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Original poster

Cleaners, would you clean like this or not?

29 replies

Lackoffunding · 21/12/2023 15:17

I’m usually in work when my cleaners come. I always return to everything looking and smelling really good to be fair. There and two and they take 1.5 hours to do a large 4 bed house.

Today I’m home and could see what they do.

They have 2 big bags, one with cloths and another with zoflora, Flash wipe and go, glass cleaner etc.

They don’t use any water at all, they simply ‘wipe and go’ using clean cloths as they go, same with hard floor cleaning, they use removable floor cloths attached to a spray mop.

Im not complaining but it’s not how I would have expected them to clean and does explain why things are a little bit ‘sticky’ afterwards. None of the cleaning products are wiped off. It is all just sprayed, wiped and go.

Is this how cleaning is now? I fill a sink with warm water and cleaning fluid and keep rinsing and wiping as I clean.

Seems a waste of products, also they go through LOADS of cloths!

OP posts:
BladeOfMiquella · 21/12/2023 15:28

I’m with you OP, that’s not how I clean at all. I can’t imagine not rinsing with hot water. I think my husband cleans like that though - he always leaves everything feeling a bit sticky and will use Flash wipes, whereas I just use a hot cloth

AnotherCountryMummy · 21/12/2023 15:40

Hmmm I'd rinse too. I'd be mildly concerned about all the chemicals and fragrances being left on my surfaces. Especially with pets or little ones.

HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 15:45

BladeOfMiquella · 21/12/2023 15:28

I’m with you OP, that’s not how I clean at all. I can’t imagine not rinsing with hot water. I think my husband cleans like that though - he always leaves everything feeling a bit sticky and will use Flash wipes, whereas I just use a hot cloth

I don’t need to use any cleaning products, usually, because there will always be a residue of what is left over from when DH has just sprayed and wiped off.

He is a great believer in chemicals to do a job. Once I said “it just needs some elbow grease” and he asked where we could buy that from. 😆

At least he does clean, though, even though he does it differently to me.

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Cleaning
Devilsmommy · 21/12/2023 15:52

HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 15:45

I don’t need to use any cleaning products, usually, because there will always be a residue of what is left over from when DH has just sprayed and wiped off.

He is a great believer in chemicals to do a job. Once I said “it just needs some elbow grease” and he asked where we could buy that from. 😆

At least he does clean, though, even though he does it differently to me.

Show quote history

Have we got the same husband? 🤣 I used to be a cleaner and I was told to do this but I can't not use hot water, it's not clean otherwise

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 21/12/2023 15:52

I dont rinse my floor after washing it with a floor cleaner. I use a bucket, water + floor cleaner and dip the mop into it.
I wouldn’t rinse after cleaning the furniture with a wood polish either 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Im struggling to see when I’d ‘wipe off’ cleaning products tbh.

Devilsmommy · 21/12/2023 15:54

@TheGhostOfTheOpera I'd mop exactly the same way, you're using water. OP means just putting chemicals on floor without water and leaving it

maximist · 21/12/2023 15:55

I use two microfibre cloths, one wet (in a bowl of warm water with a bit of washing up liquid) to wipe down with, and a dry one to finish off with. I very seldom use any cleaning sprays or similar. Oh, and I'll either dry dust or use the hoover brush attachment first.

Cleaning using loads of cloths and sprays would upset me!

crazycatladie · 21/12/2023 15:59

Cleaner here. Floors are cleaned with water, mop and flash. Kitchen surfaces are cleaned with warm water, a cloth and kitchen spray. Glass, glass cleaner and dry cloth, furniture, polish with dry cloth. I do use a lot of cloths because it makes the finish look good.

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 21/12/2023 16:02

It depends on what's in the cleaning sprays, they may already be watered down considerably like the ones waitstaff use on tables in restaurants.

I'm not a cleaner but do a lot of cleaning as part of my job and we use washing up liquid and water, with specific stronger solutions for bathrooms. I presume this is following industry standards as we tend to follow them strictly. I use the same at home, fill a spray bottle with water and a squeeze of fairy. I use a dry cloth first to remove dust then spray/ wipe.

BladeOfMiquella · 21/12/2023 16:02

Cleaning the furniture with wood polish is different - I wouldn’t rinse off my wooden furniture.

