What cleaning products do I NEED in my stash?

[NeedToGetMyShitTogether]

Hi everyone. As the name implies, I’m trying to get “life” a bit more organised. Part of that is getting on top of cleaning and making my house more appealing. Appealing to myself mostly, but also to guests. This has left me pondering over cleaning products!!

Until recently we had a huge shelf in a storage cupboard full of cleaning products. Some part used, some duplicates, some in rusty old aerosols because they’d been there about ten years!!! So I’ve had a massive cull, but after having too much, I now don’t know what I NEED in my stash.

We have tiled floors that I steam mop, without detergent. This gets the floors nice and clean but doesn’t have a smell, and I’d like it to smell fresh when I’m done! Would a spray of something on the floor first help give it a fresh/clean smell?

I have mostly high gloss laquered furniture with glass tops. I’ve always cleaned this (laquer AND glass parts) with glass cleaner. Again this doesn’t particulalry have a scent, but seems to do the job. Would you use anything different on this type of furniture?

Other than that I use a bathroom spray, an antibacterial spray on kitchen surfaces, and bleach down the loo.

I don’t ever feel like my house smells fresh and clean. Do I need different/more/better cleaning products?? Or maybe air fresheners and candles are what is lacking? I want to love my house a little more... 🏡

[FeedMyFaceWithBattenberg]

You need to have a little look at the zoflora thread on here... over 1k responses!
It has loads of different uses and there's lots of different smells, may be just what you're looking for OP!

[Nanasueathome]

You need to also look at the Stardrops range
Get it from somewhere like B&M or Home Bargains though as it is usually 99p there but can be up to £5 in other stores or Amazon

[NeedToGetMyShitTogether]

Well I already had Zoflora on my radar after seeing lots of posts on here about it as I skimmed through trying to find some enthusiasm for cleaning my house.... so after your reply @battenburg I headed out to our local hardware shop, came back with a “value” pack (£7!! But next alternative is a half hour drive to town so took the plunge ) and have spent two hours in the bathroom... cleaning, lol.

Loving the sparkle, and the clean and pleasant smell it’s left behind!

I’ve also done the mold around my patio door with the HG mold spray as also discovered on here... another £6 at said hardware shop. Lol. But another good result.

Top marks to mumsnetters so far!

Next job is my kitchen window... that can wait till tomorrow.

[whiskyowl]

Get yourself a decent set of microfibre cloths for different surfaces - different ones for glass and stainless steel to other surfaces.

Method floor cleaners are lovely - the yellow multipurpose one and the brown one for wood smell gorgeous.

[Tiddlywinks63]

You definitely need microfibre cloths and the Lakeland window cleaning pack with two cloths is absolutely brilliant, just use with water. They're the best things for glass /mirrors/windows that I've ever used!

[pastabest]

Magic erasers. You can buy loads for a few quid (I usually get 10 for 90p or something) they are amazing on grouting and floors and things.

I use zoflora (tiny amounts for bathroom and kitchen floors mainly) a bottle lasts me about 6 months if not longer.

After that I just use washing up liquid and water and an ordinary dish sponge for most other things.

Occasionally I wash radiators, doors and skirting boards with water with a bit of fabric conditioner in.

[MikeUniformMike]

Glass cloths from Home Bargains are about 39p.
White vinegar spray will clean most surfaces including glass.
Magic erasers.
Washing up liquid.
Antiseptic-disinfectant.
Bleach for plugholes and loo.
Stardrops is great.
Try £1 shops and 'Savers' or Home Bargains.

[specialsubject]

Lose the bleach! Throwing it down the toilet achieves nothing except pollution.

[MikeUniformMike]

I don't throw it down the toilet. I use it carefully and only occasionally.

[BlackEyedKid]

An ecloth. Polishes anything completely smearfree with just water.

[goldenclaire]

I'll never understand why people get passionately anti-bleach. Its no worse than zoflora, mr muscles, etc, for the environment.

