Need advice from professional cleaners please

[Supershiny]

Hi helpful people. I’ve just got a job as a cleaner (in people’s homes) and have to get a cleaning kit together. I’ve made a list but I’m wondering if anyone has any tips and advice on essentials I should have with me? Also do you use a cady to carry things around inside or can I just bung everything in an Ikea blue bag?

Hiya! I cleaned people's houses for years. I used the cleaning products that were already there, but here are some good tips. Use limescale removing toilet cleaner for shower stall glass. It's the only thing that works on built up limescale. Bar keepers friend powder get everything else off. Mirrors only need a few drops of water on a clean towel.

My cleaner tells me what cleaning products she likes. She will also put out any products she has finished using at the end of a clean, so I know to replace it ahead of her next clean.

Also on limescale, I find that the best cleaner for limescale in the toilet bowl is Kilrock Spirit of Salts. A little goes a long way and gets the bowl sparkling white effortlessly. I don't want my cleaner to be lugging a strong acid around or pouring a ton of Harpic down my toilet bowl so I actually use the Kilrock ahead of her clean if the bowl is not looking good. Out of curiosity, I wonder whether cleaners bring Kilrock for stubborn stains.

I use a bucket for my cleaning products. I have bleach, glass cleaner, polish, kitchen spray, floor cleaner, bathroom spray, 1001 carpet spray refresher (pink one) zoflora to put down sinks and toilet cleaner. I use a Vileda turbo spin mop and a Miele cat and dog hoover. I use good quality micro fibre cloths that I wash on 60, I use uni gloves from amazon.

Get magic erasers but use them carefully as they can take paint off walls! They really do get rid of anything though. Old toothbrush for round taps.

Check if client wants to supply their own cleaning products due to allergies etc. Micro fibre cloths. Old towels/tea towels for drying off showers and baths. Old toothbrushes handy for shower tracks, round taps etc.

Be really careful with toilet limescale cleaner on anything except toilets. It permanently stains chrome fittings…as I found out when I ruined my tap :(

Strange that several domestic clients want you to bring your own cleaning kit?

We've had a number of cleaners over the years and they've always used our cleaning products and cloths. I don't like bleach, for instance, so wouldn't be happy about a cleaner using bleach in my house just because they feel like it. Ditto micro fibre cloths - I don't like them on environmental grounds, so our cleaners had to put up with our cotton dish cloths and old flannels etc.

If you're in someone's house presumably they need a stock of cleaning products to use in between cleaner visits?

Anyone any tips for removing limescale on taps?

Citric Acid, you mix it with boiling water until dissolved and then add a couple of tablespoons of washing up liquid. Very cheap and environmentally friendly. If you have a look at Nancy Birtwhistle on instagram she gives the exact amount of water to use.
I made a bottle up and used it to clean a glass shower screen with amazing results.