What Cleaning Supplies Are Needed to Clean a House?

Everyone knows that cleaning a house is no easy feat! You have to tackle all kinds of mess that comes along - dust, dirt, debris, pet dander, stains, spills, grime, grease, molds - you name it! But you don’t have to face them all right away. You can plan ahead and set some time to do it. That way, you don’t end up overworking yourself and exhausting all your energy. Do small cleaning tasks each day or whenever you can. Another great option is that you can hire a professional home cleaner and let them do the home cleaning for you.

Before you can start tidying, you have to know the general cleaning tools and cleaning solutions that are needed to clean a house. Having the appropriate cleaning supplies can essentially reduce the amount of time you spend on good old-fashioned house cleaning. These can make your work a little bit easier and at the same time, help keep your home neat and clean.

Here is a list of the cleaning supplies that you will need to clean a house:

🔹 General Cleaning Tools

• Broom and Dustpan. A broom contains stiff bristles that are usually made of straw or plastic. A broom is used for sweeping dust, dirt, fur, crumbs, and anything that ends up on the floor that is not carpeted. Then, a dustpan is used to picking those up after being swept in a pile with a broom or duster.

• Bucket. A bucket can be used for multiple purposes when doing household tasks. A container that can hold water, a bucket comes real handy to rinse out the mop when cleaning floors or to rinse out a cloth when cleaning walls. This can also be used as a carrying cleaning caddy or a small storage vessel to put in other cleaning supplies that can be easily carried around.

• Duster. A duster is a cleaning tool used for dusting or removing dust. Their bristles are usually softer than a broom and can be made from soft poly plastic materials, microfiber cloths, or sometimes feathers to dust fragile items. Some duster can be extendable too to clean those hard-to-reach ceiling fans and in every nook and cranny of the house.

• Mop. A mop is made up of any absorbent material used to soak up the liquid for cleaning floors and other surfaces. There are many types of mops specialized for different kinds of flooring.

  • A sponge mop is very absorbent and is ideal for all types of spills like juice, soup, or cereal.

  • A flat mop is good for wet and dry cleaning on vinyl or hardwood flooring as it doesn’t use too much water.

  • A brush mop is a good combination of a broom and a mop. Its added bristles make it easy to scrub food and drink stains away.

  • A dust mop is exclusively used as dry cleaning to remove dust and trash from the ground. It is a bit like a broom, but it is more convenient and effective since it cleans up a lot more dust with its gliding ability.

  • A microfiber mop has great cleaning abilities and can absorb as much as a sponge can. It is perfect for wet and dust mopping on hardwood, laminate, tile, stone, vinyl, and concrete floors.

• Microfiber cleaning cloths. Microfiber cloths are soft and gentle enough to be used to wipe clean or polish items on a variety of surfaces without leaving behind scratches, including stainless steel, glasses, appliances, or furniture surfaces. These cloths can work well with little to no water and are a dust and allergen magnet as well. Unlike paper towels, these are washable and can be used many times.

• Protective gloves. Gloves are usually made of latex, plastic, or rubber that are waterproof and reusable. They are used to protect the hands from a wide variety of cleaning agents and from whatever grime or germs that are present at a cleaning job. Gloves can keep the hands safe and sanitary. It is best to look for thick gloves that have stretchable durability and are puncture-resistant.

• Scrub brush. This is a brush with stiff and hard bristles that are used for scrubbing hard floors or surfaces. This may be used wet, with water or cleaning fluids.

• Sponges. Sponges are cleaning tools made of soft, porous material and are typically good at absorbing water and water-based solutions. These can be used to clean a variety of areas like ovens, refrigerators, showers, counters, or dishes.

• Squeegee. A squeegee is a cleaning tool with a rubber strip on one end and a handle that is used to wipe liquid across or off the windows, floors, shower walls, or other flat surfaces. It can help cut down on soap scum build up on the tiles in the shower.

• Toilet brush and holder. A toilet brush, which may be silicone or plastic-bristled, is a must for controlling the spread of germs and keeping the toilet clean. Together with a toilet bowl cleaner, this brush can make the toilet bowl sparkling clean with very minimal effort.

• Vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner is an electrical machine that is used for cleaning by sucking the dirt and dust into a bag in the machine. A vacuum cleaner is ideally used on rugs and carpeted floors. This can be useful even on non-carpeted floors and is great for vacuuming problem areas like sofas, couches, baseboards, and even straying pet furs on the furniture.

🔹 Cleaning Solutions

Water alone will not be enough to do a nice cleaning job. You will need the right cleaning agents that will help you get good quality deep clean.

