Cleaning Supplies in Singapore: The Essential Home Cleaning Shopping List

A good home cleaning kit in Singapore needs fewer products than most people buy. Get the right tools first, like microfibre cloths, a flat mop, a stiff brush and a decent vacuum, then add a small set of products matched to your surfaces: a neutral floor cleaner, a kitchen degreaser, a bathroom cleaner and a glass cleaner. Everything below is available at supermarkets, neighbourhood hardware shops, household stores and online.

This list is written for HDB flats, condos and landed homes, and it's also what our clients set out for their cleaner. At Cleaning Assistant, customers provide the supplies, which means no product mark-ups and full control over what's used around children and pets.

Part 1: The tools

Tools do most of the work. Cheap products with good tools beat expensive products with bad ones.

Microfibre cloths, lots of them

Buy a pack of 10 to 20 in at least two colours. Use one colour for bathrooms and another for the kitchen and living areas, so the toilet cloth never ends up on the dining table. Microfibre picks up dust instead of pushing it around and works with just water for light cleaning. Wash them without fabric softener, which clogs the fibres.

A mop that suits your floor

Most HDB flats have glazed ceramic or homogeneous tiles. Many newer flats and condos have vinyl, and some homes have marble or timber.

A spin mop with a bucket is popular in Singapore because it wrings well, which matters in our humidity where floors already dry slowly. Our vinyl flooring guide explains why less water is better.

Vacuum cleaner

A cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick daily pickups in a compact flat. A corded or larger vacuum with a crevice tool and brush head is better for a thorough weekly clean, especially for sofas, mattresses and window tracks.

Brushes and scrubbers

• Stiff grout brush for bathroom tiles
• Toilet brush with a holder that drains
• Old toothbrushes for taps, tracks and corners
• Non-scratch scrub sponges for sinks and hobs
• Long-handled floor brush for service yards and balconies

The extras

• Squeegee for shower glass and windows
• Rubber gloves in two pairs, one for the bathroom and one for the kitchen
• Spray bottles for diluting concentrates
• Step stool for fans, cabinets and the tops of wardrobes
• Bucket, a dustpan and broom, and bin liners
• Extendable duster for ceiling fans and corners

Part 2: Products by surface

You don't need a different bottle for every room. Here's a lean set that covers most homes.

Floors

A neutral floor cleaner for tiles and vinyl. If you have marble, buy a pH-neutral stone cleaner, because acidic products like vinegar etch marble. Timber needs a cleaner made for wood floors, or just a barely damp mop. See our marble floor cleaning guide for more.

Kitchen

A degreaser is essential if you cook with a wok, which leaves a sticky oil film on the hob, splashback, cooker hood and cabinet doors. Add a dishwashing liquid, which doubles as a mild all-purpose cleaner, and a cream cleanser for stubborn hob marks. For stainless steel, warm water and a microfibre cloth usually do the job.

Bathrooms

A bathroom cleaner that tackles limescale and soap scum is the workhorse. Add a toilet bowl cleaner and, optionally, a mould remover for grout and silicone. In our climate, mould comes back quickly, so ventilation matters as much as product. Our guide to mould on walls and ceilings explains how to treat it.

Glass and mirrors

A glass cleaner plus a lint-free microfibre cloth, or a squeegee for larger panes.

Everything else

An all-purpose cleaner for tables, switches, door handles and countertops. Bleach is useful for certain disinfecting jobs, but dilute it as directed, ventilate the room and never mix it with other products.

Safety: what never to combine

Some common products release dangerous fumes when mixed:

1. Bleach and ammonia-based cleaners, which include some glass cleaners
2. Bleach and acids, such as vinegar or some toilet and limescale cleaners
3. Different drain cleaners used one after another

Store products in their original bottles, high up or locked away from children, ideally in the service yard. Read our full guide to dangerous cleaning product combinations before you start mixing anything.

What you can skip

• A separate spray for every room. One all-purpose cleaner covers most surfaces.
• Heavily scented products. Strong fragrance doesn't mean clean, and it can irritate sensitive noses.
• Disposable wipes for everything. Microfibre cloths are cheaper over time.
• Abrasive powders on modern surfaces. They scratch quartz, stainless steel and glossy tiles.

Where to buy in Singapore

You'll find nearly everything on this list at:

• Supermarkets, for products, cloths, sponges and bin liners
• Neighbourhood hardware and household shops, often the cheapest place for mops, buckets, brushes and step stools
• Department and home stores, for vacuums and better-quality tools
• Online marketplaces, handy for bulk microfibre packs and refills

Buy concentrates where you can and dilute them in spray bottles. It saves money and storage space, which matters in compact flats.

Setting out supplies for your cleaner

If you use a part-time cleaner, keep everything together in one caddy or cabinet and show them where it is on the first visit. Our guide to cleaning supplies to prepare for your cleaner lists the exact minimum, and our home cleaning services guide explains what a standard clean covers.

Frequently asked questions

What cleaning supplies does a part-time cleaner need in Singapore?

At minimum: microfibre cloths, a mop and bucket, a vacuum, a floor cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, a kitchen degreaser, a glass cleaner, gloves and bin liners. With these, a cleaner can handle a full standard clean.

What is the best mop for HDB floor tiles?

A flat microfibre mop or a spin mop works well on the ceramic and homogeneous tiles common in HDB flats. Both wring out well, so floors dry quickly and grout lines stay cleaner.

Can I use vinegar to clean everything?

No. Vinegar is acidic and will etch marble and some natural stone, and it should never be mixed with bleach. It's fine for some limescale jobs on glass and taps.

How much does a basic home cleaning kit cost in Singapore?

It depends on the brands and the vacuum you choose. Cloths, a mop, brushes and core products are usually affordable, and the vacuum is the biggest single cost. Most products last for many weeks of regular cleaning.

Got your kit sorted? Let a trained cleaner put it to work. Book a session from $20 an hour for your first trial, or WhatsApp +65 8166 0891.