For the Kitchen and Bath, Four Basic Cleaning Products Are All You Need

Window cleaner. Glass cleaner. Bathroom cleaner. Toilet freshener. Oven cleaner. Floor wax. Tile cleaner. A walk down the aisle of the home cleaning section of a typical supermarket can make your head spin. With so many types of cleaning products available, how do you know which ones you really need?

According to an article from Houseworks at HGTV, just four basic home cleaners can handle all of your basic cleaning needs, especially for the kitchen and bathroom – and you might be surprised by which products they recommend.

Window Cleaner – Although you might think this product only cleans windows, it’s actually an effective cleaner for numerous surfaces. Designed to remove dirt and then evaporate without leaving a cleaner residue, window cleaner can be used to remove dirt from anything ranging from mirrors and fixtures to kitchen counters and refrigerators. You’ve invested a lot in your kitchen appliances, and window cleaner will help you keep them shining and looking their best.

Tile and Bathroom Cleaner – This general cleaner does it all when it comes to bathroom cleaning or cleaning tiled surfaces even in kitchens – it removes the film left behind by body oils and soaps, tackles mold and mildew, and eliminates mineral deposits that especially build up on bathroom fixtures. Allow the product to work for the time recommended by the manufacturer before you wipe or rinse it away. And once or twice a year, to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom, consider a professional Tile and Grout Cleaning to keep tiled surfaces and grout lines clean and fresh. Professional cleaners can go boldly where even store-bought tile and bathroom cleaner can’t go.

Degreaser – As any cook knows, removing grease is one of the toughest cleaning tasks you might face in the kitchen, especially on your stovetop. A basic degreaser (often referred to as an “all purpose cleaner”) dissolves grease stains on countertops, stovetops, and virtually any surface, so the stains can more easily be removed. These cleaners tend to leave a slight film, so HGTV recommends that you follow up with a dry cloth to polish your surfaces.

An Abrasive Cleaner – We’ve all been there: hopelessly scrubbing a cooking pot that to remove cooked-in dirt that just won’t come clean. Enter the abrasive cleaners. These chemical-based cleaners offer that extra “oomph” that loosens and removes caked-in dirt (although your own scrubbing power is often required to help them finish the job, especially when dirt has dried in place). Abrasive cleaners can come in handy around the kitchen or bathroom sink as well, or on any surface with ground-in stains. These cleaners contain small particles (abrasives) that assist when you’re scrubbing the surface. Be careful, though: abrasive cleaners can scratch some specialty finishes (including pots and pans with stick-free surfaces). “Soft scrub” abrasive cleaners contain smaller particles and are recommended in such cases. And note: abrasive products can be difficult to rinse off, so they’re most easily used for cleaning such surfaces as sinks, toilets, and bathtubs (if these fixtures don’t have a specialty surface).

Window cleaner, tile and bathroom cleaner, degreaser, and an abrasive cleaner will handle almost any basic cleaning job in the kitchen or bathroom. And if you’re concerned about the environment, check out some of the products listed at ecofriendlyplanet.com that can do the job without the use of heavy chemicals. Either way, the basic message is this: to simplify your cleaning regimen and save money, use just a few effective cleaners. That’s all you need to keep your kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures squeaky clean.