House cleaning supplies list: 24 things a new cleaning business needs

Few home service trades need less gear to start than cleaning, which tempts new owners to show up with whatever is under their own sink. Clients notice. A consistent kit, carried the same way into every home, is what makes the tenth clean look like the first. This list starts with what to buy before your first client, moves to safety and organization, then covers the equipment to rent or add for deep cleans and commercial work. Items 21 to 24 are the business essentials, from your phone line to your bond. We list no prices, since they change by supplier and region. If the company is not registered yet, our guide on how to start a cleaning business comes first. See our house cleaning industry page for how we set up booking, phones and client records for cleaning companies.

1. A vacuum with HEPA filtration, plus a lightweight backup

The vacuum runs in nearly every room of every clean, and a weak one shows on every rug. Filtration matters too, because a vacuum that blows dust back into the room undoes the dusting you just did.

Look for: a true HEPA filter in a sealed system, so air goes through the filter instead of around it. The EPA says a HEPA filter "can theoretically remove at least 99.97%" of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and other airborne particles 0.3 microns in size. Also look for a long cord, a hose and tools for edges and upholstery, a weight you can carry up stairs, and easy-to-find bags or filters. Buy: day one, plus a lightweight stick or handheld for stairs.

2. Microfiber cloths in four colors

Microfiber cloths are the workhorse of most cleaning kits: they dust, wipe and polish, then go through the wash for reuse. Color-coding keeps the cloth that cleaned a toilet away from the kitchen counters, which clients care about even when they never ask.

Look for: a large stack in four colors, assigned by area (for example kitchen, bathrooms, dusting and glass), plus a smoother weave for glass and mirrors. Write the color code on a card in each caddy so new cleaners follow it. Buy: day one, enough for several homes so you are never reusing a dirty cloth late in the day. Habit: bag used cloths by color at each home and launder them that night.

3. A flat mop with washable pads

A string mop and a single bucket move dirty water from one room to the next. A flat mop with a fresh pad for each area avoids that, and it puts far less water on finished floors.

Look for: a light frame with a swivel head that reaches under cabinets and toilets, washable microfiber pads in enough quantity for a pad per area per home, and a spray-style or bucket system you can refill quickly. Buy: day one. Floors first: ask what each floor is (sealed hardwood, laminate, tile, natural stone, vinyl) and follow the flooring maker's care instructions when the client has them. Use as little liquid as possible on wood and laminate.

4. Spray bottles with labels

Many companies buy concentrates and fill their own spray bottles. That saves trips to the store, but an unlabeled bottle is how the wrong product ends up on marble.

Look for: sturdy bottles with adjustable triggers, in a shape or color that matches each product, and printed labels that name the product and its hazards. Buy: day one. With a crew: under 29 CFR 1910.1200, employers must see that workplace containers of hazardous chemicals carry the product identifier and at least general hazard information. The exception covers only a portable container filled from a labeled one for the immediate use of the person who filled it, which does not fit a bottle that rides in the caddy all week.

5. A short list of cleaning products

Four or five products cover a typical residential clean. A short list is easier to train, cheaper to stock and less likely to end in a damaged surface.

Look for: an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner for soap scum and hard water, a degreaser for kitchens, and a neutral cleaner labeled safe for natural stone if you will clean granite or marble. Read every label for the surfaces it allows. EPA's Safer Choice label helps buyers find products that "contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment," which some clients ask about. Buy: day one, in concentrate once you know what you use. Safety: one product per bottle, every time.

6. An EPA-registered disinfectant, used correctly

Disinfectants are antimicrobial pesticides, which the EPA describes as substances used to destroy or suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms, and EPA registers them. A quick spray and wipe skips the step that makes a disinfectant work: the contact time on its label.

How to use it: the EPA's 2020 one-pager, 6 steps for safe and effective disinfectant use, says to find the EPA registration number on the product, read the directions and precautionary statements, pre-clean visibly dirty surfaces, follow the contact time with the surface kept wet the whole time, wear gloves and wash your hands, and keep lids closed and out of reach of children. Buy: day one. Habit: put the contact time on the bottle's label so cleaners see it.

7. A safety data sheet folder for every car

Every hazardous product you buy comes with a safety data sheet. It is the one document that tells you what to wear, how to store the product and what it must not be mixed with.

What to read: OSHA's safety data sheet brief explains the 16 sections. Read three of them closely: Section 7 (safe handling and storage), Section 8 (protective gear, down to the right glove material) and Section 10 (the materials a chemical could react with dangerously). That last section is why products never get combined. The rule once you hire: the Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to keep data sheets readily accessible during each work shift, in the work area. For a crew on the road, a binder in each car works, and so does an electronic copy on every phone as long as nothing blocks a cleaner from opening it on the spot.

