Best cleaning supplies

[Angel!]

So if all works out today, I am going home early to scrub my house while the kids are still in daycare.

Normally I buy really cheap, generic cleaning supplies & then have to scrub forever because the stuff isn't strong enough.

So I am looking for really strong stuff that works well. What do you use?

Looking for stuff for the kitchen & bathroom.

[swamp]

Dow scrubbing bubbles for the bath, comet for the tub. Pine-sol to mop the floor. Pledge to dust. Murphy's oil soap for wood trim.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for the marks on the walls.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I use Lime-Away for the rust stains and Scrubbing Bubbles with bleach for the rest of the cleaning. Our water is very rusty and it lives stains if you dont' keep on top of it. Plus, I often just use a bleach/water mix. Simple and inexpensive.

[michelyn8]

I use white vinegar and water to mop in my house. I found it cuts dirt/grease as good as any other cleaner and doesn't need to be rinsed to prevent residue.

To clean in the bathrooms, I usually use Comet or the scrubbing bubbles. I have to be careful in there because I like something with bleach the inevitably the fumes will bother me.

Oh and to dust, Febreeze furniture polish.

[midjd]

Scrubbing Bubbles and those Lysol scrubby wipes for the bathroom/kitchen; Magic Eraser (or the store brand) for the walls. Ajax liquid floor cleaner to mop (it smells SO good!)

[mandyms]

I use 100% vinegar in the kitchen and bathroom; last I read, it is an effective disinfectant and cheap. I used to be a cleaning product junky prior to having DD and then became concerned with all the fumes. Baking soda made into a paste works great for "cutting through" grime.

I do use Mr. Clean all purpose mixed with water for mopping, I'll have to try the vinegar for mopping. Michelyn, do you know if the vinegar with affect finished floors?

[Wisconsin Beth]

I bought something this weekend that's awesome on the mildew on the grout in the bathtub. It's a foaming spray w/ bleach and I'll have to check the label to find out the brand. But I sprayed the grout where the tub meets the walls and left it, didn't scrub or anything. Just rinsed a when I was next in the bathroom. DH was amazed at how white the grout was (it was black in spots before I sprayed it)

[taz157]

May 29, 2012 10:04:41 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

I bought something this weekend that's awesome on the mildew on the grout in the bathtub. It's a foaming spray w/ bleach and I'll have to check the label to find out the brand. But I sprayed the grout where the tub meets the walls and left it, didn't scrub or anything. Just rinsed a when I was next in the bathroom. DH was amazed at how white the grout was (it was black in spots before I sprayed it)

Was it Lysol Mold & Mildew with Bleach? I've used that in bathroom shower many times as it's excellent!

FWIW, I hate to clean my shower so it doesn't get done as often as it should.

[chiver78]

Formula 409 for everything that doesn't take Windex.

[xia]

Barkeepers Friend.
That stuff is awesome. Yeah, you have to scrub a bit but it really takes out all kinds of stains.

[Deleted]

I saw commercials for Kaboom bathroom cleaner and Kaboom toilet cleaners this weekend. Both say you spray it on and when the color changes you rinse it off. Sounds good to me!

[michelyn8]

May 29, 2012 9:59:13 GMT -5 mandyms said:

I use 100% vinegar in the kitchen and bathroom; last I read, it is an effective disinfectant and cheap. I used to be a cleaning product junky prior to having DD and then became concerned with all the fumes. Baking soda made into a paste works great for "cutting through" grime.

I do use Mr. Clean all purpose mixed with water for mopping, I'll have to try the vinegar for mopping. Michelyn, do you know if the vinegar with affect finished floors?

I only use it in my kitchen and DD's bathroom in this house since everything else is carpeted (even my bathroom for some reason) but I used it once or twice in my prior rental that had pine in the living room. I don't remember it affecting the finish but for wood surfaces I like to use Murphy's Oil Soap. You don't have to rinse that either (and I've also used that on my kitchen floors when out of vinegar).

ETA: Years ago when I had to paint the ceiling over my mother's hard wood steps, I found out that Murphy's does a great job on paint drops. I mixed as usual and used a wetter mop than normal. I let it sit a few minutes and then mopped up the water rubbing the paint spots as needed. Some needed a little more muscle but I got them all up with no damage to the wood. ;D

[Angel!]

That grout stuff sounds great, I want some of that.

Anyone have anything for grease? H used to like to fry foods, so areas that I haven't cleaned in a while (fan blades, top of fridge) are almost certainly coated with a layer of grease. I haven't tried baking soda for that, so maybe that works well.

The most successful stuff I have used was dishwasher detergent, but it seems that there would be cleaner that meets that purpose besides dishwasher detergent.

