I've seen some cleaning advice going around
and as a website full of young adults venturing into the world for the fist time, it's normal to be confused about some homecare details.
So here's a very very brief yet complete list of resources:
1. Visit https://cleanright.eu
This is a EU site free of marketing and ads that gives cleaning advice on technique (room by room) and explains what different types of products do, their labels, where to apply and not. Wherever you are from doesn't matter, it's a well-rounded guide for everybody.
2. After 30 years of experience I determined the products you need to keep your house clean and disinfected and SAFE (for pets and children, specially) are only three:
An abrasive cleaning paste (like the solid version of The Pink Stuff, although there are many more brands): made out of vegetable oils, quartz, glycerine and baking soda... you could actually even make it at home (not worth it considering how cheap it is and how long lasts a bucket)
Non toxic and great for tough stains and incrusted dirt. Don't use on glass, ceramics, and delicate surfaces.
Oxi-active multi-purpose cleaner. To replace bleach, floor and bathroom, and everywhere else that needs a gentle, lightly soapy disinfectant and water residue remover, grease remover, window cleaner, and furniture wiper. *Since there are many brands and not all are pure, LOOK FOR THE ICON OF A PAW on the packaging and the non-toxic icon. That's the good stuff. It's the most expensive of the three items but never more than all the specialized products it replaces.
As a bonus, the non-scented version will make your house smell like clean rain.
And my darling, cheapest and most versatile: CLEANING VINEGAR. It's just more concentrated cooking vinegar. Stupid cheap + 100% safe. At the very worst if your dog or kid drinks a gulp they'll get the shits for a day, but no need to race to the ER.
Great for desinfecting food, kitchen surfaces, bathroom, and getting rid of bad smells (no, in small doses it does not make everything smell like vinegar, it neuralizes odors). Try a teaspoon or two in your laundry! wipe your counter after cooking with it, pour some down the drain if it smells funky, apply to your remote, sponge, keyboard, the inside of a microwave... the uses are limitless and harmless.
You can mix them safely without fearing reactions, use in any part of the house and they are cheaper than any fancy, ultra toxic, extra specialized 20+ products on that scary isle.
