If you’re like me and tend to do some “fall cleaning” in addition to spring cleaning, today’s post will help you get a jump on it! We’ll be exploring how to assemble an everyday cleaning caddy you can grab that has everything you need to tackle messes and daily cleanup around the house.
I’ll tell you which tools, cleaning agents, and homemade cleaning solutions I keep in my caddy so you can get an idea of what might be useful in yours. And while I’ve shared many homemade cleaning solutions over the years, I limited myself to just four of them in my cleaning caddy (though I had a hard time choosing!)
Jillee’s Everyday Cleaning Caddy: 10 Essential Items
Here’s an overview of what you’ll find in my everyday cleaning arsenal. Below this list, you’ll find more detailed descriptions of each item.
- Caddy
- Spray bottles
- Microfiber cloths
- Magic erasers
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- DIY glass cleaner
- DIY dusting spray
- DIY all-purpose cleaner
- DIY tub and shower cleaner
Note: This isn’t an exhaustive collection of every single thing I use to keep my home clean, but rather a curated arsenal of everyday cleaning supplies for day-to-day cleanup.
1. Caddy
This caddy bag has plentiful pockets, along with a shoulder strap for easier lifting. It’s great for transporting your most used tools and treatments around to the different rooms of your house.
But there’s nothing wrong with a simple plastic caddy like this one, which has the advantage of being easy to clean. Whichever caddy you choose, don’t choose one that’s too big, or it could be heavy and awkward to carry once you’ve filled it up.
2. Spray Bottles
Spray bottles always come in handy for cleaning. You can use whatever bottles you like, but as I use essential oils in a lot of my cleaning products, I use amber glass spray bottles almost exclusively.
It’s important to label your spray bottles clearly so you know what it’s in them. My spray bottle labels have the names and recipes of my favorite homemade cleaning solutions printed on them in white lettering that’s easy to read against dark glass.
3. Microfiber Cloths
Unlike traditional cloths that tend to smear dirt and grime around, microfiber lifts dirt and germs from surfaces and traps them in its itty-bitty fibers. Microfiber is also highly absorbent and safe to use on most surfaces. Learn more about cleaning with microfiber at the link below.
Read More: This Revolutionary Tool Belongs In The Cleaning Hall Of Fame
4. Magic Erasers
If you haven’t been introduced to the magic of magic erasers, it’s time to remedy that! These melamine foam pads are amazingly versatile and have virtually unlimited uses both inside and outside of your home.
Read More: 23 Magic Eraser Tricks To Make Dirt Disappear
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the more underrated items you can have in your toolkit. You can use it to disinfect, sanitize, and deodorize hundreds of surfaces and items around your home. Hydrogen peroxide is also a powerful oxidizer, making it useful for whitening and bleaching things, too.
Read More: This Is The Ultimate List Of Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide
More Ideas You'll Love
6. Baking Soda
Baking soda is another powerhouse cleaning agent — it’s non-toxic, effective yet gentle, readily available, and inexpensive. I like to store mine in a mason jar with a pour top. (You can make a great DIY pour top if you don’t want to buy one.)
Baking soda is an effective substitute for scrubbing cleansing powders, and it’s also useful for things you’d never think of!
Read More: 26 Impressively Useful Things You Can Do With Baking Soda
7. DIY Glass Cleaner
Adding just a few drops of Dawn dish soap to this glass cleaning formula gives it a boost of grease-cutting power, so that even the greasiest fingerprints and smudges wipe away with ease! This post also has recipes for a non-toxic window cleaner and an outside window cleaner!
8. DIY Dusting Spray
While a damp microfiber cloth can take care of light dust, there are occasions when I need my DIY dusting spray, like when grease or dirt gets mixed in with the dust. Just give it a shake before each use, spray, and buff with a clean, dry cloth.
9. All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
Featuring grease-cutting ingredients like borax and washing soda, this spray cleaner is ideal for everyday tasks like wiping down countertops, erasing splatters from cupboard doors, and removing smudges from furniture and appliances. (If you have granite countertops, you’ll probably want this cleaner in your caddy too!)
10. DIY Tub And Shower Cleaner
This powerful tub and shower cleaner will get your bathroom as clean as any commercial cleaner, and it couldn’t be any easier to make.
Now you have everything you need to clean almost everything in your home in one handy place. I think it would make a pretty great housewarming gift too! :-)
Bonus: Cheat Sheets, Checklists & Guides
After filling your caddy with useful tools, consider adding some useful information as well! Here a few resources that might come in handy:
More Ideas You'll Love
What’s in your cleaning caddy?
