What are the basic essentials for cleaning a house?

Trixsie1989

Hi all,
Just wondering what the basics are that you use to clean with? I don't really want a cupboard full of different sprays etc if I don't need to waste money doing that. Thanks everyone xxx

Linda32

Hi,

No you certainly don't need a cupboard full of sprays IMHO.

I use Zoflora. It is a concentrated disinfectant which you mix a capful with 400mls of water and use in a spray bottle. I use this for generally spraying around the kitchen and toilet. (One separate bottle in each IYSWIM)

I use bleach for the toilet.

Flash spray for the bath and sink. I do think Flash works best having tried a few and it smells nice The best of the rest IMO is Tesco's Daisy.

I also use Sainsburys Lavender furniture polish, because it smells nice. Although really not necessary.

HTH

pigpen

I have bleach.. domestos not the cheap rubbish that doesn't work.

Harpic for le lav

Cif spray which I keep in the loo and use it to give something a clean when I go pee.. I spray what I want to clean.. do my wee then wipe of the cif.. keeps the loo sparkly.

and washing up liquid for greasy messes..

elbow grease and flash spray with bleach which both get used for everything.. I usually have several bottles on the go around the house at the same time.

I have Dettol wipes so I can do a speedy wipe over of the highchair and table before meals

I use the sponges with scrubby green sides and microfibre cloths.

carrielovesfanta

The only possible replies on the OS board are Zoflora, vinegar and stardrops

Trixsie1989

What's star drops? Xxx

peachyprice

I only have Domestos, Flash or supermarket equivalent floor cleaner, a can of Sainsbury's beeswax polish and Mr Muscle glass cleaner.

The bleach does the bathrooms and toilets, the flash does the floors and kitchen worktops, glass cleaner does all mirrors and windows.

I hate Stardrops, it does clean quite well but it smells 'grubby' and leaves a soapy film on some surfaces.

geri1965_2

Bleach, Stardrops, Zoflora, white vinegar.

danih

Motivation

YORKSHIRELASS

Oh a bit of a confession here. I love the clear anti-bacterial spray cleaners (Tesco, Aldi or Asda's own) and I do like having a swish round with these and some cheap kitchen roll which then goes in the bin and is not really very MSE.

Other than that its Domestos for loos, tiled floors, the bathroom and sometimes the worktops, cheap furniture polish for anything that needs to be shiny and glass cleaner for the windows. I like a bit of Zoflora too but thats all I use really.

When I started my MSE journey I massively cut down on the cleaning products that I bought - I now think that a lot of them are unnecessary.

meritaten

I would say hot water and a detergent! I can clean most things with hot water and a drop of either washing up liquid or stardrops ( and stardrops can double up as either - washing up liquid, washing liquid (for handwash), carpet cleaner, and all purpose cleaner.
loads of rags!
Bicarb - makes a better Shake and Vac than the original - if you want scent mix it with scented talcum powder (available really cheaply in charity shops). also useful for 'smelly stains' on carpets, upholstery and clothes.
and I recently discovered a product called 'Elbow Grease' - this MELTS grease - so my deep fat fryer has had the best clean its had in years! in half the time.

Trixsie1989

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

When I started my MSE journey I massively cut down on the cleaning products that I bought - I now think that a lot of them are unnecessary.

At the moment we don't get a lot of say in what gets bought as we live with mil but I want to start as I mean to go on when we move and be less wasteful all round. Going to try to be very mse so we have spare money for nice things and we're not just working to live xxx