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Walk into any store and you'll see dozens of cleaning products claiming to be the best. The truth is, you don't need a different product for every surface in your home. In fact, having too many specialized cleaners can be overwhelming, expensive, and wasteful.

After helping hundreds of Decatur families build their cleaning kits, we've learned that a few well-chosen products can handle most of your cleaning needs. Here's our guide to building a simple, effective cleaning kit that actually works.

The Essential Five

These five products can handle about 90% of your cleaning tasks:

1. All-Purpose Cleaner

This is your workhorse. A good all-purpose cleaner should work on countertops, floors, walls, and most hard surfaces. Look for one that cuts through grease but is safe on finished surfaces.

What to look for: A cleaner that works on multiple surface types means you won't need separate products for your kitchen and bathroom.

2. Glass Cleaner

While some all-purpose cleaners work on glass, a dedicated glass cleaner gives you that streak-free shine on windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces. It's worth having one bottle on hand.

3. Disinfectant Wipes or Spray

For high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, and kitchen surfaces, having a disinfectant on hand is essential. Wipes are convenient for quick cleanups, while sprays give you more control and coverage for larger areas.

4. Dish Soap

Good dish soap is incredibly versatile. Beyond dishes, it's great for hand-washing delicate items, removing grease stains from clothes, and even as a gentle all-purpose cleaner for some surfaces.

5. Laundry Detergent

Unless you have specific needs (sensitive skin, hard water, etc.), a quality laundry detergent handles most of your washing needs. You don't necessarily need separate detergents for whites and colors if you choose a good all-purpose formula.

Optional But Helpful

These products aren't essential, but they can make specific tasks easier:

• Bleach: Great for sanitizing and whitening, but use carefully and only when needed.
• Bathroom cleaner: If you have tough soap scum or hard water stains, a dedicated bathroom cleaner can help.
• Furniture polish: If you have a lot of wood furniture, this can help maintain finishes.
• Oven cleaner: For deep cleaning ovens, though regular maintenance with your all-purpose cleaner can reduce how often you need this.

What to Avoid

Don't buy every specialty cleaner. Most cleaning tasks can be handled with your essential five. Wait until you actually need a specialty product before adding it to your collection.

Avoid harsh chemicals unless necessary. Most everyday cleaning doesn't require heavy-duty chemicals. Save those for when you really need them.

Don't mix cleaning products. This can be dangerous. If one product isn't working, try a different one, but never mix them.

Name Brand vs Store Brand

Here's our honest take: for most cleaning tasks, quality store brands work just as well as name brands. The main differences are usually in fragrance and sometimes in concentration. If you're on a budget, start with store brands—you might be surprised by how well they perform.

Name brands sometimes have advantages in specific areas (like stain-fighting power in laundry detergent), but for general cleaning, store brands are usually sufficient and can save you 30-50% compared to name brands.

Building Your Cleaning Routine

Once you have your cleaning kit, create a simple routine:

• Daily: Quick wipe-downs with disinfectant wipes or all-purpose cleaner on high-touch areas
• Weekly: Deeper cleaning with all-purpose cleaner on surfaces, glass cleaner on mirrors and windows
• Monthly: Deep clean with specialty products as needed

Remember: the best cleaning supplies are the ones you actually use. Start simple, and add products only when you find you need them. At Neighborhood Necessities, we carry both name brands and quality store brands, so you can choose what works best for your home and budget.

Have questions about choosing the right cleaning products? Stop by our store or call us at (470) 366-0836—we're here to help!

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