8. Gloves matched to the products

Cleaners' hands are in water and product all day. Gloves that fit and suit the product protect skin, and they make the job more bearable for the people you hope to keep.

Look for: reusable gloves in the material the data sheets call for, in several sizes so every cleaner gets a proper fit, plus disposable gloves for toilets and pet messes. Keep a separate pair for disinfecting. Buy: day one, and replace them as soon as they tear or stiffen. The rule once you hire: OSHA's hand protection standard tells employers to choose gloves by evaluating the task, the conditions, how long the work lasts and the hazards, which for cleaners include skin absorption of harmful substances and chemical burns.

9. Safety glasses for spraying and overhead work

Spraying a shower wall, cleaning an oven, or dusting a ceiling fan puts product or grime at eye level. A pair of safety glasses in each caddy takes little room and can save an eye.

Look for: comfortable glasses or goggles that fit over prescription lenses if needed, and that meet ANSI Z87.1. Buy: day one, one pair per cleaner. The rule once you hire: 29 CFR 1910.133 requires appropriate eye or face protection when workers are exposed to hazards that include liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, and chemical gases or vapors. Check each product's data sheet to see which tasks call for it, and make wearing it part of training.

10. Brushes and non-scratch pads

Cloths do most of the work; brushes handle what cloths cannot reach. Grout lines, faucet bases, track corners and tile edges all need a bristle.

Look for: a grout brush, a toilet brush you replace often (and never use elsewhere), a few detail brushes, a long-handled tub brush, and non-scratch scrub pads. Melamine foam sponges are popular for scuffs; read the package for the surfaces its maker says to avoid before one touches a client's finish. Buy: day one. Habit: test any pad or brush on a hidden spot of a new surface, and keep a note in the client file about anything that cannot be scrubbed, such as a matte faucet or a soft stone vanity.

11. An extension duster and pole

Ceiling fans, crown molding, high shelves and vents collect dust that clients see from the couch. A duster on a telescoping pole reaches most of it without a ladder.

Look for: a pole that locks firmly at each length, washable microfiber duster heads, a ceiling fan attachment, and a narrow head for blinds and baseboards. Buy: day one. Habit: dust top to bottom, then vacuum, so what falls gets picked up. Ask before dusting fragile collections, and leave anything valuable on a high shelf for the client to move.

12. A sturdy step stool

Upper cabinets, the tops of refrigerators and high mirrors need a few extra inches. Clients' chairs and counters are not an option.

Look for: a folding step stool with wide, slip-resistant steps, a handle at the top step if possible, a load rating that covers the cleaner plus anything they carry, and a weight that fits in the car with everything else. Buy: day one. The rule once you hire: OSHA's ladder standard covers step stools too: inspect them at the start of every shift, and tag a damaged one "Dangerous: Do Not Use" the moment you find the defect. Never stand on the top cap unless the stool is designed for it.

13. Caddies organized by room

A caddy is a carry-all for bottles, cloths and brushes. Organizing one per area (kitchen and bathrooms, for example) means cleaners never walk back to the car for one bottle.

Look for: caddies with dividers that hold bottles upright, a handle that does not dig into your hand, a spot for clean and dirty cloths, and a matching layout in every kit so any cleaner can grab anything blind. Buy: day one. Habit: restock caddies at the end of each day from a checklist taped to the shelf, so the first home tomorrow does not start with an empty bottle.

14. A consumables restock bin

Trash liners, paper towels, sponges and replacement pads run out at the worst time. A restock bin in the car carries a few days of extras.

Look for: a lidded bin with trash bags in common sizes, spare sponges and scrub pads, extra mop pads and cloths, spare spray triggers, vacuum bags or filters, and a few toilet paper and paper towel rolls for homes that run out. Buy: day one, then reorder on a schedule. Habit: decide in writing whether you supply items like liners and paper goods or use the client's, and put it in the service agreement so nobody is surprised.

15. Shoe covers, knee pads and a lint roller

Part of the job is leaving no trace of yourself. Part of it is protecting your own body over years of kneeling beside tubs.

Look for: reusable or disposable shoe covers (or indoor-only shoes) for homes that ask, comfortable knee pads or a kneeling mat for tubs and floors, and a lint roller for your clothes before you walk in. A small bag for personal items keeps them off the client's counters. Buy: day one. Habit: ask every new client about shoes, pets and rooms that are off limits on the first visit, and record the answers.

16. Coded key tags and a lockbox

Many clients hand over keys, garage codes and alarm codes, and they will judge you by how you handle them. A key tagged with the client's name or address tells whoever finds it which door it opens.

