Cleaning Supplies List for a New Home
Everything for the move-in deep clean and the weekly routine after it, without the duplicate bottles. 22 items.
Day one
For the first night
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Wipe every cabinet, shelf and drawer before you unpack, even if the house was professionally cleaned.
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A fast way to clean door handles, light switches and toilet seats before the first night.
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Move-in creates bags of packing waste, and heavy-duty contractor bags handle anything the sellers left behind.
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Washable cloths handle dusting, glass and wiping shelves without burning through paper towels.
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You'll be cleaning toilets, fridges and drains that someone else used.
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Soap scum in tubs and baked-on grime on stovetops won't come off with wipes.
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Clean every tub, shower and sink before first use, since mildew in grout is common in houses that sat empty.
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Toilets that sat unused in a vacant house often develop rings that need a dedicated cleaner.
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Sweep floors, the porch and the garage before the first boxes come in.
First week
The first normal week of living there
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A cordless stick vacuum is easier to carry between floors than an apartment upright or canister.
Owners say: People who stopped replacing cheap vacuums every few years swear by a Miele canister. For daily pickup, a cordless stick (Dyson, or Shark for less) is the one people actually use. (Reddit)
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Use a cleaner made for your floor type, since soaking hardwood with water can make the boards cup.
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Windows and mirrors in an empty house show every streak once the sun hits them.
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Needed for mopping, and for catching water when you open a sink trap or a leaky valve.
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They take scuffs off walls, doors and trim left by the previous owners and the movers.
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These deodorize a fridge, drain or carpet that still smells like the last owner.
First month
Once you’re settled
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Houses have higher ceilings, fan blades and vents than most apartments, and nobody cleans them during a sale.
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Clean the oven and hood filter before heavy use, since the last owner's grease can smoke and set off the smoke alarm.
Later
Upgrades and nice-to-haves
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A stocked caddy on each floor saves carrying supplies up and down stairs.
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Handles small stains; rent a deep-cleaning machine once for whole-house carpet instead of buying one.
Owners say: For a real leak, owners rent a Rug Doctor: it pulls water out of soaked carpet better than a wet vac. (Reddit)
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Keeps one floor clean daily, but check that it handles your rugs and door thresholds.
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Kept in the bathroom, it picks up hair dry before you clean, which is the trick for cleaning bathroom floors. It also does stairs and the car.
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For pet or kid accidents on carpet and upholstery. Enzymes break down urine; ordinary cleaners only cover the smell, so pets come back to the same spot.
