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We live in such a demanding world. We have to work, work, work, make dinner, and we're expected to clean too? And what with all the chemicals and cleaning gadgets on the market, it's an overwhelming job. 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 - Keeping a few basic chemicals and liquids on hand will help you clean just about anything. First one we'll start with is ammonia. Want to shine something up to perfect clarity? Ammonia is a great tool for this when mixed in a solution. 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. To kill mildew and mold, as well as to lift stains from white objects, bleach is an absolute necessity.

However, always remember that ammonia and bleach are mortal enemies! Don't ever mix the two, because the fumes from the result will be deadly! Don't play around with them. Cream of tartar and salt, which you probably have in your spice cabinet, are helpful for some cleaning challenges as well. If you really want to know how to clean anything, those are all the things you need.

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. For removing the dust from ceiling fan blades and the cobwebs from ceiling corners, a long-handled duster will do the trick.

Small tools - The staples of cleaning tools include wiping tools such as rags, microfiber clothes, and sponges. You can make your own rags from worn out men's undershirts and old cloth diapers. You should frequently replace your sponges, since they can retain germs. As for microfiber clothes, they come in two varieties.

Nubby or napped, the first kind of cloth is mostly used for dust and general household cleaning. 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!