Top 5: Household Cleaners

In an effort to keep the house neat and tidy after the renovation completion and massive Christmas clean, I've been trying to do some sort of household chore each day.  It doesn't always happen, but I'm trying to do something so that when we have someone over I'm not a) scrambling around to clean everything up or b) embarrassed by the mess in the case that someone drops by.  So far it's been going pretty well, and I'm proud of myself for the effort I've made.

To that end, I have to tell you that I really love cleaning products.  It's a little strange, considering I'm not actually a huge fan of cleaning, but I also hate a dirty house and clutter so I do indeed have a product for everything.  And I love buying new cleaning products.  There is just something about them.  It's like hope in a bottle.  Maybe this product will actually banish dust for more than an hour.  Maybe this will keep the room smelling good for a whole week.  Maybe this won't make me need to scrub so hard.  Anyone else feel the same?

I thought I would do a quick rundown of my Top 5 favorite cleaning products, the ones that I always use, can't live without, work so well I can't replace them.  (And yes, I know they aren't the greenest choices around but if I'm going to do it, I'm going to use what works.)

1. Murphy's Oil Soap Original and Spray

Ok, so that's actually two but they work together for the common good of clean wood.  When I was little, my mom always did her spring cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap, so now it's an old familiar smell that means clean.  You dilute it in water and it's fantastic for wood floors, mouldings, cabinets, paneling, wood furniture, and so on.   I recently found the spray which I use to clean the dining table after dinner is done.  It's great for a quick clean when you don't need a bucket-full.  Neither leaves a gross residue behind.

Runner up: Method's Wood for Good.  It has an almond smell, and it makes the wood furniture shine.

2. Clorox wipes

There is not a surface in this house that I would not use these wipes on.  They are seriously amazing.  They clean and disinfect and the cloths have a textured side which give you a little scrubbing surface.  I have at least one tub of these on each floor of the house because they're just that awesome.

3. Spot Shot 

We have kids, we have a dog, we have really nice new carpets.  And furniture.  And car carpeting.  And this will get rid of messes on all of those surfaces.  It is amazing the stains and dirt this stuff will take out, and you don't need to use too much of it.  It's safe to use around kids and pets, which are who make most of the messes around here, so its perfect.

4. Windex Multi-Task

There are a bunch of this type- Glass Plus, Fantastick- but I love this one because just like it says, it's great on tons of surfaces.  See?  Mine's almost empty.  It's good on glass and mirrors, but it's also good for kitchen and bathroom messes, or any other messes you're going to encounter throughout the house.  This is sort of the Clorox wipe in liquid form when the mess is a little bit bigger.

5. Swiffer

Quite possibly the best invention for cleaning.  I use them all: Swiffer dry cloths, Swiffer wet cloths, Swiffer dusters....they trap so much dirt and dust and hair it is unbelievable.  Such a great product, and safe to use just about anywhere.

I really could go on, but I was aiming for the High Fidelity "Top 5" vibe, so I'm limiting myself to those picks.  I doubt you really want to see under my kitchen sink anyway.  Or under the bathroom sinks.  Or in the laundry cabinet.

What I really want to know is what are your favorite cleaners?

(I bet I have some of them.)
I'm always looking for new products to try.

**The winner of the Petunia Blooms shop credit is Tricia M.!  I'll be in contact soon!**