Cleaning and Laundry Recommendations

We wholeheartedly recommend the products we list on this page. We continue to purchase them because they work so well and have allowed us to streamline cleaning and laundry in our home.

*See disclosures here.

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Sprays and Solutions

• For general cleaning + laundry – *Branch Basics. We use this fragrance-free cleaning concentrate at our house for: laundry “detergent,” dish soap, carpet cleaning solution, produce wash, dog shampoo, all purpose spray, bathroom cleaner, retainer soak, floor cleaner…and more! One bottle of their concentrate goes a LONG way! Branch Basics also sells wooden brushes that are great for cleaning dishes, sinks, bathtubs, and more. Use our link to get $10 off for new customers. (P.S. Trial kits are only $5 each. Grab one for you and one for a friend!)
  • If you are interested in greening your laundry routine in particular, click here to read a post Erica wrote with her top 5 tips!

• For disinfecting – *Force of Nature. This is what we use for disinfecting around the house and Erica’s classroom. EPA registered and nontoxic (no respiratory or skin concerns!). It is also a-okay to use on granite and stone. Use our link to get the best deal and free shipping on Starter Kits and Value Bundles.

Cleaning Tools

• Wool Duster – We have this one from Norpro. We shake it and vacuum it between rooms. Every so often it needs a light rinse, which we do with warm to cool water and a squirt of Branch Basics foaming wash (no harsh soaps, as these will strip the natural lanolin from the wool).
  • A note about wool dusters – In our experience, these work best for homes that are consistently dusted and vacuumed (in our house that is weekly). We do switch to using Swiffer dusters after home renovation projects, due to the higher dust and particle volume. After a week or two of dusting this way, along with thorough vacuuming, we can switch back to using our wool duster without any problems!
  • What about other types of dusters? – Although we like the idea of reducing waste by using reusable cotton dusters, we have not found them to be effective. We also avoid microfiber dusters, as we try to limit the use of synthetic and plastic-based fabrics around the house (especially ones that would need to be washed consistently).

• HEPA Vacuum – A few years ago we were able to purchase this one from Miele. It is what vacuuming dreams are made of! Clean Mama and Branch Basics (two of our favorite cleaning resources) both recommend this brand. If it is out of your budget, check out this guide for other options. Two specific things we look for in a vacuum, if available, are 1) a closed-loop system to prevent all that dust and debris from escaping upon removal and 2) a HEPA filter to prevent the recirculation of vacuumed particles.

• Dust Pan and Brush Set – We have this one from Redecker.

• Cloths – We have a few packs of 100% cotton washcloths. When we have a full load of cleaning cloths, we run them on the sanitize cycle in the washing machine with a capful of vinegar in place of fabric softener and pop them in the dryer to maintain fluffiness and absorbency.

Cleaning Resources

• Clean Mama – Between her blog, Instagram page, and multiple books, Becky (Clean Mama) provides so much helpful information on the subject of cleaning, everything from how to make a cleaning routine to how to DIY your cleaning supplies to how to clean XYZ. She is Erica’s #1 recommendation if you are looking to skill up in this category of life!
• Fly Lady – While Erica does not use her method of cleaning, Fly Lady has helped a lot of people and has a unique way of building habits when it comes to cleaning and stewarding your home. You might find it worthwhile to peruse the resources on her website!