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The television screams, "Watch as our special Zap-O formula cleans this filthy dishrag!" Gadgets, chemicals, and other various doodads vie for attention on shelves at the grocery store. No wonder cleaning can be such a monumental task! However, you can learn how to clean anything with just a few basic tools. Remember, our great-grandmothers didn't have any of these modern "necessities," and most of their homes were cleaner than ours!

Chemicals - You'll be able to clean just about anything if you just keep some basic liquid cleansers and chemicals around. First, ammonia. Ammonia is a great tool to use in solutions where you want clarity. Ammonia is wonderful stuff when you mix it up with water to clean your glass, stainless steel, and tile or linoleum floors.

Another acidic liquid you'll want to keep around is lemon juice, which can help bring the shine back to dull items. And how could we do without bleach? We need it to kill off the mold and mildew, as well as get rid of those stains on the white items.

But never forget this: Bleach and ammonia together create a mortal enemy! The fumes created by mixing these two chemicals are deadly! Never try it! Next we take a little trip to your spice cabinet for salt and cream of tartar, both of which are quite useful for cleaning challenges. With these items on hand, you'll be prepared for how to clean anything.

Large tools - Probably a vacuum, most likely a Swiffer or a dust mop, definitely a good broom with a dust pan. All three are considered necessities in many households, depending on the types of floors.

A bucket and mop are preferred by many people for their tile and linoleum flooring, as well. Got dusty ceiling fan blades and cobwebs hanging in the corners of your ceiling? You'll want a long-handled duster for these jobs.

Small tools - The staples of cleaning tools include wiping tools such as rags, microfiber clothes, and sponges. Old cloth diapers and men's undershirts can be turned into great rags. Sponges should be replaced on a regular basis, as they can hold germs. Microfiber cloths come in two varieties.

The first is a nubby, or napped, cloth, used for general household cleaning and dusting. The second is smooth, meant for delicate surfaces like electronic screens. And if you don't want to dry out the skin on your hands or handle nasty things directly when you're learning how to clean anything, you may want to consider rubber gloves as one of your cleaning necessities!

Visit How to Clean to learn How to Clean Stainless Steel to How to Clean Aluminum and anything else in your home.