The essential cleaning kit for a new home

Moving into a new home is one of those rare moments where you get to start completely fresh. The previous occupants are gone, the place is empty, and if you're lucky it's been given a decent clean before you arrived. In practice, even well-maintained properties have corners that haven't been properly cleaned in years.

We put this guide together based on what Vouchee cleaners actually bring to new-home cleans in Horsham. These are the products that consistently come up when we ask our vetted cleaners what they'd recommend a homeowner stock up on from day one.

Start with the surfaces

The most-used surfaces in any home are worktops, sinks, and bathrooms. These need products that can handle everyday grime but are safe to use repeatedly without damaging surfaces.

For kitchen and bathroom surfaces, Flash Multi-Surface Spray is the everyday workhorse. It handles most situations without needing anything more specialist. Pair it with a pack of good quality microfibre cloths (get more than you think you need; 12 isn't excessive for a new home setup) and you have the foundation of any cleaning kit.

The products that do the heavy lifting

Once the basics are covered, there are a handful of products that professional cleaners reach for when the standard spray isn't enough. These are the ones that come up repeatedly when we talk to cleaners on the Vouchee platform about what's actually in their kit bags.

• Bar Keepers Friend is a powder cleanser that removes limescale, rust stains, and tarnish from sinks, ceramic hobs, and stainless steel. One of the most versatile products available, and almost every cleaner on our platform swears by it.
• The Pink Stuff is a paste that works on ovens, grout, pots and pans, and almost anything else with baked-on residue. It sounds gimmicky but cleaners who've tried it rarely go back.
• Viakal. Horsham is a hard water area, which means limescale builds up faster than most homeowners expect. Viakal is the best product for shower screens, taps, and showerheads, and our cleaners use it on almost every bathroom job in the area.
• HG Mould Spray. Bathroom mould is almost inevitable over time, especially in older Horsham properties with less ventilation. HG removes it properly rather than just bleaching it temporarily.

Floors

For hard floors, Flash Floor Cleaner works across tiles, laminate, and vinyl without leaving residue. If you have carpets, a good hoover is the most important investment you'll make. The Henry Hoover remains the benchmark for reliability and value, and it's what the majority of professional cleaners in our network use day to day.

Tools that make the difference

Products are only half the story. The right tools mean you actually use them correctly, and this is where a lot of homeowners underinvest compared to the professionals who clean for a living.

• Scrub Daddy sponge. Changes texture with water temperature and doesn't scratch surfaces the way standard scourers do. It's become something of a staple among our cleaners for exactly this reason.
• Extendable duster. Ceiling corners, light fittings, and high shelves collect dust quickly. An extendable duster means you don't need a stepladder for weekly maintenance.
• Rubber gloves. Standard kitchen gloves tear too quickly. Buy professional-grade ones from the start and your hands will thank you.

The full shopping list

To summarise, here's everything you need for a complete first-home cleaning kit, roughly in order of priority:

1. Microfibre cloths (pack of 12+)
2. Flash Multi-Surface Spray
3. Bar Keepers Friend powder
4. Viakal Limescale Remover
5. The Pink Stuff paste
6. HG Mould Spray
7. Flash Floor Cleaner
8. Scrub Daddy sponges
9. Rubber gloves (professional-grade)
10. Henry Hoover or equivalent
11. Extendable duster
12. Cleaning caddy to keep it all organised

You can find our full recommendations with links on the Vouchee Cleaning Supplies page.