The £10 Fix for Your Most Annoying Cleaning Problem

Still running back to the kitchen cupboard for forgotten cleaning sprays? A simple cleaning caddy saves 10 minutes per clean and costs less than a takeaway.

TIMEHOME

10/13/20254 min read

Time Saved: ★☆☆☆☆ | Cost-Effectiveness: ★★★★★

Picture this: you're halfway through cleaning the bathroom when you realise the glass cleaner is under the kitchen sink. So you trudge downstairs, grab it, head back up, then remember you need fresh cloths. Another trip. Then the floor cleaner. Another trip.

By the time you've finished your Tour de House, you've walked more steps than your morning jog.

The Stupidly Simple Solution We All Overlook

A cleaning caddy. That's it. A basket with a handle. Revolutionary? No. Life-changing? Also no. But will it stop you doing the cleaning cupboard shuffle every Saturday? Absolutely.

It's one of those obvious solutions that's so obvious we don't think of it. Like putting your keys in the same place. Or writing a shopping list. Basic stuff that actually works.

What Actually Goes in a Cleaning Caddy?

Here's what most people need:

Multi-purpose cleaner (handles 80% of jobs)
Glass cleaner (because streaky mirrors ruin everything)
Bathroom cleaner (the limescale fighter)
Microfibre cloths (at least 4)
Kitchen roll or cleaning wipes
Rubber gloves if you're fancy
Small bin bags

That's literally it. Everything else is probably unnecessary faff.

The Time Maths (Modest but Real)

Let's be realistic here. A cleaning caddy saves:

2-3 trips per room cleaned
About 30 seconds per trip
Total: 5-10 minutes per cleaning session

Not earth-shattering. But it also saves:

The annoyance of forgetting things
The momentum-killing cupboard visits
The "sod it, that'll do" attitude when you can't be bothered to fetch the right product

Why People Don't Already Do This

"I don't have space": It lives in the cupboard with everything else. Just... in a basket.

"It's another thing to buy": It's a basket. With a handle. £5-15 maximum.

"I only clean one room at a time": Even better. Grab caddy, clean room, put caddy back. Done.

"I have different products for different rooms": You probably don't need them. Multi-purpose cleaner is multi-purpose for a reason.

The Caddy Options (Because There Are Always Options)

Basic plastic basket (£5-10)

Does the job
Easy to clean
Dishwasher safe if things get grim
Zero style points but who cares

Divided organiser caddy (£10-20)

Compartments for different items
Stops bottles falling over
Might encourage buying more products you don't need

Vintage-style metal caddy (£15-25)

Looks nice if that matters to you
Usually sturdier
Handle won't snap when loaded

DIY option (Free)

That old shopping basket in the garage
Works exactly the same
Ultimate cost-effectiveness

The Unexpected Psychology Bit

Here's what's weird: people with cleaning caddies clean more often. Not because the caddy is magic, but because removing friction (the cupboard shuffle) makes starting easier.

When cleaning supplies are grab-and-go ready, "I'll just quickly wipe the bathroom" actually happens. Without the caddy? The thought of gathering supplies kills the motivation.

Setting Up Your Caddy (The 5-Minute Version)

Find basket/bucket/box with handle
Put your 5-7 most-used products in it
Add cloths and gloves
Store it where you stored supplies before
Feel disproportionately pleased with yourself

Seriously, that's it. No complex systems. No label makers. Just products in a portable container.

Who This Actually Helps

A cleaning caddy makes sense if you:

Clean multiple rooms in one session
Have a multi-story house
Get distracted mid-clean and forget what you were doing
Value efficiency over everything
Currently store cleaning supplies in multiple places

Skip it if you:

Live in a studio flat
Only ever clean one thing at a time
Already have a system that works
Genuinely enjoy the cupboard-to-room journey

The Verdict

This scores just 1 star for time saved because we're talking minutes, not hours. But 5 stars for cost-effectiveness – maximum impact for minimum investment.

It's not revolutionary. It won't transform your life. But for less than the cost of a fancy coffee, you'll never again stand in the bathroom realising the toilet cleaner is two floors away.

Sometimes the best solutions are the boring ones.