This list is truly just a suggestion. I have compiled a list of the most basic things you’ll need to clean house. These are my favorite cleaners and equipment, obviously you can substitute with your preference. The items below take into account my very hard water. So you may be able to use other products and still get the same great results. 

Cleanser suggestions:

  • Dawn dishwashing liquid
  • Palmolive or Cascade dishwasher detergent
  • Murphy’s Oil Soap – I use this to really clean all my wood
  • Orange Glo (or any orange oil brand is okay) – I use this after the oil soap
  • Windex
  • Kaboom Bathroom Cleaner
  • ammonia – I use this on my vinyl flooring. I’ve never found anything that cleans better. Yes it smells awful, but it works great.
  • Future – I like a shiny floor! This stuff also ‘seals’ the floor and makes scuff marks come right up.
  • bleach – for bleaching out the kitchen sink
  • Comet, SoftScrub or something similar – for those extra tough stains on counters, floors, etc..
  • My Homemade Cleaners

Equipment suggestions:

  • broom
  • dust pan
  • a Webster – this is a round duster thingy that has a telescoping pole for reaching tall places and knocking down cobwebs and such. I got mine at Walmart – very handy!
  • mop: I’ve found no mop cleans as well as getting on your hands and knees, but a sponge mop is handy, and great to cleaning up spills too
  • bucket – I have a 5 gallon bucket with a handle
  • toilet bowl brush
  • sponges in various sizes, make sure at least one as a scrubber side
  • SOS pads – for when you need extra elbow grease
  • Scotch Brite Scrubbies
  • cleaning rags and towels – old cloth diapers make great cleaning rags
  • feather duster
  • vaccum cleaner – preferably with a hand hose attachment to do stairs and along the edge of the wall and furniture and/or a hand-held vaccum
  • paper towels or old newspapers – for cleaning windows and mirrors
  • carrying tote with handle – I use what is actually a large plastic tool box (no lid) to hold most of my cleansers. I can then carrying it with me from room-to-room. (this is optional)