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    How to Stock & Organize Your Cleaning Caddy

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    how to stock and organize a cleaning caddy

    Even if you don’t love cleaning, being in a clean house can reduce stress and boost your mood with instant gratification. But a really good, thorough cleaning usually requires quite a few supplies – cleaning products, sponges and scrubbers, rags and paper towels – which can add up to a lot of things you’re carrying back and forth.

    A cleaning supply caddy is a great way to make cleaning faster, easier, and more organized.

    What is a cleaning caddy?

    A cleaning caddy is where you organize your cleaning supplies. It can be a box, bin, bucket, or tote – a cleaning caddy lets you keep your cleaning essentials in one place and lets you carry them from room to room as you clean.

    Why use a cleaning caddy?

    Cleaning can be a lot of work – but keeping your supplies organized together so that they’re easy to find and can be carried from room to room can make cleaning quicker and easier.

    Where should you keep your cleaning caddy?

    You should keep a cleaning caddy for each zone or area so that supplies used in the same or similar rooms are kept together.

    If you have the space, it’s a good idea to keep each caddy in its zone so that everything is nearby when you need it. Like keeping your kitchen cleaning caddy (with supplies for cleaning appliances) in the kitchen and your bathroom cleaning caddy (with toilet bowl cleaner and tub & tile cleaner) in the bathroom.

    What should I look for in a cleaning caddy?

    Cleaning caddies don’t have to be utilitarian – there are lots of caddies that can accentuate or match your decor. When shopping for a cleaning caddy, focus on the following features:

    • Material – do you prefer plastic, metal, wood, or a soft tote bag for your caddy?
    • Size – do you want one big caddy for your entire house or will you create smaller cleaning caddies for each room?
    • Handle – if you’re planning on carrying your caddy from room to room you’ll want a sturdy, comfortable handle.

    Choosing a cleaning caddy

    Click through to find some of my favorite cleaning caddies – from plastic and metal to soft totes and mini cleaning caddies!

    20 Cute Cleaning Supply Caddies >>

    What should you put in your cleaning caddy?

    There are some cleaning supplies you should stock in any caddy and some that are room-specific – organize your caddy so that your most-used supplies are always easy to access.

    Essentials for any cleaning caddy

    • Rubber gloves
    • Sponges
    • Detail brush or old toothbrush
    • Microfiber towels
    • Magic eraser
    • Cleaning sprays
    • Cleaning wipes
    • Scrub brush
    • Duster
    • Mini dustbin
    • Lint roller or hair remover
    • Garbage bags

    My favorite cleaning essentials

    Mamison Waterproof Rubber Gloves

    I love these gloves from Mamison. They’re easy to take on and off, the medium size is a better fit for my small hands than most gloves, and they aren’t limited to pink.

    Full Circle In A Nutshell Walnut Scrubber Sponge

    These double-sided sponges from Full Circle are made from walnut shells, cellulose, and recycled plastic. I like that they don’t fall apart as quickly as some other sponges do – and they stand up to dishwasher & microwave sanitizing.

    They’re still sponges so they won’t last forever – but when it’s time to toss you can peel off the walnut side and compost the cellulose side of the sponge (a compound in walnuts can be harmful to plants so you shouldn’t compost them).

    Don’t worry if you’re allergic to nuts – Full Circle says these pads won’t cause a reaction.

    Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

    Magic Erasers are fantastic for getting dirt off of paint (just don’t scrub too hard) or other surfaces.

    You can also buy melamine sponges in bulk to save money.

    Full Circle Tough Stuff Scrub brush

    This sturdy brush is great at tackling surfaces with reinforced bristles.

    I’m a big fan of Full Circle products because, like this scrub brush, most of them are made of bamboo, recycled plastic, and other eco-friendly materials.

    Full Circle Micro Manager Detail Brush

    This detail brush helps you get into hard to reach places like sinks, drains, faucets, and shower doors.

    It has a rubbery nib that’s great for getting gunk out of corners, and a small brush for scrubbing around edges and crevices.

    You can also use an old toothbrush to get into nooks and crannies like this detailer!

    Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Glass Cleaner

    Another brand with naturally-derived ingredients, Mrs. Meyer’s glass cleaner is ammonia-free for glass surfaces.

    I also like that their products are cruelty-free (not tested on animals) and most products, like this glass cleaner) have recyclable packaging (not including pumps & caps).

    Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

    Microfiber cloths are a great way to use less paper towels – they’re machine washable and leave a streak-free shine on glass or stainless surfaces.

    Full Circle Tiny Team Mini Dustpan

    Cleaning caddies are about convenience and organization – I like keeping this mini dustpan in my caddy to pick up small messes without breaking out the full-size broom.

    Method All-Purpose Cleaner

    I prefer to buy non-toxic products if I can – and Method’s All-Purpose cleaners are not only great for most messes, but they contain naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients.

    I also like that Method carries a lot of cleaner refills – they’re cheaper and they help save plastic, water & energy.

    Full Circle Refillable Glass Spray Bottle

    These reusable spray bottles are great for keeping DIY cleaners on hand – and the silicone bottom protects and prevents the bottle from slipping on slick surfaces.

    Method All-Purpose Cleaning Wipes

    Sometimes cleaning wipes can make tackling messes easier than a spray and paper towels – these cleaning wipes from Method are made from non-toxic ingredients and are compostable.

