Navigation

[(feral)epg]

https://www.theguard...t-actually-work

So many of the products tested here worked no better than, or sometimes even less than water.
Are we so 'marketed' at that all we notice is the pretty bottle and nice smells and haven't even considered whether a product is working.

I've been using the special cleaning cloths and water for years now, with only a toilet cleaner and occasionally a bit of gumption for the sink and shower and don't miss most cleaning products.

Be curious to know what other people think.

[Ellie bean]

When I read the title I thought you were referring to my husband and the answer is “only sometimes “

[ytt]

I use a wet then dry cleaning cloths with water for everywhere however In the shower I use the cloth with the liquid soap we use on the body and in the toilet a toilet cleaner.

In the kitchen it's just water and the cloths. They are amazing.

I have heaps as I clean the kitchen after dinner every night (splash back, hot plate etc) then put in the wash.

We do have specialised cleaners like special stone cleaner that you use to strip back probably once every 6 months, leather cleaner for the lounge the dog sits on every 6 months (other just cloths with water) and hotplate cleaner every month or so or when needed.

[Threetwoone]

I use water, vinegar and sometimes bicarb and a cloth. I don't like smelly cleaners and I think the above works fine.

[cvbn]

I use Enjo. I find they work great. If I need an extra bit of oomph I use a squirt of dish washing liquid.

[-Emissary-]

I use pine-o-clean for nearly everything including the toilets and diluted for our floor boards. Occasionally, I’ll use Jif under the toilet seat in the male bathrooms to remove stains.

Windex for mirrors as I find that’s the only thing that leaves it streak free

The biggest problem I have isn’t the cleaning products but the fact we weren’t so smart when we were renovating. My biggest regrets include:
- allowing DH to choose a black stone bench - no matter how much I wipe that thing down, it’s always dusty
- getting chrome tapware for the bathrooms and didn’t go gooseneck..

[Hands Up]

I definitely want something that kills germs in the kitchen and bathroom. Like an above poster I use pine o clean for most cleaning except winded for glass/mirrors/shower screen.

[~LemonMyrtle~]

The only time I use more than water is if the bench has got really greasy, then I find a cleaner, like windex or orange cleaner, works better than water cause they dissolve the grease. I’m sure a bit of detergent would do the same but the spray bottle is convenient.

And yes, people are absolutely baboozled by the advertised claims and smells and germaphobia that they spend all this money on products that aren’t much better than plain water.

Edited by ~LemonMyrtle~, 17 November 2019 - 02:38 PM.

[seayork2002]

I use denture tablets in coffee mugs and they come up spotless

[WaitForMe]

Our cleaners supply their own 'enviro friendly' cleaning solutions I have no idea what, I suspect vinegar and eucalyptus oil primarily. I know they think bicarb is useless so not that and I'm sure they don't buy top end branded enviro stuff.

Outside of that I mostly use water and elbow grease. I have a cream cleaner for when things are particularly bad, and an earths choice surface cleaner that never gets used. Thats about it.

[Hands Up]

But do you not ever use anything other than water to clean your sink, LM? Or your toilet?

Or do you have a cleaner? I had very few cleaning products when our house was being cleaned professionally. Sadly those days are over.

[Expelliarmus]

I tried going just water and fancy cloth but it doesn’t cut thru grease or soap scum. So I use a few products to do that, I tend not to have many though.

[MincePieMasterchef]

From year 11 chemistry I thought the idea was you have long molecules with hydrophillic heads and hydrophobic tails.  So they bind to the grease and then it gets washed away with heat and agitation. Something like that. I remember learning you need all 3 things to clean.

Mind you that was quite a while ago now.

[~LemonMyrtle~]

Hands Up, on 17 November 2019 - 03:28 PM, said:

But do you not ever use anything other than water to clean your sink, LM? Or your toilet?

Or do you have a cleaner? I had very few cleaning products when our house was being cleaned professionally. Sadly those days are over.

Just water in the sink. Occasionally bleach in the toilet. Cleaner just uses micro fibre cloths and water (her choice, not mine), plus Ajax for soap scum/toilet stains/anything that requires some extra abrasive action.