I’m the same @maximist two microfibre cloths - one wet one dry. I find a good microfibre cloth and hot water with maybe a bit of washing up liquid is all that’s needed

Crunchymum · 21/12/2023 16:04

HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 15:45

I don’t need to use any cleaning products, usually, because there will always be a residue of what is left over from when DH has just sprayed and wiped off.

He is a great believer in chemicals to do a job. Once I said “it just needs some elbow grease” and he asked where we could buy that from. 😆

At least he does clean, though, even though he does it differently to me.

Show quote history

You can actually buy Elbow Grease.

Cleaners, would you clean like this or not?
cardibach · 21/12/2023 16:07

I used Purdy and Figg which is already very diluted. I spray it on and wipe with a cloth. That is ‘wiping off’ isn’t it?
Anyway, I don’t rinse after. In the floor I use Method floor cleaner with a steam mop so there is moisture involved.

LauderSyme · 21/12/2023 16:10

I wouldn't clean my home like that but I know that's how professional cleaners, chambermaids, etc do it.

It's so much quicker than properly cleaning and gives the place at least the impression of being clean.

BladeOfMiquella · 21/12/2023 16:12

@cardibach a steam mop sounds good! Would work on stone flooring?

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 21/12/2023 16:13

Devilsmommy · 21/12/2023 15:54

@TheGhostOfTheOpera I'd mop exactly the same way, you're using water. OP means just putting chemicals on floor without water and leaving it

But what’s the difference?
Thats water with chemical in vs water with chemicals in but on a wipe…

In both cases, chemicals are left on the surface.

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 21/12/2023 16:15

You’re not cleaning better because you are using water….

cardibach · 21/12/2023 16:18

BladeOfMiquella · 21/12/2023 16:12

@cardibach a steam mop sounds good! Would work on stone flooring?

I think so - I know my friend used one on slate! Not expensive either. The one I have is out of stock on Amazon (it’s a Good an’s one, bright green and white) but this looks similar. I always feel like the floor is clean if it’s had steam on it! Probs irrational…
Edit: you have to open the pic to see the make details!

Cleaners, would you clean like this or not?
HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 16:23

Crunchymum · 21/12/2023 16:04

You can actually buy Elbow Grease.

Show quote history

According to Wikipedia, the first use of the phrase in print was in 1672, by Andrew Marvell. Im guessing he wasn’t referring to the spray bottle of cleaning liquid. 😉

tattygrl · 21/12/2023 16:26

I expect this method is the main reason they're able to do a large house so quickly.

I personally wouldn't want to clean like this because like you say it leaves things sticky and also seems pretty environmentally harmful if they're blasting through lots of wipes on every surface - unless I've misunderstood and they just use loads of reusable cloths?

HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 16:27

Cleaning liquids usually contain surfactants. A surfactant is a chemical which breaks down the surface tension of a liquid - it effect, it makes the water wetter!

It is the water that cleans the surface, but the liquid makes it better at doing so.

Using a neat liquid is not as good as using a solution of it in water.

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 21/12/2023 16:29

HardcoreLadyType · 21/12/2023 16:27

Cleaning liquids usually contain surfactants. A surfactant is a chemical which breaks down the surface tension of a liquid - it effect, it makes the water wetter!

It is the water that cleans the surface, but the liquid makes it better at doing so.

Using a neat liquid is not as good as using a solution of it in water.

That’s not what the OP cleaners are doing though.
They are using wipes which are full of a mix of water + cleaning liquid….

BrainInAJar · 21/12/2023 16:33

@HardcoreLadyType there IS a product called Elbow Grease
Good for cleaning jewellery too

BrainInAJar · 21/12/2023 16:34

Oh pp beat me to it!

Original poster
Lackoffunding · 21/12/2023 16:49

Sorry I should reiterate they don’t use wet wipes, they have loads of coloured microfibre washable cloths, they seem to use one say for the kitchen, another for the bathroom- they bring a big bag of them and have a ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ cloth bag. I assume they are then taken home and washed

OP posts:
Itssnacktime · 21/12/2023 16:50

Ex-cleaner here. I used to clean in 2/3 stages.

  1. Wash with warm soapy water (washing up liquid)
  2. For certain surfaces spray with something depending on the room (Dettol for kitchens, soap scum spray for sinks/baths)
  3. Buff dry with a dry clean cloth