Why Cheap Cleaning Tools Can Cost You More in the Long Run

It’s always exciting to score a deal when shopping. Not everything in your home needs to be the latest and greatest gadget, but certain things are worth the extra investment. One of those categories? Cleaning tools.

You’ve likely purchased a cheaper cleaning tool only to have it underperform or break after just a couple of uses. Not only will a replacement eat up the initial savings, but it can also cause frustration and another trip to the store. Ugh.

We’re here to tell you that it’s time to stop buying cheap cleaning tools. We took the guesswork out of the equation and spoke with cleaning experts about where and why spending more money genuinely pays off. You can thank us later!

The Case for Spending More

Spending more initially on cleaning tools can be well worth the investment. “I see cheap cleaning tools largely as [scams], whether they’re bulk ‘microfiber’ cleaning cloths or the nameless electric spinning scrubbers that imitate expensive robovacs,” explains Sham Zemichael, Owner and Operations Manager at Costina Cleaning Services LLC. “They really aren’t built to last, with most electronics performing poorly and dying down after a couple of uses, sometimes even damaging your surfaces. [Some also] make your job harder, such as cheap cleaning cloths releasing lint when you wipe with them and smearing dirt rather than removing it.”

The Tool-by-Tool Breakdown

Squeegee

A squeegee is a hand tool with a flat, smooth rubber blade designed to wipe or push liquid off of glass shower doors, windows, tile, or mirrors.

Ashley Torres, Cleaning Expert and Team Leader with Karen’s Green Maids, recommends investing in a squeegee with a quality rubber or silicone blade that evenly removes water. Look for a rigid frame and a handle that doesn’t bend too much, Zemichael adds. The blade should be without gaps or curves to ensure even contact with the surface.

According to Ashley Matuska Kidder, the Founder of Dashing Maids, “A high-quality squeegee will reduce build-up after every shower (saving time on having to scrub soap scum off tile walls and shower doors). It will clean your windows swiftly and perfectly.”

Expect to spend around $20+ on a good squeegee that will last a few years or more. Kidder recommends this pick from Amazon.

Spray Bottles

A refillable spray bottle is a great way to save money on cleaning solutions.Glass bottles are aesthetically pleasing but can break easily, making plastic a wise choice.

“The nozzle should mist your product effectively and consistently. If the bits are … plastic and break immediately, you will be frustrated (and have to replace them),” Kidder warns.

She recommends avoiding the cheapest options and counting on product reviews.

“[A] price range of $5 to $9 per bottle is a safe bet,” Kidder adds. She recommends ZEP Professional Sprayer Bottles.

Mop

A mop is essential for floor cleaning. Choose one with a removable mop head for cleaning or replacement so your hard-wood floors always sparkle!

“You want a mop pole that won’t break too quickly [or] easily. The point where the pole and the head of the mop meet should be a very sturdy piece,” Kidder notes.

She recommends purchasing a ~$60 to $100 mop that could last a lifetime. Kidder suggests this microfiber spin mop from Amazon, noting to purchase extra mop heads.

Scrub Brush

Heavy-duty scrubbing in challenging places like grout, tubs, or sinks requires a good scrub brush.

The bristles on a cheap scrub brush will end up flattening, falling out, or permanently bending. Once this occurs, you’re pressing harder without getting a better clean.

“A professional-grade brush maintains its shape, which means the bristles do the work rather than your wrist. Look for resilient, secure bristles, a strong handle, and a shape that lets you apply pressure without your hand sliding forward. The stiffest brush isn’t always the best choice because overly stiff bristles can leave scratches,” Zemichael says.

Prices range from about $5 to $35, with the latter being higher quality. A scrub brush can last roughly two to five years.

Zemichael’s go-to scrub brush for cleaning is the SPARTA Grout Brush with Stiff Nylon Bristles.

Vacuum

Vacuums are necessary for cleaning floors, carpets, baseboards, and more. This tool has the most noticeable difference between cheap and quality versions.

“A good vacuum has strong, consistent suction, seals properly, filters fine particles, has better floor agitation, and is less likely to become useless when the bin starts to fill. HEPA-filtered machines are especially worth their value for homes where dust and allergens are concerns,” Zemichael explains.

Look for a vacuum with a replaceable HEPA filter, sealed filtration, durable wheels, a brush roll that can be turned off for hard flooring, good battery life, a long cord, and availability for replacement parts

A budget vacuum costs about $150; a high-quality version can range from $250 to $600+. A well-maintained household vacuum should last roughly seven to 10 years.

Zemichael recommends the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Vacuum, noting, “It does a solid job and is built to last. I won’t be surprised if my Miele outlives me!”

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Microfiber cloths are used to clean dust off of shelves and baseboards; they also clean mirrors and glass without streaking. Damp cloths are used to clean countertops and appliances.

“With the grease and lint that cheap cloths scatter, I’d rather spend $30 on a few microfiber cloths than $10 on a giant 50-pack of cheaper cleaning fabrics,” explains Zemichael.

Dense, tightly woven microfiber with a thickness of around 300+ grams per square meter (GSM) is a solid benchmark for a microfiber cloth.

“Look for good quality stitching and preferably different colors so you can assign them to different areas and reduce cross-contamination,” Zemichael tells us. “Budget cloths are available [for] under $20 for a multipack. Expect to spend between $25 and $50 for a smaller professional-quality set.”

A microfiber cloth should last at least a year with proper washing. Zemichael suggests grabbing a 12-pack of Chemical Guys Professional Microfiber Towels.

Where It’s OK to Save

It’s perfectly okay to save money on easily replaceable or disposable products like toilet brushes, sponges, dustpans, and rubber gloves. A $3 sponge can be used a few times and then tossed. “Save your money on the simple stuff and spend it where better quality actually saves effort,” Zemichael suggests.

The Conclusion

Spending more money up front on items you want to last makes good sense. If you can only invest in one or two cleaning tools, start with a vacuum, as it helps with basic daily cleaning and covers a lot of ground, in addition to a mop—particularly if most of your space is not carpeted.

“Ask yourself whether the tool will help you clean more easily or more often. If you don’t see it doing either, skip it. So, if a better vacuum makes you more willing to clean floors twice a week, that’s a worthwhile purchase, but a fancy grout brush that sits untouched in a drawer isn’t,” Zemichael says.

About the Experts

• Sham Zemichael, Owner and Operations Manager at Costina Cleaning Services LLC, a residential and commercial cleaning company serving Arlington, VA, Washington, DC, and the surrounding Northern Virginia area
• Ashley Torres is a Cleaning Expert and the Team Leader with Karen’s Green Maids in Chicago, Illinois. Torres leads the teams behind every cleaning and has more than five years of professional experience under her belt.
• Ashley Matuska Kidder is the Founder of Dashing Maids, a top-rated, eco-friendly house cleaning service based in Denver, Colorado, and the Founder of Mountains of Laundry, a pick-up and delivery laundry service. Kidder has more than a decade of hands-on experience specializing in practical, non-toxic cleaning solutions and efficient systems that save time and make daily life simpler.

The post Why Cheap Cleaning Tools Can Cost You More in the Long Run appeared first on Family Handyman.