I love a clean house, but my 2 year old has the mess making abilities of a team of teenage boys in half the time. Since I spend most of my day picking up toys/food/sippy cups/random items out of the floor & out of the various rooms of our house, the last thing I have time/energy for is extensive cleaning. I used to be able to save my chores for nap time, but since it has gone away & doesn’t seem to be coming back {why, oh, why?!?!} I have to pack a punch with chores. These are are my go to helpers to help maintain my sanity without emptying out my wallet.
Cinderella Duty Must Haves by chaniab on Polyvore1. Baking SodaThe almighty multi purpose magic powder! I use this in my homemade laundry detergent, to freshen up stinky drains/garbage cans, in my homemade air fresheners & to help scrub stuck on food from my glasstop stove.2. Coffee FiltersI use these with my homemade glass cleaner to wipe down my glass tables & mirrors lint & streak free.3. Bona Cabinet CleanerI use this to get sticky finger prints, food & any other mess from my Espresso kitchen cabinets & kitchen table with a microfiber cloth. It doesn’t streak, has ZERO smell & a bottle has lasted me probably 2 years & it’s still halfway full!4. Microfiber Dust MopI LOVE this! I use this to dust my baseboards & doors. {My house gets super dusty, especially in the Summer} I can get the whole house done in like 15 minutes! It’s also very kid friendly, so let them help!
Just toss in the wash when you’re done & reuse.5. Washing SodaI use this in my homemade laundry detergent, when I need to super clean my grout, & when I need to get tough stains off of the tubs/shower. {Make sure you wear gloves because it’ll irritate the mess out of your hands!}6. Damp RidI go to Dollar Tree & pick them up to keep in our closets. You’d be amazed how much moisture they collect in a 2 month period! Our clothes are definitely fresher since we started using them. Stinkin Florida humidity!7. Bona MopWe have Espresso Hardwood floors in our house & this is the only product I’ve tried that gets the floors clean without leaving a sticky residue or harsh smell. In fact, there’s no smell, it dries super quick & you control how much cleaning solution the mop squirts out. Just toss the microfiber pad in the wash when you’re done & admire your shiny floors for the 30 seconds they stay clean. 
8. Microfiber clothsI LOVE microfiber! Best cleaning invention in a LONG time! I use these to clean everything including dusting. You would be amazed at how much dirt & dust these babies can pick up without anything sprayed on them. I was super grossed out after I saw all of the dirt they picked up in my washing machine after I used them for the first time. Swiffer fanatic? You can use these on your wands/mops with a rubber band & clean without the cost of replacement pads!9. Tea Tree OilI use this in my homemade all-purpose spray to give it extra disinfecting properties, plus you can use on zits & scrapes!10. Steam MopI LOVE my steam mop! It kills germs without having to use chemicals {I will use my all-purpose spray for stuck on food & heavily soiled areas} & doesn’t leave puddles on the floor. I’ve gone through 3 so far & currently the Shark has been my favorite.11. Hydrogen PeroxideNot just for boo boos! I use in a spray Hydrogen Peroxide bottle for our shower/tubs & toilets to get them clean. Inexpensive & very effective! The bubbling action just lifts dirt right off & decreases elbow grease required. Gah I hate cleaning bathrooms!12. Rubbing AlcoholThis is one of the ingredients in my homemade glass cleaner & I also use this to wipe down our phones & Kindle Fire. Takes sticky fingerprints right on off!13. Dryer BallsSince laundry products are so expensive & most dryer sheets irritate our skin, I started using dryer balls in lieu of dryer sheets. One less household item to replenish, our clothes dry faster & I don’t have to worry about a fire hazard from the leftover film. 
14. Swiffer VaccuumThis is great for picking up dirt off of hardwood floors. While it does leave the occasional crumb behind, I have to use it daily to keep my hardwoods from looking gross.15. VinegarAnother great all-purpose product! I use this in my homemade all-purpose spray & as a fabric softener in the washing machine.16. MasksIt keeps all of the nasty dust bunnies out of my sinuses while I’m dusting or handling washing soda {it burns like crazy if it accidentally gets in your nose!}.17. Fels-NapthaThis is commonly used in homemade laundry detergent, but it irritated our skin. I found that if I treat a stain with it, 9 times out of 10 it will get it out. I have saved so many of my princess’s clothes with Fels-Naptha & the small amount used for stain removal does not irritate our skin.
