Novelist’s Wife: Why does your heroine “enter and sweep the room with a glance”?
Novelist (scornfully): Because she has no vacuum cleaner.
—Town Topics, Daily Times, Barre, Vermont, December 26, 1907
Having the right tools and knowing how to use them makes home cleaning easier, faster, and, most important, fun. It also helps if your tools are attractive and of high quality—in fact, I’ve found that good-looking, well-made tools often inspire more frequent cleaning sessions (more on that later). In the meantime, let’s detail all the supplies I use daily, plus the household appliances I’ve splurged on to make my life easier. I also list nice-to-have cleaning tools that can make any chore a snap.
Start by gathering “The Essentials” listed next—you probably own most, if not all, of them already. By having these on hand, you won’t have to buy and use a bunch of (potentially harmful) chemicals, and your cleaning will be just as thorough. As for the items on the other two lists, I don’t recommend going out and buying everything. Rather, just get the items you’ll use regularly. Most of the time, you can make do with what you’ve got. And honestly, you can clean any home top to bottom with “The Essentials”—you might have to use a bit more sweat equity, but you can get the job done.
Cordless tool system: Not long ago, my tools—orbital buffer, drill, shop vacuum, Weedwacker, and more—were made by a bunch of manufacturers. Buying all the different batteries wasted time and effort. So I converted to one brand. Now, whenever I buy a new tool, I stick to that brand. That means my batteries are interchangeable, and I’ve always got a couple charged and ready to go.
To choose your tool brand, compare the tools you need with those offered by various manufacturers. I don’t necessarily recommend buying a tool kit, as it’s likely to include items you’ll never use. Just buy the tools you need.
Steam cleaner: If you’ve never used a steamer—prepare yourself: Steamers are miracle workers and addictive in the best way. In your kitchen, for example, drips of jam are gone in a jiffy, Diet Coke spills disappear, and grout simply glows. How does it work? Steam disinfects, sanitizes, degreases, deodorizes, and, best of all, cleans with heat instead of chemicals.
You can either buy a $50 budget steamer that’ll get the job done, or spring for a $150 canister steamer that holds more water for cleaning sessions that can last up to an hour. If you do decide to invest in a tool that you think you’ll use, I recommend spending a little more to get a tool that makes cleaning extra easy. Over time, you’ll forget how much you paid, but your cleaning routine will continue to be all the easier.
Regardless of which model you buy, your steamer attachments will beg the question: What will you clean first? Will you squeegee your mirrors, shower walls, and windows? (I even clean the exterior windows that I can reach.) Will you mop your floors—tile, vinyl, even sealed hardwood? Perhaps you’ll grab the small pads to clean your grout or the bigger pads to bring your upholstered furniture back to life. Maybe you’ll fasten on the triangle pads to get into corners that haven’t been cleaned in forever, or spray clean your tub and toilets? (You can even steam your car seats.) Then, when your rooms are gleaming, just throw the mop and any pads—zipped up in mesh bags, of course—right into the washing machine and allow them to air-dry so they’re ready for the next time.
Stick vacuum—cordless and rechargeable: Hardly a day goes by that I don’t reach for this genius tool. I’d wanted one forever, and when it fell to half price on a Black Friday, I raced to the store. Worlds easier to use than a corded vacuum, it’s lightweight and requires no bags, which saves money. Best of all, vacuuming steps isn’t a sweaty workout—or a life-and-death situation, since you don’t drag that tripping hazard of a cord behind you. Cordless vacuums feature just as many attachments as corded vacuums. Plus, you can tuck it away in a closet within reach of the spaces that need regular vacuuming. And with all these great attributes, you’re apt to use it often. Vroom, vroom!
HL Tip: Even in a small home or an apartment, you need hand tools. If you’re just getting started, consider this quartet: a hammer, a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, and a pair of pliers. for a deep discount, snap up these tools at estate sales. (Who said thrifting is only for clothes and Christmas ornaments? At least that’s what I buy.) One other tool that I recommend and often give as a graduation present is a multi-tool. This compact device, similar to a Swiss Army knife, features cutters, knives, openers, pliers, saws, and screwdrivers, all of which fold into the handle.
Brooms, specialty: Did you know that different types of brooms have different purposes? When do you need a heavy-duty broom, an angle broom, or a push broom? How about a corn, straw, or handheld broom? Selecting the best brooms for your needs can be nearly as confusing as buying a mattress. So here’s the lowdown:
Brushes: Load up on a bunch of brushes to make cleaning easy: two small horsehair brushes for polishing such things as silverware and picture frames, and three or four Tampico and/or coir brushes for cleaning the kitchen and bathroom: e.g., a long-handled dish brush, a short-handled pot brush, and a long-handled toilet brush. Tampico is a biodegradable, acid-resistant fiber made from Mexican agave plants; coir is an antimicrobial, decay-resistant fiber made from coconuts; both are better for the environment than a plastic brush. I’d also recommend hanging on to an old toothbrush (preferably an environmentally friendly, compostable bamboo toothbrush) for scrubbing around faucets.
