Cleaning essentials shopping list

[Dandelionrarrrr]

I'm trying to be more organised, clean and tidy especially now I am on maternity leave. I have a 3yo and a 3 week old. I am very intrigued by the fly lady thread and aim to join next month and have a little research.
However, I wanted to stock my cleaning cupboard. What are your essentials? What do you use them for? Even things like the cloths/sponges etc. I'm sadly excited about getting my arse in gear and hope to get into a better routine so it eventually becomes habit... not that I am filthy just not as tidy as my mum 😉

[e1y1]

You only really need a few good cleaners for the whole house, sure all the new concoctions they come up with in the supermarket are "fun" to try I need a life, but they're not needed.

This is what I couldn't be without:

Good washing up liquid (this can be used to clean almost anything).

Bleach (I know a contentious thing, but I find I can't do without this for germ kill).

All purpose furniture polish (fave is Pledge) - as all-purpose, can be used on all sorts of surfaces.

Glass cleaner (mirrors and glass of course, and can be used to add shine to kitchen appliances - so can all purpose polish though).

Cream cleaner (not often needed, but if have a stain that won't shift - stainless steel sink mainly - this will remove it).

Bathroom cleaner spray/liquid (for sinks/showers/tiles)

Laundry + Dishwasher detergent.

Of course, a good set of cloths/pot towels, rubber gloves, a good broom (and dustpan and brush) and a good mop+bucket. Rubbish bags for the bin.

But by far the most important cleaning gadget you will ever own - a really good quality and versatile vacuum cleaner.

That is pretty much it for me, as in what's needed

Nice to haves (and I do have them)

Kitchen cleaner spray (but a solution of hot water + WUL + bleach in the kitchen sink and same solution in mop bucket would do entire kitchen - and actually the bathroom).

Disinfectant liquid (does same as bleach though)

Toilet cleaner (bleach can do same though).

Air freshener (not really needed, as if something is giving off an odour, that means it needs cleaning - if it is a room, it needs airing).

Mould/mildew spray (again - bleach kills mould).

I'm sure I've got others that I can't think of.

You may need some form of limescale remover (eg Viakal) if you live in a hard water area, I'm lucky enough not to though.

[Dandelionrarrrr]

Wow that's exactly what I was after.

[Dandelionrarrrr]

Thanks!!

[e1y1]

No problem :)

[rabbit123]

Flash - the dilute sort, not in spray bottles. A cap of this in HOT water can clean pretty everything - floors, kitchen work tops, dining tables, high chairs etc.

Toilet cleaner - for the loo, obviously. Use toilet cleaner first, scrub the bowl and under the water line, flush and then finish off with a squirt of bleach. This is the best way to get rid of limescale and also disinfect the toilet.

Cream cleaner - for the bathroom suite

Bleach - for the kitchen bin & toilet

Pledge - for polishing

That's pretty much all you need. Own brand & pound shop are great for cleaning stuff.

[CremeEggThief]

Fairy washing up liquid
Flash with bleach
Bleach
Window/glass cleaner
Cream cleaner
Toilet cleaner
Bathroom wipes
Wet wipes

Sponges for washing up, cleaning kitchen surfaces and kithen appliances and a few microfiber cloths for cleaning the bathroom (except the loo. That's what the bathroom wipes are for!), dusting and cleaning glass.

[redcaryellowcar]

I would bake sure you have...
Microfibre cloths- a few (4??)
Cotton cloths- I have old cheap ikea tea towels
(Both can be very hot washed after cleaning)
Washing up liquid, good for baths, sinks etc
I also have method multi purpose spray in either lavender or grapefruit for cleaning sinks, work today etc.
Our cleaner likes bleach but I tend to buy ecover toilet cleaner.
White vinegar is handy for windows, put a couple of table spoons in a couple of litres of water with a tiny dot of washing up liquid and then wash with microfibre cloth and dry/ polish with cotton cloth (my grandma swears by old vests/ pyjamas cut up etc for this job)
Ecover do a multipurpose cleaner or zoflora do one too which has good to mix with a few litres of very hot water to wash hard floors.
We have a vileda mop with one of those Squeezy buckets, although hands and knees with a wet cloth probably is a better job.
More importantly, you gave a three week baby, please relax and e joy them and just keep the house from becoming a health hazard!

[Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I've never used furniture polish, I use a damp microfibre cloth for most surfaces, magic eraser block for stubborn marks and one of those pledge dusters on a stick with disposable heads for day to day dusting of nooks and crannies (bookshelves etc).

Toilet cleaner, bathroom spray, bath cleaning liquid, kitchen spray, bleach, limescale remover and disinfectant are my essentials.

[Wonders71]

I Always use fairy(think it lasts longer
Tesco 50p bleach
Tesco discinfectant pine
Flash bathroom
Glass spray
Persil non bio powder
Anti bac wipes kept in loo so can do quick wipe round
Micro fiber cloths