11 Essential Cleaning Supplies For A New Apartment

So, you've just become a homeowner. Boxes are (sort of) unpacked, your Wi-Fi is (at last) functioning, and you're slowly getting into the groove of adulting.

But we have the not-so-happy task ahead: cleaning.

It’s not glamorous, and it’s certainly not how you’d like to spend your Saturday, but it’s one of those things that simply must be done.

Don't freak out just yet. You don’t have to supply the whole cleaning section of Target. You just need a few essentials that’ll make your home look and smell brand new in a matter of hours.

In this post, I’ll show you 11 cleaning supplies for a new apartment. Believe me, when you have these, you're set.

#1 All-Purpose Cleaner

If you must buy just a single cleaning product, buy this.

All-purpose cleaner is essentially the Swiss Army knife of cleaning products. It does countertops, shelves, door handles, tables, and yes, even light switches. It can be used in each and every room of your house and you don't have to haul a half-dozen bottles around.

Before you unload, take a quick wipe-down of your surfaces.

Apartments (particularly rentals) may accrue grime and dust despite former occupant vacancies. A good general cleaner makes the space immediately smell fresh.

And the good news? You don’t have to scrub your mind out. Spray, wait a few seconds, and wipe.

You can actually grab a plant-based variant if you are feeling lightweight and not too chemical- intensive.

#2 Dish Soap

You'd assume dish soap is reserved for, you know, dishes. But it’s a slyest of slyest most versatile cleaner in your cabinet. It dissolves grease like it’s nothing.

You may use it to wipe out your stovetop, kitchen countertops, and a few floors if you blend a number of drops along with hot water.

It’s ideal for washing dirty pans or scrubbing your sink after a dirty night in the kitchen.

And as you'll most likely be having takeout the first week, dish soap will prove useful when you have to scrub random cups or utensils that manage to slip out of the dishwasher.

Pro tip: have a mini bottle handy near your bathroom basin as well. It’s perfect for cleaning cosmetics brushes, shaving cutthroats, and lather buildup.

#3 Sponges

You will require sponges to accompany that dish soap.

Get a couple - perhaps one to dishes, one to countertops.

They’re cheap, and they get the job done.

They also aren’t indestructible, so if your sponge gets to smell like a science experiment, get rid of it and begin a new one. No person wants to wipe down with a stinky sponge.

Oh, and don’t forget: microwave it for 30 seconds to annihilate bacteria now and then. Make sure you make it damp first, or you’ll have a sponge fire. (Yeah, that’s a real thing.)

#4 Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths absorb grime, lint, and streaks more effectively than paper towels ever did.

You may use them dry to dust or wet to wipe. Also, they are reusable, saving you dollars and preventing you from burning a product of paper towel rolls.

#5 Broom and Dustpan

You'd be amazed how quickly dust, crumbs, and cat hairs accrue in an apartment.

A dustpan and broom are a new apartment essential piece of cleaning equipment, particularly if you have laminate, tile, or hardwood flooring. It’s the simplest way to have a quick tidy when you cannot have a complete vacuum session.

It just takes a few minutes to sweep and makes the area not seem dirty. It’s a good feature to have if you have a porch or balcony.

And don’t forget those random corners behind furniture - dust loves hiding there.

If you'd like to make life easier for yourself, seek out a broom whose bristles are soft and catch more dirt, and push it around.

#6 Mop and Bucket

Once you've picked up the soil, it's time to mop.

It’s something that gets procrastinated, but believe me, mopping makes a gigantic impact. New floors just seem cleaner when you walk on them.

You may opt for a time-honed mop and pail arrangement or something more contemporary such as a spray mop.

For bathrooms and kitchens, mopping comes in handy particularly as splatters and moisture will make floors dirty quickly.

Also Read: How To Clean O Cedar Mop Head

If you are utilizing a bucket, wash it out after each use so it does not stink. Put a few drops of all-purpose cleaner or dish soap in hot water, and you have a basic cleaning solution that will work for most surfaces.

#7 Vacuum Cleaner

If you have carpets, rugs, or even upholstered furniture in your new apartment, a vacuum is a must. It prevents dust, crumbs, and pet fur from accumulating.

Even in hard floor areas, a vacuum makes it easier.

Most have attachments that simplify curtain washing, washing couch cushions, and washing tight corners.

You don't have to have a bulky, large vacuum either. Small cordless ones are perfect for apartments as they aren't as bulky and are extremely handy.

Put it throughout your floors a few times a week, and you'll see how much cleaner everything smells.

And there's nothing like that good feeling when you purge the canister and get to see it full of garbage that you vacuumed. Instant reward.

#8 Glass Cleaner

Dirtied-up mirrors and spotty windows may cause a spotless apartment to seem dirty.

A good glass cleaner remedies that in a jiffy so it's a relief cleaning supplies for a new apartment.

Apply it to mirrors, windows, doors of the shower, and yes, glass tables.

Also Read: Using 0000 Steel Wool On Glass Windows

If you are not fond of the aroma of bought ones, you can make your own as a combination of vinegar and water. It performs equally well and does not leave strokes. Use it along with a microfiber cloth, and you will have that sparkling crystal clear every time.

Additional tip: glass cleaner also works well to buff out chrome faucetry and wipe out fingerprints on stainless steel.

#9 Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Let’s be real — nobody likes to clean the toilet. But when you have the right cleaner, it’s much easier to endure.

It does the heavy work for you. Simply squirt it around the rim, leave it to sit for a few of your minutes, and give it a few second scrub around the rim with a toilet brush.

It makes it hygienic, destroys smell, and makes your bathroom smell nice.

Find one which combat water stain if your water building has a tendency to leave stains.

It does not have to be used daily, but once a week has to suffice to maintain the toilet appearing flawlessly spotless.

#10 Trash Bags

This may seem obvious, but it’s uncomfortably simple to overlook when you are about to relocate.

You'll use more garbage bags than you anticipate. Between packaging, takeout, and whatever that unidentified odor was in your fridge, you'll be burning more than a few.

Here’s a fast rundown of just grab:

Tall kitchen bags for your primary dumpster
Small ones for bathroom or bedroom bin
Perhaps a few super-strong to scrub out your car or haul heavy objects

Maintain a box under the sink or in a pantry so you are never panicking at 10 o'clock at night with a full dumpster and no spare.

#11. Rubber Gloves

Scrubbing can be hard on hands, particularly if you are scrubbing with chemicals or hot water.

Fr rubbers spare your skin dryness and irritation. They also provide you a good grip when you are scrubbing sinks, bathrooms, or dirty dishes.

They're really handy when you're cleaning something you don't want to touch yourself - the toilet, or a globbed-up trash can. You can even get reusable sets that will last you months.

Keep a set in the bathroom and a set in the kitchen so you don’t have to get confused.

Trust me, it'll make your hands happier later.

Bottom Line

It's exciting to move into a new apartment, but it's that much sweeter if the space smells good, gets a sparkle of freshness, and belongs to you altogether. Keeping these 11 cleaning essentials handy translates to you being prepared against any mess that comes along.

You don’t require gimmicky gadgets or a product-filled closet but a good combination of fundamentals that really work.

When you've inventoried, take a few minutes to once-over the whole shebang once you've stoked. It gets you in the right mindset for your new place and makes it a heck of a lot easier to maintain in the long run.

So grab the all-purpose cleaner, grab the gloves, and get to it. Because a tidy apartment just makes you feel better!

Bryan TorresOctober 13, 2025Comment