Where do you keep your cloths?

[FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick]

Random question but I'm just wondering where you keep your cloths, rubber gloves, sponges etc for cleaning bathrooms and yucky things. We don't have the luxury of a utility room and will have a cleaning cupboard in our kitchen but somehow it seems wrong to put a damp sponge / cloth / gloves used to clean the loo in a cupboard! Equally I don't want to leave these out as they'll make our small house look untidy and it's a bit gross tbh. Also have a baby on the way so will need to think about keeping these things out of the way of little hands further down the line.

Just wondering what you do!

[Vivacia]

I use little trugs. I have one upstairs in a bedroom cupboard with the bathroom stuff, one in the living room with stuff for the reception rooms and then one in the kitchen for kitchen stuff. I've found I do more cleaning and more quickly this way.

I have other things, such as clean cloths and the vacuum, all over the place.

[wonkylegs]

Bathroom ones go on the bottom shelf of the full height cupboard in the family bathroom. I do have a utility room but I actually store them in a box under the sink in the kitchen.

[PandaNot]

I wash mine after using them and then keep them in the drawer with all the other clean cloths. Never have damp ones lying around, they smell.

[NorbertDentressangle]

Bathroom stuff is in a basket in the bottom of the bathroom cupboard (floor to ceiling one that has toiletries, towels, bedding etc in).

Kitchen stuff is in the cupboard under the sink, and there's other stuff under the utility room sink.

[Startail]

Top of high cupboards reasonably out or sight.
Never wear gloves.

[gobbin]

I use Dettol spray and toilet roll to clean my toilet daily, with bleach squirted round the rim and wiped over the seat. I couldn't imagine using a cloth/sponge for this.

The cloth for cleaning the bath/basin gets draped over the washing up liquid bottle I use for the job. Washing up liquid instead of abrasives for the bath/shower was the best tip ever from my neighbour. My bath is nearly 10 years old and still looks brand new.

[FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick]

Thanks ladies!

Gobbin I've heard the tip about washing up liquid for the bath; in fact we've been told to clean our bath with a mild eco washing up liquid as it's a refurbed antique bath. Good to know that it works and your bath is still sparkling :) Re the loo paper thing, do you find it dissolves? MIL uses antibac wipes for the loo, so I may stick to these for wiping the actual loo and then I won't be so worried about cloth issues!

I may have to look into places to leave cleaning things strategically.

I really really hate damp smells. We never had the damp cloth problem in our flat before as I used to rinse them in cleaner (loo one in a weak bleach solution) and then left them to air dry on a bucket before putting them back in the cupboard dry. However, our new house has small rooms and I'm worried about where to do this, especially with a toddler in a year or so!

I'm also a bit cleaning obsessed at the moment. Nesting has well and truly kicked in and I can't stop thinking about these sorts of things!!!

[PigletJohn]

damp sponges, after use, rinse and squeeze them out, then put a squirt of WUL on and squeeze it through so it is full of foam. Or you can use GP cleaner.

you can then put it aside to dry. The WUL will prevent bacterial growth, so it will not smell, and next time you come to use it, and squeeze it out in water, any grease or dirt will have been broken down by the detergent and it will be ready to use.

You can do the same with face flannels if you are somewhere where it is difficult to dry or wash them, for example in hospital or camping. It keeps them fresh and bacteria-free. You can use bath foam or shampoo if that's all you have, but preferably not an oily one.

[FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick]

What's GP cleaner pigletjohn?

[PigletJohn]

general purpose

£1.80 for Flash or 20p for own-brand.

[FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick]

Ah yes, makes sense. Thanks for clarifying :)

[notso]

I use cleaning cloths once then they go in the washing machine and dryer. I store them in a basket under the sink in the kitchen.

[Frontdoorstep]

I just buy cheap cloths, use them once, then chuck them out, I also use a lot of anti bacterial wipes for cleaning in th bathroom, kitchen etc and yes toilet paper for cleaning the toilet, it can be flushed away. I don't use rubber gloves.

[alienbanana]

Straight in the washing machine

[Vivacia]

Do you worry about how much you are throwing away Frontdoorstep?

[Frontdoorstep]

Hi, yes I do throw away a fair amount of stuff and certainly it isn't very environmentally friendly to be throwing all that stuff away, but I would worry more about keeping cloths that had previously cleaned my toilet.

Buying more expensive cloths and washing them in the machine is a good idea and something I hadn't thought about.

Also using toilet paper to clean the toilet and flushing it away isn't very environmntally friendly either but I feel it is hygienic and does a good job.

[FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick]

I really hadn't considered loo roll to clean the loo. I see this is an old Aggy and Kim tip too. I have a packet of wipes to use up but will try the multipurpose spray and loo roll thing when we've run out. Thus solving my glove / cloth and cupboard conundrum. The bath sponge can be left in the bucket soaked in WU. Thanks ladies!

[Vivacia]

I use toilet roll for inside the toilet, but washable cloths for everything else around the house really. They get hung out to dry most days and then put in the washer when I have enough for a load.

[givemeaclue]

I throw them out after doing loo. If just doing sink or bath I wash them, when dry pop them in a mesh bag hanging on inside of cupboard

[Showtime]

I keep most cleaning stuff in cupboard-under-sink too, including using piece of elastic across back of doors, one for current rubber gloves etc and other for eco cloths etc, both previously dried near bottom of airing-cupboard, but will be trying PigletJ's WUL tips in future.

[PigletJohn]

Frontdoorstep

Why don't you use old vests and other soft cotton stuff?

[Frontdoorstep]

PigletJohn, that's a good idea that I hadn't thought of but I don't have enough of old stuff like that to keep me going! However could certainly use what I do have.

FormerlyKnownAsPrincessChick, I've never posted On here Before and this has been an interesting, light hearted topic, I've enjoyed taking part, thanks.

[notso]

Meant add WRT rubber gloves I just wash my hands with antibac soap whilst wearing the gloves then leave them over the side of the sink or bath. They dry in a minute or so.

[gobbin]

Formerly cheap loo paper dissolves to bits when cleaning the toilet so I went on the trail of the 'ideal' paper for bum-wiping and loo-cleaning...the best compromises between cost, quality and flushability and non-disintegration in the hand whilst cleaning are:

Cushelle (best)
Nouvelle
Asda Shades
Lidl Floralys
Aldi Soft one (can't remember the name, not the cheapest one)

I used to use flushable wipes until someone on a motorcycle forum explained just how bad they are for causing blockages and build up in the sewage system. At least loo roll does disintegrate.