I don't want to be that stinky kid...

[kangaeru]

Okay, so I'm going into my Junior year of college, and I'm going to be living in a VERY nice off campus house, being leased to us by my best friend's parents.

This isn't any kind of special arrangement--they have been leasing this house, which is one of the best ones in Amherst, out for about 6 years now.

My question is...what kind of cleaning products should a college house with 4 guys in it need? I am making a list so we can make sure we always have what we need to take care of stuff.

Dishwasher soap
Clorox Bleach Wipes
Mop
Vacuum Cleaner
Broom
Windex

That's all I can really think of....as you can see I don't do much cleaning. I don't want a brown toilet bowl...so can I drop a stick in the back water chamber or do I have to scrub it?

Advice / suggestions welcome.

[snowy]

Comet
Toilet brush
Spray cleaner for bathtub/shower (I actually buy the Clorox bath wands...AMAZING invention!)
Sponges/washrags
Floor cleaner

And yes, even if you use a drop-in you still have to scrub the toilet. Guys especially leave certain...detritus on the toilet bowl.

You probably also want to buy a bottle of regular dish soap and a bottle of bleach--bleach cleans everything, and it's great for when you're moving into the place or out (just make a weak bleach solution and wipe/mop down EVERYTHING in sight versus bothering with specific cleaners). Bleach is cheap and easy but caustic, so use infrequently.

Oh, and I also spray my house down with Febreze Air Effects after cleaning. They have several non-girly scents to choose from.

[shesus]

I think snowy pretty much filled in the gaps. However...
1) Furniture spray. If you have wooden furniture Endust is pretty good and then just use an old t-shirt as a rag.
2) Fantastik is also a good multi-purpose cleaner for kitchen counter tops and bathrooms.
3) If your shower has tile, I would suggest Tilex to get rid of mold and mildew.
4) An old toothbrush is handy for cleaning the grout around the tiles
5) Toilet bowl cleaner
6) Ditto on Febreeze or Lysol spray for air freshening

Good luck!!

[Grasshopper Green]

I always have something like Pine Sol (which comes in several scents) or Mr. Clean for general cleaning. And Mr Clean Magic Erasers. They ROCK.

[kangaeru]

Is this all stuff I can knock off in one giant swipe at wal-mart or something?

[viejo gringo]

and above all---one large scented candle in a SAFE container--
it kills oder and MAY create the right mood...

[shesus]

Originally Posted by kangaeru

Is this all stuff I can knock off in one giant swipe at wal-mart or something?

Yes, you can buy this stuff anywhere. I usually get my cleaning stuff at the grocery store or Walgreens.

[Carno]

Go look at what your parents have. Btw, you don't need to waste money on all these new fangled cleaning products, like bleaching pens. In any case, you aren't going to need all of this stuff in one go, just buy as you need. You'll find out soon enough what you really need. Also, the key is preventive maintenance. Clean a little bit every day and you won't have to set aside an entire day for cleaning. And make sure all of your roommates help. Sometimes roommates cna be lazy bastards and don't do their share

[raeanna74]

I like Mop and Glo for my linoleum floors. It gives it a nice waxy shine and keeps it cleaner for a while.

Also you could buy sponges but I prefer rags. I get a pack of those white dishclothes and use them everywhere for dusting and all. You can clorox them easily and they're cleaner than dried up sponges.

Also depending on where you go - if you have hard water - you might need some Lime-a-way for your sinks, toilet and shower. Obviously don't mix it with other cleaners but when you get that crusty brown ring from hard water the Lime-a-way gets rid of it. Not a necessity but makes it easier to clean.

[SiN]

mmm ... cleaning products

i've a bit of a fetish for them.

heheh.

most is already mentioned .... but my most oft used things are :

409 as an all-purpose cleaner. you can also get the antibacterial kitchen one.
some frown on antibact. products, but i dig them.
should work pretty good as a degreaser in the kitchen too, grease holds smells, so that's important.

Paper towels.
perhaps one of the best inventions ever.
I always get the big packs of them, on sale, so i can use them with abandon.
I use them for whatever i can, cleaning-wise.
sure it's more wasteful than using a 'rag' or a sponge ... but it's convenient and cleaner, i think.

and, I'm a fan of Lysol spray for air-freshening type stuff.

and green scrubbies for when you need some hardcore scrubbing action. the 3M ones, the rest are crap.

that is all i can particularly think of right now.

good thread tho, i'll be moving in a month and may check here for some advise

(and why is this not in Living or How-to ...? eh, may move it eventually ..)

[Bill O'Rights]

Originally Posted by kangaeru

My question is...what kind of cleaning products should a college house with 4 guys in it need?

The answer to your question is...a telephone.
1-800-THEMAID.
For a few extra bucks, sometimes they'll wear those cute little outfits, too.

