How to Buy Cleaning Supplies
Okay, so you’re looking under your kitchen sink and there are a thousand different bottles under there! How on earth did that happen? Or you’re watching tv late at night and there’s a new “miracle product” in the commercials. Do you buy it? How do you know if it’s worthwhile?
Today we are going to talk about the do’s & don'ts of purchasing cleaning chemicals.
After all, who hasn’t stood in the cleaning supply aisle, completely mystified by incredible claims on a thousand colorful bottles?
How many chemicals do you actually need to keep around the house?
Less than you think, actually. Here’s your list of chemical categories:
A toilet bowl cleaner
A neutral cleaner (if you have natural stone finishes)
A general purpose cleaner
A degreaser
A glass cleaner
That’s it!
The Toilet Bowl Cleaner
There really isn’t a bad toilet bowl cleaner on the market, as long as you have reasonable expectations for your chemical. There is not a toilet bowl cleaner on the market that can magically cut through old stains and hard water build up, so do not wait too long in between cleanings. Toilets should be cleaned at least once a week. The fewer occupants, the closer to once a week you can get. If you have kids in the house, especially small children, you should be closer to once a day. You can get away with choosing an inexpensive product here.
Neutral pH Cleaner
Sinks and tubs can build up hard water and soap scum. However, natural stone finishes are not chemical resistant, so you have to be careful of what you use on them. Use chemicals that are specifically labeled for stone care or check Section 9 of the product’s Safety Data Sheet to ensure that it is pH neutral. Other surfaces that prefer a neutral pH cleaner are hardwood floors, laminate, and luxury vinyl plank.
General Purpose Cleaner
A general purpose cleaner ranges in pH from 8-10. Standard kitchen messes, bathroom messes, splatters, stains, and mud shudder at a solid general purpose cleaner. Don’t buy one of these as a ready to use (RTU) product. You are going to go through a lot of it, so you want to buy a concentrate to get the most bang for your buck.
Degreaser
Your kitchen is going to need a good degreaser, a pH of 10-12. Your stovetop, backsplash, and oven will thank you. We like Zep’s Citrus Degreaser for its cleaning power, availability as a concentrate, and pleasant aroma.
Glass Cleaner
A good glass cleaner that can offer a streak-free shine is valuable, whether it is for windows, mirror, or stainless steel.
Price Shopping
Now you’re in the grocery store, and everything is so hard to compare! There are different prices, different sizes, and a hundred sparkling labels vying for your attention. Here are a couple tips to help you make better budgeting decisions.
Ready to Use vs. Concentrate. While ready to use packaging is convenient to use, it isn’t very budget-friendly. After all, you’re paying for a lot of water. Look for a concentrate that you can dilute yourself.
Price Per Oz. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples (a concentrate vs a concentrate, both in the same chemical category) and then check the smaller number in the corner of the price label, marked “per fl oz.” If one is not available, you can calculate it yourself.
$price / #ounces = price per oz
Amber Starling, Author
Founder and President of
Good Witch Cleaning Services, LLC
IICRC Journeyman Textile Cleaner