In the process of starting up a cleaning business and before you clean your first home, you need to come up with a house cleaning supplies list to stay organized and efficient.
Here is a list of the house cleaning products I use when cleaning homes:
House Cleaning Supplies Checklist PDF Download: Click here to get the CBA House Cleaning Supplies Checklist PDF.
Cleaning Business Supplies Checklist
- Cleaning bucket (with 2 dividers to keep supplies in)
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Soap scum remover
- Chemical trigger sprayers
- 3M light duty scrub pads and holder
- Microfiber scrub pads (for bathroom and kitchen sinks)
- Toothbrushes
- Mini grout brush (for showers)
- Plastic scrapers (to scrape hard to remove gunk on counters or floors)
- Cleaning apron
- Color-coded microfiber cloths (for bathrooms and kitchen)
- Microfiber heavy-duty waffle cloths (for shower walls and tubs)
- Microfiber damp dusting cloths
- Premium microfiber glass cloths
- Toilet bowl brush (I ask the customer to provide one, or use disposables)
- Powder Bon-Ami (for shower and tub bottoms)
- Pumice stone stick (for toilet rings)
- Vacuum cleaner for carpets (I recommend either a proteam backpack or oreck upright)
- Vacuum cleaner for hard floors (I recommend either a proteam backpack, handheld oreck, or a two-speed oreck upright)
- Microfiber mop
- Microfiber wet mop pads
- Microfiber dust mop pads
- Ph neutral floor cleaner
- Microfiber short duster
- Microfiber long duster
- Microfiber dust mitt
- Knee pads
- Laundry bags to carry clean and dirty rags
- Shoe covers
- Disposable nitrile cleaning gloves
These are the exact cleaning products I use in my own house cleaning business or highly recommend. This list should help you to get up and running!
Please note I may receive an affiliate commission from the products recommended above through the amazon affiliate program from qualifying purchases.
Just Getting Started? Click here to get the CBA House Cleaning Kickstart Course.
Josh Winningham
Josh Winningham is the founder of Cleaning Business Academy and All Clean Home.
I have been cleaning for a few years. I’m wanting to expand. I was looking at your list. What is a PH neutral floor cleaner? I am using a cleaner for hardwood floors and use a steam mop where I can but I have a few floors that have stick tiles. I am afraid to use the steam mop. I have been using Lysol and a flat microfiber mop. What do you suggest instead?
HI Cheryl, for hardwood floors I would recommend a ph neutral floor cleaner. Basically neutral ph is 7 on the ph scale meaning it is not acidic and will not harm hardwood floors. I also use a microfiber pad as well.
Hello, where can I find these courses? I’m starting out.
Hi Del, I created a house cleaning kickstart course for those getting started here.
Hello Josh, I’m looking to start a home cleaning business in NJ. Any recommendations for cleaning solutions? I’m looking to use green Eco-friendly products. Thank you.
Hi David, I use envirox. You can find their website here. I have been using their cleaning solutions for years. I like them because you can use them for multiple applications. Their products have the green seal, EPA registered, and eco-logo certifications.
Josh, Thank you for compiling this list. It’s been very helpful.
Hi Elizabeth, great to hear!
Hi Josh, I’m just starting out and I’m so glad I found your website! I was looking over this supply list and was wondering what you use the pumice stone for? Thanks, Stacey.
Hi Stacey, great to hear! I personally use the pumice stone for removing toilet bowl lines.
Thanks for the reply. I did learn that while watching a few YouTube videos. 🙂
I am really wanting to start my cleaning business with a focus on new construction. I’ve never cleaned other than my home however and was wondering about possibly interning with a local cleaning company to actually learn the entire business. Do cleaning businesses allow for interns? If not how might one go about learning the business from the ground up besides reading everything on the internet?
Hi Sandy, great question. I personally don’t have any experience with post-construction. Honestly, I would suggest going to work for a post-construction cleaning company to learn the business.
Hey Josh, I’ve worked in the housekeeping business for 4 years but I’m now cleaning for a church. My question is, what are some safe products for nurseries?
Hi Leah, great question. I personally use green seal certified and EPA registered cleaners from envirox. I have also heard some good things about Better Life natural cleaning products.
