Written by Shannon, Owner and Founder of Long Island Maids
Serving Long Island since 2013 · 15+ years of professional cleaning experience
December 25, 2025 10 min read Complete checklist
The cleaning aisle is overwhelming—endless specialty products promising miracles. The truth? You need far fewer products than marketers want you to believe. Here's what actually belongs in your cleaning kit, what's nice but optional, and what's a waste of money.
Starter Kit Cost
$75-150
Core Cleaners
Just 3-4
Microfiber Cloths
10-12 min
Specialty Products
Only if needed
Core Cleaning Solutions
These are the only cleaning solutions you truly need. Everything else is either a specialty product for specific situations or a marketing invention.
Must-Have Cleaners
All-Purpose Cleaner Essential
Handles counters, appliances, cabinets, walls, and most hard surfaces. One bottle does 80% of the work. Get a concentrate to save money.
Glass Cleaner Essential
For mirrors, windows, and glass surfaces. All-purpose leaves streaks on glass—you need a dedicated product. Ammonia-based works best.
Disinfectant Cleaner Essential
For bathrooms, kitchen high-touch surfaces, and sick-day cleaning. Look for EPA-registered products. Note: requires dwell time to actually disinfect.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner Essential
Angled bottle design gets under the rim. Mildly acidic formula removes mineral deposits and stains. Don't use all-purpose—it's not strong enough.
Nice-to-Have Cleaners
Dish Soap Multi-use
Great for grease cutting, hand-washing items, and as a DIY cleaner base. Dawn is the pro favorite for a reason. Doubles as a gentle all-purpose.
White Vinegar
Natural deodorizer and mild descaler. Good for coffee makers, showerheads, and cutting soap scum. Not a disinfectant—don't rely on it for sanitizing.
Baking Soda
Gentle abrasive for scrubbing, deodorizing fridges and garbage disposals, and making paste for tough spots. Cheap and effective.
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
Mild bleach alternative for stains and whitening grout. Safer than chlorine bleach on most surfaces. Keep in dark bottle—light degrades it.
Concentrate vs. Ready-to-Use
Concentrates cost more upfront but save significantly over time. A $15 bottle of concentrate often makes 10-20 spray bottles worth of cleaner. Plus, you're not paying to ship water. If you clean regularly, concentrates are the smarter buy.
Tools & Equipment
This is where you should actually invest. Good tools last years and make cleaning faster and more effective.
Essential Tools
Microfiber Cloths (10-12) Invest Here
The single most important cleaning tool. Get 300+ GSM quality in multiple colors for color-coding by task. Skip cheap packs—they shed and don't clean well.
Vacuum Cleaner Invest Here
Match to your floors and needs. HEPA filtration for allergies. See our vacuum selection guide for detailed recommendations.
Mop (Flat Microfiber Recommended)
Flat microfiber mops work on all floor types and use minimal water. See our mop types guide for the best choice for your floors.
Broom & Dustpan
For quick pickups and areas vacuum can't reach. Angled broom heads get into corners better. Rubber bristle brooms are great for pet hair on hard floors.
Toilet Brush & Holder
One per bathroom. Replace every 6-12 months or when bristles are bent. Holders with ventilation dry better and harbor less bacteria.
Scrub Brush (Stiff Bristle)
For grout, tile, tubs, and tough spots. Get one with comfortable grip—you'll use it more often than you think.
Rubber Gloves
Protects hands from chemicals and hot water. Get reusable over disposable—better grip, more durable, less waste. Yellow kitchen gloves work fine.
Bucket
For mopping and mixing solutions. 2-3 gallon size is practical. Rectangular buckets fit flat mop heads better than round.
Nice-to-Have Tools
Spray Mop
Great for quick daily touch-ups between deep mopping. Convenient but doesn't replace a proper mop for thorough cleaning.
Extendable Duster
For ceiling fans, high shelves, and crown molding. Microfiber or lambswool heads trap dust best. Skip feather dusters—they just move dust around.
Squeegee
For shower doors (prevents water spots and soap scum) and windows. Quick daily swipe after showers saves major cleaning later.
Cleaning Caddy
Keeps supplies organized and portable. Carry room to room instead of making multiple trips. See our caddy organization guide.
Grout Brush
Narrow brush designed specifically for grout lines. More effective than a regular scrub brush for tile floors and shower grout.
Old Toothbrushes
Free and perfect for faucet bases, grout corners, and tight spots. Keep a few under the sink instead of throwing them away.
Specialty Products (Only If Needed)
These are legitimate products—but only buy them if you have the specific surfaces or problems they address.
Stainless Steel Cleaner
Get if: You have stainless appliances with visible fingerprints. Skip if your appliances are "fingerprint-resistant" or you're fine with all-purpose.
Granite/Stone Cleaner
Get if: You have natural stone counters. Regular cleaners can etch or dull stone over time. pH-neutral formula is essential.
Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Get if: You have hardwood floors. General cleaners can damage finish. See our hardwood care guide.
Oven Cleaner
Get if: You have baked-on grease your oven's self-clean can't handle. Strong stuff—use sparingly and ventilate well.
Enzymatic Cleaner
Get if: You have pets or kids. Breaks down organic stains (urine, vomit, food) that regular cleaners just mask. See our pet accident guide.
Mold & Mildew Remover
Get if: You have recurring bathroom mold or musty areas. Stronger than general disinfectants for fungal growth.
