Most homes need only a few cleaning products, used correctly. This guide covers how to choose them for the job and the surface, how to compare prices fairly, how to use and store them safely, and what cleaning can and cannot do for allergies and mould.
Reviewed 13 October 2026. Prices and product details change; check the label and the retailer before you buy. General information only, not medical advice.
Start with the job and the surface
- Everyday surfaces (benches, tables, tiles): warm water with a little detergent or a general multi-purpose cleaner is usually enough.
- Glass and mirrors: a glass cleaner or a damp microfibre cloth, then a dry one.
- Bathrooms: a bathroom cleaner for soap scum; a toilet cleaner for the bowl.
- Ovens: oven cleaners are among the strongest household products; follow the label exactly, ventilate, and keep them away from children.
- Special surfaces (natural stone, timber, unsealed or damaged surfaces): check the surface manufacturer’s care instructions first; many general cleaners are not suitable.
Reusable microfibre cloths, a scrubbing brush and a squeegee do a lot of the work, and let you use less product. Use stronger products only for the jobs that need them.
Example: ALDI’s Green Action range
ALDI’s own-brand Green Action range is one budget option. It is shown here as an example of how to read product claims, not as a recommendation, and Best Local Cleaners has no connection with ALDI. Prices are as shown on ALDI Australia’s product pages on 13 October 2026; ALDI notes prices can vary by store.
| Product | Size and price (13 Oct 2026) | What ALDI’s page says |
|---|---|---|
| Green Action Multi Purpose Cleaner | 600 ml, $2.99 (about 50c per 100 ml) | “has an antibacterial plant based formula that is grey water and septic tank safe”. The page does not list suitable surfaces; read the bottle. |
| Green Action Dishwashing Liquid | 500 ml, $2.79 (about 56c per 100 ml) | “contains biodegradable surfactants, is phosphate-free”; bottle “made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET resin” |
| Green Action Laundry Detergent | 1 L, $2.69 | “suitable for front, top load and high efficiency washing machines”; “plant-derived surfactants” |
How to read claims like these:
- Compare unit prices, not pack prices. The price per 100 ml (or per wash) is the fair comparison, together with how much the label tells you to use.
- “Plant-based” describes where some ingredients come from. On its own it does not mean a product is safe for every surface, safe for pets, or harmless to the environment.
- Vague words such as “eco-friendly” or “green” can mislead; the ACCC recommends businesses avoid them unless they explain exactly what they mean. Specific, checkable claims (for example “phosphate-free”) are more useful.
- “Free from…” claims tell you what is not in a product, not whether it suits your job.
- Safety Data Sheets list hazards and first aid; ALDI links its SDS portal from each product page.
Source: ACCC: Environmental and sustainability claims · ACCC: Making environmental claims (December 2023) · ALDI Australia product pages (linked above), viewed 13 October 2026.
Using and storing cleaning products safely
- Never mix products. Mixing bleach with ammonia, acids or other cleaners can release hazardous chlorine or chloramine fumes.
- Read the label before you buy and before you use, and follow the directions, including dilution.
- Ventilate and wear the protective equipment the label recommends, such as gloves and eye protection.
- Store products in their original containers, in a locked cupboard out of children’s reach. Never decant them into drink bottles.
- If someone swallows a product, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 and do not make them vomit. If they are drowsy, unconscious, having a seizure or struggling to breathe, call 000. If fumes are inhaled, get to fresh air and call 13 11 26 for advice.
Home-made cleaning “recipes” that combine products are not included here, because mixing is exactly what the safety advice warns against.
Source: Better Health Channel: Chemicals in the home · NSW Poisons Information Centre: Cleaning products · healthdirect: Swallowed substances · healthdirect: Inhaled substances
Cleaning and health: what it can and cannot do
Cleaning is not the same as disinfecting
Cleaning physically removes dirt, grime and germs from surfaces with detergent and water; disinfecting uses chemicals to kill germs. Clean first, because dirt reduces how well disinfectants work. For most household surfaces, regular cleaning is what matters.
Dust mites and allergies
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) suggests these steps for people with dust mite allergy:
- wash sheets, pillowcases and other bedding weekly in hot water (over 60°C);
- vacuum carpets and sofas weekly; vacuums with a HEPA filter may remove more allergen, but all vacuuming briefly increases allergen in the air;
- damp-dust or use electrostatic cloths on hard surfaces and floors weekly.
Cleaning reduces allergen levels; it does not cure allergies or remove every allergen. Talk to your doctor about managing an allergy.
Mould
On hard surfaces, household detergent or white vinegar is often enough. Wear gloves, eye protection and a P1 or P2 mask, and keep the area ventilated. Pregnant women, children and people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung disease should not remove mould or be present when it is removed. If large areas of mould keep coming back, find and fix the moisture problem and consider a professional; absorbent items such as carpet may need professional cleaning or replacing.
Source: Safe Work Australia: How to clean and disinfect your workplace (2020) · ASCIA: Allergen minimisation (April 2024) · Better Health Channel: Mould removal at home · NSW Health: Mould
Prefer someone else to do it? Our cleaners bring their own products and equipment; tell us when you book if you want particular products used or avoided. See deep cleaning or call 1300 280 576.
Cleaning products: questions
Do I need a disinfectant for everyday cleaning?
Usually not. Regular cleaning with detergent and water removes most germs and dirt from household surfaces. Disinfectants are for particular situations; if you use one, clean first and follow the label.
Is a plant-based cleaner safe for pets and children?
Not automatically. Treat every cleaning product as a chemical: follow the label, store it out of reach and keep pets and children away while surfaces are wet.
What is the cheapest way to clean well?
Compare unit prices, use the right product for each job at the dilution on the label, and use reusable cloths. Using more product than directed costs more and does not clean better.
Can I mix vinegar and bleach to make a stronger cleaner?
No. Never mix bleach with acids such as vinegar, with ammonia, or with other cleaners: it can release hazardous fumes.