We’re covering the whole house and what you’ll need to keep it sparkling clean.
Whether you’re new to cleaning, or new to the US, chances are you’re confused by the many aisles of cleaning products in your local stores. We’ve put together a list of our favorites and how we use them.
Windex: We can all agree that windex is the leader in glass cleaning. It’s probably the one product that’s universal in most homes. Use it with paper towels or microfiber cloths for a lint-free shine.
Here, you have a few options, we all use different products. To start off, you’ll need a mop and bucket. This is a popular one. Most of these cleaners need to be diluted with water; read the instructions.
- All Purpose Floor Cleaners. Pine Sol Original, Mr. Clean, or Fabuloso are all different options we use. We all prefer different ones but they are interchangeable (make sure you can stand the scent before you buy the huge price club version).
- Bona is special for wood floors. See this post on using Bona. Another popular option would be Murphy Oil Soap.
- Dishwashing Detergent. Cascade Platinum Plus. We find these dishwasher pods to be the best in every test. Pop them into your dishwasher, no mess or measuring required.
- Dish Soap. Palmolive or Dawn are top choices for dishwashing. We also like the more stylish bottles from Method that aren’t an eyesore when they’re on the counter.
- All Purpose Spray Cleaner. Fantastik or 409 are top picks as an all-purpose cleaner – kitchen countertops, metal chair legs, etc. If you don’t like the chemical smells, Method also has a nice range of plant-based all purpose cleaners.
- You’ll also need sponges (it’s good to have 2 colors for meat and dairy) and steel wool for scrubbing those stubborn pots. Barkeeper’s Friend gives a good shine to the outside of your pots.
Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner: This is a great option for the whole bathroom, including fiberglass showers and bathtubs.
Soft Scrub or Barkeeper’s Friend: For sinks (stainless and porcelain) and enameled bathtubs, just scrub and rinse from the top down. Note: Soft Scrub comes in bleach and non-bleach versions. We save the bleach version for grout whitening and once-in-a-while scrubbing. This helps eliminate clothing mishaps.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Again, we turn to Clorox for a deep clean. You’ll need a stiff toilet brush to complete the job. Even better: You can go with the Clorox Toilet Wand instead of a brush and toss the head after each use.
- Detergent. Some prefer liquid and others prefer powder detergent. It’s a personal choice. No matter which version you use, Tide is the most popular.
- Stain Spray. It’s a good idea to spray stains to pretreat some stains that might prove to be stubborn. Oxi Clean is a basic, but we’ve also tried some other options on our more stubborn stains. See this post for more stain solutions.
- Optional: Fabric Softener (in the wash) and Dryer Sheets (in the dryer) are other items people use to enhance the results.
For a basic guide to laundry and some of our favorite laundry products, check out this post.
- You’ll also need a broom and dustpan. See this post for our favorite for large spaces and this post for another favorite that’s light and convenient.
- A vacuum! See this post for a cheap option and this for the most convenient and user-friendly option.
There are some extra products that aren’t quite necessary but we like to use:
- The Pink Stuff for tough stains on quartz countertops (or Barkeepers Friend Soft Cleanser Liquid), or to clean burnt or greasy pots/pans (or powdered Barkeepers Friend).
- Downy Wrinkle Release – for clothes and linens
- Swiffer Dusters. These are great for getting under appliances, above door/window frames, ceiling fans – basically anything you can’t easily reach with a rag.
There are more tips and cleaning favorites in these posts!
No Cleaning Help? The Easy, Quick, and Practical Way to Clean the Bathroom
A Small Apartment Cleaning Schedule: Newlywed Edition
How to Maintain and Clean Appliances
Does Dawn Powerwash have an OU symbol. I do not see one.
Yes, it does have an OU symbol.
I use vinegar and dishwashing soap mixed with water for cleaning surfaces/ bathrooms/ fabric couches/ walls/ tables and plain vinegar for glass mirrors/windows. When you don’t use chemicals you reduce the toxins in your house.
Most amazing stain remover ever was referred to me by a friend after my daughter wearing a white skirt sat onto a plate of ketschup. She shared her stick with me and it was beyond wondrous. The entire stain came out! It does not fade the clothes if used on colored clothes. Even got an ice cream drip out of wool tzitzis without the need to wash it. Check it out on any household site but I ordered it on Amazon. It’s called Cadie Stubborn Stain Remover Laundry Stick. It looks like a glue stick. You rub it onto the stains.
Wow thanks! Going to order this!
Ask your lor but last I checked bar keepers doesn’t have a kosher certification.
Bon Ami I am almost sure has an OU. It works great!
Vinegar and water is a great parquet floor cleaner. Easy and cheap. Doesn’t leave over a film and matte the finish.
Thanks so much for this helpful and informative post! I bought a few things already. Just wanted to share a tip for anyone with eczema in their household- Purex (no scent) is a great detergent to use and of course skip the fabric softener and bounce sheets. (The previous posts on using vinegar may also help a lot)
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I hardly use any of these cleaners – so interesting to see how different people clean! I’ve never bought 409 before and pine sol gives me a headache. I use Mrs Meyers or method brand products almost exclusively, Kirkland free and clear laundry detergent (sensitive skin in my family), and the occasional bathroom cleaner with bleach for really yucky messes or removing mold. I love the puracy stain remover and also love oxyclean – was able to remove 5 year old milk stains from newborn clothes with an overnight soak. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
I totally hear that. I use the pink method ap cleaner but my cleaning lady loves it too much so for her I get Mrs Meyers which comes in a concentrated version. I’m obsessed with anything method (their window cleaner, stainless steel cleaner etc.). No need to bring harsh chemicals in your home.
Would like a basic cleaning guide using non toxic ingredients…good for asthma and eczma kids…
Great list of cleaning products! I love how you included both popular options and a few specialty products like Bona for wood floors. It’s helpful to have different choices for different needs. I’m definitely going to check out the Method plant-based cleaners!