[Deleted]

Fantastik, Comet, or Clorox Bathroom cleaner (be careful w/ the Clorox - those fumes are powerful) for sinks/toilets/showers/floors, and vinegar for mirrors. Sometimes I will clean with Dr. Bronner's castile soap in peppermint and just a touch of bleach when stuff is not so grimy and I want a nice after-smell.

[TD2K]

Anyone have anything for grease? H used to like to fry foods, so areas that I haven't cleaned in a while (fan blades, top of fridge) are almost certainly coated with a layer of grease.


Yes, you can get some interesting creations with a few years worth of dust and grease.

Soft scrub is one of my favorites. I don't like comet, I find it's too abrasive over the long haul.

[Chocolate Lover]

I use vinegar on most everything, including the greasy stove, it works great. I can stand the smell of it but commercial cleaners kill me, even in well ventilated areas.

I also use liquid soaps (body washes I didn't like mostly) in the toilet. I don't have hard water/rusty water issues though.

[Deleted]

I use diluted simple green to get rid of grease.

For the grout be careful. I recently had the grout in my shower replaced and the company gave me a laundry list of things not to use and do. Basically nothing with enzymes in it (continues to eat away the grout), don't leave anything on the walls or floor even if it says you can, no Tilex, etc. I use vinegar, water, and a squeegee.

[qofcc]

I wipe the kitchen counters & appliances down after use with diluted cheap dish soap. For occasional deep cleaning I'll use stainless steel polish and glass cleaner on those surfaces.

For weekly bathroom cleaning, I use diluted simple green. I use it full-strenght on really dirty areas and a little bleach in the toilet when necessary.

My daughter uses Babyganics all purpose cleaner on everything. I tried it on our tub/shower when we moved in - it had years of built-up grime and this dissolved it right off with very little scrubbing, but I had to apply it 3 times - the tub was really gross. And apparently it won't hurt you if you drink it. I don't use it for frequent light cleaning because it's pricey.

[Jake 48]

Scrubbing Bubbles or Lysol product for the bathrooms, non ammonia Windex for all other smooth surfaces, Murphy s oil soap for the wood work, Armstrong floor cleaner for the vinyl floors, Soft Scrub or Mr. clean Magic eraser for anything that won't cooperate.

As long as we are on the subject what do you use for black kitchen appliances? They always appear dull after cleaning

[justme]

Grease Lightning is amazing for grease. I'm not sure if there's any material they say not to use it on.

I like the Kaboom cleaner, but I don't think it would work well if you have a lot of grime build up...or you'd have to at least scrub it.

I use the magic erasers on my countertops. I like that I don't have to have a spray bottle in one hand and the sponge in the other.

[Wisconsin Beth]

May 29, 2012 10:17:05 GMT -5 Angel! said:

That grout stuff sounds great, I want some of that.

.

I'll look it up when I get home tonight.

The babyganics for the tub sounds interesting. Our tub is gross and soft scrub/comet isn't cutting it. It would help if we'd clean it on a regular basis, I'm sure...

[Angel!]

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

I am off to go clean my house now.

[michelyn8]

May 29, 2012 11:57:55 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

I am off to go clean my house now.

When you're done, can you run by mine and finish what me and DD2 can't seem to get done?

[Deleted]

Good luck, Angel!

May 29, 2012 10:31:51 GMT -5 Jake 48 said:

As long as we are on the subject what do you use for black kitchen appliances? They always appear dull after cleaning

I buff ours with a dry microfiber cloth. It is probably the only anal retentive thing I do.

[taz157]

May 29, 2012 11:59:51 GMT -5 michelyn8 said:

May 29, 2012 11:57:55 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

I am off to go clean my house now.

When you're done, can you run by mine and finish what me and DD2 can't seem to get done?

Except what I can't get done...

[Anne_in_VA]

May 29, 2012 11:57:55 GMT -5 Angel! said:

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

I am off to go clean my house now.

Do you want a part time job doing mine? I'm looking for someone to clean every couple of weeks. Since I've lost my sight, I can't see where all the dirt is now (maybe that's a good thing), although DH has really been doing more than he used to, but you know, he just doesn't see "dirt" like I do. Sigh!

[moxie]

"Rubbermaid Commercial Shower Spray." "Kaboom!" is decent. "The Works" for toilet bowls.

[moxie]

I was told by my hardwood installer to NEVER use Murphy's Oil Soap on it...either a few drops of dishwashing detergent like Joy or Dawn in water or white vinegar and water.

[Deleted]

May 29, 2012 12:49:10 GMT -5 @moxie said:

I was told by my hardwood installer to NEVER use Murphy's Oil Soap on it...either a few drops of dishwashing detergent like Joy or Dawn in water or white vinegar and water.

interesting. I had never heard this before, but google brings up lots of info on both sides of the arguement.

[moxie]

Something about it ruining the finish...I was told years ago and have never used MOS per his instructions...