What is Deep Clean? A deep clean entails a thorough, more extensive, and heavy-duty cleaning process than a standard clean. It takes more time and uses special house cleaners that will leave your home sparkly clean. Professional cleaners usually provide deep cleaning services that come in handy when you require move-in/ move-out cleaning or when your house has not been tidied up for a long time.

Using the proper cleaning solutions can make cleaning a breeze. You can go with the standard cleaning products that are commonly and commercially in use. Or you can consider the natural, environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions that are free of harsh chemicals. Both options are included in the list below so you can decide what you prefer best for your home:

• All-purpose cleaner. All-purpose cleaners are one of the most essential cleaning products to have. They are effective in taking care of grease, grime, dirt, and stains on a wide variety of surfaces. Most do not require much more than a spray and a wipe, and the best ones can clean without tough scrubbing or leaving any residue behind. Spray cleaners can work well on small, targeted areas like handles, faucets, counters, stovetops, and walls; while dilutable cleaners are best for cleaning large areas like floors and outdoor furniture. Some multi-purpose cleaners are also formulated with disinfectants, which continuously protects and keeps bacteria from growing on surfaces. The cleaning experts from Goodhousekeeping.com had compiled a list of the Best All-Purpose Cleaners to Fight Grime.

• Antibacterial cleaning products. Antibacterial cleaning products such as spray or wipes are chemicals used to disinfect and sanitize to kill bacteria and germs on surfaces. These disinfectants are best used on surfaces after cleaning, i.e. in addition to an all-purpose cleaner,  to further lower the risk of spreading infection. In light of this COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages the practice of frequent routine cleaning and disinfection of households. The CDC recommends using disinfectant products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Baking soda. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent used for absorbing, deodorizing, and lifting unpleasant aromas and odors. The Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda products are one of America's Trusted Baking Soda brands. They are chemical-free and are powerful yet gentle enough to use on many surfaces, such as carpet odor eliminator, refrigerator deodorizer, laundry booster, etc.

• Glass cleaner. A glass cleaner is specially formulated to clean glass surfaces like windows, table counters, glass doors, or even mirrors, without leaving any streaks or smears behind. Some glass cleaners can be applied directly to glass surfaces and then wiped down with a sponge, squeegee, cloth, or paper towel. Know more about the Best Glass Cleaner from Business Insider.

• Tile cleaner. A tile cleaner with bleach is very useful in removing tough spots and unsightly grime from molds, mildew, soap scum, and rust build-up in the kitchen, baths, and showers. Remember to handle any bleach-based products carefully. When using it, always wear protective gloves and make sure to open a window or put the vent on to avoid accidentally inhaling the fumes.

• Toilet bowl cleaner. A good toilet bowl cleaner must be capable of removing dirt, slime, stains, and odors from bathroom urinals, grouts, tiles, and toilet bowls. This cleaner may be bleach-based to remove stains and effective enough in killing germs and bacteria. Apply an appropriate amount of the cleaning solution in the toilet bowl and use a toilet brush to give it a good scrub. 

• White vinegar. White vinegar is a commonly used household cleaning agent. It has some mild disinfectant properties and is great at dissolving grease and removing dirt, especially on stainless steel and glass. Vinegar is acidic in nature and dilution with water is recommended to avoid damaging the surfaces being cleaned. It can be used as an effective drain cleaner and can also be used to polish copper, brass, bronze, or silver. Sharing a video by wikiHow on How to Make a Vinegar Cleaning Solution.

• Wood cleaner. Wood cleaning agents are optimized for use on wood surfaces. These cleaners have ingredients to remove dirt and grime, and at the same time, protect the wood and varnish. Wood cleaners should be able to remove scuff marks on the floors without damaging the coating or dulling the shine. Goodhousekeeping.com shares tips on how to care for wood floors and provides a list of the Best Wood Floor Cleaners to buy.

Having the right cleaning supplies can surely ease the tidying up work around your house. But do you know what’s easier? It's getting a professional cleaner to do the home cleaning job for you! If you are looking for Chicago Cleaning Services, why don’t you give us a call here at Sparkly Maid of North Shore?

We at Sparkly Maid are happy to serve you! We take care of the needed cleaning supplies and we even bring our vacuum cleaners. We take pride in being an eco-friendly cleaning services company. We use natural cleaning products to promote a greener and healthier living that is safe for you & your family, for your pets, and the environment.

🌸 Let’s start making your home healthy & sparkly! 🌸

Sparkly Maid of North Shore, Chicago is a professional cleaning company that you can trust! We provide high-quality cleaning services at an affordable price. Come & get your free quote. Book a Sparkly Maid now or Call us at (224) 600-5487.