Organizing Tools: A Well-Stocked Cleaning Caddy

My daddy taught me that most tasks are a heck of a lot easier to do if you have the right tools at hand, and the task of cleaning is no exception. The tools we'll be discussing today are cleaning caddies and the supplies that go in them. In a follow-up post, I'll recommend some non-toxic cleaning products, but we'll just touch on the general cleaning supplies here.

Often when I am organizing a client, we will clear off shelves, tabletops, or counters that haven't seen a dusting rag in months, if not years. Once cleared, I will ask the client to fetch their cleaning products so that we can clean the surfaces before putting items back in place. I can't tell you how many times clients have responded with, "Oh, I don't think I have any spray cleaner." At that point, we make a list of these basics that the client should purchase:

• Cleaning caddy. Make sure that the caddy that you purchase will fit under a sink, in a cabinet, on the floor of a linen closet, or in your laundry area. You want to be able to easily tuck it away so that kids can't get into it and your guests don't have step over it when visiting. Purchase a caddy for each floor of your home and fill the caddies with the supplies below, as appropriate.

• Latex gloves to protect hands from chemicals. I have a funky pair that a my client Sue gave me after I coveted hers.

• Window/glass cleaner

• General-purpose cleaner (may be same as window/glass cleaner)

• Heavy-duty powder cleanser for tough stains and rust

• Tub and tile cleaner

• Feather duster or micofiber cloth for dusting

• Paper towels, soft rags, and sponges

• Oil soap for wood cabinets, furniture and floors

By keeping these items together in an easy-to-carry caddy, you can maneuver your way through your maintenance cleaning quickly and efficiently. By eliminating the need to stop in the middle of a cleaning job to get a product that's downstairs under the kitchen sink or out in the laundry room, you're more likely to stick with the task at hand. Goodness knows, most people can be easily distracted while cleaning.

This doesn't go in the caddy category, but no cleaning project would be complete without proper tunes. I find that putting on some fun music keeps me dancing through my wiping, dusting, and scrubbing.

What makes cleaning more fun for you?