Essential Cleaning Products Every Home Needs 

Who doesn’t love a spotlessly clean house? It’s a little uncommon, but some people find pleasure in tidying things up — it can certainly give you a sense of accomplishment and even peace of mind. But most of us don’t relish spending the hours and energy it takes to put our homes in neat, clean and sanitary shape.

Whether you pay for cleaning services or take a DIY approach to maintaining a clean home, having the right cleaning supplies and tools can make the job quicker and easier and deliver the results you’re looking for. Check out our essential cleaning supplies checklist and learn which products you should keep in your utility cupboards.

Table of Contents

• Cleaning Solutions
• Cleaning Tools
• Sink and Garbage Disposal Suggestions
• Essential Cleaning Products FAQs
• How We Choose the Essential Cleaning Products for Every Home
• Summary of Our Guide to The Essential Cleaning Products for Every Home

Top Cleaning Solutions

Glass cleaner

Every home has windows and mirrors. Most feature some framed art on the walls. Some of us have glass top coffee tables, too. So it’s best to have glass cleaner on hand when you set out to clean your home. But you do have some choices.

First, there’s the blue stuff. The best known glass cleaner brand is Windex. It’s blue and comes in a spray bottle. But you can’t go wrong choosing a no-name or store brand substitute. They’re all made the same way — with ammonium hydroxide. And store brands will cost you far less. You can even pick up a standard size bottle at the dollar store, though nowadays, it will cost you a buck twenty five.

You also may want to consider a foaming glass cleaner that comes in a can. For one thing, they cling to glass without dripping and tend to smell better than their drippy cousins. They also contain the same active ingredient as liquid spray cleaners and work just as well. They may also leave fewer streaks, especially if you dry them vigorously with a lint-free cloth.

Wood cleaner

If you’re lucky enough to have hardwood floors in your home, you’ll want to keep them clean while also protecting them. Over time, your choice of wood cleaner can have a profound effect on your floors’ finish and appearance. So take care to choose the gentlest wood floor cleaner you can.

Murphy’s Oil Soap is one of the more famous wood cleaners on the market, It contains citronella oil, which is gentle both on your nose and the environment. It also doesn’t doesn’t contain ammonia, which can strip your floors of moisture and diminish their shine. A one gallon bottle costs about $10 and lasts a long time, because you dilute the product with water.

But some experts believe that the formula can actually damage your floor’s finish in the long run. Our next essential cleaning product is a perfectly suitable and gentle substitute and costs a lot less.

White vinegar

White vinegar — the inexpensive distilled kind, not the white wine vinegar you use to make your vinaigrettes — is one of the most versatile cleaning products you can buy. Some people rely on it for next to everything, from caring for wood floors to keeping windows sparkling to washing their clothes. There’s nothing toxic about white vinegar — that’s rare in the world of cleaning products — and it’s very gentle when properly diluted. Use a 1:1 ratio of water to vinegar for most cleaning purposes. Don’t bother with name brand distilled white vinegar. Vinegar is vinegar and there’s no reason to pay more for a famous label.

White vinegar can be combined with baking soda to make a solution that serves as an oven cleaner, tile cleaner and kitchen degreaser, too.

Tile cleaner

Scrubbing Bubbles was first marketed in 1968 by the Dow Chemical Company. It was originally known as Dow Bathroom Cleaner and commercials for the product portrayed its scrubbing bubbles through memorable animation. It was renamed when the scrubbing bubbles meme became better known than the product’s original name. A 20-ounce can of Scrubbing Bubbles will set you back about $4 on Amazon, if you buy the product in bulk.

Generic bathroom foam products have followed in the wake of Scrubbing Bubbles and may save you some money. But environmental groups like Treehugger recommend a cheap DIY alternative: combining distilled white vinegar with baking soda.

All-purpose cleaner

An all-purpose cleaner sounds like a dream come true: an easy, efficient alternative to buying and hauling around a half dozen bottles and cans when you’re cleaning your home. But your definition of all-purpose cleaner will differ from your neighbor’s. It all depends on what you have to regularly clean.

