What Cleaning Supplies Should I Use to Clean My Apartment?

With flu season approaching, the fall is a good time to evaluate your cleaning regimen and ensure you're prepared for the months ahead. Not only do you want to keep your apartment germ-free, but you may also want to optimize your house cleaning for the months when you spend the most time there. 

Whether you’re looking to step up your cleaning game to avoid illness or to keep your apartment messes to a minimum throughout the winter, you should take inventory of your apartment cleaning supplies and make sure you have everything you need to give your apartment the deep cleaning it needs. Here’s our essential cleaning supplies list ahead of flu season.

Since there are so many different flooring materials, floor cleaners aren’t one-size-fits all. To avoid stickiness, greasiness, slipperiness, or damage, make sure you know what exactly your floors need. 

Wood has the tendency to become sticky if it’s not cleaned with the right agent. If you’re looking to buy cleaning products, you can either look for options like hardwood floor cleaner or use a concentrated solution of water and multi-surface wood cleaner like Pine Sol. Use the solution to mop the floors using a hardwood floor mop.

Although there aren’t many DIY mop options, you can make your own cleaning solution with items you already have in your pantry. Use equal parts olive oil and white vinegar, a few teaspoons of lemon juice, and five parts hot water.

In older apartments, you might come across linoleum floors in the kitchen or bathroom. Linoleum can be cleaned using a standard floor cleaner or multi-purpose cleaner, but you should avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach as this can damage the flooring over time. Remember to dilute your cleaning solutions with water — this will save you money and make the cleaning a bit more gentle on your floors. 

An equally as effective solution for your linoleum floors that you can make at home is one gallon of hot water, 1 cup of vinegar, and a small amount of dish soap.  

Cleaning tile can be frustrating because of the stubborn grout between the tiles, but you can use a toothbrush or grout brush to bring brightness back to the grout. This job is best done with household ingredients: You can use a mixture of vinegar and water to cut through any buildup of grime and prevent mold. 

Besides vacuuming, the options for cleaning carpet floors are limited. If you vacuum often, you can prevent dirt from settling into the carpet and thus avoid the need for liquid carpet cleaner. But if you have a stain, be sure to treat it immediately with a store-bought stain remover or a DIY solution of a small drop of dish soap, warm water, and dabbing the solution onto the stain as fast as possible. 

Sinks, whether used for washing hands in the bathroom or washing dishes kitchen, can be sites for bacterial growth if you don’t stay on top of sanitizing. From top to bottom, you’ll want to put on your rubber gloves and be thorough and consistent with your cleaning.

You’ll want to use a multi-surface cleaner to kill germs on the handles of your sinks. This is something you can do every day if you’re looking for maximum control over germs — especially if you leave your home often, use public transportation, work closely with others, and run daily errands. Keep a set of disinfectant wipes close by for easy cleanups every now and then.

For porcelain, ceramic, and granite sinks, all you need is hot soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge to regularly wipe your sinks clean. It’ll keep your bathroom looking tidy and prevent the multiplication of germs on those surfaces. 

Stainless steel can be a bit trickier to clean. If needed, use baking soda and a scrub brush to gently wipe any grime stubborn grease and soap scum, but be careful. Then, use vinegar and water in a spray bottle for disinfecting and cleaning the surface. A microfiber cloth is another option to avoid scratching the surface. For extra shine, rub mineral oil in circles on the sink using a dry cleaning cloth.

Don’t overlook the importance of cleaning high-traffic furniture pieces like couches, chairs, pillows, and tables when home cleaning. You likely have furniture made out of many different materials in your living space, and each will require a slightly different cleaning routine. 

For basic crumb cleanups, use your vacuum cleaner on your living room couch — and try a lint roller to touch up spots you couldn’t reach. For a deeper clean, you can also regularly mist your couches, upholstered chairs, and pillows with a disinfectant solution to keep each a germ-free environment. (Just read up on the upholstery first to make sure this won’t damage it.) Combine water with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and spray down the surface, waiting 10 minutes before using the couch. If you’re looking to absorb odors, sprinkle baking soda on your couch and wait overnight. If your couch pillow covers come off and are washable, throw them in the washing machine every now and then to refresh them.

Leather is one of the easiest materials to clean and wipe down, but you’ll want to make sure your solution is leather-friendly. Reach for leather cleaner at the store if you’re going that route, or use a DIY solution of white vinegar and water to wipe down the surface.

From coffee tables to kitchen tables, you’ll want to make sure you’re using food-safe solutions to clean the surfaces on which you eat. Use simple and gentle cleaners like vinegar, olive oil, baking soda, and dish soap. You’ll want to kill harmful germs while preserving any finishes and avoiding scratches, so be gentle and avoid contact with acetone and abrasive materials.

Your apartment is your sanctuary, and it’s important to keep it clean to ward off bacteria from the outside world. Plus, a clean house also makes the best canvas for decor, and what’s better than a clean, cozy, and festive home?

For similar content, check out our new apartment deep cleaning checklist.