From Sarah Aguirre,
Your Guide to Housekeeping.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

It’s nearly impossible to make a universal cleaning supply list that fits every home. Every family and home is different, making their cleaning needs also unique. Instead of a list of every cleaning tool and cleanser on the market, our basic cleaning supply list is broken down in to 6 categories of tools. Use these categories as a starting point for creating your own basic cleaning supply list. If you’re still a list person, try the more basic supply list.

Dusting Supplies

Dusting is an important job whose frequency will depend on your lifestyle, décor, and any breathing and allergy issues family and friends may have. Tools for dusting will also vary with personal preference although I recommend the following:

• Microfiber Cloths (for general and intricate dusting)
• Microfiber Dust Mop and/or
• Vacuum Cleaner Dusting Attachment (for high ceilings, walls, corners)
• Dusting Spray and/or
• Furniture Polish

More Dusting Resources

Best Dusting Tools
10 Dusting Tips
Where To Dust
How Often To Dust

Trash

Even the smallest household generates quite a bit of trash and waste. The tools to take care of trash are simple, yes, but a necessary component of making your household run smoothly. I recommend the following tools:

• Trash cans (for every room or area in the house)
• Trash can liners (these can be reused grocery sacks, or store bought liners)
• Baking Soda
• Recycling Bins(labeled for easy sorting)

General Surface Cleaning

The fact is that every surface in our homes gets dirty. We need a good cleaner to keep all the smudges, spills, and sticky spots clean. Our best friend is a good all purpose cleaner, but you may want an extra cleaner or two for general cleaning around the house. I recommend:

• All-Purpose Cleaner
• Kitchen Cleaner or Wipes
• Bathroom Cleaner or Wipes
• Sponges, Paper Towels, Cleaning Cloths
• Scrubbers
• Gloves

More Cleaning Supply Resources

Top All-Purpose Cleaners
All-Purpose vs. Multi-Purpose Cleaners
Do I Need an Antibacterial Cleaner?
Top Gloves, Disposable Gloves, and Latex-Free Gloves

Special Surfaces

If you’re like most homes, you have several surfaces in your home that need a little extra TLC when it comes to cleaning them. These specialty surfaces give our homes variety and spice, but knowing what to clean them with can be especially frustrating. I recommend the following products where applicable:

• Oven Cleaner
• Stone Cleaner
• Dish Soap
• Dish Detergent
• Wood Polish
• Upholstery Spot Remover
• Leather Cleaner
• Laundry Soap
• Laundry Stain Remover
• Laundry Additives
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Soft Scrubbing Cleaner
• Air Freshener
• Glass Cleaner
• Bleach
• Silver or Metal Polish

More Special Surface Supply Resources

Top Dish Soaps
Top Environmentally Friendly Dish Soaps
Top Stain Removers
Homemade Glass Cleaner
Bleach Tips

Floors

Our floors bear the brunt of the dirt that comes into our home. Things are spilled on, tracked across, and smeared through our floors on a daily basis. Cleaning supplies needed to clean floors will depend on the type of floors that a home has. I recommend considering the following needs:

• Broom
• Dustpan
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Mop
• Mop Bucket
• Mopping Solution for floor type
• Polish

More Floor Supply Resources

Before You Buy an Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Maintain a Vacuum Cleaner
Maintain a Mop
How Often to Mop?

Storage and Organizing

Even when everything is clean, we need ways to organize and store items in our home. Although storage and organizing needs will vary, I recommend the following:

• Storage Containers (clear, plastic, stackable, with handles)
• Labels or a labelmaker
• Filing System

More Storage Supplies Resources

Storing Documents and Papers
Storing Seasonal Clothing
Create an Organizational Plan