Resources for the Busy Mama’s Clean House Checklist
This page is a resource companion to the Busy Mama’s Clean House Checklist daily email. I’ve listed the tools I love for cleaning my house, and I will continue to update this page.
Some links included are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and purchase an item, I receive a commission on the sale at no extra cost to you.
My top picks for home-cleaning tools:
Read more about each of these tools below.
Microfiber Cloths
I use the Zwipes cloths from Amazon, because they come in a huge pack of three-color cloths. I like to keep one set in the kitchen, one in the bathroom, and one in the basement. After I wash them up, I know what goes where, and I’ll never accidentally use the toilet cloth on the kitchen counters…
A word to the wise about microfiber cloths: purchase inexpensive ones! They eventually (usually in a year or so) lose their cleaning/absorbing power so you will need to replace them. It is easier on the pocketbook to replace the cheap ones.
In the kitchen I love using these microfiber cloths to clean my countertops because they are SUPER absorbent and grabby. They also polish my stainless steel appliances with just water! I also clean my table with them. They don’t work well for dishwashing. At the end of the day I give my kitchen floor a “lick and a kiss” as you’ll see in The Busy Mama’s Clean House Checklist evening routine. This means I sweep the floor, then I use my damp microfiber cloth to quickly wash up the floor. I usually try to swipe the whole floor, but my kitchen isn’t huge. Spot-cleaning is fine too! Doing a little swipe or spot cleaning each evening will tide you over until you can mop. Also, it cuts back on ever needing a serious floor scrub – a wet Swiffer will usually serve you just fine for the once-a-week mopping!
Glass Cleaner
Add 2-3 drops of dish soap to a spray bottle like these that come in a pack of 4.
Fill the spray bottle with water and shake up. That’s it!
Surgical Huck Cloths
I use and recommend surgical huck cloths to clean my glass along with my DIY glass cleaner. This type of cloth does a great job keeping the glass streak-free and lint-free.
These cloths are called “surgical” because they are used to clean off instruments in surgery. They are used by window washers, car detailers, and cleaning companies because they hold up to many washings. Look for cloths made from 100% cotton for maximum absorbency, like these.
Microfiber Sweeper for Wood and Laminate Floors
I really enjoy cleaning my wood floors with the LINKYO microfiber floor mop. I use it exactly like a broom, just push all the dirt and garbage into a pile. But the nice thing is that it collects all the dust as I go. When I’m done, I shake the dust off outside and then launder the microfiber pad. It comes with three pads, and I only need one for my entire floor. I haven’t tried using it wet yet.
Bathroom Cleaner
For cleaning my bathroom, I use the one-two punch of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. More details on deep-cleaning the bathroom naturally here.
I add a spray bottle nozzle to my hydrogen peroxide bottle. You don’t want to pour the hydrogen peroxide into another container, because the chemical breaks down if the light hits it, and it’s no longer effective.
I pour white vinegar into a separate spray bottle.
When I clean the bathroom counters / sinks / toilet / tub, I first give them a wipe-down with a wet microfiber cloth. If you are disinfecting a dirty surface, it’s not cutting all the way below the grime. Because of this, it’s important to get the grime off first. I spray them all down with hydrogen peroxide, then follow with vinegar. This has been proven to kill most harmful bacteria. After it sits for a few minutes to kill germs, I dry and buff with microfiber cloths.
Dusting
In my home, I keep dusting very simple. I carry around a spray bottle filled half with white vinegar, half water. I spray this directly on the furniture, or on the cloth if I don’t want to get the trinkets or books wet. I wipe the surface clean with a Zwipes microfiber cloth.
For a furniture polish, I spray my vinegar mixture directly onto a paper towel, drizzle on some olive oil, and polish away.
Items mentioned in this post:
Have you tried using a half/half water and laundry softener for your dusting needs. It helps to repel the dust from collecting and smells great.