“All purpose cleaner” usually refers to a cleaning solution that’s gentle enough to use on a wide range of surfaces. They’re not meant for tough jobs and are generally made up of concentrated solutions of surfactants, water softeners and water. Many all-purpose cleaners do not disinfect, which is an important consideration especially in the coronavirus age.

Lysol is one popular multi-surface cleaner that does disinfect. Another is marketed under the Mr. Clean brand. Bear in mind that for full disinfecting power, these cleaners must remain on a surface for a full ten minutes. A quick spray and wipe won’t do.

Incidentally, you can make your own all-purpose cleaner with other supplies you have on hand: water, vinegar and a dash of dish soap is all it takes.

Liquid clog remover

There’s never a convenient time to have your drain stop up. That’s why many people keep a bottle of Drano or Liquid Plumber on hand. But when it comes to keeping your drains free-flowing, an ounce of prevention — in this case, the regular application of an enzymatic solution in the absence of a clog — can be a smart addition to your cleaning routine.

You don’t usually see enzymatic drain cleaners on your supermarket shelves. You’re more likely to find them in plumbing supply stores. And you can also purchase them online. Green Gobbler is one brand of enzymatic cleaner that gets good reviews. You can pick up a gallon for about $25. The Amazon-branded product, Amazon Commercial Multi-Purpose Enzyme Cleaner, is also well regarded and can save you a bit of money, at about $20 per gallon.

Enzymatic drain cleaners aren’t always effective at cleaning tough clogs in one fell swoop. You may have to apply them a couple of times before you see results. But they’re great at preventing clogs in the first place — a smart strategy for making home maintenance less of a chore.

Baking soda

If you’ve baked a batch of cookies recently, you probably have a box in your kitchen cupboard. The product has been successfully marketed as a deodorizer for refrigerators and freezers. But baking soda is also a great addition to your cleaning caddy. On its own and used in conjunction with other natural products, baking soda has multiple cleaning uses.

We’ve already mentioned that you can use baking soda and peroxide to make your own foaming tile cleaner. But using baking soda on its own can give any sponge more scrubbing power, without being overly abrasive. Where you use that sponge is up to you, but we recommend you try it on tubs, sinks, toilets, ceramic tile, stovetops and countertops. Stainless steel sinks are another place that baking soda shines. If you have the patience, you can use baking soda and a toothbrush to deep clean the grout between your shower tiles.

You can also forgo the expensive packets of dishwasher cleaners if you have some baking soda on hand. Sprinkle a generous amount  in the bottom of your dishwasher then run it as usual to help keep your machine clean and fresh-smelling.

Bleach

Bleach is a terrific disinfectant. It takes about a minute of contact time for a surface to be bacteria- and virus-free. Many people who only used bleach when laundering their whites became converts to bleach sprays when the global pandemic hit.

Bleach can’t be used on all surfaces. It’s definitely not something you want to use on your wood floors, for example. And when you use bleach, you may want to wear knock-around clothes. Bleach stains are permanent and you don’t want to ruin your favorite pair of jeans when you’re cleaning.

Here’s a money-saving, sustainable tip: instead of repeatedly buying bottles of Clorox or Comet bleach spray, pick up a gallon-size or larger bottle of no-name bleach (all bleaches are the same and you gain nothing by buying a top name brand.) Then make a stop at Home Depot or Lowe’s and buy a refillable spray bottle. Packaging makes up a large portion of the cost of supermarket bleach sprays. You’ll save money and help rid the environment of needless plastic waste

Stain remover

Puppies have accidents. Eventually, a good friend will tip a glass of red wine over during dinner. All-purpose sprays won’t cut it when it comes to removing stubborn stains. And you can’t use bleach on your hand-woven Persian rugs. That’s when a store-bought stain remover can be a lifesaver.

You can buy specialized stain removers for different kinds of stains. Wine Away is a popular choice for wine stains and you can pick up a bottle for about $10.

Pet stain removers typically double as odor eliminators. There are dozens of brands out there and you’ll have a wide selection to choose from if you visit a pet supply superstore like Chewy.

