Below are my favorite cleaning products and tools that I have relied upon for some of the toughest, trickiest tasks of hoarding clean-up or for everyday cleaning in my own house. I’ll continue to build out the list as I discover new favorites.
I have personally purchased, tested, and regularly used every item that I recommend. Or, if the specific model I used is no longer available, I’ve recommended a comparable one from the brand I trust.
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Cleaning Essentials
Miele Complete C3 Marin Vacuum Cleaner
(Note: I have the Miele Complete C3 Limited Edition, but it’s not available for sale online anymore. The closest match is the Miele Complete C3 Marin. There’s a great Miele C3 vacuum cleaner comparison guide here.)
These vacuums aren’t cheap, and there are excellent reasons why:
- They can take a beating. This German-engineered beauty was my go-to for sucking up some of the grossest things in the hoarded house, and it did so without complaint or problems.
- They have a HEPA AirClean filter to keep any gnarly stuff from escaping the bag and going someplace you don’t want it to, like your lungs. This particular bundle will have you ready for action: It includes Miele’s AH50 GN Performance Pack with 16 genuine Miele GN Airclean FilterBags, 1 genuine Miele HEPA Air Clean Filter AH-50, and 4 Pre-Motor Protection Filters.
- The bag is sealed. Once it’s full and time to switch it out for a new one, you don’t have to worry about aforementioned gnarly stuff getting loose, which isn’t the case with bagless vacuums. Clean and simple.
- The Miele Complete C3 Marin comes with a powerhead and a parquet twister brush, as well as three accessory attachments: a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool. I’ve used them all.
- You can adjust the suction power based on the material you’re vacuuming: upholstery, wood, carpet, rugs, you name it.
- It’s quieter than many other vacuums on the market.
- You can use the vacuum to clean itself. Use the tube to suck up any loose dust off of the vacuum once you’re done with your other cleaning. Keep your tools tidy.
- It’s got an auto-rewind cord. Push a button and the cord sucks itself back into the machine. No coiling and toiling for you.
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes
These Seventh Generation wipes are magic. I’ve used them on all kinds of messes, such as getting dried paint off of a cultured marble countertop, cleaning out gunky trash bins, wiping down the kitchen, getting the bathroom looking tidy, and on and on. They’ve got a lemongrass citrus scent that I like, and they clean and disinfect using a botanical base (the active ingredient is a component of thyme oil). These wondrous little wipes kill 99.99% of household germs and are also effective against flu and cold viruses.
Concrobium Mold Control
We discovered Concrobium Mold Control when we were renting an old place that had a mildew and mold problem. Concrobium doesn’t include bleach, ammonium, or VOCs yet effectively gets rid of and prevents mold. You clean off the surface dirt from the affected spot, apply Concrobium, let it dry completely, and if needed, clean the area again and reapply. It helps to prevent new mold growth and can be used on hard surfaces or fabrics. As with any cleaner, you might spot test a small area before using on something if you’re concerned about stains.
Note: If you’re dealing with a toxic mold situation or a particularly pernicious problem spread over a large area, I highly advise calling in an expert mold remediation crew.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Bundle: Dish Soap, Hand Soap, & Everyday Cleaner (Mint)
The fresh mint scent of these Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products makes my home and hands feel as refreshed and perky as a 1980s Doublemint gum ad.
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Perfume Free & Dye Free
OxiClean is safe for septic systems. It knocks stains out of your clothes, sheets, and other fabrics, especially if you pre-treat them. It is my special laundry friend.
OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick
My other special laundry friend is the OxiClean Max Force Gel Stick. No muss, no fuss. You can pretreat the stains and leave them for up to a week before washing. The little nubs on the applicator help rub the gel into the stained area for better cleaning power. One word of advice: Don’t leave it on longer than a week or it can leave a bleached-out white spot. Trust me on this one.
Persil MegaPerls Color
If the OxiClean products are my special laundry friends, Persil is my straight-up laundry lover. I use 1 teaspoon of the MegaPerls per load in my high-efficiency front-loading washing machine. That’s all it takes to get my duds so fresh and so clean. One box of MegaPerls lasted me for 4 years. That is not an exaggeration. And I typically do 1 or 2 loads of laundry per day. (I’ve been cleaning up after a hoard, after all.) It is a great investment. Note: I personally don’t notice much of a fragrance on my washed clothes. However, the detergent’s scent in the box may be too strong for those who are sensitive to smells. If that’s typically true for you, I’d recommend an unscented product instead.
Persil Megaperls Universal
As with the Persil Megaperls Color laundry detergent, a little goes a lo-o-o-o-ong way. Only 1 teaspoon is needed per load for a high-efficiency front-load washing machine, so 1 box can last for years. This version is for both white and dark fabrics. Note: I personally don’t notice much of a fragrance on my washed clothes, but the unused detergent has a strong scent in the box. Those who are sensitive to fragrance may want to opt for an unscented detergent instead.
