Monday Motivation #53 | Spring Cleaning 2; Tools & Helpers

After over 3 decades of homemaking, I have found there to be 3 Essential Tools and a handful of miscellaneous supplies which will equip you for any type of cleaning in your home; both regular maintenance and seasonal. 

I will give you a bit of history on the top 3 as well as information on how to choose the best tools. 

Then I want to spend a little time talking about helpers; how to engage the family, when to seek professional help and a few tips for helping yourself to enjoy seasonal cleaning.

SHOW NOTES

Full transcript with links to favorite tools on the blog! theartofhomepodcast.com/blog > search "MM53"

https://www.theartofhomepodcast.com/post/spring-cleaning-essential-tools-helpers

Transcript

Welcome & Episode Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Happy Monday, homemakers! Welcome to Monday Motivation, brought to you by the Art of Home Podcast, where we are exploring how homemakers cultivate a place to belong. I'm your host, Allison Wheats. I'm a wife, a mom, a granny, and I've been practicing the Art of Home for over 30 years. Thank you so much for joining me for a little Monday motivation today. Every Monday, you can meet me here for homemaking tips, ideas, and encouragement in this short form episode. If you like what you hear today, be sure to check out our long form episodes that come out every Wednesday, where we feature stories of homemakers just like you and deep dives into topics related to homemaking. Welcome to week two of our spring cleaning series. Last Monday, we discussed cleaning motivation from historical, modern, and biblical spring cleaning examples. Today I want to talk tools. For most seasonal cleaning jobs, you do not need special tools. Your regular cleaning equipment will suffice for your spring cleaning. After over three decades of homemaking, I have found there to be three essential tools and a handful of miscellaneous supplies that will equip you for any type of cleaning in your home. Both regular maintenance and seasonal. I will give you a bit of history on the top three, as well as information on how to choose the best tools. Then I want to spend a little time talking about helpers, how to engage the family, when to seek professional help, and a few tips for helping yourself to enjoy seasonal cleaning.

Brooms & Brushes

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Essential tool number one, the broom and its small relations, brushes. Brooms are likely one of the first cleaning tools. They made their appearance in households as early as 4000 BC, when ancient Mesopotamians would bind together twigs and spices for a handheld sweeping tool. The Shakers are credited with inventing the flat broom in the late 1700s, and by the mid-1800s, brooms were being made in factories and sold door to door to eager homemakers ready for this helpful tool to use in their cleaning routines. Today you can buy a basic corn broom at most hardware stores for around $10. Gone are the days of binding together twigs for all your sweeping needs. Now there's a specialty broom or brush for just about every job. But you don't need to supply yourself with all the brooms and brushes. Here are a few guidelines for what to look for in a broom and which ones you should use for common cleaning tasks. A traditional stiff corn broom is an excellent and inexpensive tool for most any sweeping job, especially sweeping surfaces like sidewalks, brick, and sturdy tile floors, even rough carpets and mats. Do not use this coarse broom on delicate rugs or surfaces that scratch easily, like wood floors. Instead, choose a softer broom made of fine, natural or synthetic fibers. A broom with an angled head is ideal for sweeping kitchens and bathrooms because it can easily reach into corners and under cabinets. A push broom with a large head of short, stiff bristles is perfect for sweeping large open spaces such as garages, sidewalks, and driveways. Brushes, the broom's smaller siblings, come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. A sturdy, handheld scrub brush is helpful for most cleaning jobs. Look for one with stiff bristles and an ergonomic design that will allow you to use it comfortably for an entire cleaning job. Grout brushes are specially designed with small, narrow angled heads of stiff bristles to really get into the grout lines of the tile. An old toothbrush will work in a pinch, but generally the bristles are just not stiff enough to really scrub that grout. And then, bonus, a grout brush can serve double duty in cleaning the narrow tracks of windowsills. A toilet brush is a standard reusable tool for cleaning toilets. However, I highly recommend a toilet cleaning wand with disposable pads. I find that the pads clean better than the brush and they are more sanitary. A toilet brush has to be kept clean and dry or else it becomes a bacteria factory, and your bathroom does not need any more help producing bacteria.

