08-29-2005, 05:13 PM | #1 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: on the road to where I want to be...
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I don't want to be that stinky kid...
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.
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08-29-2005, 05:18 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Kick Ass Kunoichi
Location: Oregon
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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.
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08-29-2005, 05:22 PM | #3 (permalink) |
Fancy
Location: Chicago
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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!!
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08-29-2005, 06:12 PM | #4 (permalink) |
...is a comical chap
Location: Where morons reign supreme
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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.
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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa |
08-29-2005, 06:49 PM | #7 (permalink) | |
Fancy
Location: Chicago
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Quote:
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Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company |
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08-30-2005, 05:03 AM | #8 (permalink) |
Junkie
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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
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08-30-2005, 05:07 AM | #9 (permalink) |
I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot!
Location: Upper Michigan
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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.
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08-30-2005, 05:23 AM | #10 (permalink) |
strangelove
Location: ...more here than there...
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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 ..)
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08-30-2005, 06:09 AM | #11 (permalink) | |
will always be an Alyson Hanniganite
Location: In the dust of the archives
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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.
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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt. Last edited by Bill O'Rights; 08-30-2005 at 06:17 AM.. |
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08-30-2005, 06:55 AM | #12 (permalink) |
Crazy
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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. |
08-30-2005, 07:01 AM | #13 (permalink) | ||
Banned
Location: Massachusetts, USA
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08-30-2005, 07:52 AM | #14 (permalink) | |
Kick Ass Kunoichi
Location: Oregon
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
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08-30-2005, 07:53 AM | #15 (permalink) |
Crazy
Location: on the road to where I want to be...
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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.
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08-30-2005, 08:42 AM | #16 (permalink) | |
Junkie
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08-30-2005, 08:43 AM | #17 (permalink) |
Fade out
Location: in love
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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
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08-30-2005, 08:56 AM | #18 (permalink) |
Twitterpated
Location: My own little world (also Canada)
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Not for cleaning, but FEBREEZE. So useful for everything. Furniture, sometimes even the carpet.
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08-30-2005, 10:34 AM | #19 (permalink) |
peekaboo
Location: on the back, bitch
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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
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08-30-2005, 11:17 AM | #21 (permalink) |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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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.
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08-30-2005, 12:10 PM | #22 (permalink) | |
Crazy
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08-30-2005, 12:22 PM | #23 (permalink) |
Observant Ruminant
Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town
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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. |
08-30-2005, 03:22 PM | #24 (permalink) |
...is a comical chap
Location: Where morons reign supreme
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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.
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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa |
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kid, stinky |
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