Stop Putting it Off - it’s Time for Spring Cleaning!

When it comes to organization, I’m definitely no role-model, but if there is one thing I do know, it’s my cleaning products! Designed to make our lives easier, just one wipe at a time, my appreciation for these innovations is based on a multi-purpose list of priorities: how fast the product works, how efficient it is (gauged by shine/transparency/scent), how little physical labour is involved and environmental friendliness, of course.

Multi-purpose spray cleaners

To be honest, there is nothing quite like a multi-purpose spray. Seriously. Whether you’re cleaning your granite kitchen counters, washroom surfaces, walls… right down to the inside of your microwave, multi-purpose sprays, like Lysol’s (my favourite is Citrus Sparkle Zest), are about 99.9% effective at killing viruses and bacteria, cutting through grease and leaving a fresh, clean scent. Bleach free, these cleaners are remarkably aggressive on filth, but not on skin (and paws). The greatest benefit is how easy they are to use; just a few sprays, let the product sit for a minute (to activate the cleaning agents) and a good wipe with a reusable rag and you’re all set!

Toilet bowl cleaners

The dreaded task doesn’t have to be so frightful. Designed to target the “hard-to-reach” corners and crevices of your toilet, Clorox’s crafty bottles are ingeniously designed to keep your hands out of that bowl! Phew. These bleach-free cleaners are so effective at cutting through lime build-up, that you can see them clear away dirt without even having to reach for a brush. You might be wondering how these products affect the environment. Well, they use hydrogen peroxide as their main cleaning agent, which has been proven to break down quickly in water and oxygen while maintaining a tough reputation as a cleaner. Remember, be safe, wear a rubber glove! There are over 50 bacteria per square inch on that seat alone, according to Dr. Chuck Gerba, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, who performed a study on how diseases are transferred through the environment.

Floor cleaners

Get off your hands and knees, you don’t need to scrub away voraciously to get your floors spic and span! With so many choices, my personal favourites have always been from Mr. Clean—though the competition is fierce, I find this line of floor care is satisfactory on all the aforementioned prerequisites, but what really distinguishes Mr. Clean floor products from other brands, for me, is their additional floor cleaning products that complement the efficacy of the liquid cleaners used for mopping. In addition, their liquid disinfectant is a partnered effort to kill the flu virus and leave your floors smelling phenomenal with Febreze.

Mirrors, stainless steel and glass

According to the expert on all things home-related, Martha Stewart, there is nothing that matches the reliable power of Windex. Making our lives easier since 1933, this product has been reformulated through time to suit environmental safety standards while maintaining its remarkable ability to restore brilliance and shine to all these surfaces. For that special streak-free look, use newspaper for a finishing wipe!

If you have extra time, try using environmentalist David Suzuki’s recipe for an all-purpose spray:

1 gallon hot water

½ cup liquid castile soap

1 tbsp borax

10 drops of essential oil (for scent, optional)

Combine all ingredients and pour into an empty spray bottle.

Let us know what you think of these products, we’d love to get some feedback. If you have any other cleaning tips, please let us know!