6 Must-Have Cleaning Supplies for Your Cleanest Home Ever
Today, cleaning aisles are filled with uber-specific cleaners.
But just because you can buy an oven, microwave, stovetop, stainless steel, tile, and floor cleaner for your kitchen, it doesn’t mean you should.
Despite whatever you’ve been told before, hear this: you only need one cleaner for your kitchen.
Not only is buying different cleaners for every surface expensive, but it’s also unnecessary. Most cleaners are made from the same ingredients and can do the same jobs.
We compiled this six-item, essentials-only list of household cleaning supplies to help you pare down - and spend less - on your cleaning supplies.
1. An All-Purpose or Multi-Surface Cleaner
We have to start off with our all-time favorite: multi-surface cleaner.
The ultimate task-master, here’s a list of just some of the things your favorite all-purpose cleaner can do:
- Sanitize surfaces
- Clean windows
- Give mirrors a streak-free shine
- Clean-up spills or stains on porous and flat surfaces
- Tackle tough odors
- Clean the inside of your car
- Wash floors
If your wallet is tighter these days, multi-surface cleaner can even sub in for some of the other products later in this list.
Pick a brand with a natural scent, like lemon verbena or lavender. Or, if you have sensitive skin, go for a scent-free option.
2. Microfiber Cloths, Re-Usable “Paperless” Towels, and/or Dishtowels
Americans account for 4.5% of the global population and 50% of the world’s paper towel consumption.
We use paper towels for everything.
Spill some coffee? Get a paper towel.
Stain the rug? Paper towels, please.
Sanitizing the counters? Please, sir, may I have another paper towel?
Americans are addicted; why isn’t anyone else?
Other countries recognize paper towels for what they are: unnecessary and wasteful. Dishtowel or microfiber cloth can do the same job as paper towels even better than they will.
Invest in a set of reusable cleaning towels, and throw them in the wash when they get dirty. You’ll save money and do your part for the planet at the same time.
3. Bathroom Cleaner
Multi-surface cleaner is great, but for bathrooms, you’re going to need something a little bit stronger.
Bacteria-wise, your bathrooms are some of the dirtiest rooms in your home (close your toilet lid before you flush, kids).
Bathroom cleaners prevent scum, mold, and grime build-up, and attack it when it shows up. A good bathroom cleaner should work for your mirrors, surfaces, fixtures, showers, toilets, and tubs.
It should also be formulated with non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients that you aren’t worried about flushing or rinsing into our waterways.
4. A Steam Mop
Gone are the days of plastic buckets filled with soapy, bacteria-lidden water.
There’s a new mop in town, and it’s a whole lot cleaner for your floors than your old one.
Steam mops lift dirt and grease from your floors without using any chemical cleaning agents. The heat and steam kill bacteria all on its own.
Steam mops are sustainable, too. Most come with removable, cotton cleaning pads that can be thrown in the washer once you’re done mopping.
Word of caution: Be careful using steam mops on very old (original) hardwood floors. That steam is powerful and can splinter wood that hasn’t been recently sealed.
5. Dish Soap and/or Detergent
This one should go without saying, but you really need good dish soap.
Dish soaps should be able to fight caked-on leftovers and be safe for skin, all without leaving a residue behind. If you’re reading the label of a bottle of dish soap and there’s an ingredient you wouldn’t want going into your body, don’t buy it!
You can’t guarantee that everyone will be as careful about rinsing the dishes as you are, and you don’t want to ingest toxic chemicals accidentally.
6. A Vacuum
Has anyone else enjoyed vacuuming more the older they get?
There’s just something so satisfying about seeing dust bunnies disappear like that…
ANYWAYS, your vacuum is a critical piece of equipment. It may seem like all your vacuum is doing is cleaning up dirt, but it’s working much harder than that.
Vacuums suck up and filter out dirt, dust, bacteria, allergens, and airborne toxins. And vacuums with detachable tools can clean hard to reach places like bookshelves and between couch cushions.
Want a truly elite vacuuming experience? Go cordless. Not having to plug and unplug your cord as you go is a game-changer.
(We’re not saying buy a Dyson, but we’re also not not saying our Dyson is the best thing that ever happened to us.)