What items do I need to clean the house?
Are you gearing up for spring cleaning, a regular deep cleaning, or just looking to start a cleaning routine? You have come to the right place, because this is the ultimate cleaning supply list!
This is the ultimate cleaning supply list, so some things you may already have, some things you may need to replenish, and maybe you’ll see something on here you want to switch out for something new!
You’ll find explanations for most of the products here, and you can decide what is best for your cleaning process!
Below you’ll find things categorized by cleaning products and cleaning equipment and tools, plus a couple helpful ideas on how to keep track of your cleaning supplies.
Note: Before using any products you have never used before, always test on a small, inconspicuous area to be sure there won’t be any damage.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a commission when you make a purchase through one of these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, check out my disclosure.
Cleaning Products
Microfiber cloths save you money by not using endless paper towels, and they’re also a better alternative by creating less waste. I also prefer them because I feel when dusting, they trap the dust better than other types of cloths!
Rubbing Alcohol
In addition to first aid uses, rubbing alcohol is great for getting some stains out and is something you should always have on hand!
I’ve also used rubbing alcohol for cleaning smudges and fingerprints on stainless steel.
If you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol for your stainless steel appliances and sinks, you can buy stainless steel cleaner!
I recently tested out these stainless steel wipes and I LOVE them! I even used them to spruce up my toaster!
I love these because they truly don’t accumulate the same kind of smell that other sponges do!
Dishwashing Soap
You’ll see me reference the cleaning solution I make on my own a lot – it’s 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar with 16 ounces of water.
I use this on almost EVERYTHING. I use it to wipe my tables when dusting, I use it on my hardwood and tile floors, I use it to wipe up the dining room table, etc.
It’s important to note that while you will find people saying vinegar has disinfecting properties (and it very well might), it is not an EPA registered disinfectant. Check out the EPA-registered disinfectants here.
Vinegar should not replace your regular disinfectant and it should not be relied on to kill germs as you might expect from a disinfectant. Other than that, it’s a great all-purpose cleaner when you need to wipe things up without disinfecting.
NEVER mix vinegar and bleach. NEVER.
Another great thing about vinegar: it’s a natural deodorizer!
Check out this post if you want more information on Cleaning with Vinegar!
Baking Soda
Another natural deodorizer!
I love using baking soda as a carpet refresh – just sprinkle it on and let it sit for a few hours and vacuum it up!
I also clean the kitchen sink by sprinkling in baking soda and letting it sit for 10 minutes. Then I pour some vinegar on top of it and let it fizzle. Once it’s done bubbling and fizzing, I rinse with hot water and scrub the sink, followed by disinfecting.
I do this process because it helps deodorize everything, and supposedly it helps with clogged sinks (I can’t personally verify this, but I’ve heard it said many times).
As I said before, vinegar is not an EPA registered disinfectant, so it’s always good to have a tested and trusted disinfectant.
All-purpose cleaner
I use a combination of distilled white vinegar and water for my all-purpose cleaner. The ratio is 1tbsp vinegar + 16oz water.
Bleach
I use bleach really sparingly. I really only use it when cleaning the washing machine (check your manual to be sure you’re cleaning your machine the right way, mine calls for 1 cup of bleach and running the “clean machine” cycle)
NEVER mix bleach and vinegar. NEVER.
Glass cleaner (optional)
While I do have Windex, I stopped using it and started using my distilled white vinegar and water mixture to clean the windows.
I do still use the Windex I have when I clean the exterior, just to use up what’s left. But I’m telling you, vinegar and water are my new best friends.
Cleaning Equipment & Cleaning Tools
Before I got a cleaning caddy, I was hauling multiple bottles, microfiber cloths, and my vacuum around from room to room. It’s soooo much easier to just carry the cleaning caddy and vacuum and/or mop!
2-3 spray bottles should be sufficient, depending how many different cleaning solutions you make on your own.
I mainly use two:
One for vinegar and water (1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar per 16 ounces of water)
One for rubbing alcohol – because sometimes it’s just easier to use it in spray form, like when cleaning stainless steel appliances.
You can use however many you’d like, for whatever needs you have!
Some cleaning solutions you should always use rubber gloves with. For example, you should ALWAYS use gloves with bleach.
If you are prone to dry or sensitive skin, you may want to use gloves when cleaning with any type of solution just to save your hands a little.
