5 years. It’s great for floors and rugs (I have LLBean water hog rugs in different areas), and it’s great for doing stairs (you can put on a short attachment and then not have to worry about extending your larger vacuum attachments up or down the stairs). I need to replace my larger Dyson, and I have someone who cleans my house once a month (she uses my vacuum when she comes, but also has her own). She also recommends the Shark vacuums. I will let you know if I make the switch!

    Reply

    • Rhonda says

      The DC44 Dyson also can be mounted on the wall (near an outlet for easy recharging and storing).

      Reply

    • Rhonda says

      Your family might be able to get by with one smaller cordless type of Dyson, but we need a larger one too because the collection column would fill up with dirt and hair (we have two dogs) too quickly at our house. Or I guess it depends also on how many times per month you vacuum. If it’s frequently then a vacuum that won’t hold much dirt would work out.

      Reply

      • Wilma Hovius says

        I vacuum every day and I empty the little canister every day–no pets, just 3 kids. I agree that it doesn’t hold that much. But I can basically vacuum our whole main floor on one charge (about 1200 sq feet), and it won’t be overly full from that.

        Reply

  35. Aimee says

    I got a Dyson v6 animal stick vac last year on black Friday. It has been the best investment. I have a central vac but rarely use it. Borrow one and you will be amazed at how much dirt is in your carpet and, for us, it was dog hair.

    Reply

  36. Kristen says

    We just got a Shark vacuum and I LOVE it. We have a mix of carpet, hard wood, and area rugs and it works great on all. The one we got has a hardwood floor attachment so I just switch that out and I don’t even have to use a broom on the floors anymore, just use that. It is a standup/canister/stick vacuum so you can use it in whichever way works best for what you need in the moment, easily switch from one way to another. The canister is super easy to empty. We got the one specifically for pets, but the other models seem to have those similar features. I’d just make sure to get the one with the hardwood floor attachment. It was expensive, but so far it’s been worth it – we’ll see how well it holds up over the years but I’m sure it’ll last us a long time.

    Reply

  37. Debby says

    Hello Andrea. Just gonna give my two cents about vacuums. I looovvvveeee a good vacuum. I was also going through one about every two or three years. I had a Kirby that lasted longer but it was quite heavy and difficult to attach and unattach attachments. I hated it so much. So I bought a Dyson and I absolutely love it. I think I have had it now for about 7 years. No bags. Super easy to clean. We have two dogs and it picks up the hair really well. It also has extra long tubing on the attachment aspect that allows me to leave the vacuum on the first floor landing and do the entire flight of stairs. It has a button that turns off the beater brush for hardwoods. I have hardwood in all of my rooms except the family room and living room. I am sold. I think I paid about $400 for it but honestly I would have had three Hoovers or Eurekas by now. I have also heard good things about Shark. We have a corded hand held Shark that we really like for the cars. It’s nice and compact and nice for quick jobs. Good luck

    Reply

  38. Anna says

    I have a shark navigator lift-away and I absolutely love it! My old house had carpet but we have all hardwood and tile where we live now and it’s done a great job on all of it.

    Reply

  39. Eileen says

    Andrea love the way u have u the rubber gloves stored on d kitchen door. What kind of a holder is that. I need one of them. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      haha — it’s called… a clothes pin! 🙂
      I just used super sticky 2-sided tape to put a clothes pin inside the cabinet door — simple, but it’ works!

      Reply

  40. Amy says

    I love several of the products mentioned! Microfiber cloths are so awesome for so many jobs in our house. I will have to try the PerfectClean brand!

    Just wanted to drop a comment about the laundry balls. These things are a total scam and don’t actually clean your laundry. A basic budget friendly detergent is a much better way to wash clothes (not ‘homemade’). Most of the companies of these ‘laundry balls’ have been sued for false advertising and lies.

    http://www.fluffloveuniversity.com/cloth-diaper-myths/the-down-low-on-detergent-less-washing-systems/

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      interesting — I’ll definitley read this article because I’ve been pretty happy with my laundry balls (but also skeptical of IF they are actually doing anything or not!) thanks!

      Reply

      • Jenny says

        To me, the laundry balls mechanically “help” the detergent. They definitely don’t take the place of it. And the dryer balls work great in spring, summer, and fall, but in the winter I have to add a tiny bit of fabric softener to prevent static. I do hang laundry outside some, then run it quickly through the dryer to get lint, pollen, and wrinkles out.
        I just got a new washer to replace my 20-year-old machine, and am very disappointed. It takes twice as long and I don’t feel like it cleans as well. It has safety features and is environmentally-friendly, but I just want an easy, strong washer! I want to be able to change the water temp, open and rearrange or add stuff, etc. It’s confusing and I’m so mad. I didn’t know that I would need to ask for those features!

        Reply

          • Susanne says

            Ive been through THREE washers in SIXTEEN years and I’ve not been happy with any of them. The Maytag I have now leaves soap streaks on dark clothes even when I use just a dab of HE detergent and use the extra rinse cycle. I’m going with Speed Queen next.

            Reply

            • Andrea says

              it really is true that they “don’t make things like they used to”. I actually talked with an appliance person and they said the companies make appliances to last only 7 years so people need to buy new.

              Reply

        • Andrea says

          Thanks for sharing… I’m definitely going to read up on this more!
          Also, I’ve heard many people who wish they would stick with their old washing machines. I’m already doing my research for our new laundry room — and I’m looking into less traditional options (a.k.a. not trendy or commercialized brand machine). We’ll see what I find!

          Reply

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