The new school year is already upon us! To have a smooth start, give your home the full cleaning treatment. Don't panic, we're here to help you transform your house or apartment into a clean and tidy space. It may seem like an unachievable task after the slower pace of the past few months, but a thorough clean could be the solution to the post-summer blues. In fact, a recent survey showed that 81% of Canadians feel a sense of well-being after cleaning their home. 

But where should you start? Read on, we'll show you the best ways to clean your home without getting overwhelmed. You’ll also discover our three key techniques to handle back-to-school season like a pro. These can be used before September, but also throughout the year, for a good clean before a move, at the end of your lease, or simply because you're hosting some guests.

Tip n°1: Use the right accessories

The first golden rule of cleaning is to use the right tools! Instead of wasting disposable wipes or tissues, choose reusable paper towels. Our customer Luce D. liked ours and wrote in her review: "Conclusive experience. They're strong, durable and save the planet." And it's true! Our reusable paper towels are highly absorbent and fully biodegradable. Not only will you reduce your CO2 emissions, but you'll also save space: no need to store large rolls of paper towels when you've got a cleaning session coming up.

For scrubbing, remember to use a wooden brush with natural bristles rather than a sponge. The good old brush is a wiser accessory for two reasons. Did you know that a single centimetre of sponge can hide up to 50 billion bacteria? It's all true: brushes dry faster, so they're less likely to retain moisture and germs. 

Conventional sponges are also terrible polluters: they often are full of chemicals, especially considering the polyurethane used to attach the scraper section, which is generally made from non-recyclable materials such as nylon or polyester. When you use a conventional sponge for washing or cleaning up, you're releasing hundreds of microplastics on your dishes, into the sink and finally, into our water sources. Care for yourself and the planet by making the switch to non-toxic alternatives that are better for your skin and the oceans’ ecosystems. 

Tip n°2: Divide and conquer

“I have to clean the whole house" is a thought that can quickly discourage you to get started on the task ahead. Dividing your cleaning schedule room by room can be a good way of getting organised and prepping a plan of attack. In general, it’s best to start with the ‘wet’ rooms first because they require more work. Here's the typical recommended order:

1. Kitchen
2. Bathroom
3. Living room 
4. Bedroom(s)

You may then decide to spread these steps over several days or weekends. Please also note that doing a big clean can have a positive impact on your fitness levels! Cleaning, scrubbing and sweeping often raises your heart rate, and protects your immune system by reducing the dust particles in your environment. Speaking of dust, what products should you use to banish it? Keep reading to find out.

Tip n°3: Tailor the products you use to the surfaces you clean

You can extend the life and looks of your surfaces by adapting each cleaning product to the areas you clean. We've put together a list of recommended products for each surface below.

• Areas with grease

  Especially useful in the kitchen, a formula that can cut through grease can save you a lot of scrubbing time. Indeed, a degreaser can clean your hob or oven without damaging the cooking surfaces, and that, in half the time. We have a soft spot for our own degreasing cleaner, which contains 95% less carbon than most competing products.

• Windows

  In general, cleaning your windows is recommended once a month. However, if you haven't faced this chore for a while, you may need a more effective product. Our glass & mirror cleaner comes in a glass bottle and is formulated with sodium coco-sulfate for gentle yet totally effective cleansing. 

• Tiling

  For stone floors, bathroom walls or countertops, use a solution that preserves the aesthetic of the original surfaces. At Myni, we prefer a pH-neutral formulation to remove stains and residues without risks of damaging surfaces. You can also use our solution on a variety of stones, such as quartz, ceramics and fibreglass.

• Floors

  Wooden floors are tricky surfaces to clean, as they are often porous and tend to stain. Our wooden floor cleaner is odourless to limit the number of ingredients in contact with the floor, and one tablet gives you 4 liters of cleaning supplies. 

Now that you have an option for every surface, here’s a way to cheat the system for those lazy days: the multi-surface cleaner allows you to clean your whole home without having to swap products. However, even if a product is advertised as "multi-surface", it can still damage delicate areas over time. Take a close look at the ingredients list when it’s time to make your choice. Our multi-surface cleaner only has six ingredients, no endocrine disruptors and is made in Canada. Just saying!

Conclusion

You’ve finally done it, you've tackled the whole house and you've done it in a way that's kind to the planet, thanks to our time-saving, environmentally-friendly tips. It's time to treat yourself: take a candlelit bath with our cocooning set containing our popular konjac sponge. The cherry on top? This set allows you to stock up on bubble bath and shower gel products to help you cope with the stress of the incoming school year.. Relax and unwind! You've earned it.

Want to keep reading? In the same vein, check out our article on spring cleaning and the ingredients to avoid when you’re clearing the house.