What Are 7 Cleaning Tools Every Filipino Home Should Have?

Over the past few years, people worldwide seriously considered the importance of optimum health and cleanliness. In your bout to keep COVID-19 out of your home, you probably ate well, took vitamins regularly, and tried to get enough exercise and sleep. It also made sense to keep your house fresh and clean.

Are you moving out for the first time? Are you reorganizing your household supplies? At some point, you’ve probably asked, “What are cleaning tools every Filipino home must have?” Today, we’ll give you an overview of the items you should own when you want to keep your house clean and tidy.

1. Walis Tambo – Broom

When it comes to brooms, Filipinos know that the walis tambo reigns supreme. It can effectively sweep off fur, dirt, dust, and anything else on non-carpet flooring. Moreover, you can use it to reach tight areas with minimal effort.

The walis tambo’s bristles are soft and flexible enough to sweep off light dust. At the same time, they can help you get rid of dirt. You can usually find walis tambos in the dry sections of a palengke, but they are also available in some grocery stores. Their prices range from 150 to 300 pesos.

2. Vacuum Cleaner

If you have carpet flooring or you have pets in the house, you’ll likely need a vacuum cleaner. After all, no matter how efficient a walis tambo is, you can’t use it to clean your bed, couch, or sofa. So, we recommend buying a mini vacuum cleaner to remove fine dust, fur, and hair. Besides, you can use 

Usually, handheld vacuum cleaners cost around 600 to 1,000 pesos. Meanwhile, if you want to get a vacuum cleaner designed for floor cleaning, expect to shell out around 1,000 to 3,000 pesos. 

3. Flat Mop

While some would say that spin mops are more practical, they might not be as efficient as flat mops in cleaning hard-to-reach areas. So, if you’re going to choose between the two, add the latter to your cleaning materials list. Durable and lint-free, flat mops have a rectangular shape that makes them ideal for reaching corners.

Compared to other mops, flat mops are more useful in pushing bigger dirt. Moreover, they usually come with a bucket designed with scrubbing and wringing capabilities. So, you don’t have to touch the microfiber mop head. Depending on the brand, flat mops cost around 250 to 500 pesos.

4. Microfiber Cloth

Microfiber towels are useful in cleaning any surface. Moreover, they are gentle enough not to cause damage to materials like glass. As such, microfiber towels are practical to have, especially when you want to clean, sanitize, and disinfect your kitchen.

Did you know that soil and dust have a net negative charge? [1] Since microfibers have a positive charge, they effectively attract these particles like magnets. Moreover, they are effective in cleaning your flat-screen television. Usually, you can purchase microfiber towels in sets that cost around 100 pesos.

5. Sponges

You’re probably wondering, “What are cleaning tools that I can use around the house?” Well, sponges always top the list. You can use them for different tasks, but make sure you purchase them in different colors. This way, you’ll know which one to use for your dishes, bathroom, and other household items. Moreover, make sure you know how to properly clean sponges to keep them bacteria-free and hygienic.

You can find sponges in different sizes and styles. Moreover, they usually come at affordable prices, ranging from 20 to 150 pesos.

6. Rags

Rags are a great alternative to kitchen paper towels. You can use them to wipe off spills or clean your dining table. What’s great about them is you can wash and reuse them. In many ways, rags are an eco-friendly cleaning tool for your kitchen.

You can repurpose old cotton shirts and cut them into smaller pieces to create rags. However, you can always buy kitchen rags from your local dry market. Usually, each piece costs around 5 to 20 pesos.

7. Scrub Brushes

You should also get at least one good scrub brush. This way, you can eliminate stubborn dirt and grime on solid surfaces. We recommend getting the plastic scrub with strong bristles and a rubber grip. When you’re aiming for the best ways to clean bathroom tiles, you need a scrub that won’t slip off your hand.

Scrub brushes can also come in sets, allowing you to switch between different heads. This option allows you to handle various areas and items, including corners and shower heads. Usually, scrub brushes can cost as low as 15 pesos. However, you can spend over 100 pesos if you’re after quality and practicality.

Organize Your Cleaning Tools

When gathering the cleaning tools for your home, you need to evaluate which items are practical and useful for your needs. While our list isn’t exhaustive, it includes all the basic essentials to keep your house tidy. However, if you have a multi-story home, you might need duplicates of the items we mentioned. 

For more cleaning tips and hacks, visit Cleanipedia’s blog!

Reference:

1. Agronomy Guide. Fundamentals of Soil Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ay/ay-238.html