If you get really dry hands after cleaning (like I do), you should definitely make sure to moisturize, and I SWEAR by O’Keefe’s Working Hands lotion. It’s seriously amazing and gets me through harsh winters and cleaning days.
Want more cleaning & organizing ideas? Checkout my Ultimate Guide to Deep Cleaning Your Home Workbook! It has 49 pages of printable schedules in different colors and formats, along with sample schedules AND checklists! Use code INTRO20 to get it for 20% off…only for a limited time! GET IT HERE!
You can use any vacuum, obviously, but let me tell you a little about my favorite vacuum EVER.
I know, it’s a little weird to be excited about a vacuum. But I’m seriously excited about this vacuum.
Having a cordless vacuum is such a game changer. For example, I no longer hate vacuuming stairs. Believe me, I used to HATE vacuuming the stairs and lugging around the clunky vacuum that was attached to an outlet somewhere, only to have to switch to a different outlet when I was almost to the top of the stairs because the cord didn’t reach. Ugh. So not worth it.
This vacuum also comes with different attachments, and I seriously can’t talk enough about how convenient it is. I do plan to write up a complete review about it, but if you’re in the market for a new vacuum, it’s worth every penny to have a cordless vacuum.
This is the robot vacuum we have. It’s the Eufy Anker 11S. I’m super happy with it’s features and the price point. I highly recommend looking into it, and if there’s a coupon through Amazon for it, I would grab it quickly!
I go into a little more detail about getting a robot vacuum in my post on How to Deal With Pet Hair, but I honestly recommend a robot vacuum for maintaining your sanity between cleanings. Check out my full Eufy 11S Review here.
I use a Swiffer Wet Jet. I do save money by no longer buying the refills of the cleaning solution (I mix 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar with 16oz of water and use that to clean my floors, and basically everything else!), and I purchased machine washable mop pads that stick onto it perfectly.
While I mostly use spray bottles, I do have two buckets that I use for miscellaneous things.
For example, I like to hand wash the floors every so often instead of just using a mop, and it’s much easier to use the bucket filled with my cleaning solution than a spray bottle.
I also use the buckets to hand wash delicate laundry items or for soaking items with stains in cold water before pretreating and laundering (I love using this stain remover)
Yes, you can use lint rollers for clothes obviously, but there are a few other things that you can use them on!
I recently had an issue with dusting the lamp shades, it seemed like way too time consuming and needlessly difficult with a regular cloth. This is where the lint roller came in, and it was EXTREMELY helpful!
We allow our dogs to sleep on the bed, and if you allow the same for your pets, you’ll know that the hair from them shedding builds up between laundering your sheets. I just swipe the lint roller on the bed and it’s good to go! I like to use an extra long lint roller like this one for the bed and other furniture.
You should really consider replacing your toilet brush and it’s holder if yours has been around for a long time.
Old toothbrush (or new one dedicated to cleaning)
There are little spaces that just work better using an old (or a new, just for cleaning purposes) toothbrush. Use it to scrub in smaller places that a regular scrub sponge just won’t reach!
I recently got a Bissell Little ProHeat Portable Carpet Cleaner and I LOVE it! This works perfectly for our house because we have less carpeted area, so we don’t need anything bigger.
The only issue is the length of the cord may need some assistance from an extension cord, just depending on where your outlets are in relation to where you are cleaning. Technically this is made for spot cleaning, but since we don’t have a ton of carpet I use it for whole rooms. I have only run into this issue in one room, which has an outlet that isn’t in the most convenient spot.
It really works well, and there’s an odd satisfaction when you empty the dirty water just knowing that was all removed from your carpet and your home is THAT much cleaner.
If you have more carpeted areas, it might be worth getting an upright carpet cleaner that more resembles a vacuum, like this highly rated one.
BONUS CLEANING TOOL: The Ultimate Deep Cleaning Your Home Workbook
Check out the workbook that has 49 printable pages. It includes sample schedules, blank schedules (so you can customize), and a master cleaning list! GET IT HERE!
How do you keep track of cleaning supplies?
Keeping track of cleaning supplies doesn’t have to be complicated!
I prefer to keep all my cleaning supplies in one cupboard, so every time I reach for something I can take a quick survey of what I have or what I might need more of.
One of my friends keeps a sort of cleaning supplies inventory list with three columns. The first is the cleaning product name, the second column is “running low” and the third column is “out.” She checks the second or third columns based on how low her cleaning supplies are. Then, she consults her list before going shopping to see what needs to be replenished!