All the tools and supplies you need for efficient and effective housecleaning should fit into a portable bag to eliminate backtracking, save time and energy. And please remember your conscious awareness in the present moment.

Less is more… less housecleaning products to cart around, more cupboard space, more dollars left in your pocket, and more healthy energy to sustain you while you clean.

Portable bag for cleaning tools and supplies…

• Keep all your cleaning tools and gadgets together in one bag with a shoulder strap that you can tote from room to room.
• Consider environmentally friendly hemp, recycled plastic or nylon sports bags.
• A comfortable sturdy apron with several pockets is also handy.

Be prepared for…

• spilled candle wax
• globs of adhesive or glue
• loose screw nails
• grunge packed into corners
• minor temporary toilet tank repairs
• loose door knobs and handles
• electric power outage

Blue Wonder Cleaning Cloths – I carry two sets of cloths in my kit. Each set consists of a Classic cloth for dusting, damp and wet cleaning chores; and the Deluxe cloth for polishing mirrors and windows, stainless steel and chrome.

One set reserved for the bathroom and the other for the rest of the house.

Blue Wonder E-Buddy Mop System – three different heads cover wet and damp mopping, as well as dry dusting; the telescopic pole makes it easy to clean high ceilings, corners, and hard to reach windows.

Spray bottle for vinegar – vinegar sanitizes – kills bacteria, mold and germs. It also helps to get through several layers of residue from cleaning products during those first 2 or 3 cleans with your Blue Wonder cloths.

Tip: If your customer objects to the smell of vinegar, you might add a few drops of essential oil. A light fragrance of Lavender, or Rose might be the perfect touch.

Baking Soda – used with vinegar works well to remove tough grime and grunge and residue from housecleaning products. Protect the box in a plastic bag, or transfer baking soda from its original box to a plastic container.

Duct tape – Canadian TV character, Red Green’s solution for holding his world together – mine for unexpected temporary fixes, like a broken vacuum cleaner attachment. Duct tape saved my day.

Small plastic putty knife or scraper – a firm soft edge can be useful for scraping wax drippings, or adhesive spots from counter surfaces. Be careful not to scratch surfaces. A credit card also works well as a handy cleaning tool.

Plastic twist ties – keep several of these handy for quick fixes such as loose toilet tank parts. Yes, it happened to me when I was without the ties.

Swiss Army Knife or equivalent – great for digging out grunge in corners and the odd time you may require a screw driver with multiple heads, to make minor repairs; cupboard and drawer knobs occasionally come loose, not to mention the odd door knob.

Powerful, canister style, lightweight vacuum cleaner – Most people seem to prefer upright over canister styles. I’m still not convinced because I love convenient, efficient, lightweight and easy. It has to be easy to carry in one hand to reach into high places for cobwebs, and narrow enough to set down on a stair as I clean long staircases.

Note pad and pen – to take notes of important things to remember for your next housecleaning session. You might think that your customer will have paper and pen handy somewhere – not always the case, so I’ve found. Besides, who has time to search for it?

Small flashlight – if the power goes out while you are in a customer’s home, you will be grateful for some light to guide you out of the darkness. It will also be handy for cleaning inside cupboards, or finding a light switch in poorly lit rooms, such as a bathroom hiding behind a walk-in closet.

Vacuum cleaner bags – if your vacuum cleaner uses them.

Rubber gloves – an extra pair is useful in case one pair gets a leak, or just gets wet inside.

Commercial style white cotton gloves – for under your rubber gloves. If you have sensitive skin, apply a good moisturizing cream before you put on your cotton gloves. It’s like giving your hands a soothing spa treatment.

Small bucket for water – works best with a handle to carry with you for cleaning mirrors and windows throughout the house.

Large bucket – for wet mopping floors and a rag mop, if you don’t have a Blue Wonder micro mop. A cotton rag mop wins over a sponge mop because the clusters of wet strands spread out for a better clean underneath appliances.

Nutritious energizing snacks – Just in case you get a bit peckish while you’re cleaning. I always get hungry during three hour cleaning jobs so I carry energy bars and bananas, and of course water.

Well, there you have it – my K.I.S.System. As basic as it seems, here is everything you need for happy efficient and effective housecleaning.

Next, in Part IV you will find tips for organizing your tasks to minimize backtracking and repetition.