The Only Basic Cleaning Supplies List You’ll Ever Need For The Cleanest Home

If you’re looking for the absolute basic cleaning supplies for your home or apartment; products that actually do a good job but won’t cost you too much money; you’re in the right place.

I’ve put together this basic cleaning supplies list with just the essentials. The best part is that these products all pull double duty.

I’m excited for you to try them because, honestly, these are the only minimalist cleaning supplies you’ll ever need.

Bathroom cleaner, air fryer cleaner, oven cleaner, window cleaner, what do you choose and what cleaning products do you really need?

Don’t get me wrong I love a good store-bought cleaner because they make cleaning fast but what a lot of people don’t realise is that some of these cleaners are a marketing gimmick.

The cleaning supplies I’ll share with you are the basic essentials you need and they can clean multiple things.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no extra cost to you, and I only recommend products I genuinely use and love.

10 Basic Cleaning Products That Do It All

These 10 are the ones I reach for again and again because they actually work, and most of them do more than one job.

If you’re looking for the absolute basic, start with these.

#1. Dish Soap / Washing Up Liquid

Many people don’t actually realise that dish soap is such a multi-purpose product that can be used for practically everything.

Instead of buying a bunch of cleaners, your dish soap can do the job 10x better.

I love it, especially in the bathtub. Just squirt a little bit in, wash with a brush and watch the dirt melt away.

Here are few things you can use your dish soap to clean beyond dishes:

• Toilet and Bathtub
• Floors
• Sinks and surfaces
• Grease and makeup stain on clothes
• Cars

#2. Oxygen Bleach

If you’ve never used oxygen bleach before, you’re seriously missing out.

It’s so underrated, and can be used to clean so many things beyond clothes.

You can use it to:

• Remove coffee stains from mugs
• Clean your white sinks
• Whiten toilet
• Clean patio tiles
• Clean bathroom tile and grout

#3. Vinegar

Can we begin to talk about how versatile vinegar is?

I always have two large kegs on hand just because I go through them really quickly.

From cleaning the kitchen to bathrooms to laundry, vinegar cleans so many things.

Sometimes, I’ll infuse it with lemon peels, clementines or herbs to give it a different scent.

See how I do that in this video.

#4. Baking Soda

I think every home should have a large pack of baking soda.

It’s such a great deodoriser and scrubber.

It’s amazing for:

• Deodorising your fridge and bins
• Scrubbing sinks and hobs
• Removing mould (when mixed with hydrogen peroxide)

#5. Laundry Detergent

You need a good laundry detergent for clothes but it’s use doesn’t stop there.

A good laundry detergent is powerful enough to double as a surface cleaner when you’ve run out.

You can also use it to:

• Mop your floors (just a small amount in water)
• Soak stained cushion covers or throws
• Wash reusable cleaning cloths and mop heads

If you already love the scent of your detergent, even better.

#6. Citric Acid

I can’t live without citric acid in the house.

Not many natural products remove limescale as well as citric acid.

I use it to:

• Remove limescale from taps and shower glass
• Clean the toilet bowl (that annoying yellow or blue mark that won’t go? Spray some citric acid)
• Clean the dishwasher

It’s natural and it works so well. Win-win.

#7. Dishwasher Tablets

A heavy duty one will clean your dishes well but it can also do some amazing deep cleaning around the house.

Here’s what I use them for:

• Scrubbing burnt pots and pans
• Clean the extractor filter
• Remove coffee stains from cups

Just dissolve in hot water, and scrub. They are amazing!

#8. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is like a secret weapon for disinfecting without bleach.

If you want something powerful but less harsh, then include it in your cleaning caddy.

I love it for:

• Removing mould and whitening grout
• Brightening white trainers
• Disinfecting cutting boards and sponges
• Sanitising surfaces
• Removing blood stains from fabric

It’s affordable, effective, and doesn’t have a strong scent.

Just be sure to buy one in a non transparent bottle so it doesn’t lose its strength.

#9. Rubbing Alcohol

This is my go-to for anything that needs to get disinfected quickly.

I always keep a bottle in the cupboard.

You can use it to:

• Remove ink stains from clothes
• Disinfect surfaces and door handles
• Remove sticky label residue
• DIY disinfectant sprays

#10. Bar Keeper Friend (BKF)

I almost didn’t include this, but truly, nothing removes rust like Bar Keepers Friend.

It’s perfect for:

• Rust stains in sinks or around taps
• Burnt stains on the back of pots and pans
• Making your hob and stainless steel shine like new
• Removing stubborn watermarks

I use BKF when everything else fails me. It makes everything look brand new.

The Only Essential Cleaning Tools You Need

There’s no point having good products if you don’t have the right tools to actually use them.

I’m all about keeping things simple, so here are the cleaning tools I reach for week after week.

#1. A High Quality Microfibre Cloth or E- Cloth

Good quality microfibre cloths are like the backbone of any basic cleaning routine.

You can use them for so many things around the house and they last so long.

I have had mine for four solid years. Yes! four!

As long as you buy a good quality one, you are solid.