    Full Circle Dust Whisperer Washable Microfiber Duster

    I really like the length of this duster and its flexible head – it makes reaching extra-dusty spots like ceiling fans and the top of door frames much easier.

    The best part about this duster? Its microfiber head is machine-washable.

    Method Wood for Good Daily Wood Cleaner

    This cleaner has a made a big difference on my wood furniture. I used to use all-purpose cleaners and furniture wax, but this daily wood cleaner leaves a great shine but no residue.

    Full Circle Fuzz Off Lint Brush

    If you have cats or dogs then you know that getting pet hair off of sofas, pillows, and other fabrics is a major part of cleaning.

    What to put in your kitchen cleaning caddy

    A kitchen cleaning caddy might have a few extras from your average cleaning supply list – like degreaser for your stovetop or specialty cleaners for surfaces like stainless steel, granite, or marble.

    • Rubber gloves
    • Sponges
    • Detail brush or toothbrushes
    • Microfiber towels
    • Magic eraser
    • Cleaning sprays
    • Cleaning wipes
    • Scrub brush
    • Mini dustbin
    • Degreaser
    • Stainless steel cleaner

    My favorite kitchen cleaning products

    Heavy Duty Degreaser

    If you’ve ever used most heavy-duty or commercial degreasers, you’re probably familiar with the headache they leave you.

    I’m not doing any side-by-side comparisons, but since I switched to Method’s degreaser I’ve yet to meet a mess I still can’t clean up completely, and without feeling lightheaded from fumes.

    Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

    Sometimes classics are classics for a reason. A simple paste of baking soda can handle a lot of grime.

    In fact, in a comparison of 8 natural oven cleaners baking soda and water was the winner by far.

    Method Specialty Surface Cleaners

    Certain surfaces – like granite, marble, and stainless steel – can be ruined with regular cleaners. Make sure you’re caring for specialty surfaces with their own cleaners (if they need them).

    What to put in your bathroom cleaning caddy

    Your bathroom cleaning caddy will include some extra cleaning supplies to handle scrubbing tile & grout, cleaning tubs & showers, and your toilet bowl.

    • Rubber gloves
    • Sponges
    • Detail brush or toothbrushes
    • Microfiber towels
    • Magic eraser
    • Cleaning sprays
    • Cleaning wipes
    • Scrub brush
    • Toilet bowl cleaner
    • Tub & tile cleaner
    • Grout brush
    • Squeegee
    • Pumice stone

    My favorite bathroom cleaning products

    Full Circle Grunge Buster Grout & Tile Scrub Brush

    If you have a lot of tile in your life, this skinny scrub brush is made for getting into tight spaces. It combines tough bristles for grout on the inside and softer bristles for tile on the outside.

    Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Toilet Bowl Cleaner

    I’ve found that this toilet bowl cleaner works wonders if you just spray it on the bowl and let is sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. I love that it’s biodegradable toilet bowl cleaner, and made with essential oils to freshen while cleaning.

    US Pumice Pumie Scouring Stick

    If you run into stubborn stains on tubs or toilets, a pumice stone is your friend. Submerge it in water to soften the stone, then use it to clean tough stains without scratching ceramic or porcelain.

    Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Tub and Tile Cleaner

    This tub & tile cleaner is formulated to remove soap scum and hard-water stains with plant-derived ingredients. Like other Mrs. Meyer’s products, it has recyclable packaging (less the pumps & caps).

    Full Circle Wipe Out Pivoting Shower Squeegee

    This squeegee has features that make it easier to use and store – like a pivoting head, self-standing handle, and suction cup with storage hook.

    What to put in your floor cleaning caddy

    cleaning caddy for dusting and mopping

    I keep a small floor cleaning caddy that includes everything I need to dust, sweep, and mop my floors (broom and mop are kept nearby).

    • Broom
    • Wet/Dry Mop
    • Mop Head Refills
    • Lint Remover
    • Hardwood Floor Cleaner
    • Simple Green (I use this for mopping tiles)

    Full Circle Clean Sweep Broom

    Made of bamboo and recycled plastic – the slimmer head on this broom makes it easier to fit into corners.

    Full Circle Mighty Mop 2-in-1 Wet/Dry Microfiber Head

    I recently switched from sponge mops to this wet/dry microfiber mop and I’m never going back.

    The microfiber heads are easy to toss in the wash and are refillable. I keep a few on-hand so that I can dry mop, then switch to a new head to wet mop.

    Even with really diligent sweeping, I always find that that dry mop picks up more dust than the broom did before I start wet mopping.

    Amber Glass Spray Bottles

    Switching to a microfiber mop for wet mopping also means you need to replace your traditional bucket of soap and water – refillable bottles are perfect for keeping your favorite floor cleaner at the ready.

    I also love that you use way less water and since you’re spraying the floor cleaner on right before mopping (which means your floors dry faster too)!

    Brush and Dust Pan Set with Handheld Duster

    This simple set is easy to store and the duster’s microfiber head is attached by velcro for easy removal and washing.


    Shop more cleaning products & supplies for stocking your caddy

    Full Circle

    Full Circle Splash Patrol Natural Latex Cleaning and Dish Gloves

    Grove Collaborative

    Grove Collaborative Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve

    mDesign

    mDesign Bamboo Household Cleaning Sink Wet Scrubber Brushes

    Full Circle Clean Again Super Absorbent Cleaning Cloths

    Eco-Friendly and All-Natural Cleaning Brush Set

    Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set

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