Favorite cleaning products/cleaning tips

[ORMom2Four]

Plain 'ol rubbing alcohol shines sink fauces so bright they will look brand new. I also use it to clean our freestanding chrome tp holder.

 

[MizTink]

i just moved back in with my parents temporarily and they can not get over the amount of laundry we do! there are 6 of us (mom & dad do their own, separately) and if i let it go for a few days it just gets crazy!!!

 

[DawnCt1]

I wear an apron, dangle cleaning solutions off of each loop, fill my front pockets withe 100% cotton dinner napkins and start from the top and work down. Years ago I discovered the Clean Team and have used that approach. It is the fastest method and you avoid cleaning things twice. Their products are good too but I generally buy whats on sale. I haven't tried Carbona. I am "new" to stainless steel" appliances so thanks for the suggestion. http://www.thecleanteam.com/

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

I've used the "Speed Cleaning" products/techniques from The Clean Team for...gosh...over 12 years, maybe? Love it. Zip, zip, through the cleaning, and their products work well. Anything that was too pricey or didn't seem spectacular, I ditched and used other products over the years, but it's still my go-to cleaning system.

 

[SondraC]

My favorite is my vacuum! Nothing beats a good vacuum with handy attachments, and I use every one of them!

My other fav is Mr. Clean magic eraser. I can't believe the marks this things gets off!! Wow!!

My newest favorite is Tide Stain Release in-wash booster! AMAZING! I had a 100% white cotton shirt on, and dropped a Rita's cherry Italian ice on, we are talking red! Tide booster took it right out. No pre-soak or anything on it.
It even removed stains that were already set from the dryer.

 

[alexensmom]

Magic Erasers for me too.

Cannot tell you how impressed I am with our steam mop. Did the same swiffer test before mopping. Same amazing results. We have laminate hard wood. I would use it on oak if they were sealed well.

A paste made from baking soda and water will take off stains from laminate counter tops.

I like the convenience of lysol wipes, but cringed at the price. Since DS came along (and had baby wipes in practically every room) I use them to clean toilets, counter tops, bathroom sinks and anything that needs wiped down. I use lysol spray with them and it really cuts the cost of the lysol/clorox wipes.

I tend to wash laundry every day. I hang our clothes instead of drying them as much as possible, so one load per day lets me do that.

 

[tinatark]

Vinegar and alcohol will clean most everything - I use vinegar for countertops, floors - alcohol for glass, metal.

 

[MizTink]

here's a tip:
if you have a wet stain on something like a mattress pour baking soda on it and let it sit for several hours. it will absorb all of the moisture and you can then clean the dried, crumbly, baking soda. i vacuum it up. this gets the odor out too.
i have used baby powder when i didn't have baking soda.
i have used this for water, urine, blood, and vomit. doesn't even leave a water mark when it's all done!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Love my steam mop and magic eraser. I also love Srubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel! The entire bathroom smells good.

If anyone has a tip on cheap granite cleaner, pass it on. I wipe my counters down a lot and granite cleaner is expensive.

 

[MizTink]

Love my steam mop and magic eraser. I also love Srubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel! The entire bathroom smells good.

If anyone has a tip on cheap granite cleaner, pass it on. I wipe my counters down a lot and granite cleaner is expensive.

just got granite a few weeks ago. i was just using the dish cloth, but had lots of streaks and water marks. i researched a little and now clean with the dishcloth first, then use 50/50 alcohol/water mix in a spray bottle and then wipe it with a microfiber cloth. it shines like glass!!! you can't get much cheaper than that!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Wow, I am checking out the Clean Team now, too. I will check library for books before I buy, though.

Any suggestions for stovetop (gas range). I can get it clean, but streaks are hard to avoid. (black porcelain, I think- the front is stainless steel).

 

[MizTink]

Wow, I am checking out the Clean Team now, too. I will check library for books before I buy, though.

