by Brandon Boushy
A cleaning supplies list is essential to ensure you have the right tools for the job—on hand and ready to go. Every cleaning business will need similar cleaning supplies, but house and janitorial supplies will need different tools. If you offer green cleaning services, you’ll want environmentally friendly products that comply with the Climate Pledge (see below), a promise to be net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
This list was created with the help of Christopher Mondragon from our cleaning course. Chris started Queen Bee Cleaning Service and is making around $1.4 million a year, so he knows the essential cleaning supplies to run a highly successful cleaning company.
We’ve broken down the complete cleaning supplies list into the following categories:
- Everyday cleaning supplies
- Natural cleaning supplies
- Cleaning supplies for kitchens
- Cleaning supplies for restrooms
- Cleaning supplies for bedrooms
Check out our first interview with Chris!
Before we get too far, here is a quick look at the selection process.
How We Chose Cleaning Products
We chose these products based on a house cleaning supplies list, but when there are different products people might like, we give you various options. In addition, we tried to include products that:
- Qualify for Amazon Prime. Get a 30-day free trial if you don’t already have Amazon Prime. Amazon also offers business prime accounts with tiers starting around $70 per year.
- Offer Subscribe and Save: This makes the process of reordering supplies easier as time goes on. You also get discounts.
- Meet the Standards of Amazon Climate Pledge: (This website is cool. Check out their timeline. It’s awesome!)
If you’re just here for the cleaning supplies list pdf, download it below.
House Cleaning Supplies
The following supplies are ones that every cleaning company should have.
Glass Cleaner
Everyone will need a glass cleaner for windows and mirrors, make sure it’s on your cleaning supply list. If you’re focused on items for a cleaning business, we’d suggest getting two products:
- Windex Spray Bottles: This one is under $30 and perfect for teams.
- Windex Glass and Multi-Surface Cleaner: For under $25 you can get enough Windex to refill five Windex spray bottles.
These work for home cleaners or Airbnb cleaning services.
Aprons
An apron is one of the must have cleaning supplies. There are a ton of options, but you’ll want an apron with at least two pouches to carry your cleaning materials. If you want to get snazzy, buy custom aprons with your cleaning business logo on it.
Vacuum Cleaner
No cleaning tools and equipment list would be complete without a vacuum cleaner. You’ll want a nice one, too. Consider buying some of the Commercial Vacuum Cleaners. Make sure it comes with attachments like a crevice tool. To get tough to reach places that other house cleaners might miss.
Wet Floor Signs
When you mop, wax, or polish tile, wood, or other hard surfaces, make sure your cleaners put out a wet floor sign to protect people from slipping and hurting themselves. This is especially important for a commercial cleaning supplies list. Get the 12 Pack of Wet Floor Signs, and you’ll have enough to start cleaning homes.
Keep reading for more basic cleaning supplies.
Microfiber Mop
You’ll need a good microfiber mop when cleaning properties with lots of hard floors. The professional mop linked below should be on your list of cleaning essentials:
Professional Microfiber Mop and Pads
Alternatively, you can get a Swiffer Sweeper. They are less sustainable than the microfiber ones, but you don’t have to wash the pads when they get dirty. Make sure to order refills, too.
Professional Mop and Bucket
No list of cleaning supplies for cleaning business operations would be complete without a Professional Mop and Bucket. Don’t forget to create a subscription for new mop head refills. House Beautiful has a great list of household cleaning supplies and how often you should replace them. Typically, you’ll want to replace the mop head every ten to fifteen washes.
Microfiber Cloths
Cleaning supplies for business operations will need clean microfiber cloths. Whether you clean a house or a business, you’ll probably want to use color-coded cloth. The Multicolor Microfiber Cloths allows you to use a different color for each cleaning product you use. Don’t forget to train your team on cleaning things with the proper color code.
