Essential Cleaning Products

[QueenGoblin]

I'm trying to get better about cleaning my house now that I have two kids and a husband who works from home. I've had to clean a lot more to keep on top of things but it's all a bit alien to me. My parents were not the best at housekeeping so it's not something that I grew up being aware of and we previously had an AMAZING cleaner who I did not appreciate enough at the time.

My (main) question is what are your essential cleaning products?

Is it necessary to have a kitchen spray and a bathroom spray? Or can you just have one all purpose? Is Mrs Hinch actually any good? What's the best way to keep a kitchen floor clean without having to get the mop out every day?

I'm a recent convert to Koh. It's online only and a big outlay at first but it lasts a long time and it cleans everything, floors, windows, kitchens, carpets, surfaces. I add a little Zoflora to make it smell nice.

It only works when used with a dry cloth so you need a good supply of reusable ecloths. Again, it's a bit of an initial outlay but once you have them they last years. I keep a small basket near the washing machine and I throw all my damp used ecloths and tea towels into it and then run a separate wash for them every 10 days or so.

I find it better to use a different spray for the bathroom. Something like Cif is better at getting limescale and soap scum off in the bathroom, whereas just a normal surface spray is better in the kitchen. I keep a spray and cloth in both bathrooms, as it makes me more likely to do a quick clean when I'm in there!

I spray the shower, basin and loo every other day 5 mins before I get in the shower, and rinse it all off when I step in the shower, then wipe off the basin and loo when I get out.

I wouldn't bother with the Mrs Hinches of this world, personally. I don't think there's any virtue in making housework a hobby or a big thing. Having a set routine really helps though. If I just rely on doing things when I decide they look like they need doing, things don't get done very often or in a regular, organised way!

I think it's helpful to decide what works best for you - a big whole house blitz a couple of times a week or spreading it all out and doing a bit every day. Depends on your work/family schedule etc.

What's the best way to keep a kitchen floor clean without having to get the mop out every day?

Wipe up spills as soon as they happen.

Sweep/vacuum every evening. Much easier than a mop, especially if you have a cordless vac.

I find if I do that I only need to mop a couple of times a week.

Yes, use a dustpan and brush and a cloth here and there when you spot bits. I sweep/hoover twice a week and only mop once.

Maybe it's because I have a baby and a toddler but I find sweeping and wiping up messes just doesn't quite cut it. That is what I am doing but then I went rogue and mopped one evening out of schedule and it was such a massive difference. But the mop is such a faff

Re mop: I love my mop which has a microfibre that attaches to the mop with velcro (Lakeland). I wet the microfibre under the tap, sometimes spray some zoflora, ring it well and go over the floor quickly. No bucket, no waiting for the water to dry as it uses very little water

Products:
Kitchen: elbow grease (poundshop) or a kitchen spray
Hob brite for ceramic hob followed by Astonish window cleaner
Shiny sinks for stainless steel sink
Pink stuff for monthly oven clean plus brillo for the oven racks. Oven Mate also very good
Stainless steel spray by Good Housekeeping for polishing stainless steel splashback and cooker hood
Method granite cleaner for worktops

Bathroom:
Flash wipes for toilet
Harpic (pink one) for toilet
Flash bathroom spray for sink and shower
Bicarbonate soda and white vinegar for cleaning drains once a week followed by a capful of zoflora
Diluted zoflora in an old spray bottle for downstairs toilet to disinfect after guests and deodorise

General
Method wooden floor cleaner for mop (I have wooden floors)
Pledge dry wipes (green wipes) for dusting
Astonish window cleaner and glass E cloth
Diluted zoflora in case anything needs disinfecting

Marigold Scrub Away stainless steel scourer - excellent for grill pans, oven trays etc. Don't use on anything delicate though as it will fetch the surface off. I have also used them for keying up surfaces to be painted

@Maraki Thank you! This was just the type of detail I was hoping for.

You’re welcome. Google Lakeland Spray Mop, it is excellent. Much easier to use than a Vileda, goes under low furniture easily. You can also find similar on amazon

Elbow Grease spray from pound shops. Cheap as chips and is ha da down the best all round cleaner for day to day.

I also have a large stash of cloths under the sink and just wash a bundle when I do a towel wash.

Pink stuff is also handy. It's a gritty paste so use with caution at first to check it doesn't mark when you're cleaning. Terrific on things like grubby outdoor furniture

Zoflora - in supermarkets /pounshops. Use diluted for cleaning floors. I also slosh some neat down shower/plug holes every now and again, and a wee bit in the washer drawer with pet beds/smelly sports gear also good.

Surf liquid detergent (Freshness Of 5 Herbal Extracts is my fave) makes washing smell amazing. I don't use it exclusively - I also use Formil washing powder (lidl) as it's excellent for more mundane washes! Excellent value.

Lidl W5 dishwashing tabs - excellent and much cheaper than Finish/Fairy.

Kitchen
Method Lavender spray for the kitchen

Bathroom
Method mint cleaner
Ecover pine and mint toilet cleaner
I also use a separate limescale cleaner as I live in a very hard water area. I put that down once a week overnight.
I sometimes use Viakal for the taps and kitchen sink/bathroom taps and shower - Like I said, I live in a really hard water area!

Windows I use Method window cleaner

Wood I use Method furniture polish

Floors, soda crystals and boiling water

I have bicarbonate soda for other cleaning such as dried stains on the hob. I used bicarb and vinegar for those.

Can't remember what washing power I use
Stergene Liquid handwash for delicates and wool
Ecover no scent conditioner

I just cleaned the glass on the oven with HG oven cleanr, but it was not so great for the oven base. I covered that in bicarb and vinegar.