Toilet bowl cleaner

Toilet bowl cleaners are often made with harsh chemicals — like sodium hydroxide (lye) and hydrochloric acid (also known as muriatic acid). But they’re an effective way to remove bacteria and mineral stains that build up in your toilet. Toilet cleaners that come in a bottle designed to squirt the solution under your toilet rim are one toilet cleaning solution.

But you can also use a bleach-enhanced abrasive powder like Ajax or Comet to do the job. Those products are considerably cheaper than specialty toilet cleaners — once again, something you can pick up at the dollar store. You’ll also need a stiff toilet brush that’s in good condition to spread the cleaner around. Manufacturers recommend that you leave toilet cleaners in place for ten minutes before scrubbing the toilet. In the meantime, you can use a disinfectant spray and a bunch of paper towels to clean your toilet seat and the ceramic exterior of your bowl. Make sure you get all the way down to the bolts that hold your toilet in place. Bacteria collect there, too.

It’s important to disinfect your toilet scrub brush after use and to replace it regularly. Once toilet brush bristles get soft, they’re less effective at scrubbing surfaces clean.

Top Cleaning Tools

Broom and dustpan

Sweeping your floors with a broom and gathering such offenders as pet hair and food crumbs into a dustpan is an effective first step to take before you clean your floors with a liquid or cleanser.

Classic brooms — the kind you’d expect to see a witch riding — are made from sorghum vulgare, which is better known as broomcorn. Broomcorn was originally developed as animal feed, but somewhere along the line, somebody saw another potential for broomcorn and got creative.

Today, broom bristles are also manmade from such materials as polypropylene and similar plastics. Man-made bristles are very sturdy and can be used on wet or dry surfaces. They’re easy to disinfect: just leave them to soak briefly in a bucket filled with soapy water.

You can buy a flat-edged or angled-edge broom. Angled brooms are effective in tight spaces. A high-quality household broom will set you back about $20, but will last for years. Push brooms are best used on large areas because they have a wider sweeping edge. They’re heavier than standard house brooms and cost a bit more, but can save you lots of time when you have a large room or garage to sweep.

Look for a companion dustpan that’s wide enough to suit the broom you’re using. Consider buying a galvanized steel or aluminum dust pan. They come in extra-wide and can be used indoors and outdoors.

Flat mop

Once upon a time, the most common way to mop a floor was with a string mop and a bucket of cleaning solution. String mopping is pretty labor intensive and comes with a number of drawbacks. The first disadvantage is that you need a bucket and a wringer to use a string mop. The second is that, to be effective, a string mop has to be dipped frequently in clean water. Changing the cleaning solution and water in your bucket is essential. Otherwise, string mopping simply spreads dirty water across the floor. All that dumping of refilling takes time and comes with the risk of spilling. There had to be a better way, right?

Enter the flat mop. Flat mops don’t require a bucket and they don’t spread dirt as you use them. Today, most flat mops are made with their own built-in cleaning solution receptacle. By using a trigger, you can apply fresh solution as you move across the floor. But you can just as easily use a spray bottle of your favorite cleaning solution if your mop doesn’t have an on-board receptacle and triggered sprayer.

Flat mops are light and easy to maneuver. Another advantage is that flat mops rely on a washable, reusable microfiber pad to gather dirt. These pads effectively trap refuse as you mop, rather than spreading it around. If you’re cleaning a large area, you may want to have two pads on hand and switch the first one out when it becomes soggy with cleaning solution.

You may also choose to use a flat mop system that relies on disposable pads. Frequently known as swiffers, a brand name that has become a generic over the years, this type of system isn’t very eco-friendly and costs more to operate than systems that come with reusable pads. Disposable pads are like diapers and can only hold so much water. So you’ll typically use more than one pad if you’re cleaning a large area.

Sponge/ Sponge brush

Sponges and sponge brushes are a dishwashing staple. They’re also the easiest things to grab for quick kitchen clean ups. They tend to harbor bacteria, though, so they should be disinfected and replaced regularly. One way to disinfect sponges is to run them through your dishwasher during a regular cycle. But cleaning pros recommend replacing them every two weeks or so.

Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers extract moisture from the air. They can help prevent mold and mildew from forming in your house. Investing in a good dehumidifier, which can cost between $150 and $400 depending on its capacity, allows you to take a whole-home approach to preventing mold and mildew problems. They can also help reduce the amount of dust that gathers in your home. They’re particularly recommended for people who suffer from allergies.

Air purifier with HEPA filter

Portable air purifiers work by using fans to draw in air, running the air through a series of filters, then blowing clean air back into the environment. Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters work best. They’re able to collect 99.5% of particles that are three microns in size or larger.

Air purifier prices are affected by their capacity to return clean air to a room. Every air purifier has its own clean air delivery rate (CADR).  Experts recommend that you purchase an air purifier with a CADR equal to at least two-thirds of the area of the room where you’ll be using it. Air purifiers with high CADRs are more expensive. But they’re also larger and less portable. So if you plan on moving your air purifier from room to room, you may be best off with a smaller unit.

Air purifiers aren’t essential for every home. But they get more so when someone in your home suffers from allergies.

Bucket

Every home should have a bucket or two. You’ll need one if you want to wash your walls or like to wash your floors by hand with a rag. Choose a bucket that’s large enough to hold a significant amount of water — 2 gallons is about right — so you have ample liquid to complete your cleaning task. Rinse your bucket and refill it with clean water and cleaning solution so you don’t wind up spreading dirt around your home.

Toothbrush

As we’ve mentioned, toothbrushes are great for cleaning the grout between ceramic tiles. But they’re also ideal for cleaning small spaces that won’t accommodate a traditional scrub brush. Some people also find them useful for cleaning around faucets and soap dishes. They can also be used for treating laundry stains and cleaning heating and air conditioning vents.

Microfiber cloths

Microfiber cloths became popular in the 1990s. Now they’re a dollar store staple. Some are double-sided and come with a scrubby mesh side. Microfiber cloths have a number of advantages over traditional cloths.

They’re made of tiny polyester-and-nylon fibers that are many times smaller than a human hair. With more fibers touching the surface you’re cleaning, they’re more effective than traditional cotton cloths. When used dry, microfiber cloths build up static charge and do a better job of attracting and trapping dust particles.

Vacuum cleaner

If you’re going to invest a lot of money in any cleaning tool, make it your vacuum cleaner. A good sweeper will reduce the time it takes to clean your home. And it’s the only carpet cleaner worth its salt.

Cheap vacuum cleaners don’t last as long. Their beater bars and suction are less powerful. A high-quality vacuum cleaner can last ten years or more and save you the cost of replacing a machine several times over.

Look for a vacuum that is capable of drawing 12 amps of power. The best vacuum cleaners come with multiple onboard tools, including an attachment for hardwood floors, a crevice tool, and a brush attachment (great for removing pet hair from upholstery and dusting baseboards and heating vents) and more. A retractable cord is another nice feature to have. It can make moving your vacuum cleaner from place to place easier and reduce tripping hazards.

Squeegee

If you have glass shower doors or large picture windows in your home, a squeegee can help you make quick, streak-free work of cleaning them. But squeegees have other uses as well. You can use them to spread cleaning solution over your kitchen, bathroom, and hardwood floors, then follow up by mopping with a clean, absorbent cloth. You can easily remove water from the walls and floor of your shower, which can prevent mold and mildew. A damp squeegee is also helpful in removing pet hair from upholstery: just be sure to rinse your squeegee blade frequently for best performance.

Rubber gloves

Cleaning solutions often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate or dry out your skin. Bleach and ammonia are two of the common culprits. That’s why it’s important to keep a pair of rubber gloves on hand. Rubber gloves can protect your hands from irritation. If you have cuts or hangnails on your hands, rubber gloves can prevent the pain you might experience if your hands are in direct contact with cleaning solutions. Keeping your hands away from bacteria is always a good idea, too.

