When you’re busy cleaning, a cleaning tote is your best friend. All the supplies you need are right by your side, and you can carry it around with you wherever you go. A plastic bucket or tray can hold your tools and cleaning solutions and help you clean it right and quickly. But, what to put inside? Here are the top tools that you’ll need:

1. Cleaning apron – An apron will protect your clothing, and it has pockets to hold spare garbage bags, and other small items. Choose one that is machine-washable.

2. Rubber gloves – It’s important to protect your hands from harsh chemicals, as they can dry out your skin. Get yourself a good-quality pair that will last you a while.

3. Cleaning cloths – Use cleaning cloths to wipe things dry, polish mirrors, and remove fingermarks.

4. Scrubbing sponge – This sponge has a abrasive side and an absorbent side. Use the abrasive side to scrub stubborn grime, and use the absorbent side to pick up liquids.

5. Toothbrush – A toothbrush is great for tiny spaces. Use a firm-bristle toothbrush around sink fixtures, rims, and other tight corners.

6. Spray bottle – Adjustable spray bottles make it easy and quick to apply cleaner to windows, mirrors, and other surfaces. Label your bottles so you know which ones to use.

7. Tile brush – A tile brush cleans tiles, ceramic fixtures, and bathtub surrounds. The bristles reach into corners to tackle tough jobs, and the handle keeps your hands away from the cleaning solution.

8. Squeegee – This is for windows, mirrors, and glass. A rubber-bladed squeegee removes cleaning solution and dirt in one swipe. Remember to wipe the blade with a cloth between strokes.

9. Squirt bottle – Cleaners work best when they’re applied evenly. Use a funnel to put your cleaner into the bottle.

10. Scraper – A metal or plastic scraper works well in removing dried-up gunk. Keep it in your apron pocket to keep it at hand.

Photos: Great Useful Stuff, Gallery Hip, ASJ Cleaning, Woman’s Day.

Dry cleaning is cleaning a room without sinks or any water sources. Dust and dirt tend to fly when they’re disturbed, and a dry room is always cleaned starting from the top to the bottom. Working around the room only once saves you time, and makes the job go by faster. Read our steps on how to handle cleaning a dry room!

Step 1:

Place the wastebasket outside the door to be emptied. You can get rid of the trash at the end.

Step 2:

Move around the room in sections, and always start from the top. Use a long-handled duster and wipe down crown moldings, door tops, and the tops of photos and other artwork. Clean photo glass and windows with a cloth sprayed with glass cleaner.

Step 3:

Now it’s time to tackle horizontal surfaces. Dust any knick-knacks on mantles, shelves, or tabletops with a cleaning cloth, then dust the surface beneath them. Apply a spray of cleaner to loosen any soil on windowsills or counter tops. Dust furniture legs and wipe the dust from baseboards.

Step 4:

From circling the room and working from the top to the bottom, clean any furniture in the center. Vacuum the floor and empty and replace the wastebasket. For a final touch, spray the room with freshener to leave it smelling great!

Photos: Housekeeping.about, Housekeeping.wonderhowto, Life Hacker.