Good products matter, but the right tools often matter more. A great microfiber cloth or a good vacuum can cut your cleaning time and give better results with less effort. If you've already sorted out House Cleaning Products You Actually Need, this is the other half of your cleaning kit. Here are the tools worth owning.
Microfiber cloths
If you buy one thing, make it a good stack of microfiber cloths. They grab dust instead of pushing it around, clean glass with just water and work on almost every surface.
- Get a dozen or more so you always have clean ones.
- Use different colors for different jobs, like one color for bathrooms and another for the kitchen, so the toilet cloth never ends up on your counters.
- Wash them separately, without fabric softener, which clogs the fibers and makes them less effective.
- Air dry or tumble dry on low.
Fold each cloth into quarters while you work and switch sides as each one gets dirty.
Scrub brushes and sponges
- Non-scratch scrub sponges for tubs, sinks and stovetops.
- A stiff grout brush for tile lines in showers and floors.
- An old toothbrush for faucet bases, drain edges and tight corners.
- A dish brush for high chairs, pots and anything with crevices.
- A melamine sponge for scuffs on walls and baseboards, used gently so it doesn't dull paint.
Replace sponges often. They hold onto bacteria fast, especially in a warm kitchen.
A vacuum that fits your home
A good vacuum is probably your most important cleaning tool. Look for:
- Strong suction and a brush roll for carpet and rugs.
- A setting that turns off the brush roll for hard floors, so it doesn't scatter debris.
- A good filter that traps fine dust instead of blowing it back into the room. A HEPA filter is great for allergy sufferers.
- Attachments: a crevice tool, a dusting brush and an upholstery tool.
- A pet tool if you have shedding pets.
A small handheld or stick vacuum is great for daily touch-ups on kitchen floors and entries. Keep it charged and somewhere easy to grab, like a pantry or a hall closet near the busiest door. If it takes more than a few seconds to get out, it won't get used for those quick crumb cleanups.
A good mop
A flat microfiber mop with washable pads is the most versatile choice. It uses less water than a string mop, which is better for hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl plank, and it gets into corners and along baseboards easily. Keep several pads so you can switch to a clean one partway through a large floor.
For tile and grout that need more scrubbing, a mop with a scrubbing strip or a bucket with a wringer helps.
A squeegee
A small squeegee in every shower is one of the best tools for North Texas homes. Using it after each shower keeps hard water spots off the glass and tile, which saves a lot of scrubbing later. Squeegees also work on windows, mirrors and, surprisingly, for pulling pet hair out of carpet.
Dusting tools
- Microfiber cloths for most dusting.
- An extendable duster for ceiling fans, high shelves and corners where cobwebs form.
- An old pillowcase for ceiling fan blades, so dust falls inside instead of on the floor.
- A lint roller for lampshades and upholstered headboards.
Skip feather dusters. They mostly move dust from one place to another.
A caddy, gloves and a step stool
A simple caddy with a handle keeps your supplies together so you can carry them room to room. Stock it with your main products, a few cloths, a scrub brush, a toothbrush and gloves. No more running back to the kitchen for something you forgot. If you have a two-story house, keep a second small caddy upstairs with the basics, so you're not hauling everything up and down the stairs.
Good rubber gloves protect your hands from hot water and cleaners. A sturdy step stool keeps you safe when reaching ceiling fans, tops of cabinets and high shelves. Never use a chair or the edge of a tub.
Rather leave the tools to us?
We bring our own supplies and equipment to every visit, so you don't need to own a thing.
Get a free quoteTake care of your tools
Clean tools clean better. Wash microfiber cloths and mop pads after each use. Rinse brushes and let them dry. Replace sponges regularly. Empty the vacuum and wash its filter as the manufacturer recommends. Store everything in one spot so it's easy to grab. Families around Waxahachie, Midlothian and the south DFW area who want the results without the gear can see what our house cleaning services include.