Be sure to choose a pair of rubber gloves that extend well up your forearm. Elbow length gloves are best if you’re dipping your hands into a deep bucket. Some people prefer the convenience of disposable nitrile gloves, which are used in clinical settings and can be purchased at the drugstore. But these gloves tend to be short and may only extend to just above your wrist.

Toilet brush and holder

You can’t keep a clean home without a toilet brush. Plain and simple. Toilet bowl brushes aren’t expensive. A basic one without a stand or holder commonly costs just a couple of bucks. You can buy a fancier set-up with a long stainless steel tube holder for around $10. It’s a good thing toilet brushes aren’t expensive, because you should replace them frequently. When a brush’s bristles wear down, it becomes less effective at removing dirt, bacteria, and stains from your bowl.

Toilet brushes should be washed, disinfected and allowed to air dry each time you use them. If you’re using a plastic brush, twice a year replacements are recommended.

Trash Cans and Trash Bags

Chances are you have a bunch of trash cans in your home. One in the kitchen, one in each of your bathrooms, and probably a couple more, such as in a guest bedroom or home office. Multiple trash cans make it faster and easier to keep your home tidy.

Trash Cans are made from various materials and you should match your choice of trash cans to the purposes they serve. Kitchen trash cans should be made of stainless steel or heavy-duty plastic and feature covers that trap odors. Stainless trash cans are arguably easier to disinfect and keep odor free. You may want a covered trash can in your bathroom, as well. Bedroom and office trash cans can be made of lighter-duty materials, including wood, wicker, or even leather.

Equally important as your trash receptacles are the trash bags you use to line them. Trash bags should always be used with kitchen cans, but cleaning experts also recommend you use them in bathroom cans to keep them more sanitary and reduce odors.

Sink and garbage disposal suggestions

Cleaning your sink a couple of times a week is a must if you want to keep your kitchen sanitized and smelling fresh. The best cleaning product to use depends on what your sink is made of:

• Porcelain kitchen sinks are best cleaned with an abrasive powder that contains bleach, such as Comet or Ajax.
• A similar powder, Bar Keepers Friend, has just the right amount of abrasive to clean your stainless steel sink without scratching its surface.
• Corian, a well-known manufacturer of solid surface sinks, recommends an ammonia-based cleaner for cleaning solid surface sinks. You can attack serious solid surface stains and built-up soap scum with a Magic Eraser, which is also a great tool to have on hand for cleaning up magic marker stains, removing dirt and stains from painted surfaces, removing baked-on grime from your oven, or even polishing silver.

Garbage disposals are another matter. To keep yours clean and odor-free, run them each time you put food down your drain — don’t let solid matter build up. It can start smelling bad in just a few hours. Every couple of days, you can freshen up your disposal by cutting up a piece of citrus fruit into small pieces and running it through. A classic vinegar and baking soda solution works well on garbage disposals, too. Pour about a cup of baking soda into the drain, then follow up with a cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, then simply rinse with running water. Incidentally, you can help keep your garbage disposal blades sharp by throwing a handful of ice cubes in and running the machine until they’re crushed. Noisy, yes, but definitely worth it.

Essential Cleaning Products FAQs

How we chose the best cleaning products for every home

First, we took a thorough look around a typical home and made an inventory of the various surfaces that require cleaning. We read product reviews in many categories of cleaners. Next, we spoke to several professional cleaners to get their take on the most essential products and tools. Anecdotally, a great vacuum cleaner, microfiber cloths, and disinfectant spray were the most commonly cited tools and products mentioned. We read professional cleaning services blogs extensively, especially for DIY cleaning tips.

Summary of Our Guide to The Essential Cleaning Products for Every Home

Love it or hate it, it takes a lot of time and sweat to keep a home clean. It also takes some forethought to make the cleaning process easier and more efficient. You can spend a lot on cleaning supplies and many people do. But there are also inexpensive ways you can clean your home when you use common household products. To sum it all up, vinegar and baking soda can turn out to be your best friends. And you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to keep your home clean. Focus on the basics, like a well-manufactured vacuum cleaner and a sturdy broom and dustpan. With just these four products, you’ll go far in life.