Family Chores & Must Have Cleaning Products

I love a clean house.

I love to organize.

My ideal house is clean and organized.

But, I have two kids, two cats and a husband who make messes.

We ALL have to work together to make it happen.

Everyone has chores and everyone is expected to help around the house.

Here's our chore break down:

Whitney:
vacuum
dust
anything in the kitchen or cooking related
organizing
My laundry + kid laundry
overall supervising of cleaning, organizing & purging

Kevin:
yard
outside house work
grilling
his laundry
his stuff

Olive (almost 5):
dirty clothes in basket
collect all kid laundry and put it in washer
tidy up her own toys throughout the day
set the table
put her dishes in the sink after a snack or a meal
refill water bottle section of the fridge
refill cat food bowls
help me dust
empty bathroom trash cans
hang up her coat, backpack and put away shoes

Fletcher (almost 2):
dirty diapers in trash can
unload silverware and cups from dishwasher
tidy up his own toys throughout the day
his shoes in his shoe basket
put snack bowls and cups in the sink when he's done


I don't have a set cleaning calendar, but I do try to do a couple of cleaning tasks in addition to my daily cleaning to enure that I don't have to spend large chunks of any day cleaning.  I'm currently on the hunt for a new favorite shampoo and carpet cleaner so send all the suggestions my way!

I'm excited to share my favorite/can't live without products with you today!!  It's a random mix of cleaning products that you can ALWAYS find in my home.

1. Do you ever struggle with CLUTTER??  I just finished a GREAT book on the subject.  I was so motivated to declutter after I read White's plan.  Everyone should read this book and then start working on getting rid of the clutter!!

Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff By Danan K White. I'm an organized person and am working on ducluttering my own home.  I learned so much from this book.  Her idea that your home is a container and we've got to make our things fit comfortably inside of it was a game changer for me.  In the past I had always looked for organizers or bins that would help me organize my stuff.  Now I'm reevaluating my home, closets and shelves to see how I can declutter and work with the space I have.  White helped me to see that I don't need more organizers or more bins, I just need less stuff.  Her advice is so practical and easy for anyone to relate to.  She addresses so many areas that people struggle to organize - kitchens, clothes, toys, closets, crafts, etc.  She is also quick to tell you personal stories of her own clutter and how she worked through messy situations in her home.  It's great to hear that her home isn't perfect.  I appreciated White sharing her life lessons and decluttering lessons she's learned along the way.  You will be highly motivated to get busy and declutter after reading this book.  I'd highly recommend it to anyone that has the desire to have less stuff in their homes.
*This book was gifted to me from BookLook in exchange for an honest review of it.



2. Shark Rocket Ultra Light Upright Stick Vacuum
We've had this for a couple of years and I use it almost every day.  It's great on carpet and wood floors.  It's got a ton of attachments and great reviews.  It works really well for pet hair, kid messes and everything in between.



3. Clorox Wipes
They're great for everything - bathrooms, cars, kid messes, kitchen counters.  I always have some in my cabinet for cleaning.  I keep the pouches of them in my backpack and then these containers at home and in my car.



4. Lemi Shine Dish Detergent Booster
We have really hard water and this stuff is MAGIC.  It ensures that your glasses and dishes come out of the dishwasher sparkling!  You use it with dish detergent and it is a game changer.  My dishes used to all look cloudy or gross, but now they sparkle.  I can't believe the difference it makes in my dishes.



5. Shout Laundry Stain Remover Spray
This stuff is magic.  It'll take stains out of a white couch, stains out of your clothes and it smells great!  It's an amazing stain remover for tough stains.  Remember when I told you that Fletcher colored all over my in law's white couch with pink highlighter??  This is the stuff that got it all out.  It's a LIFESAVER.



6. ALL Free & Clear Detergent for Sensitive Skin
I love the way this detergent smells and your clothes will come out so clean.  It's light and airy.  It's the only detergent we use.



7. Clear Care Cleaning & Disinfecting Solution
Where are all of my contact wearers??  This solution is AMAZING.  It cuts down on eye infections and keeps your contacts extra clean.  It was recommended to me years ago by my optometrist and I've been using it for over 5 years.  You have to let your contacts sit for at least 6 hours in it so make sure to plan accordingly.



8. Pampers Sensitive Wipes
It's been my experience that you just can't cut corners on wipes.  The generic ones aren't as good.  They're not as wet or as durable as the name brands.  These Pampers Sensitive Wipes are our favorites.  I've cleaned babies, tables, interiors of cars, wipes out diaper bags, scraped knees and a million other things with them.  They're the best!



9. Sensodyne
This toothpaste has been a game changer for me.  I was having some tooth pain and a dentist suggest that I switch to this.  I haven't looked back since.  I use it at least twice a day and I miss it immediately if I forget to pack it for a trip.  I've tried generic versions and they aren't as good.



10. Fresh Step Multi Cat Kitty Litter
This stuff is great!  It works really well and I love having it delivered to my house.  That way I'm not lugging it all around the grocery store.

What's your cleaning routine??

Please tell me your must have cleaning products!!

PS Affiliate links included.  Thanks for reading & supporting Polka-Dotty Place!

Linking up with Erin for her 10on the 10th monthly link up