Look for: key tags with a client number instead of a name or address, a locking key cabinet or lockbox at home or the office, and a sign-out log. Keep alarm codes and lockbox codes in your client records, not in a group text. Buy: before the first client hands you a key. Habit: limit who can see codes, change your process when a cleaner leaves, and return keys promptly when a client cancels.

17. A laundry plan for cloths and pads

A cleaning company that buys good microfiber and then washes it badly ends up with cloths that smear. Laundry is part of the kit.

Look for: mesh bags or bins by color, a washer and dryer you can dedicate to work loads (or a laundromat routine), and the cloth maker's laundering instructions. Wash cleaning cloths apart from personal laundry and greasy rags. Buy or plan: on day one, decide where laundry happens and who does it. Habit: inspect cloths and pads as you fold them, and retire any that are stained beyond use, frayed, or no longer picking up dust.

18. A backpack vacuum (upgrade)

Offices, churches and large open homes go faster with a vacuum on your back, especially on hard floors and stairs. Consider one when you take on your first commercial account.

Look for: a padded harness with a waist belt, HEPA filtration, a cord long enough for big rooms, a weight your cleaners can wear for a full shift, and attachments for edges and hard floors. Buy: when you add commercial accounts or homes large enough to justify it. Safety: fit the harness to each wearer, take breaks, and keep the cord behind you on stairs. Train cleaners on it before their first shift with one.

19. A spot extractor or carpet machine (rent first)

Pet accidents, stained stairs and move-out cleans often need more than a spray and a towel. A small spot extractor or a rented carpet machine opens a deep-clean add-on.

Look for: when renting, a machine you can lift into your car, clear instructions, and cleaning solution approved for it. When buying, a compact spot extractor with an upholstery tool. Buy or rent: rent until add-on requests are regular. Know your limits: wall-to-wall carpet cleaning is its own trade, with its own equipment and training. If a client needs whole-house carpet cleaning, refer it to a carpet cleaner and keep the relationship; our carpet cleaning equipment list shows how much gear that trade carries.

20. A floor machine for strip and wax (rent first)

Commercial clients with vinyl tile floors may ask for stripping and refinishing. That takes a floor machine, pads, stripper, finish and time when the building is empty.

Look for: a rental yard that shows you the machine, pads matched to the job, and the stripper and finish makers' instructions for dwell time and coats. Buy or rent: rent for the first jobs; buy only when recurring floor work keeps a machine busy. Safety: stripper solutions are slippery and can be harsh, so read each data sheet's Section 8, put up wet floor signs, and keep everyone off the floor until the finish is dry by the maker's instructions.

21. A business phone number clients can text

Cleaning clients text: to reschedule, to add the oven, to say the dog is out. A business number that takes texts and calls, routes to whoever is in the office, and auto-replies when you are mid-clean keeps those messages from getting lost in your personal phone. Read our guide to picking a business phone number, and see how our phone systems route calls and texts for small offices.

22. Booking, recurring billing and client notes software

A cleaning company runs on recurring visits and on notes: which bathroom gets the special cleaner, where the key is, what the dog's name is. Pick software that books recurring cleans, charges the card on file after each visit, and shows each cleaner the client's notes and access details on their phone. Our cleaning software roundup compares common tools; if you would rather own the system and the client list, look at our custom CRM work.

23. General liability insurance

A cleaner who knocks over a lamp or lets a client trip over a vacuum cord needs a policy behind them. General liability is the base policy for that kind of accident, and clients and property managers may ask to see a certificate. Ask your agent whether the policy pays when the damage is to the very item you were cleaning, such as a stone counter etched by the wrong product or a rug stained during a spot treatment, since policies differ on that. Our general liability explainer covers what it does and does not cover, and the contractor insurance guide covers the policies you add as you hire.

24. A bond for theft claims

You work inside homes, often with nobody else there, so an accusation of theft is a risk to plan for. Some cleaning companies carry a janitorial or employee dishonesty bond for exactly this, and it is a separate product from general liability. Ask your agent what a bond would pay, and when. Our surety bonds explainer covers how bonds work, and our employee vs independent contractor guide is worth reading before you add a second cleaner.

Where to start

Put three things in place before your first client. Buy a HEPA vacuum and a stack of color-coded microfiber (items 1 and 2), since they do most of the work in every home. Pick a short product list with labels, data sheets and an EPA-registered disinfectant (items 4 to 7), so your kit is consistent and safe from the start. And set up coded key tags and a lockbox (item 16) before anyone hands you a key. Rent the extractor and floor machine (items 19 and 20) until clients ask for them often. Our start a company hub picks up from there with the launch steps in order. Ask for a free launch plan and we will lay out the booking, phone and website setup for your first clients.

Frequently asked questions