Motherhood sometimes seems like one long juggling act. You’ve got to take care of the kids, attend to your own career, and, despite some advances in terms of gender roles, in most families, Mom still does most of the cleaning.
Until we reach the Promised Land of total gender equality in the home, the best moms can do is get the unpleasant chores done fast. That leaves more time for hanging out with the kids—you know, the fun part of motherhood.
Here are a few sneak-attack cleaning products that can help.
You know you should disinfect the kitchen counter, but who has the time? Well, anyone with a Clorox Wipe, that’s who.
Simply pull out a towelette, rub down virtually any hard surface, and knock out 99.999 percent of common household germs in just 30 seconds. This gets all the regular baddies, from E. coli to Staph to Salmonella. These things are disposable, which means you don’t have to clean a cloth when you’re done; that’ll save you plenty of time in itself.
2. Swiffer Sweeper Dry/Wet Mop Starter Kit
There are two types of homemakers: those who have never heard of a Swiffer, and those who swear by one. This all-in-one kit contains everything you need to keep hardwood and tile cleaner than ever. No mop bucket necessary.
3. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner
It feels like just choosing between the cleaning products under the sink takes all afternoon, much less rolling your sleeves up and putting one to use.
But why have a huge cleaning arsenal when a single product can take care of virtually any task? Zap away grease, dirt, and tiny fingerprints without heavy scrubbing. This concentrated solution lets you mix just the right strength for the job. Plus, the giant jug lasts practically forever.
4. Kamlif Washable Dust Mop Slippers – 3 Pairs
We’ve been dusting wrong this whole time. In the modern age, dusting is something we can do every moment we’re inside the house! These three sets of microfiber cleaning slippers basically function like dusters, keeping your floor clean effortlessly. A must-have for pet owners.
5. Black and Decker Compact Cyclonic Lithium Hand Vacuum
Clean those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies with this narrow-nosed hand vacuum. We know—the name “Compact Cyclonic Lithium Hand Vacuum” sounds more like a sci-fi weapon than a handy cleaning tool. But it is the latter. Trust us.
6. Clorex ToiletWand Disposable Cleaning System
Has anyone else always thought it was a bit gross that we keep our toilet scrubbers sitting in the corner for years at a time? The Clorox ToiletWand can save us from this plight. Just attach a disposable cleaning head, clean, then toss the tip, which is designated for one-time-use.
7. Up and Up Microfiber Cloths
Quick cleaning requires the right tool for the job. This set of microfiber cloths gives you just that. The green cloth is great for dusting. The yellow one will clean windows and mirrors without streaking. The soft pink cloth is designed for p
olishing the furniture and the blue one is great for cleaning up spills.
Pick up this all-in-one pack of cloths here.
There is no better way to dust the blinds. The ELECOOL Blind Brush has detachable microfiber sleeves to grab the dirt and a strong ABS plastic handle to keep you comfortable while you’re cleaning. Its three-pronged cleaning tip scrapes grime from window blinds and other hard-to-reach places.
9. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 4-Pack
These aren’t your typical kitchen sponges. These durable scrubbers clean up messes that typical cloths only dream of removing. Use them all over the house. We particularly love them for when a certain tiny artist decides to get creative with a crayon and a wall.
10. iRobot Roomba 652 Vacuum Cleaning Robot
Why vacuum when a robot could do it for you? The Roomba 665 is one of the best-known and most-loved robotic vacuums on the market. Press the button and watch it zip around, inhaling debris with a special 3-Stage Cleaning System (yes, it’s a proper noun—patented by iRobot). We, for one, welcome our new robot janitors and thank them for freeing us up to do other things.
