Clean up this spring with supplies from the dollar store

I don't know too many people who like cleaning the house. Certainly, there are some weeks when I think I'd rather go over Niagara Falls in a Bee Mop bucket than face another dirty sink.

Well, it's a grubby job but, unless you like the idea of living with growing colonies of dust bunnies, it's gotta be done. At the same time, who wants to drop a bundle on new cleaning tools? I'd rather spend the money on something I want, rather than need. Once again, dollar stores come to the rescue with many of the cleaning tools you'll need to make your home sparkle this spring.

It's worth checking out. If you can't find what you need at your local dollar store, that's time enough to head to a department store. Dollar Tree recently advertised the following items in one of their flyers.

• Broom and mop heads - Get a traditional angled or push broom for just a buck and a broom handle for the same price. These handles interchange with yacht mop and sponge mop heads, as well.
• Dust pans - You can get a plastic dust pan with a molded rubber lip for the kitchen. I've seen larger ones at Dollarama for use in the garage for only $1, as well.
• Buckets - Dollar store buckets are made of sturdy plastic, hold 9 1/2 quarts and are designed with a pour spout. Not bad for a buck.
• Rubber gloves - Whether you're cleaning the tub or washing dishes, a good pair of rubber gloves can be real hand savers. Dollar stores have most sizes for only a $1 per pair and I just bought a pair with colorful patterned cuffs for $2 at Dollarama. I even noticed some made by Mr. Clean.
• Sponges - Lots of different kinds of sponges at the dollar store, from a four-pack of thin two-sided 3M sponges to the 12-pack of no-name two-sided sponges I like to keep on hand for a variety of uses. These are thick yellow sponges with a Teflon scrubber on one side, great for removing gunge from Teflon-coated pots and cleaning ceramic cook tops.
• Cleaning cloths - Micro-fiber cleaning cloths are great for dusting computer screens and polishing delicate surfaces like mirrors. You can use 'em wet or dry, they work without added cleaners and they're machine washable. The one I just bought is about the size of a regular face cloth and cost $1. I also found something called a Wizcloth Plus, jumbo size, (about 20" square), which is advertised on the package as being super absorbent, long-lasting, stain resistant and machine washable. This is a much thicker cloth meant for those tougher household jobs and also cost only a buck.
• Scrub brushes - I bought one with a handle for $1.25 at Dollarama, but Dollar Tree still sells regular scrub brushes for a buck.

When you can get all of these cleaning supplies for around $9, why shop anywhere else?

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes tips for home decorating using only items from the dollar store.