How our cleaning expert organizes her (many, many) cleaning tools |
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| Caroline Mullen/NYT Wirecutter |
Cleaning supplies can be particularly tricky to store: You can’t completely tuck them away — they need to be somewhat easy to access for daily wipedowns. Yet the myriad spray bottles and brushes tend to be total eyesores.
Perhaps no one is more familiar with this struggle than cleaning expert Caroline Mullen — who has to keep track of many supplies (an occupational hazard) in a small apartment. Staying organized helps her actually … clean. “If I had to dig through the closet or cabinets every time I had to clean the shower or spot-clean the rug,” she writes, “I would be far less likely to actually complete those tasks. Instead, I get to pat myself on the back for being oh-so-clever every time I smoothly roll my supplies out.”
Some storage hacks, as seen in Caroline’s house:
- Stash everyday cleaning supplies in a caddy: Caroline stores multipurpose spray, glass cleaner, Bar Keepers Friend, a small brush, and more in this handsome little caddy under the sink. The handle makes it easy to pull out and tote around the house.
- For paper-towel-level convenience without the waste, use microfiber cloths: Most cleaning tasks that you can do with paper towels are also easily done with microfiber cloths, which cuts down on waste. Make sure your cloths are super easy to reach for by keeping a basket of them easily accessible. The baskets Caroline loves are no longer available, but these crates are similar — and cute enough to leave out.
- Store less frequently used items in a rolling cart: Caroline calls her cart of cleaning supplies (similar to this one) her “pride and joy.” Because it’s on wheels, she can roll it over to whatever project she’s working on and easily crush the task at hand — whether she’s spot-treating the couch or freshening up her carpets.
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More of the ways Caroline pares down her cleaning clutter→
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Plus: Our favorite budget-friendly cordless stick vacuum is even cheaper right now |
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| Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter |
Most affordable cordless stick vacuums come with too many compromises to earn our recommendation. But this vacuum is actually a great cleaner, with a generous dustbin and some useful tools — and it’s only $150 right now. In our tests, it handled all types of debris as efficiently as pricier options. Plus, it’s pretty light and easy to maneuver, so it navigates well around furniture.
We love this (on-sale!) vacuum→
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