Mops

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Essential cleaning tool number two, the mop. Archaeological evidence suggests that the first mops were used by ancient Egyptians to clean their floors. Likely just a stick with some rags or plant fibers attached. They weren't fancy, but they were a type of mop. The sailor's swab was a necessary tool for ships the world over as early as the 1400s. Made of thick rope attached to a stick, sailors used them to swab the ship's decking. More modern string mops began to take shape in the late 1800s. Along with inventions for mop holders and ringers, the mop became a truly useful modern tool for the homemaker. Today, you can choose from a traditional string mop made of cotton or microfibers with built-in ringers or none at all, sponge mops, flat mops, and steam mops. My personal favorite is a steam mop. It cleans tile and other sealed floors beautifully with very little water, no cleaning solution required, and the cleaning pad or the head cover is washable and reusable. You should never put anything but water in your steam mop reservoir, but I like to put a couple of drops of lavender essential oil in the mop head cover before putting it on and using it. It gives a really nice smell and a bit of antibacterial power to the steam. For cleaning wood floors, I recommend a flat mop with a reusable microfiber pad. Bona makes one specifically for hardwood with the cleaning solution sprayer built into the handle. A flat mop with a microfiber pad is also a handy tool for wiping down walls, windows, and tall mirrored surfaces.

Vacuum Cleaner

SPEAKER_00 6:30

Essential cleaning tool number three, the vacuum cleaner. Early homemakers had but one choice for cleaning carpets and rugs. They could sweep up some of the larger debris with a broom, but for dust and settled in dirt, the only option was to drag the rug outside, hang it up on a line or over a fence post, and beat the dirt out with wicker or metal carpet beaters. It was time-consuming and labor intensive. In the late 19th century, mechanical carpet sweepers were invented, and by the mid-20th century, portable powered vacuum cleaners were used in most homes to keep carpets and rugs free of dust and dirt. Today, homemakers can choose from canister, upright, bagless, stick, corded, cordless, and robot vacuum cleaners. Believe it or not, you can still buy mechanical carpet sweepers if you would like an option for cleaning hard carpeted areas, sturdy rugs, and hard floors using only manpower rather than electricity. These will not do a great job, however, of removing the fine dust and the particles. So consider your space and your health needs when choosing a vacuum. Cordless stick vacuums are great for going anywhere in the house for a quick vacuum, but the battery will only go for so long before it needs to be recharged. There's nothing more demotivating than getting halfway through a big cleaning job and the vacuum dies. Also, those batteries don't last forever and replacements can be really costly, so keep that in mind when you are shopping for a vacuum. A bagged vacuum will catch a lot more dust and allergens than a bagless. Something to consider if you or a family member suffers from allergies. I won't speak to robot vacuums as I've never owned one, and for the purposes of spring cleaning, I feel like you still need a human-operated vacuum cleaner. A good vacuum will not only clean floors, but can be used to remove dust and debris from just about any surface. Window coverings, upholstery, shelves, lampshades, and ceiling vents to name a few. So be sure to look for one that has a removable hose with attachments that do versatile jobs. Something like a narrow wand to get into tight spaces, and then an upholstery brush or a pet attachment for getting hair and dirt and dust out of soft furnishings.

Other Tools

SPEAKER_00 8:58

Other tools. A good broom, a handheld stiff brush, and a mop and a vacuum cleaner are the main tools that you will need for regular and seasonal cleaning. But there are a few other necessities that make your job so much easier. You'll need something to dust surfaces, something to wipe down surfaces, something to clean windows, a good pair of rubber gloves, a stepladder, and your choice of cleaning solutions. Dusting furniture, light fixtures, and other surfaces can be tedious and messy. Make your job easier with a tool that doesn't just push the dust around but actually collects it. A microfiber duster is a great option, whether it's disposable like a Swiffer or a reusable one that you can wash and use over and over again. Or use a lint-free cloth with some dusting spray. My go-to dusting cloth, a cotton cloth diaper. It's very soft, lint-free, and you can buy a pack of 10 of them for just a few dollars. I use it with an all-purpose dusting spray like Pledge. Always spray the cloth, not the surface. For wet cleaning of counters and other surfaces, I love a good microfiber cloth. I keep a stack of gray ones in the kitchen and white ones in each bathroom. White because I can bleach them. To clean windows and glass, use a microfiber cloth with glass spray, either homemade or store-bought. And be sure you get the right microfiber cloth that is specifically designed for cleaning glass. For seasonal window cleaning, you will want a squeegee and a bucket, both items that also come in handy for cleaning your cars. Get yourself a few pairs of long-armed rubber cleaning gloves. Your hands and skin will thank you. A lightweight, narrow, foldable step ladder is, in my opinion, an essential household tool, especially for seasonal cleaning. You'll be tackling spaces you don't normally touch, hard to reach, high up, and awkward spaces. Please do not trust yourself to some rickety kitchen chair. Go to Walmart and get a $30 featherweight four-step aluminum ladder. These take up very little space. They easily fit beside a fridge, that's where ours is, or in a closet or under a bed, and will allow you to safely clean all those hard-to-reach spaces, not to mention change light bulbs or hang curtains without teetering on the edge of the back of the sofa while doing so. Yes, I speak from experience. Now you need to decide what type of cleaning solutions you want to use. I am crunchy adjacent on a lot of things, but cleaning supplies is not really one of them. I use diluted pine salt for cleaning bathroom counters and the outside of the toilet. I use soft scrub for the shower, Windex for glass, barkeeper's friend for my stainless steel kitchen sink, and bleach as needed. You do you. Many people are very sensitive to cleaning products, so figure out what works for you in your home. But look for products that actually do the job that you need them to do. Make sure you have the right product for the right application.