Rubber Gloves
You’ll need gloves, too. You might also want to color-code them for certain cleaning house cleaning tasks. For instance, you might want one color for the bathroom, one for cleaning the stove, and one for washing dishes. The 3 Pack of Rubber Gloves matches three out of five colors with the cloths so you can keep the color coding consistent across your household cleaning supplies list.
Black Trash Bags
You’ll want bags for dirty rags and trash. Black bags in bulk orders make the most sense for house cleaning companies. Click on the link below to find them on Amazon:
White or Clear Trash Bags
You’ll also want white or clear trash bags on your cleaning supplies checklist. These should be used for clean rags or clean sheets if you offer Airbnb cleaning services.
Neutral Floor Cleaner (Bona or similar)
You’ll want a floor cleaner that has a neutral PH level like Bona. You might also consider cleaning products like Rejuvenate All Floors Restorer. Bona just cleans, while Rejuvenate helps repair and extend the life of the flooring.
Disinfectant Cleaner
If you specifically want something that sanitizes and disinfects against Covid and other viruses or bacteria, you’ll want to make sure that the product is on the EPA list N.
Check out the EPA video below to learn how to use the List N Finder.
As you collect items for your house cleaning supplies list, you’ll need to consider which disinfecting supplies make the most sense for your cleaning company.
- Home and Small Business Cordless: Clorox Turbo Pro Electrostatic Sprayer is light weight and easy to carry. Find the Sprayer on Amazon.
- Home and Small Business Corded: Clorox Turbo Power Sprayer Bundle
- Janitorial Services Corded: Electrostatic Sprayer for Janitorial Companies
- Wipes and Sprays: Clorox Wipes and Spray
- Antibacterial Spray: Disinfectant Spray and Refill
Cleaning Bucket
You’ll need something to carry cleaning items that won’t fit in your apron, so a cleaning bucket or caddy should be on your cleaning supply checklist. The link below will take you to the Amazon selections for caddies with wheels. These range from smaller ones for basic cleaners to larger ones that should go on a commercial cleaning supply list. Check them out!
Broom and Dustpan
You’ll want a broom and dustpan because sometimes vacuums won’t pick up debris on hard surfaces as effectively as a broom and dustpan. The set I chose to put on the list of cleaning products has unique features including:
- Extendable handles
- Built-in comb and scraper
- Dust cover
- Extra layers of bristles for better floor cleaning.
I found this review to be remarkably beneficial despite the negative tone. They list more pros and cons, note some flaws that others say get better through use, and are really thorough.
Save the house cleaning supplies list!
Natural Cleaning Solutions
These solutions are meant to help with the cleaning process and be extraordinarily environmentally friendly.
Blue Dawn Dish Soap
It’s good enough to clean ducks after oil spills, so it’s safe to use in your house. If you want dish soap that’s sensitive to the skin, Dawn is synonymous with a clean home. Buy it in bulk to save on shipping:
White Vinegar
White vinegar is great for deep cleaning kitchen appliances and other areas that need cleaning. You’ll need to dilute it with warm water for the best home cleaning results. Check out bon appétit’s blog about cleaning with white vinegar.
Hydrogen Peroxide
You might be familiar with hydrogen peroxide from cleaning wounds or using it as mouthwash, but did you know it deserves a spot on a cleaning supplies checklist?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hydrogen peroxide is an all-purpose cleaner that can be used on food, brushes, washing machines, grout, sinks, appliances, crime scene cleanups (it removes blood from clothes), and more. You’ll want some to keep your toilet brushes and other utensils clean for longer.
You can get a gallon of hydrogen peroxide shipped straight to you from Amazon.
Baking Soda
Baking soda works great for deodorizing and cleaning metals. Some of the uses include:
- Removing smells from a garbage disposal
- Water spot removal
- Removing carpet stains
- Drain cleaner
Find 46 more uses on Taste of Home. We added it to our cleaning supplies checklist and you can get baking soda on Amazon.
Lemons
There’s a reason almost every item on the cleaning product list has a lemon scent. Lemon juice smells good, keeps bugs away, gets rid of odors, and is acidic. If you want to make your own all purpose cleaners, you’ll want to have lemons. If you haven’t tried Amazon Fresh, it offers free 2-hour delivery on tens of thousands of products with any cart above $35 ($50 in NYC).
