A Minimal Cleaning Product List

While I adore #cleantok — it can really influence you to buy a billion products you don’t need. But I also did find some of my favorite cleaning products (I see you, Sprayway) and hacks (dish brush in the shower) on there, so… I’ll take the good with the bad. Truly though, you don’t need a lot to keep your home clean. Here are my go to products that I always have on hand.

• Liquid dish soap (Dawn is effective but use whatever you like) used with Oxo Soap Dispensing Brush (this one has worked well for me and I like the refill heads). Great for cleaning dishes (without nasty sponges) but even better for keeping your shower clean. I hang one of these brushes in my shower and clean the grout while showering — I haven’t had to do a tough deep clean in ages!
• Sprayway Glass Cleaner: I admit, I use this on multiple surfaces without a problem (although there is also an all purpose version available). Mirrors, appliances, glass… this leaves it streak-free and clean. Also, I love that it’s in a recyclable steel can.
• Method Squirt + Mop: I’m lazy and hate breaking out the whole mop and bucket situation all the time. So in between deep cleans, I use this on our wood floors along with an old rag on my Swiffer. If you have tile, there is also a hard floor cleaner version. A little goes a long way and I love that I don’t have to use additional water to rinse the floors. Also, Method sells refills of these.
• Baking soda: Buy it in bulk. Use it to clean the sink, the washing machine, and the dish washer (no need for all those specialty cleaners). Boost your laundry. Remove odors from the fridge and microwave. The world is your oyster.
• Vinegar: Similarly, buy this in bulk. Use it to clean your showerhead. Or your coffee or tea kettle. Mix it with water and stick it in a spray bottle to clean greasy surfaces. Again, endless opportunity.
• A multi surface concentrate (I like the smell of the Mrs. Meyers lavender). For the shower, I have an old spray bottle with mostly water + a little multi surface concentrate to use as an “after shower cleaner”. I use the same concoction as a general surface cleaner in the kitchen. If you want to get wild, you can mix water, a multi surface concentrate, and a little vinegar to use as an upholstery stain remover. (This is actually my favorite concoction as it lifts muddy paw prints off my suede couch instantly.)
• Rags. Lots of rags. I have a large collection of those towels given out at basketball games which makes for effective all purpose cleaning rags. Use what you have. Repurpose old towels or sheets or tshirts. If you truly don’t have anything, I find bar rags to be inexpensive and effective.

What are your favorite products or cleaning hacks that you use all the time?