6 Cleaning Tools Every Home Should Have

Essential cleaning tools for any home: reusable gloves, a broom and dustpan, sponges, a scrub brush, microfiber cloths, and a mop with a sturdy bucket.

6 Cleaning Tools Every Home Should Have
Eco Mama Green Clean

Originally published July 2022

Originally published July 29, 2022. Updated September 2026 with a quick summary, how it applies to your home, and answers to common questions.

If you’re like most homeowners, you know that sprucing up your home sweet home can be a daunting task. At times, it can be exhausting and time-consuming, especially if you need to chase other errands. Picking the best tools and supplies can be equally overwhelming.

You might be planning to get a whole new set of maintenance equipment, or just to cut your existing set down to the essentials. Nevertheless, you’re probably wondering which cleaning tools you absolutely need to have in order to keep your living space spotless.

Keep reading to find out how to make your house cleaning in Glendale as easy and efficient as possible.

What tools do I need to clean my house?

Ahead is a list of essential maintenance tools which can help keep most spaces clean:

1. Rubber gloves

Before you start any household chore, you should put on a pair of rubber gloves. They will protect your hands from dust, dirt, chemical products, and anything else that can harm your skin during upkeep. Wherever you choose to get them from, you’ll see there are quite a lot of options to choose from.

Professionals usually recommend using a pair of stronger, reusable gloves. They’re more resistant to damage, produce less waste in comparison to disposable gloves, and will remain intact by the time you finish the housework.

When it comes to the material, latex and nitrile rubber are the most common materials for rubber gloves. Both will protect your hands while you’re disinfecting and scrubbing, but nitrile rubber is more resistant to tearing and chemicals, more durable, and more eco-friendly. Latex can also cause an allergic reaction in some people, and while the allergy is rare, it can be avoided entirely by choosing nitrile.

2. Broom

The easiest way to pick up any spills, debris, and bigger crumbs is to use a broom. To collect the dirt and waste you gathered with a broom, you’ll need a dustpan as well. The pair can also be used for all the quick sweeping in between clean-up days.

3. Sponges

A sponge is a very useful and versatile maintenance tool. The sponge’s surface makes it perfect for removing dirt and grime from surfaces, and it’s designed to keep in water and products which you want to apply to a surface you’re scrubbing or wiping.

They come in all shapes and forms – big, small, gentle, coarse, with two different sides, specialized and multi-purpose. When stocking up on sponges, try to get several different kinds, for different surfaces and purposes.

While most sponges available at stores are made out of synthetic materials, there are ones made out of natural, biodegradable, eco-friendly materials as well. Loofah is one example, and it’s usually easy to find as it’s gotten very popular over the past few years.

4. Scrub brush

You can scrub off most stains with a sponge or cloth, but more stubborn stains might require a scrub brush. They are generally used on hard floors and surfaces where their bristles will not cause any damage. Avoid using the scrub brush on sensitive surfaces and items.

5. Cloths

If you clean up regularly, you’ll probably find that cloth is a tool you use the most often. Most surfaces that you scrubbed with a sponge or a brush will need to be wiped with a cloth afterward. Furniture made out of delicate materials will only tolerate a gentle cloth. If you want to clean your windows like a pro, you’ll need a quality microfiber cloth that doesn’t leave any traces and streaks.

6. Mop

If you look into tips to keep your floors spotless, most of them will start by telling you to get a good mop. When picking a mop, be careful to choose one that is right for the floors that you have.

A bucket goes in pair with a mop, as you’ll likely need to rinse your mop several times while mopping the floors. A sturdy bucket is a very convenient tool because it allows you to carry water with you around your home.

What’s more, you can use your bucket as a smart and mobile storage option for your cleaning products. That way they take up less space and it’s much easier when you have everything in a single container that you can carry wherever you need.

When looking for expert house cleaning in Glendale, who do I call?

If you know you could use some help with the maintenance of your home, skilled professionals from Eco Mama are there for you. Whether you need light upkeep, seasonal deep clean, move-in or move-out tidy-up, we got you covered.

Our technicians use safe, natural, and eco-friendly supplies, which ensures the safety of your whole family and helps preserve nature as well. Spend the afternoon enjoying a meal at a restaurant in Downtown Glendale and leave your chores to us.

Common questions: 6 Cleaning Tools Every Home Should Have

What cleaning tools does every home need?
A basic kit covers most jobs: reusable rubber gloves, a broom and dustpan, a few kinds of sponges, a scrub brush, microfiber cloths and a mop with a sturdy bucket. With these you can sweep, wipe, scrub and mop nearly every room. Add specialty items only when a specific surface or task calls for them.
Are nitrile or latex gloves better for cleaning?
Both protect your hands while scrubbing, but nitrile is more resistant to tearing and chemicals, more durable and more eco-friendly. Latex can also cause a reaction in some people, which nitrile avoids. Reusable gloves are a better choice than disposables because they hold up through the whole job and create less waste.
Does Eco Mama offer house cleaning in Glendale?
Yes. Eco Mama serves Glendale along with Phoenix, Scottsdale and the surrounding Valley. We offer recurring cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, hourly cleaning and baby prep cleaning. Our team brings its own tools and non-toxic products that are safe around kids and pets. You can get a price online or contact us to book.