Get lemons shipped to your door today. While you’re at it, order dinner.
Cleaning Supplies for Kitchen
Your cleaning products list will need some special kitchen cleaning supplies.
Scrub Pads
These are great for getting grime off the dishes and appliances. I tend to prefer the sponges where one side is a scrub pad and the other side a normal sponge. You can get an Multicolor Dual-Texture Sponges and have plenty of scrub pads and sponges.
Eraser Sponges
Magic eraser sponges are excellent for stain removal, but don’t use them on items that are prone to scratching because when you get them wet they are abrasive. The link below will get a pack of 20 of these magical housekeeping supplies.
Oven Cleaner
Ovens can get messy if you don’t clean them immediately after you cook. Products that require cooking directly on the rack can drip on the metal and get burnt onto the inside surfaces. You’ll need a degreaser to get them off. This is more of a deep cleaning task, but it makes a difference.
Stove Top Cleaner
Some homes have glass or ceramic stovetops. You’ll want a special cleaner for them. The Weiman Cooktop and Stove Top Cleaner Kit will get the job done without scratching the glass or ceramic
Multipurpose Kitchen Cleaner
You might want to consider the 1 Gallon Simply Kleen USA Multipurpose Cleaner if you want something that is environmentally friendly and intended to clean all hard surfaces. I would stick to Windex for glass surfaces, but Simply Kleen will work for cleaning your kitchen, bathroom, and floors.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Stainless steel appliances can scratch easily, so you need to make sure you have products that won’t hurt them. If you want a product that is specifically for stainless steel, try Proline, but if you want one that will work on ceramic, stainless steel, enamel, and plastic, try Vim.
Earth Friendly Proline Stainless Steel Cleaner
Plastic scrapers
Plastic scraping utensils should be on a household cleaning products list because you’ll need them for cleaning paint or other gunk off walls, counters, and other hard surfaces. There are a few different types of scrapers in housekeeping cleaning supplies, so I provided you with some options.
Microwave Safe Bowl to Steam
If a microwave has hard-to-remove food stuck on it, you’ll want a microwave-safe bowl like the TOPHOME 4pcs Silicone Bowls. Just add some water to the bowl and microwave it until the steam loosens up the particles. The steam will loosen up the food making it easy to wipe off.
Dishwasher Detergent
If your cleaning business offers dishwashing services, you might want to have Lemon Scented Cascade Dishwasher Pods on your cleaning supplies list.
Next, let’s look at cleaning supplies for house and office restrooms.
Bathroom Cleaning Supplies List
A bathroom is normally residential and includes a shower or bath, while a restroom is normally in a commercial space and does not include showers or baths.
Restroom Cleaner
Personally, I love the Scrubbing Bubbles Starter Kit. I’ve been using Scrubbing Bubbles since I was a kid and believe it should be on any bathroom cleaning supplies list. If you want home cleaning supplies in a larger volume try Mr. Clean Multipurpose Cleaning Solution.
Toilet Brush and Plunger Set
Another house cleaning supply you’ll need is a plunger and toilet bowl cleaner. The ones below are available separately or together in black or white and are super stylish. They are also magnetic and have a patented brush formation for easier cleaning.
SimpleHuman Toilet Brush and Plunger
Pumice Stone
If a toilet brush won’t get hard water stains off a toilet bowl, you might want to have an Pumice Stones with Handles to help get the hard water stains off. In Las Vegas, our water is so hard that we have to take a towel with warm water to our bathtubs any time someone uses it or they develop stains. If you have hard water keep that in mind.
Keep reading for more items on the list of household cleaning products.
Tile and Grout Cleaner
Your list of cleaning supplies for housekeeping companies should include a good tile and grout cleaner like the Goo Gone Tile and Grout. Use it with the mini grout brush below and your cleaning supply checklist will prepare you to create cleaner bathrooms and hopefully earn some tips.
