What Cleaning Supplies Do I Need For An Apartment?

Having a neat, clean apartment is what everyone wants. However, sometimes it may not be possible to buy all the cleaning products you want, mainly because apartments do not come with a ton of storage space options. This means you have to pick and choose and be very selective of what you do get when it comes to cleaning supplies for your home.

What cleaning supplies do I need for an apartment?There are a variety of cleaners that are perfect for different types of stains. Some of them can even be made from things that you probably already have around your apartment. On the other hand, cleaning tools can either be general cleaning tools or room specific cleaning tools.

This is a closer look at the basic cleaning supplies that you would need for an apartment if you want to be able to clean simple every day messes.

Table of Contents

Cleaners

Here is a list of the cleaning products you will need:

Multi-surface cleaning spray – You need a good multi-surface cleaning spray to help disinfect the surfaces around your apartment. There are many options to choose from, but a quick fix is to simply get a giant bottle of Lysol and use that to refill old bottles of spray cleaning solution. You can then completely forget about buying more product for months.

All-purpose grease cleaner – This is a cleaning product made specifically for grease. Grease can be one of the most stubborn stains to clean, so having a cleaner specially made for the job can be a life saver.

Wood cleaner – If you have wooden surfaces or furniture in your apartment, you will need to invest in a good quality wood cleaner. It will help you polish your wooden surfaces, and it can also be used to keep dust away from places like vents and ceiling fans.

Disinfectant – This is the only way to prevent germs and bacteria from spreading around your apartment. Disinfectant is particularly essential in wet areas such as the bathroom and the kitchen. You can buy a big bottle of it and redistribute it into smaller bottles for use in different rooms. You can also opt to make your own by mixing rubbing alcohol and water in equal parts.

Bleach – This is essential when cleaning the bathroom. For showers, tubs, toilets and sinks, a mild abrasive bathroom cleaner combined with bleach is the way to go. This is the best way to get a clean, shiny surface every time. Bleach is perfect for ceramic surfaces and tiles.

Glass cleaner – Good quality glass cleaners can be hard to come by. Luckily, you can easily make your own by mixing 3 tablespoons of white vinegar with 3 cups of water. This will have your windows clean and completely clear.

Dishwashing liquid – Although it is perfect for cleaning dishes, most people have no idea that a generous drop of dishwashing liquid in a cup of water also makes a great spot cleaner for carpets and upholstery all around the house. Dishwashing liquid has a ton of other unique uses, especially when combined with other cleaning agents that are readily available around the house.

Microfiber Cloths – Stocking up on microfiber cloths is a great idea because they are way better than paper towels for everything. They trap bacteria better, reach smaller cracks than paper towels, and hold much more water than paper towels. They are perfect for dusting and polishing surfaces.

Baking soda – Baking soda is great for absorbing odors. All you have to do is sprinkle it on your carpet before vacuuming it. You can also mix it with lemon juice to make a great spot scrub. The best part about baking soda is that despite it being extremely versatile, it is surprisingly inexpensive.

White vinegar – White vinegar is a powerful cleaning solution. You can also mix it with lots of other things to create a variety of cleaning solutions that will offer quick fixes for messes all around the house.

Rubbing alcohol and Hydrogen peroxide – These are almost as multipurpose as white vinegar. They can be mixed with several other things around the house to create powerful cleaning solutions, so it is always good to have them in your home.

General Cleaning Tools

Here are a few general cleaning tools:

Trash bags – Trash bags are essential especially if you intend to do some intense deep cleaning every once in a while. If you can, get odor blocking bags to make sure that your apartment smells nice and clean every time.

A caddy – Caddies are essential if you love being organized. They make it easy to carry your cleaning supplies around the house while also helping you avoid going back and forth ferrying forgotten supplies as you clean.

Broom and Dustpan – If you have hardwood or tile floors, you obviously need a broom and dustpan to keep it clean. They are the perfect combination of tools for dust, crumbs, pet hair, and practically anything else that gets on your floor.

Mop and bucket – After sweeping your floors, you may need to mop them too to make them even cleaner. A mop is the only way to ensure that you are not just getting the dust, hair, and crumbs, but everything else, too.

Vacuum Cleaner – A vacuum cleaner is essential if you have carpets or soft surfaces. Hard floors may also need a good vacuuming from time to time. If you do not have the space in your apartment for a big, bulky vacuum cleaner, consider getting a mini vacuum cleaner. Do not choose to go without a vacuum cleaner, because then you lose the fight against dust.

Rubber gloves – Rubber gloves help protect your hands and forearms as you clean. They will come in handy when you need to use bleach or some other dangerous chemicals as you clean. They will also protect you from any messes getting all over your arms if you are dealing with a particularly dirty situation.

Room-specific Cleaning Tools

There are also room-specific cleaning tools that are unique to individual spaces in the house. Here are some of them:

Kitchen

Scrub brush – A scrub brush is an essential tool to have in your arsenal especially if you want to get those stubborn grease stains off your dishes. It is also great for dealing with practically any other stains around the kitchen that need some scrubbing.

Dish Cloth – A dish cloth is great for drying dishes, especially if you need a few dishes dry really quickly. Even if you have a dishwasher, a dish cloth is still an important part of the kitchen.

Steel wool and scrubbing pads – If you have strong stains or grease on pots and pans that a standard sponge can do nothing about, a steel wool or scrubbing pad is the answer.

Sponges – You need sponges if you are going to be handwashing your dishes. Sponges need to be replaced often because they wear down really quickly and are also quite susceptible to getting infected with bacteria.

Paper towels – These are important for cleaning up the inevitable spills that happen in the kitchen

Plastic scraper – This is an essential tool for getting stubborn grease off your pots and pans as you wash them.

Antibacterial wipes – You need to wipe your countertops after you are done with cooking and doing the dishes. Raw food has a lot of bacteria that remains on such surfaces, so antibacterial wipes are just the tools for the job.

Bathroom

Toilet brush – You need a dedicated brush for cleaning the toilet. Toilet cleaning tools should not be used to clean any other space in the house.

Toothbrush or grout brush – A toothbrush is great for scrubbing simple stains out of grout. When the task is too much for it, a grout brush is exactly what you will need.

Other Spaces

Lint roller – You may know it as the perfect solution for getting lint out of your clothes, but did you know it can also be used for every other fabric surface around the house? So if your sofa or dining chairs have lint, this is just the tool for the job.

Duster – Get a duster with a long handle for when you want to reach the tops of surfaces and furniture that are close to the ceiling. The best materials for dusters are either feather or microfiber.