Friday, August 13, 2010

Essential Cleaning Products - And Ones You Really Don't Need

There are so many cleaning products on the shelves, you could be forgiven for thinking that you need to spend loads of money on getting your home clean. But this is definitely not the case. Here we list your kitchen cupboard essentials - and some products you should definitely avoid.

All-purpose cleaning spray

This is useful to spray on your work surfaces and other items before wiping them down. Most experts agree that antibacterial sprays are unnecessary. A cheap, own brand all-purpose cleaning spray will be fine.

Washing up liquid

Hot soapy water is useful for lots of jobs such as cleaning the floor and walls, as well as for cleaning your dishes.

A scouring powder or cream cleaner

These are good for tough cleaning jobs such as cleaning the toilet or a grimy porcelain basin. The powders are tougher than the liquids but don't use them on plastic surfaces as they are too abrasive. Be careful that you don't breathe in the airborne particles, particularly if you have a respiratory problem such as asthma.

Washing powder or liquid

A good quality biological washing powder is the best way to banish stains and to make sure that your whites stay white. Biological liquids and non-biological detergents do not come out so well in cleaning tests. But some people find that they are perfectly adequate, particularly for lightly soiled laundry, and that non-biological powders and liquids are kinder to their skin.

As well as washing your clothes, you can use biological washing powder for cleaning a dirty bath and for soaking clean a dirty grill pan, roasting pans and oven racks.

Dishwasher detergent or tablets

Most people use tablets in their dishwasher but the liquid is cheaper and also comes in useful for cleaning plastic baths and getting rid of burnt-on food in pans.

A disinfectant cleaning spray for the bathroom

This is useful to spray on the bath and basin before you wipe them down. Also use it on the outside of the toilet, the seat and the handle.

Toilet cleaner

Use a squirt of toilet cleaner to clean the toilet and bring a little fragrance into the bathroom - but don't go mad. You don't need to use half the bottle every time.

Household bleach

Go easy with bleach as it's not good for your health or the environment but a little bit of bleach will help with really tough cleaning jobs.

And finally, here are some items that you really don't need to buy. They are expensive and other products will do the job just as well:

Specialist stain-remover liquids, particularly the very expensive ones in small bottles

Try soaking the item in a solution of biological washing powder or use a general stain remover.

Fabric whiteners

Try soaking the item in an oxy-stain remover solution and then washing it at the highest recommended temperature for the item (check the garment care label) using a good quality biological washing powder.

Stainless steel cleaner

A damp cloth dipped in bicarbonate of soda and a good rinse is usually all you need. You can also wipe stainless steel surfaces with a small amount of baby oil to help it shine.

Window cleaning sprays

A 50-50 mix of vinegar and water is all you need to clean your windows.

Limescale remover

Ordinary white vinegar on kitchen paper works just as well, though avoid putting it on plated taps.

Water softening tablets

Ordinary washing soda crystals will work just as well and cost considerably less.

Dishwasher cleaners

These are very expensive. You can clean your dishwasher just as well by running the empty machine on a hot wash with half a cup of white vinegar.

Happy cleaning!

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