The Best Tools and Supplies to Save Time Cleaning

I am a big proponent of limiting your cleaning to small, daily chunks of about 15 minutes or so to prevent feeling overwhelmed and build the habit of maintaining a tidy home over time. See, that really works when it comes to building sustainable, long-term progress, but there is one issue: What do you do when the cleaning task ahead of you is a more intense one, like scrubbing or sanitizing? Yes, you can break the duty down into smaller chunks and do it over the course of a few days, but there will likely be times you just want to get it done.

You don’t always have to labor for hours, though. Consider a few upgrades to your arsenal so you can cut back on how long it takes you to clean.

First, make sure all your cleaning supplies are accessible

Before you buy any gadgets that speed up the cleaning process, make sure that the things you already have are accessible. In general, your home should be organized in accordance with two main principles. The first is that all similar items should be stored together and the second is that everything you own should have a designated storage space. Making sure all your sponges, rags, chemicals, and cleaning devices are stored together will save a lot of time when you need them, as you’ll be able to find and get to them quickly.

The best way to do this is by creating a cleaning cart. Picking up one mobile cart and stocking it with your necessary goods is the superior option here, as you can bring it around with you from room to room and it keeps everything in order, so you don’t have to dig through a cabinet of stuff to get at one bottle of Windex.

As for products that save time on their own, let’s start with brushes. There are two kinds of brushes you should upgrade to right now to save time in the long run. The first is any kind of power brush. You can get an electric spin brush with a telescopic handle and a variety of heads for about $40 on Amazon, or you can buy a set of heads that attach to your power drill for $24.99. Either way, these take on the responsibility of scrubbing hard, whether you’re tackling grout or a stubborn pan, turning a labor-intensive chore into quick work.

The second kind of brush you should upgrade to is one that can be filled with soap. For $9.99, you can get a handheld brush that dispenses soap as you use it, cutting down the time you need to fill a bowl with soapy water, dip the brush, and repeat the process over and over again. These are great for dishes, obviously, but the uses extend well beyond that. Keep one in your shower to wash down the walls after you rinse.

I’ve mentioned this one before, but my Bissell CrossWave OmniForce wet/dry vacuum has also saved me a lot of time. Not only is it an efficient vacuum, but it also doubles as a mop, meaning I don’t need to spend the finite minutes of my day switching between bulky devices when I want to clean the floor. You can use the vacuum alone or go dual mode, vacuuming and mopping all at once in a true time-saving performance.

Enhanced versions of regular chemicals and products are also helpful—but only if they actually work. I’ve never found that the more expensive dish soaps that claim to destroy grease and break down food faster than cheaper competitors were all that much better, for instance, but I have noticed that the Mr. Clean Ultra Foamy Magic Eraser ($2.99) scrubs away scum, dirt, and adhesive residue much faster than a regular melamine sponge. Similarly, PineSol 2x Concentrated ($15.49) makes quicker work of messes on my kitchen floor than its standard predecessor, too.

Proper prevention will also cut down on your cleaning time. I’ve been super into my spotLESS Bathroom Starter Set lately, for instance. The three-part set costs $24.99 and includes glass and mirror coating, toilet coating, and fixture coating that prevent water spots and other grime from building up on your flat surfaces. I’ve been using it on my glass table consistently and have noticed I have to spend way less time wiping down the surface after I eat. Other prevention tools, like a floating humidifier cleaner (six for $16.99) or ceramic sealant ($31.95)—used on countertops, stainless steel appliances, etc.—can also prevent small messes from turning into big ones, which means you won’t spend nearly as long dealing with them when it’s time to clean.