Choosing the Right Cleaning Supplies For Your Home By Sarah Aguirre, About.com Guide to Housekeeping The right supplies make a huge difference in how efficient and effective your cleaning routines are. Find out how to choose the right supplies, which products to avoid, green cleaning options, the best products for each chore, and real timesaving gadgets that will help in your home. Basic Cleaning Supplies Laundry Supplies Dishwashing Supplies Surface Cleaning Supplies Floor Care Supplies Green Cleaning Supplies Basic Cleaning Supplies Before you even think about specialty cleaners, you need to know the basic cleaning supplies that every home needs to have. Basic cleaning supplies do most of the work in your home, and the really good ones will limit the number of specialty cleaners you need to purchase. Basic Cleaning Supply List Best All-Purpose Cleaners Where to Store Your Cleaning Supplies When to Throw Out Cleaning Supplies Laundry Supplies Laundry supplies come in lots of sizes, scents, and packaging. Besides choosing the right laundry detergent, decisions about bleach, fabric softeners, stain removers, and other additives must be made. Find out which laundry supplies you really need and which ones you can do without. Best Laundry Detergents Best Laundry Stain Removers Glossary Of Laundry Additives Choose Laundry Tools Dishwashing Supplies The right tools to wash dishes will make the experience a much more pleasant one. These resources will show you how to pick the right dish washing soap, detergents, and tools. How to Choose a Dish Soap Best Dish Soaps Best Environmentally Friendly Dish Soaps Choose Dishwashing Tools Best Dishwashing Gloves Choose an Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Best Automatic Dishwasher Detergents Surface Cleaning Supplies Our homes are made up of many types of surfaces, and each material type has specific needs when it comes to the cleaning supplies used on its surface. Find out the right supplies for every surface in your home. All-Purpose vs. Multi-Purpose Solutions Anti-Bacterial Surface Cleaners Before You Buy Stainless Steel Cleaner Floor Care Supplies Whether your floors are wood, laminate, stone, ceramic, carpet, or vinyl, they'll need some specialty care during the course of their life. Before You Buy an Upright Vacuum Cleaner Maintaining a Vacuum Cleaner Keep Mops Clean Green Cleaning Supplies If you're looking for ways to clean and be kind to the environment, green cleaning is the way to go. Look for products that have a minimal impact on the environment and companies with a commitment to protect the earth. Many of your best green cleaning choices may already be in your kitchen cabinets right now. What Is Green Cleaning? Top Green Cleaning Books How to Clean With Lemons Uses For Baking Soda Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemons Video: Homemade Kitchen Cleaners Video: Homemade Bathroom Cleaners