Nitrile Gloves
Powder-free, latex-free, disposable gloves are great for working on a variety of projects where you need to keep your hands clean but still need some dexterity, you want to keep fingerprints off of the surface you’re cleaning, and you want to throw the gloves away after a particularly icky project.
True Blue Gloves
These hard-core, durable vinyl gloves are cotton-lined, latex-free, machine-washable, and suitable for everything from washing dishes to getting out the gungiest mess while still keeping your hands and wrists comfortable and dry.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Microfiber cloths are magical things. You can use them wet or dry, depending on the surface you’re cleaning. Even better, they’re washable and reusable many, many times over.
Swiffer 360 Degree Dusters with Extendable Handle
This lightweight Swiffer has a bendable, extendable handle that makes it great for dusting off your ceiling fan. Of course, sucking up all the dust into a vacuum with a HEPA filter is the ideal way to clean the blades and casing. But some days it’s hard to muster the stamina or coordination to stand on a chair and hold a vacuum. On those days, the Swiffer rules. (I recommend not standing directly under the blade you’re cleaning or else wearing a respirator and glasses to keep any stray dust from landing on you.)
3M Virtua Protective Eyewear
Keep your peepers protected from dust, splashes, and unidentified flying objects with a good pair of safety glasses. I like these because they’re lightweight and don’t put too much pressure on the sides of my head. If you’re using a UV wand to disinfect items, you’ll need a pair of glasses like these that specifically protect your eyes from UV rays.
Tyvek Suit
Full body coverage is key when you’re dealing with hazards unknown or when you don’t want your clothes to be covered in dust and gunk. Pair this with a respirator, gloves, and some goggles (if needed) to cover all of your sensitive bits. The suit is lightweight and disposable.
3M Half Facepiece Reusable Respirator 7502/37082
If there’s only one piece of protective gear you get, please make it a respirator. At the very least, you need one that covers your nose and mouth and that has a good filter to keep out nasty particulates. After all, hoarded homes or even your average dusty house is full of lung invaders that can slip past a disposable dust mask.
If you want to mix and match your half-face respirator with various filters, you can buy the pieces à la carte. Try this respirator with the gas/vapor cartridges or the particulate filters depending on the hazards of the environment in which you’ll be working.
3M Advanced Particulate Filter 2297, P100 Respiratory Protection, with Nuisance Level Organic Vapor Relief
P100 filters protect against 99.97% of the most penetrating particle size, per OSHA standards. If you need something that protects against gas and vapors, try the cartridge filter shown further down on this page. This will work with the half-face or full-face respirators on this page.
3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece Reusable Respirator
This is the pièce de resistance when it comes to respirators. It covers your entire face and not only keeps dust and particles out of your nose, mouth, and lungs but also out of your eyes. I used this puppy when I was working on the garage and in the crusty, dusty attic that hadn’t been cleaned for 46 years. Try the gas/vapor cartridges for more intense environments or the P100 filters if you’re concerned about particles but not odors or vapors. This + Tyvek suit + cartridges + gloves = my safety happy place.
3M Multi Gas Vapor Cartridge Filter
These cartridges provide gas/vapor protection plus the P100 filtration to keep out harmful particulates. It also helps keep out any gnarly odors. Use this with your respirator of choice, either a half-face or full-face one.
Ladybug Tekno 2350 Vapor Steam Cleaner
This is another cleaning tool that costs a chunk of change but is worth it if you find yourself facing heavy-duty clean-up jobs.
We used to rent an old Eichler house that we quickly learned had lousy ventilation and was therefore prone to moisture build-up. That meant mold galore, which is not awesome. We tried bleach, cleaning wipes, and everything else we could think of, to no avail. The Ladybug, followed by an application of Concrobium, was the one tool that fended off the mold.
A few points to consider:
- We’re on Year 8 with our original Ladybug and have used it almost every single week.
- It’s safe. The Ladybug only needs tap water. No toxic or harsh chemicals required.
- It sanitizes and disinfects using “dry” steam vapor. The cleaner has an internal component called TANCS (Thermo Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation) to “aid in the rapid destruction of microorganisms over a very broad range of pathogens.” That means it kills dust mites and bacteria, knocks out allergens, and helps with mold and mildew, which was our big problem.
- You can clean all kinds of surfaces and items with it. We’ve used this thing on our floors (be sure you wipe up any stray water droplets if you’ve got wood floors), our oven, bathroom fixtures, the fridge, upholstery, and even some collectibles made of durable materials that aren’t prone to heat or moisture damage.
- It’ll take a little while to figure out your spray technique. Once you do, you won’t have much excess water.
Dyson V7 Animal Cordless HEPA Vacuum Cleaner + Direct Drive Cleaner Head + Wand Set + Mini Motorized Tool + Dusting Brush + Docking Station + Combination Tool + Crevice Tool
We have a slightly older version of this Dyson, and it’s great in a pinch when you need to quickly tidy up but don’t want to drag out your full-sized vacuum cleaner. Perfect for sucking up those stray cobwebs, dust, and whatnot.