[Hillbillyhotel]

Cillit Bang Bleaxh and Hygiene is honestly the light of my life! It makes everything smell like swimming pools and everybody remarks on how clean the toilet and kitchen smell also great for a quick spray in the sink when unexpected visitors turn up,the room smells clean even when it's filthy

[Clankboing]

The whole Method range is lovely. I like the Cif (white) cream cleanser - it cleans brilliantly and I love the smell. Milton tablets or sterilising tablets are good for popping in toilets or sinks. I use the pink Flash to clean floors and Pledge soapy wooden cleaner to clean the wooden floors. (I use wipes for skirtings and doors). I occasionally use Shake n Vac or the pet version on carpets. I obsessively smell fabric conditioner which makes everywhere upstairs (beds) smell nice. I also have LOTS of plants. I never buy pine, lavender or lemon scents - they remind me of public underground toilets. As you may tell I am obsessive about cleaning products. Fortunately for the environment I clean so rarely to create a bad effect.

[ArcheryAnnie]

and bleach down the loo

Ditch the bleach (or use it up carefully, I suppose) and next time, buy Method loo cleaner. It comes in a turquoise bottle from waitrose, tesco or Robert Dyas, costs about £3, and is the best loo cleaner I have ever come across. I live in a very hard water area and it's the only loo cleaner I have ever had which properly gets rid of the limescale. It also has a peppermint scent, which is a nice change after all the usual horrible bog-clearer smells.

[just5morepeas]

Another vote for method here. I love their multipurpose spray and their floor cleaner - that, bleach for the loo, glass cleaner, and furniture polish, are about all i need. I only use anti bac on the bins and fridge and also recommend micro fibre cloths.

I love scented candles too, natural scents generally, I find they make the house smell clean.

[goldenclaire]

As nice as that Method loo cleaner sounds not everyone has £3 to throw down the toilet though.

[ArcheryAnnie]

It's £3 that actually gets the toilet clean, though, golden. There's no point spending £1 after £1 after £1 after £1 after £1 and still being left with a grungy toilet.

(The Method one also doesn't bugger up the environment quite as much, either, which is nice.)

[MikeUniformMike]

I've tried method stuff and although it was nice I can't afford it. I can afford a 50p bottle of bleach.
I have lived in a house for a long time where there was a septic tank so know what not to use.

[specialsubject]

What does everyone think bleach in water in the loo actually does?

[17caterpillars1mouse]

Not a massive cleaner but i love tge method range (even more so now im pg as it never feels like using strong chemicals)

I especially love the rhubarb anti-bac (though not on surfaces you prepare good as it gives food a weird taste - found out from using it on my dd highchair tray)

Also love the shower cleaner and the bathroom anti-bac in water mint

[Blodplod]

I posted this a while ago.. but Fast Glass from Halfords. It’s for glass on cars and is magic solution for glass, mirrors, windows etc, it’s expensive but lasts ages and so easy to use, no more streaks smears and mirrors don’t go funny in condensation

[MikeUniformMike]

The bleach isn't put in the loo water, it is put under the rim so it trickles down. I only do it occasionally and I don't use lots. When I flush afterwards, the loo brush gets a bleachy rinse at the same time.
It's for killing germs and bleaching.
It works for me.

[ArcheryAnnie]

I can afford a 50p bottle of bleach.

That 50p would be wasted money for me, because it doesn't get my loo clean! Seriously, I have tried everything, both usual loo cleaners and all the weird alternatives like coke and vinegar. So Method it is for me.

Everyone makes choices, and it's a bit like someone saying "I wouldn't pay £3 for a coffee just to pour it down my throat". I don't often buy a coffee out, because I can't afford an extra £3 a day just for that, but when I do, I don't see it as a waste.

[dontquotemeondailymail]

I’ve also done the mold around my patio door with the HG mold spray as also discovered on here... another £6 at said hardware shop.

Intrigued by this! We always get lots of mould around the windows, it's a never ending issue. Is it only in hardware shops, or can I find it in supermarkets?

[specialsubject]

Silly me, everyone says ' down the loo' so I assumed they meant that.

Still don't need bleach. Gloves , a scrubber thing and a tiny bit of something less vicious. Or the dreaded bog brush. Or a properly designed toilet that doesn't have dirt traps.