It’s the beginning of a new year and thus a great time to tackle the clutter in your home. One of the best places to start is in your cleaning cabinet. Like most of us, you probably have a stockpile of cleaning products—including half-empty bottles of the same product. Consolidating your stash of cleaning supplies is a smart thing to do, from both an organizational and time-saving perspective. Here are five tips to get the job done fast:
1. Unmarked? Toss them.
It’s as simple as that—if you have under the cabinet cleaners whose labels have fallen off or been scratched off, get rid of them. Even if you think you know what the unlabeled item is, without being able to read the proper usage directions on the label, you could end up damaging a surface by using the cleaner improperly.
Also, unmarked cleaners can be a danger because they lack poison-control instructions to consult in case of accidental ingestion by a child or pet.
Be sure to dispose of any unused products in compliance with local regulations.
2. Rotate, rotate, rotate.
Haphazardly throwing cleaning products under the sink is messy and makes it hard to find what you're looking for when you're ready to clean. One solution is a large lazy susan, or revolving tray. These come in a variety of sizes, styles and prices, allowing you to easily see what you have on hand and what you need to replenish.
3. Group like items together.
One of the fundamental rules of organization is grouping like items together. Cluster similar items—bathroom cleaners, kitchen cleaners, oven cleaners, sponges—in their own easy-to-remember location for easy access. Doing this will also help you see what you have and if there are multiples of a particular product. If you have more than two bottles of the same all-purpose cleaner, pare down to just two. Then move duplicates to another cleaning location, like your bathroom, where they will be handy when you need to clean that space.
4. Take advantage of multisurface cleaners.
You probably don’t need to stock up on 10 different cleaning products, especially if you have the right all-purpose cleaner handy. One great option is
Antibacterial fantastik® All Purpose Cleaner Heavy Duty, which works on a variety of surfaces throughout the house without leaving a smeary residue. An all-in-one cleaner like this saves both precious cabinet space, as well as time spent trying to figure out which product is best for each job.
Another versatile option is
Windex® Original Glass Wipes that offer an easy and convenient way to clean everything from kitchen and bathroom counters to mirrors and sinks.
5. Banish old sponges.
Even the most meticulously rinsed-out sponges can harbor bacteria and should be replaced every three months. This will help stop contamination of surfaces you clean and will keep unpleasant odors at bay. At their best, all sponges and cleaning rags have a three-month shelf life.
If you have a bunch of old cleaning sponges or rags lying around, get rid of them. And to keep rags in their best working condition between uses, hang them to dry on a hook or rack rather than stuffing them into a container or in a corner. This way they get a chance to properly air out and will be much easier to find!