Mini Grout Brush
Grout is commonly overlooked when people and businesses clean homes. Add a mini grout cleaning brush to your housekeeper supplies to make your customers’ bathrooms sparkle. Consider these Professional Grout Brush Options available on Amazon.
Calcium, Lime, and Rust Remover (CLR)
Buying a CLR Pro Calcium Spray Bottles kit will make it where you can easily remove calcium, lime, and rust which may accumulate from hard water. Make sure to review the CLR FAQs before using it because it can damage materials where it is not meant to be used.
Squeegee
You’ll want a squeegee to clean showers with glass doors. Most people don’t use them when they take a shower, but it looks much better. I’d suggest a squeegee and microfiber window washer as the one for the cleaning company. If you want an opportunity to increase your revenue, try offering to provide these to your customers. You can get one like the Shower Squeegee With Holder or better yet, order them.
Knee Pads
I know it sounds weird to suggest knee pads for a house cleaning supply list. If you spend time on your knees cleaning toilets, tubs, or other places that are hard to get to, NoCry Professional Knee Pads should be cleaning supplies must-haves. Your future self will thank you for wearing them.
Next, we’ll provide a list of household supplies for bedrooms.
Products for Bedroom Cleaning
We have tips to go with the list of household supplies to clean the bedroom.
Extendable Duster
Bedrooms need to be dusted and sometimes it’s hard to reach places like fan blades above the bed. Stay professional with an extendable duster. There are a few different types to consider. We chose three of the best options:
- Budget: The SetSail 110” extendable duster has a removable duster that can be bent to fit in hard-to-reach space. It’s low cost and you can order replacement heads. You might also want the blind duster and window kit.
- Dusting Kit: The 6 piece dusting kit includes an extendable pole, 3 styles of microfiber covers to go over the bendable head, a hand duster, and a carrying bag. This one is the best option for your house supplies list.
- Swiffer Dusting Kit: Like the Swiffer Sweeper, the Swiffer Dusting Kit is something that many will want with their cleaning supplies for home. It comes with a handle and 12 Swiffer Heavy Duty Dusters. The dusters are disposable, so you’d need to replace them after each house. In addition, the handle is only three feet long. This is the best choice on a list of cleaning supplies for apartment tenants.
Wood Cleaner
If you love the smell of Lysol, the Lysol Disinfectant Wipes and Spray kit includes three products for cleaning house furniture and counters. For those who clean professionally, disinfectant wipes might not meet sustainability requirements if you work on LEED-certified buildings. They offer plant-based wipes in recyclable plastic on Walmart, but you’ll spend twice as much for the same number of wipes.
Another alternative is an Method Daily Wood Cleaner. Method has a LEED Platinum factory (highest requirements besides the 100 LEED Zero certifications since 2018) and is highly focused on creating a more sustainable world. Check out Method’s video “from beach to bottle.”
Fabric Refresher
Go with a familiar brand like Febreze or one that is more sustainable like Fresh Wave. Either way, your household supplies list should include an odor-removal spray for fabrics.
Pet Stain Remover
You can go with a cleaning spray like Angry Orange and scrub it out, which sounds like a lot of work. When thinking about cleaning supplies for home stain removal, I’d prefer something that has some power and is cordless like the Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush. You can go with the Bissell Little Green ProHeat if you don’t mind the cord. Check out the Vacuum Wars comparison below.
Fireplace Cleaner
Quick N Brite is a fireplace cleaner that removes soot and other combustion products from the fireplace. If you don’t clean fireplaces and the chimneys, the risk of fires and poor indoor air quality increase. Make sure to add it to your cleaning supply list.
What Cleaning Products Do You Love?
This clean products list covers all the essentials you’ll need for cleaning homes, apartments, or businesses. If you haven’t already, download the free, printable cleaning supplies list for cleaning business operations below:
Are there all-purpose cleaners, scrubbing sponges, or other products you can’t live without?