Descaler/Lime Remover
Get if: Long Island's hard water leaves mineral buildup on faucets, showerheads, and appliances. Vinegar works for light deposits; CLR for heavy.
What to Skip
Marketing has convinced many people they need these. You don't.
Disposable Cleaning Wipes (for routine use) Skip
Expensive per-use, wasteful, and less effective than microfiber + spray. Fine for emergencies or travel, but not daily cleaning.
Antibacterial Everything Skip
Regular soap removes germs just as effectively. Antibacterial ingredients in hand soap were banned by FDA for lack of benefit.
Air Fresheners / Room Sprays Skip
Mask odors rather than eliminating them. If something smells, clean the source. Baking soda absorbs odors; ventilation removes them.
Feather Dusters Skip
Move dust around rather than capturing it. Microfiber cloths or lambswool dusters actually trap particles.
Furniture Polish (for most furniture) Skip
Builds up waxy residue over time. A damp microfiber cloth cleans most furniture. Only use polish on real wood that specifically needs conditioning.
Paper Towels (as primary cleaning cloth) Skip
Fine for drying hands and gross messes you'll throw away. But for actual cleaning? Microfiber is more effective and cheaper per-use over time.
Room-Specific "Systems" Skip
"Bathroom complete kit," "Kitchen 5-piece set"—just repackaged basics at markup. Buy what you need individually.
Never Mix These Cleaners
Bleach + Ammonia: Creates toxic chloramine gas. Many glass cleaners contain ammonia. Bleach + Vinegar: Creates chlorine gas. Both are common household items. Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar: Creates peracetic acid, corrosive to skin and lungs. When in doubt, rinse surfaces completely before switching products.
Room-by-Room Kits
For efficiency, keep supplies where you use them. Here's what to stock in each area:
Bathroom Kit
Disinfectant cleaner
Glass cleaner
Toilet bowl cleaner
Toilet brush
2-3 microfiber cloths
Scrub brush
Rubber gloves
Kitchen Kit
All-purpose cleaner
Dish soap
Glass cleaner
Disinfectant (for food prep areas)
3-4 microfiber cloths
Scrub brush
Baking soda
Living Areas Kit
All-purpose cleaner
Glass cleaner
Microfiber dusting cloth
Extendable duster
Lint roller (for upholstery)
Portable Caddy
All-purpose cleaner
Glass cleaner
Disinfectant
4-6 microfiber cloths
Scrub brush
Rubber gloves
Trash bags
Storage & Organization
Proper storage extends product life and makes cleaning more efficient.
Storage Tips
Keep away from temperature extremes: Don't store under sinks with hot pipes or in garages that freeze. Heat and cold degrade cleaning chemicals.
Store upright: Prevents leaks and makes it easy to see what you have.
Check expiration dates: Disinfectants especially lose effectiveness after expiration. Most cleaners last 1-2 years.
Keep out of reach of children and pets: Use childproof cabinets or high shelves. Many cleaners are toxic if ingested.
Don't transfer to unmarked containers: Dangerous if someone mistakes cleaner for something else.
Organizing Your Cleaning Supplies
Group by location: Bathroom supplies under bathroom sink, kitchen under kitchen sink, etc.
Use a caddy for portables: Carry your core supplies room to room instead of multiple trips.
Install door-back organizers: Great for under-sink cabinet doors—keeps sprays visible and accessible.
Hang mops and brooms: Wall-mounted holders keep them organized and let them dry properly.
Label concentrate dilutions: If you mix your own, clearly label spray bottles with product and date.
The 15-Minute Restock Check
Once a month, take 15 minutes to check supplies. Are any bottles nearly empty? Cloths looking worn? Brushes bent? Add items to your shopping list before you run out mid-cleaning. Nothing kills motivation like realizing you're out of glass cleaner with half the mirrors done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on cleaning supplies?
A complete starter kit costs $75-150. Invest more in tools you'll use daily (vacuum, microfiber cloths) and less on cleaners. Concentrate formulas and DIY solutions save money long-term. Avoid buying every specialty cleaner—most are unnecessary.
Can I use one cleaner for everything?
A quality all-purpose cleaner handles most surfaces, but you'll still need glass cleaner (all-purpose leaves streaks on glass) and a disinfectant for bathrooms and kitchens. Beyond those three, most specialty cleaners are optional unless you have specific surfaces like natural stone.
Are expensive cleaning products worth it?
Not usually. Store brands often work as well as name brands—they frequently contain the same active ingredients. Where you should invest: microfiber cloths (quality matters significantly), vacuum cleaners (better suction and filtration), and concentrated formulas (cheaper per use than ready-to-spray).
What cleaning supplies should I keep in each bathroom?
Each bathroom needs: toilet brush and holder, disinfectant spray or wipes, glass cleaner, 2-3 microfiber cloths, and rubber gloves. This allows quick cleaning without carrying supplies between bathrooms. Store under the sink or in a small caddy.
How often should I replace cleaning supplies?
Microfiber cloths last 1-2 years with proper care. Scrub brushes and sponges should be replaced monthly (or when worn/smelly). Mop heads every 2-3 months. Cleaning solutions don't expire quickly but check labels—most last 1-2 years. Disinfectants lose effectiveness after their expiration date.
After 15+ years and thousands of homes cleaned, I've seen every product claim and tested most of them. This list reflects what actually works—not what has the best marketing. Save your money for quality tools that last, and skip the gimmicks.
Written by Shannon, Owner and Founder of Long Island Maids