One does not need so much different sprays – microfiber cloth can make magic with only water. If you clean surfaces regularly (with microfiber cloth and water), they don’t get so dirty that you need some cleaning spray. This is also good for the nature and environment. Greetings from Finland!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How many oz jars you’re using and the sprays I tried on amazon and didn’t find smaller jjars or the spray lids
Please log in or create a free account to comment.These are just the regular pint jars (16 ounces) with these lids attached: http://amzn.to/2usjVi0
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I can’t seem to get that majic erasers to clean anything I’ve bought them and then tossed them but baking soda that REALLY works
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love magic erasers! What have you tried them on? Do you get them wet before scrubbing?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I love reading your blog! I’ve tried so many of your ideas and they are awesome!!! Just wondering, where do you buy your essential oils? Is it something walmart would carry? or do you order online?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi. another great home remedy to clean your toilet, is Citric Acid, push as much water out of the bowl, then sprinkle container of Citric acid and leave over night. Clean with brush next morning for a sparkling white bowl. Michele , Australia
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi you say that essential oils degrade plastic but the sprayer tops are plastic are they not? Do you have to just keep replacing them?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The essential oils can degrade plastic over long time storage, but not quickly enough to worry about the sprayer tops! You do not need to replace them. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you use parmesan cheese in the plastic bottle, wash and reuse the empty bottle with the green sprinkle type lid for things baking soda. The green lid will also fit a wide mouth mason jar any size!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I also do this for corn starch, powdered sugar, white sugar, bulk spices that come in a bag, etc.
Hi — do the solutions go stale? How long do they last in the jars?
Great info — thanks for sharing again!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The dusting spray is the only cleaner with a shelf life (because of the olive oil). It should last at least a couple months – toss it when it starts to smell bad. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One of my favorite cleaners is 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 dawn dish soap. It is thick, and cleans soap scum and grease really well. I mix it in a spray bottle too. To use, I spray it on and let it sit for about 30 minutes, then wipe off. I do use a synthetic scrubber on tough places. But it cleans really well. I will be trying g these cleaners. And will be looking for the spray attachments for canning jars. I love canning jars! I use them for al out everything.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use this also and it works even better if the vinegar is heated before adding the blue Dawn. I do this when my shower needs deep clean and let sit for one hour or more.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee, there is a Scrub Daddy in your photo, but don’t see where it was addressed in the article. It is a good find, as well. Multiple uses also. Please share sometime.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here’s a link, Gale! http://amzn.to/2s33Gbe
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I can’t wait to start!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Really like the sound of the DIY glass cleaner!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.But ‘gallon’ jugs and ‘oz’s are truly another language in metric countries :-(
I use a glass cleaning cloth… search for them on amazon. They are wonderful and you will never need glass cleaner…. they work with water and wash in the laundry for unlimited reuses! Mine are norwex but I think amazon has a brand called e-cloth. that brand also makes great microfiber cleaning cloths!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A gallon is about 3.5 liters :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I am in love with the bathroom all-purpose cleaner! Natural cleaners are really nice and I love using them to clean around the house! I have few recipes that I use and I am very happy with. The bathroom, though is still a bit problematic and I am still trying different recipes until I find something that I like! Thanks for sharing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So glad you like it Lena!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A cleaning caddy makes it so much easier to get the job done. Baking soda comes in handy and those magic erasers are amazing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How much castile soap do you use?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.2 Tablespoons, sorry that got left out! I have updated the post :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I notice you frequently use non-sudsy ammonia. I’ve looked in several stores, but haven’t had any luck finding anything but sudsy. Any suggestions where I might find some? Thank you for this wonderful site. I’ve directed several friends to you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The “smiley face” Scrub Buddy” is wonderful! Got mine at BB and Beyond. Brings a smile to my kitchen, stays clean, and cleans wine glasses and jars so awesome! (you put your fingers in his “eyes”) Great product!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I completely agree! I wwasnt it let down that this scrubbing buddy wasn’t highlighted in the post. Thus little guy is a must have :D I get mine from Home Depot
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I thought I was probably the only gal in the world who hadn’t done her spring cleaning yet. Glad to see I am in good company. Love these cleaning recipes. Going to mixing them up and get busy…next week. Thank you, love. Maybe I will blog about my spring cleaning adventures! You do it, too!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hey Jillee! I have been a follower of your blog for over a year now! I love seeing notifications in my email that you have a new post available to read. :)
As I was going through this one, I noticed that the DIY All-Purpose Bathroom Cleaner instructions mention using Castille Soap. The ingredient list does not include castille soap. Am I missing something? Thanks in advance!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.What is the “washing soda” listed in the bathroom cleaner ingredients?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here’s a link to washing soda on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GjJuzG
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here’s a link to a post about making washing soda out of baking soda: http://ogtbj.com/1FQcJaS
These are all really nice cleaners, can’t wait to try. But instead of carrying then around in a caddy, I just leave them where I need them. So I have a window cleaner ( for mirror), a toilet brush, toilet cleaner, all purpose cleaner, ect., in each bathroom. That way, I have what I need on hand, making quick cleanups and frequent cleaning convenient.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree it’s easier to have duplicate items, but it is still nice to have caddies so you can pull out all your supplies at once in each bathroom
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Did I miss it, or is there any mention of how to make the cute labels?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.On bathroom cleaner it say’s use castile soap but is not on the ingredient list with how much you would use. It also says to let cool. I guess we are using hot or boling water? Clarify for me if you could.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There’s no mention of how much Castile soap goes in to the bathroom cleaner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oops – 2 Tablespoons! Sorry I left that out Valerie!
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