This year, I have been working on scaling down the products I use at home. To save money and create space, I have been finishing the remainder of the cleaning supplies I’ve compiled over the years. In doing so, I realized there are only a select few that are versatile for the whole house. Here is the list of my top 10 cleaning favorites, and whether you love these products or loathe them, they definitely justify a spot on my shelf!
- Ajax or Comet (or another scratch-free disinfectant) for toilets and cast iron tubs. I also use these on my stainless steel kitchen sink. These products work well to disinfect and remove grime. Best of all, they don’t scratch your surfaces. At $1.00 or less each, you can’t beat it! Hint: If you are unsure, test a small inconspicuous area prior to using.
- Pine-Sol – This multisurface cleaner is my go-to for floors and walls. It makes the house smell fresh and clean and does a great job on my floors. Follow recommendations on the bottle for surface use as well as diluting.
- Invisible Glass – For windows, mirrors, and the stovetop.
- Soft Scrub – I LOVE the cleaning power of this product in both the kitchen and bathroom. Tip: Pour half of the product into another bottle with a squirt top (like these) and dilute both bottles with water. Shake well. Now you have twice as much Soft Scrub!
- Bleach – Ahh, the controversial power of bleach. More on this below.
- White Vinegar – The addition of vinegar to my cleaning repertoire has been quite helpful. I use it in the laundry to remove odors (add a rinse cycle to ensure your clothes/towels don’t come out smelling like vinegar), add to hot water with a couple of drops of Dawn for an awesome exterior window cleaner, and use it to kill weeds. Other considerations are listed below.
- Dawn – My absolute favorite degreaser! It works great in the kitchen, of course, but I also fill a spray bottle with water, add Dawn, and gently shake. Spray on the grill to remove grease, clean grime from patio tables and chairs, and so much more! I keep a spray bottle in the camper for our outside stove. It makes cleaning up so much easier!
- Furniture Polish – It not only shines your furniture and helps to repel dust, but it also makes a great stainless steel cleaner as well! Start by wiping the surface clean with water and a microfiber cloth. Dry with a second cloth. Spray stainless steel generously with Pledge, working in sections. Wipe with cloth until the area is streak-free, folding it occasionally to reveal a dry section.
- Electronics Cleaner – Use to prevent streaking and repel dust. This specially formulated cleaner is safe for televisions, computers, monitors, etc.
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser – This product removes soap scum on shower doors faster than you can imagine! Use it to remove water spots from fixtures, clean tile, remove scuffs, and so much more!
Why Bleach Is One Of My Top 10 Cleaning Favorites
I like bleach. Sue me. I am very old-school in my beliefs about the benefits of this product. It is a true germ killer, without a doubt. I attribute the use of bleach in our whites and throughout our home to our general wellness. Knock on wood, we stay pretty healthy even during cold and flu season. My Grandma taught me this years ago, and she’s almost 90. She knows what she’s talking about!
Bleach is the only way to effectively kill mold and mildew. In combination with the power of steam, it’s amazing.
Use bleach water to clean toys, then rinse and dry well.
Before the nasty-grams start coming in, hear me out on this. You don’t use straight bleach. Dilute it according to the directions on the bottle (carefully…I have ruined many black shirts this way). Oh, and never ever mix it with ammonia. If I someday get chlorine poisoning, the skeptics can say, “I told you so.” Until then, however, it’s bleach for me!
I know some folks have adverse reactions to bleach and find it irritating to use. If you are one of those people and have an alternative to bleach that is as effective, I would love to hear from you!
For more information on the uses of this product, check out this post from Reader’s Digest.
Considerations When Cleaning with Vinegar
I was once on the bandwagon to replace all of the cleaning products containing “harsh chemicals” with natural vinegar. A few things happened over the years while using vinegar as a cleaning agent that I feel are worth mentioning.
- My kids despised the smell. I have to agree, it was overwhelming for hours and hours (even diluted).
- Using vinegar dulled the surfaces of my stove-top, namely the drip pans.
- I found a recipe for a homemade soap scum buster that contained vinegar, Dawn, and water, which worked wonderfully on the tiled shower walls. HOWEVER, it created a slippery surface on the cast iron tub base, the smell was awful, and the worst part: the vinegar (or combination) took the finish off of the shower base. Now, the shower floor never looks clean and needs to be refinished.
Vinegar still has its place in our house though. In addition to using it in the laundry and in the yard, It works well to clean the coffee maker and remove mineral deposits inside the unit. Here’s how:
First, fill the carafe with white vinegar and pour it into the water reservoir. Next, add a filter to the filter basket. Then, turn on the unit until 3-4 cups of vinegar “brews.” Shut off the unit for about 30 minutes. After that, turn unit on until all vinegar runs through. Turn off the coffeemaker.
Don’t discard vinegar! Instead, use the hot vinegar with some baking soda to clear slow drains.
After that, fill the carafe with water and replace the filter. Pour into the reservoir. Run through the unit. Discard and repeat once or twice more so your morning coffee doesn’t taste vinegary!
My top 10 cleaning favorites are inexpensive and simple to use. I would love your feedback, including which products you like the best and why. Oh, and if you’ve had any issues with vinegar taking the finish off a surface, please comment below.
Until Next Time,
April
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