I am curious about what type of rags do you recommend for sinks counters, mirrors, and toilets?
Hi Rachel, I use separate color-coded microfiber cloths for sink counters and toilets and a microfiber glass cloth for mirrors. Using color-coded cloths helps me to remember which color cloth to use and to avoid cross-contamination.
I love your website! So helpful!! I am a residential house cleaner just starting out on my own. I recently bid for a 1700 sq foot vacation rental and I have a few questions.
For general cleaning – what do you usually clean without going into a deeper cleaning? I think my only problem is when I see dirt, I want to clean it. So when I’m doing a regular every other week cleaning it ends up taking me longer because I’m trying to get everything clean! It’s hard to leave the dirt behind when my name is all over it. Ha 🙂 any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!!! Lindsey
Hi Lindsey, great to hear! Great question! You can find my house cleaning checklist here. For me personally, I only perform regular cleanings tasks on a recurring weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cleaning and leave the spring/deep cleaning tasks alone and let the customer request a one-time spring/deep cleaning.
There are a few ways you can go about cleaning spring/deep cleaning tasks for a recurring customer. The first two options you could include the spring/deep cleaning cost into their recurring cleaning. And the third option you would charge them extra in addition to the recurring cleaning.
The first option, you can rotate spring/deep cleaning tasks every cleaning by including one task every 4th cleaning. For example, you can clean baseboards on the first cleaning, doors and door frames on the second cleaning, window seals and ledges on the third cleaning, and cabinet fronts on the forth cleaning.
The second option, you could schedule a spring/deep cleaning on the same day as the recurring cleaning once, twice, three, or 4 times a year. The third option, you can just let the customer request a one-time spring/deep cleaning when they need one or can afford it.
Hi, I’m just asking your opinion on how do you feel about franchise cleaning services?
Hi Creola, I think owning a franchise cleaning service is a good idea if you have the capital. The benefits of owning a franchise cleaning service are the out of the box branding, training, processes, and systems. The drawbacks to a franchise are the upfront cost and investment, limited territories, and the ongoing royalities fees you have to pay.
Hi Josh, I am interested in pricing. Starting off how much should I charge to clean a house or business office? Also, what rate to charge for spring/deep cleaning? Are potential customers paying for the size of rooms, labor or task? Or all three? I am a newer small business.
Hi Stephanie, here is how I charge for house cleaning. I charge based on how long it takes to clean a home multiplied by my hourly rate. For smaller offices, you could do the same.
Hi Josh, I have some clients that used to be monthly clients. I would charge anywhere from $75-$85 for each unit. Now, they seem to not want me to do monthly anymore. Are those clients now considered to be one time only clients if they are now requesting me every few months or as needed? I normally charge $25 an hour for 3.5 hours. The town homes are exactly the same but it takes me more time in one of those town homes. I would like to charge a flat rate for these clients. The homes are about 1400-1500 sq ft. How much would you charge for something similar as a flat rate?
Hi Cherie, yes they are considered one-time clients since you no longer clean for them on an every 4-week basis. So you would need to charge them your one-time rate and not your monthly rate. You would charge how long it takes to clean multiplied by your hourly rate.
Hi, my name is Kimberly and I have been cleaning for over 4 years. I have worked at the Cleaning Authority. I have a certificate for professional house cleaning. I currently work at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. I was working as a housekeeper but now I am an inspector. I’m trying to see if it is a good idea to open a cleaning business. I love to clean.
Hi Kimberly, It’s great that you have cleaning experience with a reputable cleaning service and a hotel. Honestly, you will not know exactly if it’s a good idea unless you try it out and have first-hand experience doing it yourself. Some people like working for other companies and some people like working for themselves. Oh, and loving to clean is a super plus. I love to clean as well. Honestly, once you set up your business and have your cleaning processes and systems down you just need to fill your schedule with recurring clients. And then show up and clean each time just as you did at the Cleaning Authority.
Super helpful article! I honestly don’t think I have ever seen such a detailed list that has everything I use myself (plus more). What do you use to clean marble and terrazzo? I have been coming across some conflicting information and hoping to get some advice!
