The start of a new school year is a good time for a deep house cleaning. After months of working overtime, everything from the floors to the kitchen countertops are in need of some extra elbow grease. While the start of school is still a few more weeks away, it's never too early to begin thinking about replenishing your products and tools. We’ve made it easy for you by asking local home organizers to share their go-to products with us.
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Carpets & Corners
For cleaning inside cabinets, around tight corners, and in other small spaces, Mary Choquette, founder of Re.set Professional Organizing, recommends the Shark WV201 Wandvac handheld vacuum. The lightweight vacuum features a detachable dust cup that makes the vacuum itself easy to clean. To remove stains from runners and upholstery, Choquette suggests Folex Carpet Stain Remover, which works through tough stains caused by red wine and pet waste, making it one of her most-used products.
Dishes, etc.
Home kitchens are subject to daily use and traffic, and therefore require cleaning products that stand up to the job. To remove unwanted marks on walls, oven doors, and light switches, Susan Stewart of Perfectly Placed uses the water-activated Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for its dura-foam, micro-scrubbers. To scrub dishes, Stewart likes Scrub Daddy for more than its charming design. The sponge changes form depending on the temperature of the water. Cold water makes it firm enough to remove food stains without adding cleanser. Warm water makes the sponge more absorbent. Shannon Tamme of Life Synchronized is partial to Pure-Castile Soap, which she combines with baking soda and dilutes with water, to clean everything from dishes to the kitchen sink.
Floors
To make floors shine, April Jensen, founder of ADJ Interiors, opts for hardwood and hard surface cleaners from Bona. “I don’t like seeing water used on wood floors—it’s so damaging, especially an overly saturated mop,” she says. Bona’s biodegradable, water-based cleaning solution also gets high marks for being safe to use around pets and children, and won’t leave a dull residue.
Surfaces
Choquette chooses Dawn Dish Soap, diluted in water and applied with a microfiber cloth, to wipe away dirt and grime from a range of surfaces, including granite and quartz. “Every home we’re in is different, but we can always depend on Dawn to be gentle and effective,” she says.
Windows
Force of Nature is lifestyle blogger Erin Wilson’s choice for getting windows sparkling clean. The woman behind St. Louis-based ChaChingQueen, gives the product top reviews for ridding windows of dirt and pollen. “I love to open my windows in the springtime. Just a quick spray [of the product], and the pollen that dusts my house [and windows] is gone,” she says.
