Cleaning Supplies: Organizational Strategies that Work

If finding your cleaning supplies is sometimes more challenging than the cleaning tasks themselves, then perhaps it's time to get your supplies better organized. In some cases, finding an organizational strategy that works for your cleaning materials is simply a matter of convenience. However, in other cases finding a good storage solution is a matter of safety, especially in homes with small children or pets. If you want to streamline the cleaning tasks around your home by getting your supplies in better order, here are some organizational strategies to try.

Read the Labels

When storing cleaning supplies, safety should be one of your primary concerns. Since many cleaning supplies contain potentially dangerous ingredients, you should always read the labels carefully first in order to understand exactly what you're working with. Pay attention to any label warnings, such as the need to keep the material away from heat sources or out of the reach of children and pets. If you have any cleaning supplies that seem to be particularly hazardous, you should store them all in one safe and secure location. It can also be handy to find and store the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) information close by, in case of an emergency. The product label will usually tell you where you can obtain this kind of information. In many cases, you can simply go online, find the MSDS, and print it out.

Choosing a Storage Location

Once you've taken special precautions with any especially hazardous cleaning supplies, you can decide upon a storage location for the rest of your cleaning products and supplies. In some cases, it can be handy to simply store all of your cleaning supplies in one centralized location, such as in a cabinet or on a shelf in the basement. This can be an especially good strategy to use if you have small children or pets in the house, since you'll only have to secure one area.

However, there's also a lot to be said for storing cleaning supplies close to where they are generally used. For example, you might want to store your kitchen cleaners in the cabinet under the kitchen sink, while storing bathroom cleaners in the vanity cabinet or hallway closet. However, storing cleaners in various locations usually requires having duplicates of the more commonly used items, such as in the case of general household spray cleaner or window cleaning solution.

Saving Storage Space

If storage space is at a premium in your home, you'll want to do everything you can to consolidate your cleaning supplies and save space. Start by evaluating the cleaners that you currently use. Are some of these cleaners very similar as far as what they are used for? Could you use a single multi-purpose cleaner to replace several of the cleaners you currently buy? By using multi-purpose cleaners, you'll save space and simplify your cleaning procedures at the same time. You'll probably also be able to save money, since you'll be able to buy an economy-sized container of the multi-purpose cleaner instead of smaller containers of each specialized product. You can also save space by sorting through your current cleaners, discarding those which you no longer use. However, be sure to follow the label recommendations to ensure that you are discarding the products in a safe fashion. You could also simply give cleaners that you no longer use to other family members or friends, so that they can use them up.