Of all the organizing issues we have – this one is easy. You use less than 50% of the cleaning supplies in your cabinet. (Statistic made up by me, based on years of organizing experience)
There are the brands which someone bought my mistake, but you don’t like them so you don’t use them. There are the almost-finished-bottles covered in sticky dust- which are too empty to use but too full to dispose of- and you’re already using a fresh bottle. There are cleaning products sitting in the back that your last cleaning lady swore by but your new cleaning lady doesn’t like to use. And then there is the cleaner that you like but your husband can’t take the smell so it’s not in use either.
Trash all of the above and see what’s left.
Before you go out and spend lots of money on bins and organizers for your cleaning supplies – consider this: Cleaning supplies, like everything else, has become a business. You don’t need to buy everything that’s out there. In all honesty, one large bottle of a quality cleaning solution is good for most areas of the home. Floors, counters, sinks, bathtubs, mirrors and glass can be cleaned with the same cleaning solution. Add some to a spritz bottle with some water and walla- you have a spray! The aisles and aisles of specialized cleaning solutions for each area of your home, like everything else today, has gotten out of control. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you need to buy them.
Of course here and there you may need to purchase something specific – for wood floors, or to remove calcium build up from around your faucets, you’ll need some bleach on some occasions and a bottle of toilet cleaner.
So where should you keep your 5 bottles of cleaning solution?
Typical locations are under the kitchen sink, or in the main bathroom on a high shelf in a storage cabinet. One bin for rags and one bin for cleaning solutions is enough space. Many store them in the laundry room together with the detergents, but I have no idea why since most cleaning supplies are not used there.
It’s best to have a small collection of cleaning supplies on each floor- the easier they are to reach, the more likely you’ll clean something with them. Although your cleaning help may appreciate a cleaning caddy with the basic supplies to carry around from room to room. As for rags, scrub brushes shmattas and the like, here too- don’t buy every product on the market. Don’t own 3 different types of brooms and 4 types of mops. Stick to one type that works well for you. Don’t keep a basket of wet dirty rags hanging around. If your cleaning time is concentrated on one day, toss all the rags in the washing machine for a cycle when you’re finished.
