But, I have a secret that makes my cleaning advice more valid! One of the things that I do to earn a little extra cash is clean houses. It doesn't bring in the big bucks, but it's an oddly satisfying job, and one I've been doing about a month now. In that time, I've used several different cleaning products with varied success. I've even tried some new things I've never used before that make cleaning so much easier. I enjoyed (is that the right word?) some of these tools so much that I wanted to share a few of my favorites. (And these really are my favorites -- I'm not affiliated with or sponsored by any of these products!)
1. Swiffer Sweep & Trap. This baby rocks and rolls. It has rotating blades on the front that capture bigger pieces of trash in a compartment, and a Swiffer dust pad on the back that collects all the dust and hair that would run away from the traditional broom and dustpan. This tool is my absolute favorite. It not only picks up dust and small fuzzies better than a traditional broom, but it is also way easier on my back. With a traditional broom, I typically have to hunch a bit. I'm not super tall by any means, but I'm just above average enough that brooms and mops tend to be a little too short for me to use them correctly and remain upright. But with this tool, because it doesn't require the typical two-handed sweeping motion, I can stand perfectly straight and still get the job done. It's also super maneuverable. If you're tired of ye olde broom and pan, give the Sweep & Trap a try!
For cleaning other people's homes, I also like that the dust pads are disposable and the plastic sweeper itself can easily be cleaned and disinfected. Most homeowners do not want mops, brooms, and the like to be reused in their home after being used in someone else's. However, if you are crafty and into reusable, it wouldn't be hard to sew a reusable dust pad for the broom with some microfiber cloth.
2. Shark Light and Easy Steam Mop. Mopping was once my least favorite chore, but with new-fangled tools such as this, it is no longer so unbearable. This mop has a reusable microfiber cleaning pads which sticks on very simply, and it relies on steam to get floors shiny and clean. It is light weight and easy to use (hence the name!). You simply fill up the water container, plug it in, and go to work. When you push forward, the handle presses down and releases steam. It's as simple as that: no buttons to push, no spray triggers to pull, and -- best of all -- no buckets.
It is also designed to be used completely chemical-free, which is a huge plus in my book and for my personal use. I have on occasion added a touch of white vinegar to the fluid compartment, however, to deal with especially difficult messes. It's also a huge plus that the microfiber pad can be thrown in the washer and completely cleaned. Overall, I feel that products like this result in a much cleaner floor and more sanitary mop than the traditional mop n' bucket routine.
The one downside to this product is that it relies on electricity to work, so it has to be plugged in. That's not a huge problem, but it does add an extra step when changing rooms.
3. Rubbermaid Reveal. This is a similar product to the Shark mop, but is, in my opinion, slightly less impressive. Like the shark, this has a reusable, washable microfiber cleaning pad. It also uses a refillable liquid compartment rather than a bucket. With this mop you must pull a trigger and squirt your liquid onto the floor as you go; it doesn't create the effortless steam like the shark.
The definite bonuses to this design are the same as the Shark: easy to use, light weight, no buckets, washable, reusable. Another plus is that you can use whatever cleaning agent in the sprayer that you prefer. At home, that would be vinegar. In other people's homes, it is what product they prefer. It is also a plus that this mop does not need to be plugged into the wall outlet. It also has a scrub pad on top that can be used when a spot needs some elbow grease.
However, the downsides are that pulling the trigger to squirt water on the floor gets old fast. The water also seems to not last as long as the steam water does in the Shark, and using plain water is not an option because there is no sanitizing heat.
4. Swiffer Sweeper. This basic little tool barely made the list, but it does have a few things going for it. It can be used with wet or dry cloths. Swiffer dry cloths are exceptionally good at picking up dust and other fine debris that can be difficult to get with a broom (their dusters are great, too). When cleaning houses for others, the disposable pads are nice. There is also the option to make your own reusable pads if you're crafty.
What I don't like about the Sweeper is that it's a lightweight in the sense that it isn't as tough on grime as other products listed. It's good for small, quick clean ups where the floor is already pretty clean but still needs a touch up. However, for bigger messes, I find myself going through multiple pads when I use one of these. There is also no option for customization when using it as a wet mop (unless you make your own pads), because the wet cloths designed for it come pre-soaked in whatever chemical cleaning concoction Swiffer uses. So, while this is arguably the easiest to use, it isn't necessarily the best.
What's your favorite household cleaning tool?
Cheers!
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