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Cleaning supplies you actually need (and 6 you can skip)

Cleaning supplies you actually need are fewer than the aisle suggests. Here is a short list for a home, plus six products that are usually a waste of money.

Manon Lambert4 min read

A bucket with cleaning supplies standing on a kitchen floor
Image by Michi-Nordlicht from Pixabay

You need about six cleaning products. The aisle sells forty. Most of them are the same few ingredients in a new bottle.

This list is a general guide for a home with hard surfaces and a bathroom. If someone has asthma, allergies or sensitive skin, ask a health professional what to use.

The six to own

1. All purpose cleaner. Counters, tables, the outside of appliances and most hard surfaces.

2. Dish soap. It also cleans sinks, tubs and greasy spots. A plain bottle does a lot.

3. A bathroom cleaner or a toilet cleaner. Pick one made for the job and follow the label.

4. A scrub brush. Pots, grout, shoes. A brush does what a wipe cannot.

5. Cloths or sponges. Microfiber cloths are reusable and cheap per use. Our page on microfiber vs paper towels has the numbers.

6. A glass cleaner or a spare cloth and water. Plain water and a clean microfiber cloth work on many windows.

Ruling: if you cannot name the spot you would use it on, do not buy it.

A bottle of dish soap beside a sponge and a scrub brush
Dish soap and a brush handle many jobsImage by jackmac34 from Pixabay

Six you can skip

SkipWhy
Separate cleaner for every roomMost do the same job
Disinfectant wipes for daily useCostly per use and not needed for most surfaces
Special floor sprayWarm water and a mild cleaner usually work
Air freshenersThey hide smells and add fragrance, some people react to it
Fancy stain sprays for every fabricA general stain remover is enough
Single use mop padsA washable mop head costs less over time

Safety rules that matter

  • Never mix cleaning products. Mixing bleach with ammonia or acids can create harmful gases. Use one product at a time.
  • Read the label and follow the directions.
  • Open a window or run a fan.
  • Store cleaners out of reach of children and pets.
  • If someone swallows a cleaner or breathes fumes, call your local poison center or emergency number.

Cost per clean

Try a rough check. A $4 bottle of all purpose cleaner that lasts 40 cleans costs about 10 cents a clean. A $4 pack of disinfecting wipes that lasts 6 cleans costs about 67 cents. The wipes cost far more for the same counter. Our page on cost per use shows the math.

Where the answer flips

If you have a baby, a person who is ill or someone with low immunity, you may need to disinfect certain surfaces. Ask a health professional or follow guidance from your health agency. If you have pets, you may want an enzyme cleaner for accidents.

Build the kit slowly

Buy the six. Use them for a month. Add a seventh only when a real problem needs it, like limescale or oven grease. Looking at things worth buying under $25 can help you pick which extras are worth it.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much product. More foam is not more clean.
  • Using the same cloth for the toilet and the counter.
  • Buying giant bottles of products you never finish.

Quick questions

What cleaning supplies do I need for a first home?

An all purpose cleaner, dish soap, a bathroom or toilet cleaner, a scrub brush and cloths.

Can I clean with just soap and water?

For many surfaces yes. It does not disinfect, so use a disinfectant where needed and follow the label.

Is vinegar a good cleaner?

It works for some jobs like glass or limescale. Do not use it on natural stone, and never mix it with bleach.

Do I need disinfectant wipes?

Not for daily cleaning. Keep a small pack for sick days.

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