Clients ask me all the time what I use, usually after they notice the house does not smell like bleach when I leave. I bring my own supplies, and everything in my caddy is organic and hypoallergenic. That is not a marketing line. I have a kid, I am in other people’s homes all day, and I got tired of headaches from fumes. Here is the actual list.
The core five
- Plant-based all-purpose spray. Counters, appliances, door handles, most surfaces. Look for one with no synthetic fragrance. If it smells like a candle, skip it.
- White vinegar. Hard water, glass, mineral spots, the inside of the kettle. Never on stone.
- Baking soda. A gentle scrub for sinks, tubs, and the inside of the oven. Mixed with a little water it makes a paste that lifts grime without scratching.
- Castile soap or a plant-based dish soap. Floors, stone counters, greasy stovetops. A few drops in warm water does more than people expect.
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%). My disinfectant for cutting boards, toilets, and grout. It breaks down into water and oxygen, so there is nothing left behind.
Tools matter more than products
Honestly, most of the cleaning is done by the cloth, not the spray. I use a stack of good microfiber cloths, color-coded so the bathroom cloth never touches the kitchen. A stiff grout brush, a non-scratch sponge, a squeegee, a HEPA vacuum, and a flat microfiber mop with washable pads. That is the whole kit.
Two things I stopped using
Bleach, except when a client specifically asks for it on grout. It is harsh on lungs, it yellows some surfaces, and peroxide does the job for everyday disinfecting. Anything with “fragrance” on the label, because that one word can hide dozens of chemicals and it is the most common trigger for the sensitive people I clean for.
If you have something you prefer
Some clients have a product they love, or a surface that needs a specific cleaner. Just tell me and I will use yours. The point is a clean house that is safe for the people and pets in it, not a particular brand.