Hello! It’s good to be back after a while, and this time we have a new article: 7 must-have cleaning supplies in your household. This guide is especially useful if you are just moving to a new home in Memphis, or if you want to improve your cleaning game.
Having the proper supplies and techniques will improve your work so much before you even start cleaning!
After our last article, where we shared some recipes for cleaning products made with everyday ingredients, it’s time to talk about cleaning supplies.
In this article, we gathered 7 cleaning supplies we consider essential for everyday house cleaning. As a professional cleaning service in Memphis, we understand you might not need industrial-grade cleaning equipment, so we are sticking to affordable, easy-to-handle items.
If you want to be more efficient at house cleaning, you need to come up with a plan. That includes choosing items that are versatile, effective, and durable.
You have so many different surfaces and materials in your home: floors, countertops, tile surfaces, mirrors, and windows… And it can be quite challenging to find the right supplies to tackle your entire home without making it too complicated.
Here are 7 cleaning supplies (plus a bonus item!) for you to get better at cleaning!
Microfiber Cloths
Having good cloths or towels for cleaning is a must. The most common materials are microfiber and cotton.
Cotton spreads lint all over the surfaces, and it is not as efficient at absorbing moisture and bacteria. Microfiber is the preferred material for wiping cloths as well as mops.
Ideally, you would have microfiber cloths that are large enough to be folded in 4 parts. It is important that you use the 4 parts, and then turn it down and you will have 4 more parts. This way you will have a total of 8 parts available without having to wash your cloth.
For glass, screens, and mirrors, make sure you use specialized microfiber glass cleaning cloths, as they live no lint or streaks as you go through your surface.
Drill Brush Attachment
You are going to need a powerful tool from time to time to dig deep onto grease and dirt.
If you have a drill, you can use a brush attachment to have a cleaning tool that is perfect for deep cleaning your surfaces, especially tile. As always, make sure you apply your cleaning agent first. It should be either a degreaser or a mold remover. Mild dish soap and vinegar is usually a good combination for these type of areas (kitchen tiles, bathroom).
They usually come in a set with multiple attachments depending on the size of the surface, if it is a corner, and so on. And they are usually very affordable!
A Good Squeegee
This tool is perfect for windows, glass doors, mirrors, and any other glass surface in your home. The best part is that, compared to paper towels or newspaper, you can reuse it over and over again, without leaving streaks or any residues on your surfaces.
A good squeegee will have a rubber handle which makes it easier for you to grab it.
As for the blades, you often find them in rubber or silicone. Silicone is better for textured tiles or uneven surfaces, while rubber is firmer and it’s perfect for flat, smooth surfaces (glass, mirrors).
Having an extension pole is important if you have large, tall windows or if they are hard to reach (e.g., windows in double-height living rooms, or skylights).
Pro tip: use your squeegee to apply soap or rinse or use a sponge first if your surface is extremely dirty, and then use the squeegee to rinse. Always apply an “S” pattern, moving from top to bottom. This way, you will avoid running the squeegee twice and leaving a streak.
Get a Good Sponge
The bad news is that sponges don’t last nearly as long as other supplies. They are extremely porous (meaning they absorb whatever comes into contact with them) and they are the perfect scenario for bacteria to grow, as they absorb organics (food) and water.
You have different options available! The trick is to find a sponge that is versatile and safe to use on many surfaces.
You have silicone sponges, for example, which do not absorb anything, but this means that they won’t absorb soap either, so you will be spending much more soap and it will be harder to wash your dishes, countertops, etc.
Non-scratch sponges are safe for sensitive surfaces such as steel and aluminum.
You can take a slightly different route and use a soap-cleaning brush. They are usually made out of plastic or bamboo. However, they share a similar problem with silicone sponges: the soap will not be absorbed and therefore you might have to waste more. They are ideal for keeping your hands safe from scrubbing and contact with food and soap, though.