I’m actually allergic to most soaps and fragrances, so I don’t even use hand soap unless absolutely necessary. I just wash well with water.

[**Xena**]

We use soapy water for most cleaning, gumption for harder stuff (soap scum etc that needs a bit extra) and a window cleaner. We've found that combination works

[chicken_bits]

I use KOH and microfibre cloths for everything except the toilet. I'll also use vinegar and bicarb. As another person who is sensitive to fragrances and chemicals, I've been using vinegar and bicarb for years. I got onto KOH 2 years ago and it's fab but not any different to vinegar except on extremely greasy items and stains.

[Jingleflea]

I use KOH on most everything, denture tabs in the toilet bowl itself then a good scrub.
Vinegar and bicarb down the drains when they get stinky.

Denture tabs in the stained tea cups.

I'm not germaphobic, I think we're too clean which can lead to allergies and weaker immune systems so I don't bleach anything, just the above.

[WaitForMe]

WannabeMasterchef, on 17 November 2019 - 03:34 PM, said:

From year 11 chemistry I thought the idea was you have long molecules with hydrophillic heads and hydrophobic tails.  So they bind to the grease and then it gets washed away with heat and agitation. Something like that. I remember learning you need all 3 things to clean.

Mind you that was quite a while ago now.

Yes. Its more about antibacterial. Although it might be good on soap scum, which I don't think would be oil based? It would dissolve the soap.

The funny thing is, nobody talks about using just plain old soap as a natural grease cleaner. A coconut oil based soap is very effective at removing oil, so much so its much too harsh on skin.

[iwanttosleepin]

I mostly use microfibre cloths and water only.

we don't get soap scum because we don't use soap.  we only use small amounts of shower gel.

like a pp, I am allergic to many scented products so have to be very careful.  no flowery smells allowed in my house ever.

I use gumption on my stainless steel and any water marks.

I do use a small amount of washing up detergent on bench tops if really dirty - but gumption works better.

I do use a toilet duck cleaner.

[chicken_bits]

Jenflea, on 17 November 2019 - 05:01 PM, said:

denture tabs in the toilet bowl itself then a good scrub.

I hadn't thought to do this. Totes trying it.

[MooGuru]

I swear by harpic white and shine for the toilets. Primarily use vinegar and water for everything else.

[Hollycoddle]

If it doesn't involve bleach then it's not clean.

[Paddlepop]

I like a good mildly fragranced cleaner. I've found most things can be cleaned by either Morning Fresh detergent or Jif.

Harpic White and Shine for the toilet. It dissolves any poo that is stuck on the bowl which is freaking awesome. Makes scrubbing easier. Coles home brand window cleaner for windows and mirrors. I used to use Windex but it's seemed to be crap and leave things streaky for the past few years. Earth's Choice spray for kitchen benches and things like that. DH and I figure that the alcohol content in it is going to be more effective at killing bacteria than antibacterial products.

Just recently I've added Windex clear surface spray for the new glass/ceramic cooktop that's been installed, and Cerapol cleaner to clean the stubborn marks on it.

One thing I've found that makes a real difference is the scourer or scrubber that's used for grotty stuff. I can't get my most favourite scrubber in Australia anymore. I've found it online so I'll have to order some. I've got two on their last legs. They work brilliantly and don't damage surfaces. Heck, I've even used it to scrub paint out of my DD's school uniform.
https://www.scotch-b...94631809&rt=rud

[Hollycoddle]

Threetwoone, on 17 November 2019 - 02:02 PM, said:

I use water, vinegar and sometimes bicarb and a cloth. I don't like smelly cleaners and I think the above works fine.

Vinegar is smellier than anything chemical you can buy. I won't allow it in the house, it makes me retch.

A bit of methylated spirits mixed with hot water is the best thing for streak-free glass, windows and mirrors. Spray on and wipe off with a dry cloth.

Edited by Mollycoddle, 17 November 2019 - 08:05 PM.

[Riotproof]

Mollycoddle, on 17 November 2019 - 07:59 PM, said:

If it doesn't involve bleach then it's not clean.

Bullsh*t.