• Gather your tools and supplies and keep your new home sparkling clean.house image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  Gathering the supplies and tools needed for basic housekeeping before you move into a new house will make keeping up with your chores that much easier. Cleaning doesn't require expensive tools or environmentally unsound chemicals, just a little forethought and some elbow grease.
  
  

Tools

• The foundation of a cleaning-supply closet is the tools. With the right tools, even basic water can make a significant impact on a mess. A bucket will hold your supplies when it's not in use. Rubber gloves protect your hands from harsh substances. Keep a supply of clean rags and sponges handy. A feather duster is a tool every house needs. A toothbrush gets into hard-to-reach areas, and a small squeegee makes windows shine. Don't forget a broom and dust pan and a mop. A toilet brush and vacuum cleaner round out the tools in your cleaning arsenal.
  
  

Cleaning Solutions

• White vinegar has been used for hundreds of years as a cleaning solution. Mixed with water in a spray bottle, it makes a perfect window cleaner. Dish-washing soap not only cleans your plates and glasses, it also cuts through grease wherever you find it. Ammonia is an inexpensive and effective multipurpose cleaner. Mix it with water in a bucket to clean floors or in a spray bottle to clean countertops and other surfaces. Baking soda is a great deodorizer. Keep some in a shaker jar to use as an abrasive for cleaning bathtubs, sinks and tough stains.
  
  

Organization

• Plastic dish pans make good containers for gathering tools and solutions together. Keep toothbrushes, rags and supplies for the bathroom and the kitchen separate in order to avoid cross-contamination. If you have a two-story house, consider keeping a vacuum on each floor.