Handy cleaning helpers keep house in top shape

Spring, and the cleaning that comes with it, is here. Update your home with some cleaning helpers that will help keep your house in top shape.

n Extend your cleaning reach. With today’s homes and soaring ceilings, reaching those tall places without a ladder may seem impossible. But the Extendable Pole Cleaning System from Williams-Sonoma ($49.95-$179.95) has attachments for all your high household jobs.

n. Ditch the dryer sheets. If you’re tired of finding dryer sheets stuck to your clothes, try a natural alternative made of lamb’s wool. Crate and Barrel’s Woolzies Drying Balls ($19.95) come in a set of three and agitate your laundry while providing the natural softening power of wool.

n Choose your own cleaning solutions. Sometimes, you like the scent of your favorite cleaner. Other times, you just want to use your own cleaner on your floors. The Rubbermaid Reveal Microfiber Spray Mop ($19), available at Home Depot, has a wide, microfiber mop head and a refillable bottle so you can squirt the cleaner of your choice as you go.

n Organize your cleaning tools. If your brooms and mops are slumped in the corner of your laundry room, tidy up with the Envriholder, a five-position wall organizer that sells for $17 at Wal-Mart.

n Buy a countertop composter. Get a head start on spring gardening by saving your vegetable scraps in a White Ceramic Compost Bucket instead of throwing them away or keeping them on the counter where they can smell and attract annoying gnats. The lid hides a charcoal disc that keeps odors down. You can find it for $14.99 at Cost Plus World Market.

n Clean and condition your cast iron. Whether it’s the grates on your stove or a pan for the oven, cast iron needs regular maintenance. Camp Chef Cast Iron Conditioner, available for $10.90 at Amazon.com, will keep your pans, grills and grates seasoned and conditioned perfectly.

n Clean up for Fido. It’s no one’s favorite job, but picking up dog bombs in the backyard is easier when you don’t have to bend over and pick up by hand. Scoop, carry and then dispose easily with the Clean Go Pet Sanitary Scoop, Shovel Style, for dog droppings. It’s $34.49 at Overstock.com.

n Protect your hands. Today’s dish soaps are designed to work harder than ever on greasy dishes, but it makes washing dishes harder than ever on your hands. WaterBlock Gloves ($6.99) from The Container Store keeps water from getting on your clothes or running down your arms, and they’re pink and pretty to boot.

n Erase those bath stains. If cleaners have failed to get your tub or shower sparkling again, try the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath Scrubber ($5.99). The wonders it works on your walls and sneakers can make your bath look practically new again.