Tips for a Novice!

[froggy901]

Hi everyone! I'm trying to change the error of my ways and become a lot more organised with my cleaning. I also want to be a little more frugal when it comes to cleaning products, but let's be honest - there are a million and one things claiming to do, well, a million to one things! I just don't know where to start!

So far, my cleaning cupboard consists of white vinegar, bicarb of soda, Cif Actifizz and Dettol spray, as well as the standard cloths and sponges. Is there anything important I'm missing?

I know that vinegar and bicarb are used for doing loads of things, but how do I use them and for what?

Looking forward to hearing from people, am still new here and it's a little daunting, being such a beginner!

I find the best things for cleaning are:

Hoover (I like my Dyson)
Dusters (any rags will do - old joggers cut up are ace) - use damp or dry
washing up liquid and water (for cleaning)
I also like my windows and mirrors e-cloth (it's also great on the v v v hiny piano!)

I personally use cillit bang in the bathroom, somewhat against my better judgement as I suspect it is not very eco friendly, but it seems to get my icky bath clean.

But really you need elbow grease and organisation rather than a lot of products. IME.

haha I read that as 'use damp or dry washing up liquid and water', and was really starting to panic at how little I knew about cleaning - dry washig up liquid?! lol Thanks!

I bought a book a little while ago about how to make your own eco-friendly cleaning products. The book has long since disappeared and I am left with an assortment of odd things like castile soap and borax under my kitchen sink.

I do now always use neat bicarb to clean the sink with - just sprinkle in, scrub as normal and rinse away - just as good as cream cleaner. If I want to show off, I sprinkle some down the plug hole and slosh a bit of white vinegar down it - makes it all fizz up but not sure it actually cleans any better!

I also sprinkle bicarb in the bin and keep a little tub of it (opened) in the fridge to keep the smells down.

I use vinegar spray to clean my glass coffee table and occasionally, the inside of the windows.

I did use an eco friendly spray to clean the loo with - but am ashamed to say have since defected back to Flash Spray with Bleach as it does do a better job

Another good frugal cleaner is Stardrops, which do almost anything and are about 90p a bottle

You just dilute them in an old spray bottle 1 to 10 dolution I usually use and its very good for degreasing

I use shampoo/ shower gel plus a cap of bleach to clean the loo as I keep the brush soaking in it. It smells nice and as I use it as part of my daily swish & swipe it doesnt need to be especially powerful as it never really gets that dirty.