Spring Cleaning {& My Cleaning Bible}

The May issue of Real Simple featured an article titled

The Definitive Cleaning-Products Road Test that has now become my cleaning bible.
Long are the days in South America where we could afford to have a maid to clean our house.
Now the cleaning is up to me and these road-tested products. Below are some of my favorites.
For a full description* of each, scroll down to read more about each product.

Everyday Essentials 

top row: gloves, glass cleaner, wood polish, soft cleanser, wood daily cleaner

bottom row: floor cleaner, granite daily cleaner, stainless steel cleaner, spot & stain remover,

 all-purpose cleaner

 Bathroom Essentials

top row: natural bathroom cleaner, bathroom cleaner, shower foamer

bottom row: toilet bowl cleaner, grout brush

Everyday Essentials:

The best rubber Gloves, Mr. Clean Bliss Clean: latex-free and lined in super soft cotton, these are so comfortable , you won't want to take them off. And they won't make your hands sweat, even after you've done a load of dishes.

For glass, iQ glass cleaner: The wave of the future in cleaning products involves mix-with-water solutions that have a lighter foot-print, because you use the same container over and over. Don't let those tiny steps (fill with water, insert vial and sprayer tube, and tighten) be a deterrent. This pick works streakless wonders on glass and mirrors and is worth the change of habit. Smells like clean laundry.

For deep-cleaning wood, Guardsman Wood Cleaner and Wood Polish (2 different bottles), retailers nationwide: A smart duo to protect and shine wood furniture: The foaming cleaner removes build-up; the polish, well, polishes.

Best cream cleanser, Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser: A 130-year old classic, it makes faucets, tile, and cookware sparkle and removes mineral stains and rust marks with minimal muscle.

For wood, Method Wood for Good Daily Clean: Food-safe and plant-based, this light everyday cleaner keeps butcher blocks, wooden counters, and kitchen tables clean and conditioned.

Best all-floor surface, Better Life Simply Floored!: One shining solution for every floor in your home, this nontoxic champion tackles scuffs, smudges, and stains on hardwood, tile, laminate, bamboo, and even marble. And - wait for it - no rinsing required. The mild minty-lime is nothing short of aromatherapy.

For stone, Better Life Take It for Granite: Leaves a streak-free shine on stone surfaces with no buildup and is completely food-safe. Its light sweet-citrus scent is unobtrusive, even when mingling with cooking smells.

For stainless steel, Simple Green Stainless Steel One-Step Cleaner & Polish: Stainless is notoriously vulnerable to water marks and smudges (even a light touch can leave prints). This winner not only cleans expertly but also casts an antistatic layer that repels dust and future spots. Fragrance-free.

For carpet stains, Citrus Magic Natural Instant Spot & Stain Remover: Serious stains - we're talking soy sauce and jelly that have soaked over night into wool - begin fading on contact. Also rescues upholstery. Orange-and-lemon scent.

Best all-purpose cleaner, Planet All-Purpose Cleaner: The go-to bottle for kitchen cleaning and touch-ups in every room, this unscented spray easily obliterated the mustard and strawberry stains that our testers planted on hard surfaces.

Bathroom Essentials:

Best natural all-purpose, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Bathroom Cleaner: The scent will dominate the room in a good way. Quickly lifts water spots, toothpaste, and soap scum.

Best powerhouse all-purpose: Lysol Bathroom Cleaner: This disinfectant makes quick work of ordinary challenges on all bathroom surfaces. It also breaks through lime scale and soap scum. The foam-producing nozzle means less dripping (and waste).

Best for showers, Scrubbing Bubbles Mega Shower Foamer: With a super-wide spray of foam that sticks to tile, glass, and fiberglass walls, it's a shower for your shower. Just spray on, let sit for three minutes, and rinse. Note: One application uses almost an entire can, but it's needed only about once a month.

Best for toilet bowls, Seventh Generation Natural Toilet-Bowl Cleaner: Infuses the room with a light, natural cypress scent as it flushes away stains and rings with just a swish of a brush. 

Best grout brush, Libman Grout Brush: A curved brush tip and just-the-right-angle handle provide a motivating combination of power and access.

*Descriptions of each product come from Real Simple.