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My Mom Moved Next Door… and Completely Changed My Cleaning Routine

By Ash·July 25, 2026· 2 min read
Charming navy cottage with wooden steps and lush landscaping

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that we genuinely use in our own cottages.

One of the best parts about owning a cottage is spending time with family. A few months ago, my mom moved into the cottage next door to mine, where she's staying with my aunt and uncle.

One unexpected perk? She brought years of cleaning wisdom with her.

Since then, she's introduced me to products I'd never used before—and honestly, I don't know how I managed without them. If you're an Airbnb host, cottage owner, or simply love a sparkling clean home, here are the products that have earned a permanent place in our cleaning caddy.

Zep Window Cleaner

Crystal-clear windows and mirrors with no streaks. This has quickly become one of my favourites.

Shop Zep Window Cleaner on Amazon

OxiClean

Keeps our white towels and bedding looking fresh and bright between guests.

Shop OxiClean on Amazon

Hertel Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner

Mom's favourite everyday cleaner. We use it on almost every hard surface in the cottage.

Find Hertel at Canadian Tire

Bar Keepers Friend

The best product we've found for making our stainless steel kitchen sinks shine like new.

Shop Bar Keepers Friend on Amazon

Long-Handled Shower Scrubber

Makes cleaning showers so much easier—and saves your back!

Shop the Long-Handled Shower Scrubber on Amazon

Colour-Coded Microfibre Cloths

We use different coloured cloths for different areas of the cottage to help prevent cross-contamination.

Shop Colour-Coded Microfibre Cloths on Amazon

Swiffer Dusters

Perfect for quickly dusting between guest stays.

Shop Swiffer Dusters on Amazon

Mom's Shower Spray

One of Mom's best cleaning hacks is a simple mix of equal parts Dawn dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray it on shower doors and tubs, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, then wipe clean. (Avoid using vinegar on natural stone.)

Shop Dawn Dish Soap on Amazon

Final Thoughts

Sometimes Mom really does know best.

These are the products we now use every week to keep our cottages sparkling and guest-ready. I hope they make your cleaning routine a little easier too!

Happy cleaning,

Ash

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