Hi Olivia, honestly for a maintenance cleaning I just use a ph neutral floor cleaner with a microfiber mop head. For long-term care, I refer homeowners to hard floor specialists like a Stanley steamer that have the equipment to buff and professionally clean marble and terrazzo. There’s only so much a microfiber mop head can do.
Hello Josh, what brand disinfectant cleaner would you recommend?
Hi Victor, I personally use Envirox. There are some other vendors you can find through the green seal certified website.
What is the best floor cleaner for bathrooms and kitchens and to clean tile and tubs?
Hi Staci, I personally use an EPA and NSF registered disenfactant cleaner for bathroom floors and a Green Seal Certified and NSF registered multi-purpose ph neutral floor cleaner for kitchen floors. For tile and tubs, I spray an Ecologo registered soap scum remover and the same disinfectant cleaner and let it soak while I’m cleaning the rest of the bathroom.
Hello Josh, I’m a 21 yr old Caribbean girl. Both my sister and I have always wanted to start a cleaning company, hopefully, we can this year. My question is what would we need to start this business?
Hi Q, I wrote an article on how to start a cleaning business here that will give you an idea on how to get started. I also created a step-by-step house cleaning kickstart course here for those getting started.
Hi Josh, I’m new to the cleaning business. Well, I’ve cleaned my house of course and other family member’s houses. Now I have decided to start my own small cleaning service on the side for extra income. I got my first call as of today. I’m just nervous about the pricing because I don’t want to overbid and lose a customer. And don’t want to underbid and lose money. Help???
Hi Aaron, I wrote an article on how to charge for house cleaning here that will help you to give accurate estimates so you don’t under or overbid.
Hi Josh, Great Article. I would like to start my cleaning business, however I haven’t done any cleaning outside my home before so I would want to know if there’s any course online or any helpful material to assist me in that regard. Cheers.
Hi Zahra, here is a just getting started article I wrote and a House Cleaning Kickstart Course I created as well.
Hey Josh, Thanks for all the wonderful tips. I just started a cleaning business and I am including carpet washing service. Do you have any idea what is the best vacuum to use for carpet cleaning/washing? I have been scavenging the internet to no avail. Secondly what less acidic chemicals can one use for toilets, bathtubs, sinks? I often use Clorox but my concern is the health of my workers. Any suggestions?
Hi Frida, sorry I don’t. Maybe someone can chime in here with what they use for carpet cleaning/washing. I use an EPA and NSF registered ph neutral disinfectant cleaner for toilets, bathtubs, and sinks and an Ecologo soap scum remover for soap scum in bathtubs.
I need a more effective way to take supplies to and from jobs. I currently have multiple bags and baskets and containers.
Hi Heather, I personally just use this one bucket filled with all of my supplies that I will need for a particular job and I attach a small camping shoulder bag to it that I got from Walmart filled with all of my clean microfiber cloths. I make sure I can carry all of my supplies in one trip in and out of the customer’s home by carrying the bucket in my left hand and my vacuum cleaner in my right hand.
The biggest problem I have in cleaning is glass. I feel like I’ve tried every glass cleaner there is on the market plus every DIY cleaner and cloth only to find if the sun shines just right it looks awful. Please help me. I hate doing things 3 and 4 times. Surely there is a cleaner and cloth that works great the first time.
Hi Teresa, I know! I have had the same issue. Since I don’t use all of the fancy tools and cleaning solutions window cleaners use I finally figured out that a glass microfiber cloth and just plain water works best.
A vinegar-water solution and a handheld squeegee work great. Just don’t put too much vinegar in the solution because you will smell like vinegar. 🙂
Hello Josh, Should I charge clients a different rate for using green eco-friendly?
Hi Jamie, if you only use eco-friendly products than I personally would not charge more. If you offer cleanings with non-eco friendly products and your eco-friendly products cost considerably more then you could charge a little more to make up the difference. Or you could just buy the eco-friendly products in bulk to cut down on cost. I personally base my pricing on how long it takes to clean multiplied by my hourly rate so cleaning supplies is just an overhead expense that is deductible and is part of doing business. In my opinion, the last thing I would want to do is turn a customer away because I charge more for eco-friendly products.