Back then when I started properly cleaning and taking care of my house I needed a list of products that could be useful and cheap, or essential products exactly as it is listed here. I wasn't satisfied in what I have in cleaning products' knowledge that I learned from my mom so I started browsing online, searching housewife's videos on youtube and experimenting myself and the end result is this list that I've got here.
Note: this list is based on my own experience living in a country which is hot most of the year, so the products listed here may not work for all types of houses.
The Basics:
Cleaning products can be divided in two categories: consumable items, which you'll use and constantly replenishing and are usually liquid/power products (e.g detergent, soaps, sponges) and long duration items, which you don't need to buy it every month but will get ruined at some point (e.g brooms, mop, buckets). So, we'll tackle each category here separately.
Consumable Items:
The essential products on this list, and their uses, are:
- Stainless steel scrubber: use to scrub the shower, the toilet, the bathroom sink, the kitchen sink, the stove, the tiles on the walls, greased pans, the cat's food/water bowl and everything that need a good scrub (warning: don't use on delicate objects/objects prone to scratching).
- Kitchen sponge: use it to clean the dishes and everything that the stainless steel scrubber can do but it's less abrasive.
- Kitchen liquid detergent: use it to clean the dishes and everything washable (not delicate objects) that aren't the clothes (e.g shower, toilet, sink, stove, oven, cat's litter box, old rags, the windows).
- Rubber gloves: own at least 3 different pairs at a time for different uses, one for washing the dishes, one for cleaning the bathroom and one for everything else washable (e.g cat's stuff, old rags).
- Multi purpose/multi surface cleaner: find a multi purpose liquid product that you like and can be used on the floor, the toilet and toilet bow, the bathroom sink and the wall tiles, and use on these areas (alternatively you can use detergent on the sink and toilet like I've said before).
- Wood cleaner: if your multi purpose product also cleans wood you can skip this item and use that instead, if not, find a good wood cleaner to clean the cabinets, desks, chairs, wardrobes and other wooden furniture.
- Laundry detergent: can be the liquid or powder version, use it to wash the clothes and alternatively you can use it to clean the shower/bathroom.
- Coconut soup: the best neutral detergent to hand wash your delicate clothing (also don't ruin your skin so you don't need to use rubber gloves here).
- Vinegar or gel alcohol: use it to clean mirrors, windows and glass.
- Screen cleaner spray: use it to clean the TV, smartphone's screen and monitor's screen alongside a microfiber cloth (see below). It is important to use a proper screen cleaner to clean electronics and never use alcohol or other abrasive products.
Long Duration Items:
The essential products on this list, and their uses, are:
- Broom and garbage shovel: have at least 2 brooms and 2 shovels, one to clean the inside of your side and the other to clean the outside area (e.g the yard, the deck), but if you don't have a outside area in your house/you live in an apartment you can skip the second broom. Choose a broom based on the floor surface, to clean a delicate floor opt for a broom with soft bristles and to a hard floor (like the outside area or tiled floor) use a broom with hard bristles. Besides using the broom to clean the floors you can also double as a duster and use it to clean the walls and the ceiling.
- Vacuum cleaner: optionally if you have more money to spend you can use a vacuum to clean inside the house, but I still advise to have a broom to use in a case that happened a blackout or to clean wet areas (you can buy a wet and dry vacuum cleaner to clean everything, but at least where I live, they're really expensive and not really an option).
- Mop or bucket, broom and rags: you can use a mop of your choosing (I'll make a mop guide later, so hold it!) or use the classic broom, bucket and old rags to clean the floor.
- Microfiber cloth and old rags: Have as many microfiber cloth as the different stuff you need to clean (e.g one for the furniture, one for the electronics, one for the sink etc) and have small old rags to clean dirtier stuff that you would ruin your microfiber cloth (e.g use the rag to absorb spilled liquids on the cabinets and finish with the microfiber cloth).
- Toilet brush + holder: (They usually are sold as a pair). Keep it close to the toilet and use it on the toilet bowl only.
- Bottle cleaner: A brush or sponge on a long stick. Use it to clean the inside of the water bottles that are difficult to clean with a sponge, if you don't use bottles you can skip this item.
- Assorted set of small brushes: This item is a bit tricky because the quantity/size/type of brushes will depend on your needs so it can vary between different cleaning needs and it's hard for me to make a norm here. For me the basics are, 1 small brush to clean water bottle caps, 2 medium long brushes to clean the sink and the shower, 1 small brush to clean the vacuum's HEPA filter.