Favorite cleaning products/cleaning tips

[LuluLovesDisney]

It takes a long time to clean a home! (Relatively new to this)

I have learned -
everything leaves streaks on stainless steel except for Carbona.
old t shirts are the best cleaning cloths
do a load of laundry every 2 or 3 days so you don't end up with a huge pile
set a timer! (keeps me on task, I don't forget the laundry,etc.)

but I have a lot more to learn!

So, share with me- what are your favorite products (does not have to be cheap, I'd rather spend money on something that works really well or gets the job done faster!) or cleaning tips.

 

[golfgal]

Magic erasers are the best invention for cleaning in the past many decades

 

[blanq]

I am a fan of Caldrea products and use them almost exclusively. They are earth-friendly, smell like heaven, but are not inexpensive. Their stainless cleaner is the best I have found. If you sign up at their web site, they will notify you of specials, like free shipping and discounted products. www.caldrea.com They are based locally for me, which I also like.

I also love Magic Erasers. Those things clean stuff I imagine never coming clean, and I always keep a good supply on hand.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Magic erasers are the best invention for cleaning in the past many decades

What do you use the magic eraser to clean?

I am a fan of Caldrea products and use them almost exclusively. They are earth-friendly, smell like heaven, but are not inexpensive. Their stainless cleaner is the best I have found. If you sign up at their web site, they will notify you of specials, like free shipping and discounted products. www.caldrea.com They are based locally for me, which I also like.

I also love Magic Erasers. Those things clean stuff I imagine never coming clean, and I always keep a good supply on hand.

I will look into Caldrea, thanks!

 

[golfgal]

What do you use the magic eraser to clean?



I will look into Caldrea, thanks!

Everything --they work great on appliance handles, shoes, marks on walls, fiberglass bathtubs/showers, ground in dirt on the floor, steering wheel of the car...

 

[Kat77]

What do you use the magic eraser to clean?

Best for use on anything you have had no luck cleaning in the past... removed a permanent marker smiley face some kid drew on my kitchen cabinet many, many years previously.

 

[klacey1]

I consider both of my Swiffers (I have a wet and dry one) the best cleaning supplies I ever purchased. The fluid/dry pads are a bit pricey, I supposed, but like you, I want products that work.
Before my doggy passed away, the dry cloth was the best at picking up hair. Now, it's great for dust, loose dirt. The wet spray cleans the bathroom and kitchen floors amazingly-- and QUICKLY!
I do have to say-- I've never heard of doing laundry so frequently. That seems like such a waste of water! Plus, it's not good to underload a washer or dryer. There's a minimum amount of clothes that is supposed to be in both.

 

[golfgal]

Black scuff marks on the floor-take your toe, with a sock on, and "erase" the spot. If you want to get technical, take an old broom handle, wrap a sock around one end, secure with rubber band, erase.

 

[mom2d&b]

Love Arm & Hammer Scrub Free bathroom Cleaner with Bleach ( not Oxy). It does wonders on the mold on the floor of my shower.

I am also beginnign to use white vinagar on the mold on my patio umbrella and pavers.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Love my Steam mop. It cleans the floors so nicely.
Oh- and I do 2-3 loads of laundry every day. If I did laundry every 2-3 days I would get lost in it!

 

[wdwmom2]

I am also beginnign to use white vinagar on the mold on my patio umbrella and pavers.

White vinegar works wonders on shower doors. When the door starts to look hazy from the soap/hard water, I take them off, take them outside and lay them flat, pour on some vinegar. I let it sit for 30 minutes or so, and the dirt comes right off using a sponge. Love it!!!

 

[Hillbeans]

I think my favorite cleaning items are Pine Sol and Cinch by **** and Span. Cinch smells great and is really good to clean any room's hard counter surfaces, the bathrooms, toilets, etc....pine sol just smells clean, it gives the house that just cleaned feeling.

 

[Imzadi]

Barkeeper's Friend is absolutely fantastic on re-shining up stainless steel & chrome. The powder version looks like overpriced Comet, but it is microfine particles, or something, as it re-polishes stainless steel. A pot that I thought was hopelessly ruined by scorch marks looks nice & shiny again. The bathroom faucets, which I though were too old & had seen better days look almost brand new again.

I don't care for the long rectangular sponge mops. They do not fit around all my furniture. I have a Libman Wonder Mop. It fits nicely around things.


For windows & mirrors: I use newspaper rather than paper towels. It's not linty and is MUCH cheaper than paper towels.

