ok not a subject I like to tred often.....

when spring cleaning show the kids a banana box and tell them all their treasures to keep must fit in the box, take the box away. You will find the actual amount of hoardings with end up being half the box size again. Cant beat the power of suggestion.

I keep toilet cleaner in the kitchen for cleaning the stove top and the tiles. Obviously the same bottle doesnt get used in the toilet. Shampoo the carpets with ammonia and dishwash liquid, clean the washing machine and dishwasher with pool filter cleaner.
Dip clean jewellery in a strong hot alkaline solution made with dishwashing powder, swirl around and then rinse. This is useful for stuff that cant be cleaned by hand easily or for lab created gems.
Scrub the sink with dry dishwash powder to remove stains, use the toilet cleaner around the rim for cleaning child baking marks.

If you have small children and need a new dining suite go for the distressed timber look, all marks bangs, dents and cuts add authenticity. Buy the nice suite when they go away.