Your House Cleaning Essentials Checklist

House cleaning can be a love it or hate it task but regardless of how we feel about it, cleaning our home is important for many reasons. Not only is it important to keep our home clean and hygienic, but it also helps to keep areas organised and nicer to spend time in.
Most people would agree that they don’t want to spend too much time and effort on cleaning, but they still want to get the results from it. With that in mind, we’ve put together a checklist of essential cleaning supplies to help you get the best results from cleaning your home.

Arm yourself with the right products

An important thing to consider when cleaning your home is that you have the right cleaning supplies for the task at hand. We want to keep it as simple as possible for you, and so we’ve put together a cleaning essentials list to help you get those cleaning tasks done with ease.

Cleaning Tools and Equipment

It’s important to invest in the right cleaning supplies and equipment to make those cleaning jobs as simple but effective as possible:
• Rubber Gloves – it’s important to keep your hands protected from the cleaning chemicals you’re using, especially those containing strong and harmful ingredients.
• Microfibre Cloths – these cloths are ideal for cleaning surfaces without leaving lint and fibres behind.
• Glass Cleaning Cloths – when used alongside a good quality glass cleaner you will achieve a streak-free finish on glass, mirrors and any glossy surfaces.
• Dustpan and Brush – a staple piece of cleaning equipment, vital for tackling any spills and brushing up dust and debris from hard-to-reach areas.
• Dusters – the perfect cloth for collecting dust from a variety of surfaces around the home.
• Toilet Brush and Holder – a must have for keeping your toilet clean at all times. Available in either freestanding or wall-mounted to suit your needs.
• Sponges and Squeegees – Both sponges and squeegees are handy for a variety of uses throughout your home – It may also be appropriate to use a colour coding system for different areas to avoid contamination.
• Mopping Equipment – there are lots of different mopping systems available to meet your needs – make sure you are choosing the right equipment for your flooring type.

Essential Cleaning Products

We’ve created a list of essential household cleaning chemical products to ensure you are well-equipped:
• Washing Up Liquid – an essential cleaning product for washing dishes and breaking down grease and grime.
• All Purpose Cleaner – a must have cleaning product to use on surfaces in a variety of rooms through the home.
• Glass Cleaner – Using a cleaning product specifically for glass and mirrored/glossy surfaces in combination with a glass cloth will give you streak-free results.
• Anti-bacterial Products – It’s essential to have some anti-bacterial cleaning products for bathroom and kitchen areas, to help keep those surfaces clean and hygienic. You can choose from spray products or wipes for ease of use.
• Bathroom Cleaner – Choose a bathroom-specific cleaner as they are formulated to tackle limescale and body fats which can build up in a bathroom. Some formulas also include bleach to tackle mould and mildew which again can build up in a bathroom environment.
• Wood Cleaner – Many surfaces in your home can be cleaned with an all-purpose cleaner however wooden items must be treated with a little extra care and so a cleaning product intended for use on wooden surfaces is ideal.
• Bleach – a popular cleaning product with a variety of uses throughout the home, helping to eliminate germs. (always follow usage instructions carefully when handling bleach).
• Floor Cleaner – In conjunction with the correct floor cleaning equipment, the right floor cleaner will help you keep your floors clean of dirt whilst also leaving the floors smelling fresh.
• Baking Soda – a very handy cleaning product that can be used in a variety of cleaning tasks.
• White Vinegar – white vinegar can be effective when used for a number of cleaning jobs throughout your home.

Specialist Cleaning Products for Deep Cleaning Tasks

Some cleaning products may not be required as regularly as others, but they should still be added to your essential household cleaning products list:
• Oven Cleaner – Essential for deep cleaning and maintaining ovens and removing burnt-on food.
• Dishwasher Cleaner – Perfect for keeping your dishwasher smelling fresh and working effectively.
• Upholstery Cleaner – Choose the appropriate product for the fabric you are looking to clean, and always carry out a patch test before first use.
• Carpet Cleaner – Carpet cleaning products are perfect for spot removal and for deeper carpet cleaning.
• Mould and Mildew Remover – An essential addition to your cleaning chemicals list, for tough mould spots in bathroom areas.

DID YOU KNOW?

• On average, people spend roughly 12,896 hours of their life cleaning – this equates to around a year and a half.
• Almost 70% of people find the motivation to clean their homes if they know guests are arriving.
• 66% of Brits sanitise the surfaces in their homes daily.

How to clean your home efficiently:

Create a task list for each room

When faced with the task of a full house clean, it can become a little overwhelming as one big task, so it is a good idea to break everything down by room. Creating a cleaning task list for each room will
help you to work out what needs to be done in each area, plus it means you will be able to tick off your check list as you go. Once you are familiar with working through the cleaning checklist it can make it easier for you to establish how long each room will take to be complete – helping you to save time on cleaning and work more effectively.

Cleaning Frequency Suggestions:
• Daily Tasks – Wipe down kitchen surfaces to prevent bacteria build-up.
- Wash dishes or run the dishwasher each day to avoid clutter and odours.
- Bathroom – Clean sinks daily to maintain hygiene levels.
• Weekly
- Floors – Vacuum and mop hard floors to remove dirt and debris.
- Bathrooms – Deep clean toilets, showers and mirrors.
- Dusting – Dust surfaces including shelves, electronics, and furniture to reduce any allergens.
- Laundry – Wash bedsheets and towels to keep them fresh, clean and hygienic.
• Monthly
- Appliances – Clean the inside of the fridge, microwave and oven to maintain efficiency and hygiene.
- Windows – Wipe windows and mirrors to remove streaks.
- Upholstery – Vacuum upholstered furniture to remove dust and stains.
• Seasonal
- Wardrobes – organise and declutter any wardrobes and clothes storage to make space for seasonal items.
- Deep cleaning – Perform a thorough clean of all carpets, curtains and skirting boards to refresh your home.
- Outdoor – Clean patios, decking and outdoor furniture to prepare for seasonal use.

Explore the benefits of daily cleaning

Cleaning in small amounts daily will help towards helping you maintain a clean home. By setting yourself a 30 minute timer each day you can carry out smaller tasks such as vacuuming, wiping down surfaces and cleaning the toilet. The rest of your time can then be focussed on the tasks that may take up more time. Once you are in the habit of cleaning daily, it will then become easier to maintain a clean and organised home.

Get house cleaning supplies from phs Direct

At phs Direct, we know how nice it is to have a fresh and clean home. We stock a wide range of cleaning chemicals and cleaning equipment to help support your cleaning needs. From kitchen and bathroom cleaners, general household cleaning equipment and more specialised cleaning products, we have everything you need to tick off your house cleaning products list. Explore our full range of cleaning products and enjoy great service and prices from one of the UK’s leading suppliers of cleaning products and equipment.