Budget cleaning products

[DuarPorte]

We have recently been prioritising overpaying the mortgage for various specific reasons and successfully frugalised groceries BUT it appears we are slightly clueless about cleaning and cleaning products.

basically we wish to move to a system where piles of spray bottles and bottles of specific this product or that don’t accumulate or need constant topping up -

Are there a couple of super basic components that could be bulk bought and then diluted/decanted throughout it the months? A real trimming down of products that helps the budget?

Like - buy white vinegar, zoflora and bleach and that’s it for a few months or similar - that will do kitchen, bathrooms, surfaces?

would v much appreciate tips :)

[Ragwort]

Microfibre cloths and hot water are enough to clean most things, it is very easy to buy 'products' thinking they will perform miracles ... I do it all the time.

[Chasingsquirrels]

Any multi purpose cleaner will clean most things.

I use Pink Stuff and recently brought a concentrated bottle in Aldi specials - 250ml, dilute 1 part to 40 to make up. It was only slightly more than a normal bottle but will do 13 refills, so a big saving and will reduce plastic usage.

[DisplayPurposesOnly]

You don't need zoflora and bleach. Pick one, use it for the loo. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant.

Hot soapy water is fine for most things (as in washing up liquid).

[DisplayPurposesOnly]

Apols for random bold

[MayBeee]

I fell down the rabbit hole of the hype of Koh cleaning. You get a box like one of those wine box things that were popular a few years ago and a spray bottle you reuse . Brilliant I thought , less plastic , less trips to the shop to buy, website has hundreds of people saying how wonderful it is.
Except it's crap , just like spraying water on your surface with a little bit of an aroma in it.

[DuarPorte]

So - if I combine hot water and dishwasher liquid and use that in a spray bottle - job done for most things + bleach for the loos?

[whiskyremorse]

Stardrops original cleaner is under £1 a bottle (not the versions that come in spray bottles as this is already diluted). I make my own cleaning spray using about a teaspoon of Stardrops and the same of Zoflora in a spray bottle topped up with water. I have used this for years, it's really cheap and works really well.

[KosherDill]

White vinegar and washing up liquid are all you need, with a small bit of bleach for loo.

[KangarooKenny]

Just clean everything with watered down bleach ( get supermarket brand ) and a reusable cloth, then soak the cloth in a strong bleach solution after each use.

[LaWench]

Washing up liquid and disinfectant (zoflora or fabulosa is cheaper) will clean most things.

[glowbabe]

Bleach , washing up liquid , and polish is all you need . Don't waste money buying floor cleaner and polish cleans mirrors just as well as glass cleaner .

[Trivester]

You need to leave whatever product you use on the surface you’re cleaning long enough to work before wiping it up.

I went down a rabbit hole in March 2020 reading about what would kill covid, and how, and in what concentrations. The last bit is important if you’re thinking about diluting products to make them go further because you could reach a point where you may as well not use them.

For everyday cleaning hot soapy water takes care of most things. Add vinegar for windows and mirrors. Bleach occasionally.

Personally, I’ve found for convenience it’s easier to have a spray bottle in each bathroom rather than making something up fresh each time. That way I can clean bathrooms as and when.

[DisplayPurposesOnly]

Just clean everything with watered down bleach

No, don't do that, it's completely unnecessary. Use bleach/disinfectant sparingly, only where required.

Spray bottle
I don't know what everyone's spraying 😆I fill the kitchen sink/bathroom basin with hot soapy water and wipe.

[Hoolahulahoop]

I bought Aldi lavender floor cleaner and it's really really cheap. I used it on counters and bathroom too. For limescale removal Lidl have a w5 product that's cheap and amazing.

[CrotchetyQuaver]

It's absolutely right about hot water, washing up liquid and microfibre cloths cleaning most things.
For the dirt that won't shift l, my current favourite is Elbow Grease from the pound shop, that stuff is amazing. Plus a bottle of flash for mopping floors, Cif bathroom cleaner spray, polish and limescale remover. Oh and harpic black toilet cleaner.
I never use bleach, very very occasionally disinfectant and we are rarely ill.

[Cedarfire]

The Stardrops concentrated one sounds like a good shout, and washing up liquid and bleach for the loo. I would still need glass cleaner or diluted white vinegar for windows and mirrors.
You shouldn’t need much more than that. Some decent microfibre cloths and scouring pads too.

[KangarooKenny]

I’ve tried cleaning my windows with glass cleaner, vinegar and a Karcher, and all had problems with them. The best thing I’ve found is a micro fibre cloth - the one with a rough and smooth side - and plain water. That doesn’t leave any marks or streaks.

[SwelegantParty]

Another vote for a microfibre cloth and water - that cleans most things perfectly well. Have a dry one handy too to polish up any glass or shiny surfaces.

[Tacsi]

I watched a programme once where they tested cleaning products on used sponges ,then tested each sponge afterwards(not sure how scientific it was) but apparently washing up liquid killed the most bacteria even over antibacterial cleaners.

I only really use hot water with washing up liquid anyway for most of my cleaning (bleach for toilet ect) as ive always thought if plates washed in washing up liquid are clean&good enough to eat off, then it's good enough to clean most things with.

[DuarPorte]

Update: so since this thread we used the hot water and dish soap technique with cloths - and voila!!! Amazing results all around kitchen and surfaces. Used bleach in loos and all great!

[SummerPuddings]

Make your own op!

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a24885/make-at-home-cleaners/

And bleach down the loo.

[Debbiedoodah]

I want to try hot water and dishwasher liquid. Do you just premix and add to an old spray bottle? What concentration?

[CatLadyDrinksGin]

Stardrops is excellent and cheap. I use it in the carpet shampooer as well as everything else.

[carefullycourageous]

Yes I just use washing up liquid for most things, everything comes up shiny.

Use vinegar/bicarb for limescale etc.

[carefullycourageous]

@Debbiedoodah

I want to try hot water and dishwasher liquid. Do you just premix and add to an old spray bottle? What concentration?

I just turn on the hot tap or put some hot water in a tub, wet the cloth, put a couple of drops of washing up liquid on whatever you are cleaning.