Helpers

SPEAKER_00 12:23

Mini hands make light work. Now that we've covered all the tools and supplies, let's talk about helpers. How can you elicit help from family members? When is it time to call in the professionals? And what are a few little personal tips that will help you make the most of your seasonal cleaning experience? First, family members. I highly recommend that you make a plan for your seasonal cleaning with your family schedule in mind and with the input and help of all able-bodied household workers. Your husband, your teenagers, older elementary kids, and any other adults living in the home. Hold a family meeting, start a group chat, whatever works for you to discuss your seasonal cleaning goals, decide who is going to tackle which job, and set expectations and a timeline for each job. So, when is it time to seek professional help? I can't answer that for you. However, I can offer a couple of guidelines. Number one, if you cannot perform the task effectively andor safely on your own, window washing is a great example of this. Depending on your house, it may be quite dangerous to try and clean the outside of the windows on upper floors. Chimney cleaning is another seasonal job best left to professionals, in my opinion. It requires special equipment and safe practices again because you may be facing a climb onto the roof to access a blocked chimney. Also, a professional will give you the peace of mind that the chimney is clean and clear of all debris and soot so that when you use it again, you won't burn your house down. Number two, when the benefits outweigh the cost, do a time over money analysis and be realistic with what you could accomplish on your own. Are you facing an unusually busy spring season? Maybe the cost of hiring some help to tackle the big jobs will be worth the time you save. What is more valuable in this current season, the time or the money? If your budget has no room for extra time saving help, consider bartering with a friend. She comes to help you with a big job this season and you go help her next season. Or trade her help for something else valuable that you can give her, like fresh eggs from your chickens for a month. Be creative. Finally, how can you help yourself to embrace and enjoy the seasonal cleaning tasks set before you? Here are four tips. First, slow down. Remember, seasonal cleaning is a marathon, not a sprint. Set yourself a reasonable schedule, chipping away at the tasks a little at a time, rather than becoming overwhelmed at trying to do everything in a day or two. As you approach each task, try not to be in such a big hurry. Set aside an adequate amount of time for the task and enter in with purpose to every part of it. Number two, engage your senses as you work. Use cleaning solutions that smell nice. Choose tools that are pleasing to the eye and comfortable to the touch. Tune your ear to the sounds of the broom swishing back and forth, the suds sloshing in the bucket. Play music to set the tempo of your work. Number three, engage your mind with a book or podcast, preferably something just for fun. Reserve that new fiction book you've been dying to read for this time of seasonal cleaning. The fact that you get to listen to a few chapters will motivate you to show up for and complete each job. Number four, be organized. Have a plan, have the supplies you need, and have the time you need. That's all for this Monday motivation. I hope you feel better informed and equipped to tackle your spring cleaning. Remember, you really only need the top three tools and a handful of basic supplies to do most seasonal cleaning jobs. So make an inventory of what you have and what you need, gather your helpers, make a plan, go forth and clean. If you want to review this information, the entire transcript of this episode, along with links to my favorite tools and supplies, will be on the blog. Go to the ArtofHome Podcast.comslash blog and search M53. I will be back on Wednesday with an all new homemaker portrait. And next Monday we will tackle ceilings, vents, and everything overhead. Until then, keep practicing your art of making a home.