Save yourself time and sanity next time you clean the house by using products that will actually make the job easier. Here's a power list of eight must-have cleaners, as well as four that you shouldn't waste your money on

1. Abrasive cleaner
2. All-purpose cleaner
3. Ammonia
4. Mildew remover
5. Spot cleaner for upholstery and rugs
6. Soap and scum remover
7. Laundry detergent
8. Oven cleaner

*Plus, 4 products you shouldn't waste your money on

1. Abrasive cleaner
   It's not elbow grease you need when you're scrubbing away a clump of burned-on food or dripped soap, it's abrasive power. Plain old baking soda will often do the job, but if you need a little more oomph, pick up one of the brand names on the market. Keep in mind you'll want to choose one that you can use on porcelain and metals, so it won't scratch taps and fixtures.
2. All-purpose cleaner
   Plain washing-up liquid and water, mixed in a spray bottle, can do most all-purpose jobs. Don't use too much detergent or the solution gets too sudsy to spray. Also, your local household supplier can provide a good neutral-pH cleaner - one that isn't too acidic or too alkaline. For kitchen counters, the bathroom sink and other lightly soiled surfaces, mix two pints of water with 1/2 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle and keep it handy. For the heaviest-duty jobs, such as cleaning a fireplace, your hardware store can recommend special products.
3. Ammonia
   Ammonia without suds and without lemon (which causes streaking) makes a great window cleaner. Add a capful or two to two pints of water.

4. Mildew remover
To kill mildew and its cousin yeast (the punkstuff that flourishes on shower curtains) use bleach such as Domestos Bleach Cleaning Spray for getting grout clean.

5. Spot cleaner for rugs
Regular use of spot cleaner will keep rugs, carpets and uplholstery looking good without the need for expensive steam cleaning.

6. Soap and scrum remover
You can find products that work as preventatives for this problem. You simply mist the shower walls and you don't have to rinse, wipe, scrub or squeegee (note that some formulations aren't recommended for refinished tubs, natural stone or natural marble).

7. Laundry detergent
Get a big container of detergent then transfer it to a smaller, more manageable container if necessary. I find that softener eventually makes towels less absorbent, so I use it only every third or fourth load. I like the concentrated liquid.

8. Oven cleaner
If the fumes bother you, use the no-fume formula. Or put a small bowl of ammonia into a cold oven overnight (make sure it is off). This will soften the build-up, making it easier to remove.

4 Household Cleaners You Don't Need

1. Antibacterial sprays and soaps
   From what I understand, the only place where surface bacteria is a problem is in a hospital operating room. Some people (and some studies) have suggested that an excess of antibacterial products in our lives is cutting our natural resistance. Stick with plain old soap and water.
2. Furniture cleaner, polish, wax or oil
   If your wood furniture has a polyurethane finish, it needs only an occasional dusting. (When? When you notice the dust.) Wipe smudges with a damp but not wet cloth. If you're not sure what kind of finish is on your table, chair or whatever, test with a bit of nail polish remover on a cotton wool ball in an inconspicuous place. If the cotton woolsoftens or sticks to the finish, you may need a cleaner, polish, wax or oil.
3. Drain cleaners
   For regular maintenance, your best bet is prevention. Pour a half cup of baking soda, then a half cup of vinegar down the drain once a month or so. Rinse with cold water. When a drain is sluggish, first try a plunger. If that doesn't work, buy a biological product at the hardware store; microorganisms eat the organic material that's causing the clog, then are flushed by the drain.
4. Wax and no-wax floor products
   You don't need these for tile or polyurethane floors. They don't make the floors nicer, they just make them more slippery. They also create a buildup that's a real pain to remove.

Another thing to remember is this: Anything that's been sitting around, unused, for a year or more - throw away! Chances are, you'll never get around to using it, and if you do, it probably won't be effective. Household solutions often lose their potency over time.

This is a good time to remind you never to mix chlorine products (bleach, tile cleaner, mildew remover, powdered cleaner) with any product containing ammonia (which may even include some detergents) or any acid. The toxic gases that result can be fatal.