Any
house, big or small, can quickly end up overcrowded with cleaning supplies. As
you keep buying “one more thing” to handle a different problem, you soon find
that your tidy cleaning closet has become a mussed mess. By choosing these four
great cleaning tools that are flexible and sleek, you’ll cut down on the need
for a million different items and help keep your cleaning supplies in order.

Cleaning
Tool #1: Squeegee

These
handy-dandy little tools will solve all your window and glass cleaning issues.
Use both sides of your squeegee, first to soap up your surface and then
squeegee it clean. You will leave no soapy streaks behind, nor the dust
particles associated with towels. Use your squeegee for windows, glass doors,
mirrors, shower doors and even glass tables.

Cleaning
Tool #2: Broom/Mop with Disposable Cloths

It’s
hard to understand how we got along before disposable cloth brooms and mops
came around. These sleek, simple tools feature a tall handle with a rectangular
base plate. The base plate gives you the option to attach either dry cloths,
for light sweeping and dust removal, or wet sheets for mopping.

Not only
is this tool endlessly useful, it makes several tasks much more sanitary. The
disposable clothes are removed and tossed when dirty, solving the age old
problem of trying to use a dirty mop or broom to create a clean surface. Even
better, the wet mop cloths help save on all those buckets of water you used to
need for mopping.

Cleaning
Tool #3: Handled Sponge

This is
one of our favorite kitchen tools, but it’s also useful for bathroom, floor,
and shelf cleaning as well. The handle compartment of the sponge fills with
soap, making it easy to carry your cleaning solution of choice around with you.
Secondly, the handled sponge makes it easy to get into nooks and crannies, like
the back corner of shelves and the tiny crevices of a sundae glass.

Just be
sure to keep your sponges separated by use. Keep your kitchen sponge by the
sink, but use a separate sponge for bathroom, floor, or shelf cleaning. This
will help keep harsher soaps from making their way onto your dishes!

Cleaning
Tool #4: All-Purpose Cleaner

It’s
just silly to have nineteen spray bottles of different cleaners stashed under
your sink. Simplify by choosing an all-purpose cleaner that can cover most
day-to-day issues. A good all-purpose cleaner will be non-toxic (so it’s safe
for kitchen counter cleaning) and be useful on floors, tables, light stains,
and even windows.

If you
can’t find the perfect over-the-counter all-purpose cleaner, turn to a DIY
option instead. Simply mix white vinegar, lemon juice, and a bit of castile
soap with water, then use in a spray bottle. This mixture usually stays good
for about three days, so don’t bother making a huge batch. Be sure to test your
homemade cleaner on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it
doesn’t cause staining or stripping.