Any suggestions for stovetop (gas range). I can get it clean, but streaks are hard to avoid. (black porcelain, I think- the front is stainless steel).

after i clean any mess with the dishcloth i use a microfiber towel to get rid of streaks

 

[SondraC]

here's a tip:
if you have a wet stain on something like a mattress pour baking soda on it and let it sit for several hours. it will absorb all of the moisture and you can then clean the dried, crumbly, baking soda. i vacuum it up. this gets the odor out too.
i have used baby powder when i didn't have baking soda.
i have used this for water, urine, blood, and vomit. doesn't even leave a water mark when it's all done!!

Love this tip! My ds (14) is totally diaper dependent (special needs) and we just bought a new mattress and box spring because of too many leaks.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Imzadi]

Love this tip! My ds (14) is totally diaper dependent (special needs) and we just bought a new mattress and box spring because of too many leaks.
Thanks for posting.

Bed, Bath & Beyond have new waterproof mattress cases, which are NOT loud & crunchy. My cat has pooed in my bed. While she hasn't peed, I'm not waiting till it happens. I did get a quilted mattress pad to go on top of the waterproof case anyway, which can much more easily be stripped off and tossed in the wash. At least, this way, any liquid doesn't seep all the way down to the mattress.

 

[MizTink]

a good mattress pad is a must! but somehow things seem to happen when it's off!! or on a pillow, or the couch, etc....

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I have a mattress protector, too. I got it free with my mattress at Sleepy's and I forget it is there, it doesn't make crunchy noises.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

This may sound crazy but I have been using "Totally Awesome" laundry cleaner from the Dollar Tree for a few years now and it works GREAT for everything from carpet, to stains on clothes to furniture. It gets everything out! It's only a dollar too! Now they have a laundry booster but I have not tried it.

I also love my Swiffer Wet Cloths w/Febreeze. I love the way it smells and it's so easy to use.

 

[dyna]

Some of my cleaning methods takes a little bit to do but saves me time later for months.

Bathroom... If you have not already scerubbed away the shinny finish on shower an sink( never ever use ajax, bar keepers friend soft scrub or any abrasive in shower or sinks.) Use magic erasers limeaway or pure vinegar an get all the lime scale soap scum etc off shower walls.
Then put a coat of car wax on shower walls down sides of tub DO NOT WAX BOTTOM OF TUB!!!!!!

Once the wax is on all I do is spray on the scrub free once or twice a week then spray it back off with water wipe off where the water collects on ledges I'm done...same with bathroom sink only there I wax counter top area too.

Spray rag with vinegar to clean mirror then wipe with dry part of rag I wet one end dry with the other

A teaspoon of cornstarch in your vinegar water for cleaning an you will never ever have streaks. Just shake bottle before using to mix uo the cornstarch

Old plastic cards (credit card type) works wonders for cleaning scrapes from the bottom unlike scrubbers that scrape from top leaving you to scrub thru to the bottome of grime. Can be used on nonstick cookware without damaging it. Great for that grime you can feel but can't see on counter tops an table etc.

 

[dyna]

Call my 3 yr old Gson he LOVES to clean will go get vaccum cleaner plug it in an spend 3 hrs vaccuming throws a temper tantrum if intteruppted an has to stop for an appointment or anything. He actually pickes up stuff off the floor an puts it waway while vaccuming too.

Loves to load an unload dishwasher, loves to mop floors this one he needs help wring out mop tho or you'll be swimming in house.

Has thrown 2 hr temper trantrum because he could not take my new mop outside an mop patio an grass.

now if only he keeps it up as he gets older......

 

[Imzadi]

Call my 3 yr old Gson he LOVES to clean will go get vaccum cleaner plug it in an spend 3 hrs vaccuming throws a temper tantrum if intteruppted an has to stop for an appointment or anything. He actually pickes up stuff off the floor an puts it waway while vaccuming too.

Loves to load an unload dishwasher, loves to mop floors this one he needs help wring out mop tho or you'll be swimming in house.

Has thrown 2 hr temper trantrum because he could not take my new mop outside an mop patio an grass.

now if only he keeps it up as he gets older......

Yes, please send him this way. I have a room he can clean.

As he gets older, he should be rewarded for cleaning. Girl teens babysit, but he can clean homes for money.