What cleaning products do you actually need/use?

[KentishMaid1977]

A quick glance around my kitchen and bathroom reveals a whole load of different cleaners:

cream cleaners, floor cleaner, limescale removers, window and tile cleaner, all purpose cleaner, daily shower shine, thick bleach, thin bleach, eco toilet cleaner etc etc.

Surely I don't really need all of these? What do you use to clean your kitchen/bathroom?

I have -

Cif cream cleaner - worktops, bathroom fittings
Ecover surface cleaner - for the kitchen lino
Thick bleach - down the loo
Viakal - for an occasional blast at the limescale
Oh and there's probably something for windows at the back of the cupboard...

That covers my kitchen and bathroom cleaning needs!

I use a good quality thick bleach for around the loo, down all plug holes, w.h.basin and kitchen sink. I decant some into a spray bottle (and re-label it) and mix with water to dilute for baths and shower cubicles, not forgetting to rinse it off. Flash All Purpose for all surfaces in kitchen and bathroom and floors.
I use reusable cotton cloths and towels in the kitchen as they are absorbant and washable and put out fresh ones every morning.

The decent microfibre cloths are great for mirrors, glass or anywhere that needs a shine - not the £1 cheapo imitations. Co Op have some good pink ones with textured sides.

In my humble opinion, if you ignore all the blurb and look at the ingredients, they are all more or less the same - kill germs, clean or shine. Elbow Grease is free.

Bathroom
Method tile +tub
Method shower clean
Bleach for the loos .

Kitchen
Method all purpose cleaner
Flash for the floor

Other rooms
Mr sheen
occasional squirt of fabreeze but don't really like the smell!

My chum (who has big house and more ££ than me) has a cleaner - apparently the cleaners poison of choice is furniture polish and not much else! House looks and smells nice and clean, but she must use something else on bathroom.
I have bleach, spray cleaners in bathroom, anti bac for kitchen, stainless steel (less smeary) for hob and all purpose cleaner for floor, or use bleach, plus the cleaners fave - furniture polish. But lurking under the sink would reveal more...I have things like leather wipes for the sofa (never used)

I use:
Flash all purpose spray for kitchen worktops, hob and all of bathroom, window sills etc use with kitchen roll

Flash all purpose big bottle- dilute in hot water to handwash kitchen floor with a sponge

Spray window/glass cleaner- (lovely fruity scent- get it from pound shop) for all mirrors, inside windows (have window cleaner once a month to do the outside)

Beeswax furniture polish spray- For all furniture, use with yellow duster

Thick bleach- use down toilets/ leave to sit in kitchen sink once every few weeks to make it nice and White again.

Think that's all, so not much! Although I do get through quite a bit of kitchen roll-however I never pay more than £1 for 4!

Thank you all! I think I do get lured in by the marketing when I know really that most products do a similar job!

I have too many products but I am trying to downsize them and move more towards eco-friendly products.

One quick win you can implement though is to get rid of both types of bleach - just use the thick version (get it from Aldi where it is cheap!) and dilute it where necessary. Bleach is not good for the environment though, so use in moderation!

Think I might have too many...

Kitchen
Dettol wipes to clean counters in the morning cos the cat likes to spend the night dancing on them
Ecover spray to clean counters after dinner
Ecover multi-surface for floor
Bicarbonate of soda for sink
Cif for sink
Soda crystals for drain

Bathroom
Ecover toilet cleaner
Denture tablets for toilet
Bleach for toilet
Bicarbonate of soda for sink and bath
Eucalyptus oil for sink and bath
Cif for sink and bath
Method shower spray (used after squeegee)
Vinegar
HG limescale remover
Microfibre cloth for mirror

Rest of house
Spray furniture polish
Wax polish for older furniture (we have a real mix of mismatched stuff)
Windolene for windows
Leather wipes

Think I have too much stuff because I don't keep on top of the cleaning . Like to use eco things where I can, but if I've left it too long and things are really bad then I bring out the big guns!

Nice to nose and see what other people do
sahmbles, I'm curious as to what the denture tablets do down the toilet? Am I missing a trick?

I love the Method All Surface cleaner. Its got a great lavender smell, and as I'm running around the kitchen spraying the surfaces, for a split second, just a micro second, I breathe in and think "ahhhhhhhh"

And then I carry in running.... !

The denture tablets help remove stains and limescale from the loo. Just drop a couple in before bed, then when you get up give a quick brush and flush. Denture tablets can also work for things like tea-stained mugs and stained sinks, with minimal effort

Bleach - sinks and loos oh and bathroom tiles
Window cleaner - morrisons own brand
Value baby wipes - everything! Marks in paintwork, damp dusting, wiping spills/sticky stuff
Limescale remover

That is pretty much it. Surfaces get cleaned with hot soapy (washing up liquid) water
Might occasionally use a all purpose spray for bath/sink/surfaces

Haha sahmbles, I think that's why I have too much stuff too - need the real heavy duty stuff to crack through the dirt when it builds up too much :)