What It Means
A cleaning caddy is a tote, bucket or basket with a handle that holds the supplies you use most, such as an all-purpose cleaner, cloths and a scrub brush. You carry it from room to room instead of walking back for each item, and it gives your cleaning products one home when you're done. The American Cleaning Institute suggests keeping supplies in a portable caddy for easy access.
Try It: Run a Safety Check on Your Caddy
Tick each one that's true of your caddy right now. The first six come from American Cleaning Institute advice.
All eight. Your caddy is packed and stored safely.
Fix the unticked items before the next cleaning day.
How It Sounds at Home
- "Grab the caddy from under the sink."
- "We're out of glass cleaner again."
- "I keep a second caddy upstairs."
The Breakdown
How often to check it
| When | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every time you finish | Close each container and put the caddy away right away | ACI |
| Every time you store it | Away from food, out of reach of young children and pets | ACI |
| Before a big clean, such as spring cleaning | Take inventory of your supplies | ACI |
| Once a month | Wash the cloths, toss worn brushes, add low items to the list | Buhata's suggestion |
What to pack. Keep it to what you use every week, for example an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, microfiber cloths, a scrub brush, a sponge and gloves. Fewer products means fewer to store and none you're tempted to combine. This list is Buhata's own example; your cleaning jobs decide the rest.
Make it last between checks. Put things back in the same slot each time, so a missing item is easy to spot before the next clean. A caddy on each floor saves the stairs, which is Buhata's own suggestion.
Good to Know
The American Cleaning Institute's storage advice applies to the caddy as much as the cabinet: keep products in their original containers with the label intact, store them away from food, keep them out of reach of young children and pets, and close each one fully right after use. Never mix cleaning products, since some that are safe alone can give off dangerous fumes when combined. ACI has also urged families to rethink moving detergents into decorative containers, and to keep liquid laundry packets in their original container, up and out of sight and reach of children.
FAQ
What should go in a cleaning caddy?
The supplies you use every week, such as an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, cloths, a scrub brush and gloves. Keep each product in its original, labeled container, as the American Cleaning Institute advises.
Where should I store a cleaning caddy?
Away from food and out of reach of young children and pets, according to the American Cleaning Institute. Buhata's suggestion is a high shelf or a latched cabinet.
Can I pour cleaners into matching bottles for my caddy?
The American Cleaning Institute advises against it. Products belong in their original containers so the label, with its instructions and safety information, stays with them.
Do It in Buhata
Tasks with a repeat, Shopping
Add "Check the cleaning caddy" as a monthly repeating task in Buhata's Tasks, and put anything running low on the Shopping list.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Cleaning checklist
A written list of household cleaning jobs, often split into daily and weekly tasks, that you tick off so nothing gets missed.
- Top-down cleaning
Cleaning a room from its highest surfaces down to the floor, so dust and crumbs knocked loose land on areas you haven't cleaned yet.
- Mixing cleaning products
Combining two or more cleaners in one bottle, bucket or bowl. Some pairs, such as bleach with ammonia or with an acid, give off toxic gas.
- Under-sink organization
Arranging the cabinet under a kitchen or bathroom sink so cleaners stay in their original containers, locked away from children and easy to check for leaks.
Sources
American Cleaning Institute, "Cleaning Product Safety"; American Cleaning Institute, "Spring Cleaning Plan"; American Cleaning Institute, "Home Cleaning Routine"; American Cleaning Institute, "PACKETS UP! Initiative"
- www.cleaninginstitute.org/understanding-products/ingredients/cleaning-product-safety
- www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/spring-cleaning/spring-cleaning-plan
- www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clean-home/home-cleaning-routine
- www.cleaninginstitute.org/liquidlaundrypacketsafety
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