That’s why I buy the E-Cloth, it is a brand of high quality microfibre cloth that removes 99% of germs from surfaces with just water.

If you don’t have access to an E-Cloth, a good-quality microfibre cloth that is at least 20% polyamide and 80% polyester will work just as well.

You can use your microfibre cloth to clean the following:

• Worktops and surfaces
• Toilets
• Mirrors and Windows. Yes! You don’t need a glass cleaner. It is the best thing for streak free mirrors
• Sinks and taps
• TV and screens
• Wiping leaves on indoor plants

If you are look after it very well, it will last you a long time. I share how to care for it in this post.

#2. A Solid Vacuum

Whether you have carpet, laminate, or a mix of both, a good quality vacuum makes the biggest difference.

You don’t need a fancy one, just something that actually picks up what it’s meant to. I love the Henry cos it does what it needs to and it last forever!

Use it for:

• Floors (obviously)
• Skirting boards and corners
• Sofas and mattresses
• Inside drawers or cupboards
• The car

#3. Sponge

You really can’t go wrong with a simple sponge.

I know they can hold bacteria, but there are ways to keep them clean.

They’re so handy for dishes, scrubbing the bath, cleaning around taps, or wiping down the hob.

To sanitise your sponge:
Wet it, pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, let it cool, and leave it to dry. Done.

{Read: 50+ Must-Have Cleaning Products For A Spotless New Apartment}

#4. Folding Bucket

This one’s underrated. I love a folding bucket because it saves space and does the job.

Use it for mopping, soaking laundry, or mixing up your cleaning solutions without dragging out a giant bucket.

#5. Broom & Dustpan

Not every mess needs the vacuum. A broom and dustpan are perfect for quick sweeps, especially in the kitchen or entryway.

#6. Duster

I wasn’t going to include this but since I started using the Flash Dust Magnet, I realised I can’t live without it.

Great for skirting boards, blinds, light fixtures, and anywhere you get dust (hello top of the TV).

You can use your microfibre cloth as well but these dusters are literally magnets for dust!

I love them and they are worth adding to your list.

#7. Spray Bottle

You need this to mix your DIY cleaners. I like to keep a couple on hand. I have one for the bathroom, one for the kitchen and one for the utility room.

I just put plain water in it and use it to spray my clothes when ironing.

#8. Toilet Brush

Self-explanatory, but make sure to clean it regularly! I like the ones with a little holder that lets it air dry properly.

#9. Steel Wool

Great for rust, burnt pots, and scrubbing really tough spots.

I also love that you can use it on glass! You can use it in your oven and also on your shower glass.

Just be sure to get the fine #0000 steel wool.

#10. Stainless Steel Scrubber

Perfect for greasy pots, cooker tops, and deep cleaning oven racks.

I use this when the sponge just isn’t cutting it.

#11. Microfibre Mop & Bucket

You don’t need ten different floor cleaners, just a good microfibre mop.

It picks up dirt really well.

Add a tiny bit of dish soap to your mop water and you’re sorted.

Just remember to care for it as you would your microfibre cloths. Also, make sure to soak immediately after use to keep it white.

#12. Scrub Brush

Every home needs one or a few in different sizes.

I use mine for grout, tiles, around taps, and anywhere that needs a little extra muscle.

Just choose one with firm bristles and a comfortable handle.

How To Use The Minimal Cleaning Supplies

Less is more when it comes to cleaning. So is it really possible to clean with just a few supplies?

Absolutely!

Here are some ideas for cleaning your home with the cleaning supplies I listed.

Windows and Mirrors

To clean windows, simply soak the E-Cloth in water and clean, then use the microfibre glass cloth to wipe it.

You’ll always get streak free windows or mirrors without any chemicals.

Kitchen Counter

To clean kitchen counters, simply make a half and half mix of vinegar and water and wipe down your surfaces.

This not only disinfects the surface but makes the air smell fresh once the strong vinegar scent is gone.

Remember to check the type of material your surfaces are before using vinegar as it can stain surfaces like marble.

Floors

To clean the floors, simply use a tiny amount of dish soap in your mop bucket.

When you are done cleaning, replace the water in the mop bucket with clean water and wipe down again.

You can clean almost any even wood floors.

Bathroom and Toilet

To clean your bathroom and toilet effectively, all you really need is dish soap and some vinegar.

Squirt some bleach into the toilet bowl, and wash with your toilet brush.

To clean the exterior part of the toilet, make a simple solution of vinegar and water and wipe down the surface with your microfibre cloths or E-Cloth.

You can clean the rest of the bathroom with dish soap and vinegar, rinsing thoroughly with water as you go.

The vinegar dish soap mix is really effective at removing hard water stains on taps, shower screens, and more.

To clean your tub, pour some dish soap inside the bath, scrub down and rinse.

Bedroom

To clean and dust surfaces in the bedroom, use your dust magnet or lightly damp your microfiber towels.

These are, in my opinion, the only products you really need to clean your entire house. Anything else is just extra for your convenience.

If you want to simplify the cleaning products you have and are not entirely sure where to start, I hope these six products help you maintain a clean home.

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