Buckets: Some ice creams come packed in gallon tubs. But don’t confuse an ice cream tub with a bucket that can assist with lots of household jobs. Instead, buy a couple of good-quality buckets. They come in a gazillion sizes. I recommend buying the largest one your storage space—say, under the laundry sink—can accommodate. Galvanized buckets are made of steel coated with zinc to prevent rust. These are heavy enough not to tip over—whether filled with soapy water for washing the car or loaded with ice and a variety of beverages for a party. A plastic bucket, meanwhile, can pull double duty as a tool caddy—great for carrying cleaning supplies throughout the house. Of course, you can purchase a tool caddy, but why not just use a bucket and save money? At some point you’re going to need a bucket, and then you’ll have one. And if you’re going to buy a plastic bucket, why not buy it in a fun color? I suggest orange, my favorite.
Buffer, orbital: You may be asking: What the heck is an orbital buffer? Answer: Possibly the best tool you’ve never heard of. This handheld powered machine is used to polish and clean hard surfaces. You can find corded and cordless (my preference) versions. While often used to buff cars, it’s also a phenomenal household tool, packing a lot of power despite its relatively small size—they can weigh anywhere from two to eight pounds depending on the model.
For the cleanest bathtub ever, use a buffer to clean your tub once a season. Buh-bye, soap scum. Use the buffer to wax your wood floors a couple of times a year for incredible results—there’s no need to refinish your floors. Or buff up your grimy handrails or dingy wood furniture. Got granite countertops? Use the orbital buffer to seal them in a flash. I’ve even used my buffer on a leather letter jacket. Where can’t you use a buffer? Soon, that’s the question you’ll be asking. This little genius can be had for as little as forty bucks, or invest in a bit more expensive model that’s part of a cordless tool system.
HL Tip: Some apartment-management companies offer a tool library, and why not? It’s likely that tenants will keep their living spaces cleaner if tools are accessible. But if your dorm, apartment building, or other communal living situation doesn’t provide a tool library, consider starting one yourself. The idea? Each person buys one tool—vacuum, rug shampooer, etc.—and shares, saving you all money and storage space. Impressively, in the Twin Cities, where I live, there’s also the Minnesota Tool Library, which boasts five thousand items, including such cleaning tools as a pressure washer, a garment steamer, and a leaf blower, plus brooms, dustpans, and more.
Cleaners: Ninety-nine percent of the time I rely on dish soap, vinegar, and vodka for all my cleaning. But in a pinch, I turn to another trio: Amodex, check. Bar Keepers Friend, check. Silver polish, check. Amodex, an all-natural formulation made by a family-owned company for more than sixty years, removes permanent inks and dyes—super handy if you get a bit of Sharpie on your favorite shirt. Use Bar Keepers Friend when you want to clean that porcelain sink until it’s pristine. And silver polish is good for, well, you know. If you don’t own sterling, you don’t need it.
Cloths: While a bag of rags and old kitchen towels are great for cleaning, don’t throw out old terrycloth bathroom towels. They’re also super for cleaning, especially in the bathroom. Plus, if you make a few cuts along the side of a bathroom towel with a sharp pair of scissors, rip away and you’ve got several nice-sized rags. Having a few microfiber cloths are helpful as well, especially if you’re allergic to dust.
Dusters: Oh, how I love a colorful yarn mop—both for its aesthetics and its magnetic ability to grab dust and pet hair! That’s thanks to the lanolin in the wool yarn. Handheld wool dusters and feather dusters are equally great for dusting furniture. To clean the wool items, simply drop them into a mesh bag, secure with rubber bands or safety pins so the wool items don’t move around in the wash, and launder. To clean the feather duster, just whack it against an outdoor wall or on a deck rail.
Plungers: I’m going to let you in on a secret: There are two types of plungers—if you didn’t know that before, you’re now in the know. The half-a-bagel plunger (some look like accordions) is designed to unclog slow-moving drains in sinks, tubs, and showers. The heavy-duty ball style, meanwhile, provides major plunging power to clear tough toilet clogs. In a pinch, either can be used for the other purpose. But it’s better, and more sanitary, to use each for the task for which it was designed.
Sponges: For sanitary purposes, keep two sponges on hand—one for the kitchen and one for the rest of the house. Throw them in the dishwasher to clean and replace every four months or so. I recommend earth-friendly options, like those made from recycled cotton, former coffee sacks, or vegetable cellulose—often coconuts, loofah gourds, or walnuts. These sponges are generally biodegradable and compostable, and they don’t contain toxic chemicals that take decades to break down.
Vacuum, hand: I’ve got two hand vacuums—one for upstairs and one for downstairs. And, no, I’m not lazy (at least not most of the time). I just want each one ready at a moment’s notice.
Vacuum, robot: If your spaces are like mine with a random sock or newspaper on the floor, maybe this one’s not for you. However, if your spaces are nice and neat, this machine might be the perfect choice. Just turn it on and let it go. (If it comes back to you, it was meant to be.)