Author: Allie Zottola

My Favorite Cleaning Products

I have been called a clean freak by my family and friends. While it can be seen as a good thing, Jimmy would probably tell you it borders on annoying 😉

I’m sharing my favorite cleaning products here on the blog today. Most of these are self-explanatory, but I will make comments on the products that are particularly great!

For the floor

floor cleaning products mop vacuum swiffer Murphy's oil soap

Dyson DC65 Vacuum Cleaner // Murphy Oil Soap // Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mop // Swiffer Gain Scent Wet Mop Refills // Holloway House Quick Shine Multi-Surface Floor Finish // Quickie Microfiber Twist Mop

Dyson vacuums are amazing. Yes, the price tag is steep, but it’s 100% worth it. Jimmy and I bought ours on sale at Bed Bath and Beyond and used a 20% off coupon, so we got ours fairly cheap (for a Dyson, ha).

If you have hardwood or laminate floors, the Holloway House Quick Shine is awesome! It makes our scratched up floors look so shiny. When I don’t have time to mop, I like using the Swiffer wet mop. It’s quick and easy.

For the bathroom

bathroom cleaning supplies dr. bronners magic eraser windex seventh generation natural toilet bowl cleaner

Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Pure-Castile Soap // Mr. Clean Extra Durable Magic Eraser // Windex Original Glass Cleaner // Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner

I don’t have a lot of products in the bathroom category because I use castile soap mixed with water in a spray bottle to clean our shower, bathroom counter, and toilet.

For the toilet bowl, I love the Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner. It smells great, and I love that it doesn’t have a lot of harsh chemicals. The Magic Erasers really are magic.

For the kitchen

Heinz White Vinegar // Method Gel Dish Pump // Weiman Cook Top Scrubbing Pads // Pledge Revitalizing Furniture Oil Spray // Weiman Glass Cook Top Cleaner & Polish // Scotch-Brite Dobie All-Purpose Cleaning Pads // Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner & Polish // Cascade Complete Dishwasher Detergent

I’ve tried other dishwasher detergents, but there is nothing like Cascade. It’s also pricier than other brands, so I buy the powder (which I think is the most economical choice?!) from Jet.com, which I’ve talked about before. I’m a huge fan of the Method dish soap. I don’t know why, but the fact that it’s in a pump bottle makes my life easier, haha.

The Scotch-Brite cleaning pads are my favorite because they never seem to get smelly or gross. I use the Pledge Restore and Shine on our (wood) kitchen table and it makes it nice and shiny, plus it smells amazing. Good old vinegar is what I use to clean our countertops. I put it in a spray bottle with water and essential oil and it’s a lot cheaper than buying all-purpose cleaner.

Laundry and Miscellaneous

the best laundry detergent and cleaning supplies

Dryer balls // Swiffer Dusters // Ultra Downy Infusions Fabric Softener // Tide Free & Gentle

I love using dryer balls to make our towels fluffy. I literally stop and smell the Downy fabric softener every single time I use it. The botanical mist scent is heavenly! Tide Free & Gentle is my go-to laundry detergent because it’s free of dyes and perfumes and still gets our clothes clean.


So there you have it, all my favorite cleaning products. I like a mix of natural and chemical-laden products. I’m always trying to find the least expensive, most natural way to clean. Sometimes it means creating my own all-purpose cleaners… and sometimes it means buying the chemical stuff. It’s a work in progress 😉

Tell me your favorite cleaning supplies!

Alma Mater

This weekend was an Alma Mater kind of weekend. On Friday night, I was back at my old stomping grounds–Penn State–to watch my sister receive an award for achieving a 4.0 GPA. On Saturday night, I went to Jimmy’s old high school to watch a girl from my church compete in gymnastics!

Watching Hannah receive her award and visiting my old college was great. I’m so incredibly proud of Hannah. Seeing my old professors and walking around the halls I spent hours studying in had me feeling a mix of nostalgia and relief. Nostalgia because I can look back on those days and smile. Relief because I’m glad I don’t have homework anymore 😉

Penn State Awards Ceremony Penn State Awards Ceremony

The gymnastics meet was awesome. It was actually the level three states competition! If you’re not familiar with gymnastics lingo, that probably doesn’t mean much to you, but it’s definitely a big deal!

I watched her and her teammates compete, took pictures with my DSLR camera for the parents, and missed the days when I used to do gymnastics! I’d love to get back into it, but I’ve been saying that for years now. Maybe someday 😉

gymnastics meet states

Besides spending time and mine and Jimmy’s respective alma maters, I also reached a whole new level of cat obsession.

Malcolm’s new toy came in the mail, and I filmed him tearing it apart (complete with hardcore background music) to show just how much he loves these bird toys! Lola even made a little appearance since she likes the bird toys, too. Actually, I suspect she just likes to play with Malcolm’s toys because they’re his.

My mom and I also filmed a vlog together earlier in the week. She got a new job with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and had to buy some new work clothes. I helped her pick some outfits out and we had a fun day together. I love filming days like that so I can look back on them!

I also pet sat over the weekend. I took one client’s dog to the pet store just for fun and bought her a treat. That was my wild Saturday afternoon–taking someone else’s dog to the pet store 🙂

Jimmy and I had church on Sunday and were able to grill and eat outside since it was so warm out. I love this season!

How was your weekend?