A Good Cleaning Brush
Talking about brushes, it’s important to have a scrub brush! They are always handy and needed for adding extra pressure onto stubborn stains, grease spots, or spills.
Remember that a scrub brush needs to be comfortable (even after using repeatedly), and powerful yet soft enough to be harmless against surfaces.
Here are some tips for choosing the perfect cleaning brush(es):
- Soft-bristled brushes are perfect for delicate surfaces or materials, or for surfaces where you don’t want to remove or damage a layer of paint, wax, coating, etc. They are perfect if you want to avoid scratching.
- Hard-bristled brushes are perfect for decks, natural stone tiles, and concrete and brick surfaces.
Bonus tip: remember to let sit your cleaning agents for at least 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing. If you are using water, make sure it is lukewarm or hot (depending on the material). The goal is to scrub softly if you need to remove food scraps, grease, soap scum, and so on. Otherwise, you might be damaging the surface.
A Resistant Spray Bottle
Glass spray bottles are better at preserving some cleaning agents, such as essential oils. Opaque bottles are more effective than transparent bottles because sunlight often harms cleaning products.
If you are into home décor, an excellent strategy would be to buy a 3-pack or 6-pack of glass spray bottles. You can set them apart by a small name and/or color tag.
As for the size, make sure it is small enough to handle with one hand. Because glass is quite heavy, this means the bottle will (probably) have to be ¼ gal. or less.
If you purchase high-quality glass bottles, they will be highly durable and last many years.
A Vacuum Cleaner
If you want to make the smartest move money-wise, consider investing a little bit more in a versatile vacuum cleaner instead of buying 2 or 3 different cleaners.
For example, a vacuum that you can detach from its main body to use as a handheld vacuum. This is super helpful for areas that are hard to reach or that are on the upper side, like cabinets or bookshelves.
Or a wet/dry vacuum that is capable of deep washing and extracting dirt from fabric, furniture, rugs, carpet, etc. this is a great tool because it does the job both as a regular vacuum cleaner and it also removes dirt, bacteria, and stains from your bed or your sofa.
If you have guests coming soon, you know that vacuuming your floors won’t take that long and will make your home look clean and tidy.
You get multiple benefits from a multi-purpose vacuum cleaner (or any other tool): they take less space, they work for many types of surfaces, are easier to operate, and they will be more affordable in the long run than buying 2 or 3 separate items.
Vacuum cleaners are always more effective than just swiping with a broom or even mopping. Make sure it comes with a HEPA filter, which will absorb the microbes floating in the air.
Bonus For Your Cleaning Supplies List: A Cleaning Caddy
Last but not least, you need a caddy to keep all your supplies together! They are super helpful because they will a) keep your cleaning supplies organized and b) will be easier to transport them as you go through each room.
A good cleaning caddy should be sturdy, compact, and resistant to chemicals that might spill from time to time. Make sure it is not a closed container, or that at least part of it is perforated or hollow. Remember: keeping different cleaning products in a closed area can be dangerous.
Finding the perfect size can be a challenge. You want it to be large enough to fit all your cleaning supplies, yet small and compact enough to keep your items steady and easy to handle.
If you plan on buying other supplies, buy those first, and then try finding a caddy with the proper size to fit your supplies. Also, keep in mind that it needs to fit inside your cleaning pantry or under your kitchen sink. Grab a measuring tape to know the measurements you are looking for.
Conclusion
There you have it! Our top 7 (plus one!) essential cleaning items to get your home looking clean and beautiful again.
If you are closer to moving soon, or if you are looking to upgrade your cleaning supplies, these 7 items will help you with pretty much all areas in your home.
As long as everything stays within budget, always look for materials and brands that are versatile, sturdy, and high quality. You will save money in the long run as you won’t have to replace these items for years.
Keep in mind that you can add or change this list depending on your particular needs or the areas in your home.
And last but not least, make sure you check our professional cleaning service in Memphis to get rid of all the hassle of having to clean your entire home.
We will be back very soon with more cleaning tips!