Actually, I'm only half kidding. 4 college guys, regardless of the amount of "product" in the cabinet, aren't going to actually use it.
For a few buck, each week (divided amoung you), you can have someone come in and take care of it.

[vautrain]

I can't believe no one has mentioned... disposable latex gloves. You absolutely must have these when you clean, especially in that environment. Buy the biggest box of them you can find.

Also, make sure you buy vacuum cleaner bags, and actually change them when they get full. Your vacuum won't do a damn bit of good without them.

My roommates and I actually did have a maid come once a week for a while. It worked out OK, but some roommates got very complacent, and quit cleaning up after themselves like they should have been. Maids don't like to walk into a disaster area every week.

[denim]

Originally Posted by raeanna74

Also depending on where you go - if you have hard water - you might need some Lime-a-way for your sinks, toilet and shower.

Assuming he means Amherst Massachusetts, this won't likely be needed. Hard water isn't an issue in western Massachusetts.

Originally Posted by bill o'rights

Actually, I'm only half kidding. 4 college guys, regardless of the amount of "product" in the cabinet, aren't going to actually use it.
For a few buck, each week (divided amoung you), you can have someone come in and take care of it.

Key point. Whether they'll actually WANT someone to come in, is another story.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by vautrain

I can't believe no one has mentioned... disposable latex gloves. You absolutely must have these when you clean, especially in that environment. Buy the biggest box of them you can find.

I use reusable latex gloves--I have one pair of hot pink ones for the bathroom and one pair of hot pink ones for the kitchen Just make sure to keep THEM clean and they'll keep

[kangaeru]

You know, I'd like to get a maid...but it comes down to a couple things.

First off, we don't have the money. This house is 500/month PER PERSON + utilities. We're getting 6000/768 comcast cable and digital television...so that's like 525 a month for everybody.

On top of this, we should really be able to keep the house clean ourselves, because it's a nice house and we should be able to take pride in it. Plus, I'm normally pretty messy so I want to force myself to keep things clean...it's a good habit to have.

[Carno]

Originally Posted by vautrain

I can't believe no one has mentioned... disposable latex gloves. You absolutely must have these when you clean, especially in that environment. Buy the biggest box of them you can find.

Why do you need gloves? I never use them

[Sweetpea]

I would also suggest Tilex cleaner for the shower.

Sounds like an amazing deal you're all investing in for your college years!! Having a nice place to come back and study at/hang out at will mean allot.

Sweetpea

[Suave]

Not for cleaning, but FEBREEZE. So useful for everything. Furniture, sometimes even the carpet.

[ngdawg]

From the laziest cleaner on the planet:
Swiffers-don't need a broom. this kit has a floor attachment, you can go crazy wiping stuff down, etc. Buy a box of the swiffer cloths for dusting furniture, etc
Mr. Clean Magic Reach-this is a cleaning kit for floors, bathroom, etc. Saves time and your back.
Clorox disinfectant wipes-an absolute MUST in the bathroom
DustBuster-quicker and easier than a floor vaccuum, which you need anyway, but probably won't use much.
409 All-purpose cleaner-does all surfaces, including glass, so no need to buy seperate glass cleaner

[Astrocloud]

Initiate cleaning in your roommates by offering them beer. Disappear while they are cleaning because you are getting the beer. Come home drunk and if confronted -throw up on the clean floor. They will never confront you again. Not only that, you will always have a clean house to party in.

[Cynthetiq]

I say pay someone... that way it's clean and there is no "you drew this job from the bowl and you aren't doing it" interventions.

[vautrain]

Originally Posted by Carn

Why do you need gloves? I never use them

If for no other reason, to keep the harsh cleaning chemicals away from your skin. Also, when cleaning the toilet, especially if a bunch of different people are using it, I'd rather wear gloves.

[Rodney]

Several of the above-named cleaners have white vinegar as one of their major ingredients. Fancy house cleaners cost $2-$3 for a spray bottle; white vinegar costs $3 for a gallon.

It degreases and cleans tile, vinyl flooring, mirrors and windows, countertops, and metal. You can use it straight or diluted. The main drawback is, well, the vinegar smell. To clean grout and the the lime buildup around faucets, just pour some on and let it stand. Does the same thing for pots and pans.

I don't claim it's the greatest -- for really bad fungus and such, only something as dire and powerful as Tilex will do -- but white vinegar will do the job for cleaning most hard surfaces and for wipe-up duty after meals.

[Grasshopper Green]

I just have to add something....
409 is great. It also works really well as a stain remover for clothing. I don't even buy clothing stain removers, I just use my 409. I've never had it discolor anything either. I'm all for multipurpose products so I don't have to keep buying new things.

[barenakedladies]

whatever you do, dont put laundry detergent in the dishwasher.

or in the fishtank for that matter.

[Psycho Dad]

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

I say pay someone...

I was thinking everyone in the house pitch in for a girl in a French maid uniform.