Also for goop or heavy grease in pots an pans, before washing them with a sponge and getting the sponge all goopy, I use a sheet of newspaper to scoop out the goop or grease. It's much cheaper than wasting a paper towel, too, just to get up the goop.


Handiwipes which have been around forever, but seem to now be re-packaged as Sp*c & Span wipes, are my favorite reusable dust & wash towels.


Scrubbing Bubbles works wonders on dissolving soap scum without scrubbing. even off tile walls & tile floors. Unfortunately, it also removes layers off the inside of one's nose & lungs, as they breathe it in while spraying.


Febreze laundry odor eliminator: this is NOT to be confused with the spray on Febreze that you squirt onto fabrics. You pour a capfull into the washing machine while doing the laundry. This stuff is really pricey, but it gets out deeply embedded odors that plain vinegar or baking soda isn't able to get rid of.

 

[lilmissdisney216]

Mr Clean Magic Erasers: those are AMAZING when it comes to cleaning the kichen or even cleaning shelves with just water.

Swiffer Wet Cloths w/Febreeze: work fabulously!!!! I absolutely LOVE em! That and my swiffer!!

 

[2goofycampers]

Murphy's Oil Soap for wood cleaning.

The Works Toilet Bowl cleaner.

 

[DaisyLynn]

Pine Sol is great! I use it diluted on most surfaces and it leaves my home smelling SOOO CLEAN. Reminds me of Saturday mornings growing up as a kid, as this is what my mothers always used.

Also, Windex Multi Surface with Vinegar. I use this on EVERYTHING throughout the week, as needed.

 

[mrodgers]

I have learned -
do a load of laundry every 2 or 3 days so you don't end up with a huge pile

I do the laundry since the wife started back to work. If you have kids and a wife, it is necessary to switch from the "every 2 or 3 days" to the "2 or 3 loads a day" method.

I consider both of my Swiffers (I have a wet and dry one) the best cleaning supplies I ever purchased.

My 6 year old was addicted to the Shark steam mop infomercials. When we were Christmas shopping for Mom, she saw one in the store and yelled, "We have to get this! It is THE BEST!"

Got one and my wife loves it. Got one for my mother and she loves it. We actually swiffered the hardwood first, then steam mopped it. The steam mop pad was filthy. After using the steam mop, the floors had never felt so clean.

Black scuff marks on the floor-take your toe, with a sock on, and "erase" the spot.

We had scuff marks as well as adhesive (from old carpet tape) on our hardwood floors. My wife used a swiffer, magic eraser, googone, anything she could find and couldn't get rid of the scuff marks and adhesive that we had. When she got her steam mop, my 6 year old was the first to try it since it was her idea to get it. She removed all the scuff marks and adhesive with ease with the steam mop that we couldn't get up ourselves with multiple products.

Love my Steam mop. It cleans the floors so nicely.
Oh- and I do 2-3 loads of laundry every day. If I did laundry every 2-3 days I would get lost in it!

See, same as what I said up there

 

[Nicolepa]

What do you use the magic eraser to clean?



I will look into Caldrea, thanks!

The magic eraser is great at removing soap scum! Also spots on floors/walls/doors.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Wow, lots of good ideas

It is just me and husband right now (just married last November) so every 2-3 days works for now. I just told my husband that when we have kids, I want my Christmas/Mother's Day/Birthday present to be a cleaning and laundry service for the year! lol

Is the steam mop safe on all hardwood floors? I have pine in the kitchen and oak in the rest of the house. The pine is a lot "softer" KWIM?

 

[phillmolly]

Love my new shark steam mop! I just got it a few weeks ago but it works great.

I try to use more natural, green products and by far my most favorite thing to clean with is plain old white vinager. Super cheap and good for the earth. I have a two year old who wants to "help" with everything so I have to really watch what type of cleaning products I used. I use a lot of Method and Seventh Gen stuff. I also just got a book that tells you how to make homemade cleaning products.

I used to do a load of laundry every night, but since we moved the laundry room is down in the basement so now I try to do 2 - 3 loads every 2 - 3 days. With a husband and baby we have lots of laundry. I wash everything on cold, only use about 1/4 of the reccomoned amount of Tide and use 1/2 a dryer sheet. Nobody knows the difference. I do wash sheets, towels and my DH's work clothes in warm, but I never wash anything in Hot. Saves money and better for the earth. I have tried some the "green" laundry soap, but nothing works like Tide to get out the stains.