Cleaning in a care-home setting demands efficiency, safety, and the right tools for the job. As a manager or housekeeper, you’ll often hear the terms general purpose cleaner and multipurpose (all-purpose) cleaner. They are sometimes used interchangeably—but they’re not the same. Knowing the difference helps your team handle everyday cleaning, tackle tougher soils, and protect surfaces while meeting hygiene standards.

What Is a General Purpose Cleaner?

A general purpose cleaner is the everyday workhorse for light-to-medium dirt on sealed, hard surfaces. In a care home, this typically includes:

  • Routine wipe-downs of dining tables, bedside trays, and handrails

  • Glass and mirror cleaning in communal areas

  • Quick spot-cleans after activities or snack times

Why it works:

  • Neutral or near-neutral pH

  • Gentle surfactants remove fingerprints, crumbs, and light spills

  • Safe on most sealed surfaces and usually streak-free

👉 Note: Some general purpose cleaners include a disinfectant component, which is essential in care homes for infection control. Always check whether your chosen product cleans only, disinfects only, or does both.

What Is a Multipurpose (All-Purpose) Cleaner?

A multipurpose cleaner offers stronger action for tougher soils such as:

  • Dried-on food in kitchen areas

  • Soap scum in bathroom showers

  • Grease and scuffs on hard flooring

Why it works:

  • Contains stronger detergents and mild alkalis to cut through grease and grime

  • Designed for deeper cleaning where general-purpose products fall short

  • Often low-rinse, but best practice is to wipe or mop with clean water afterward, especially on floors, to avoid residue buildup

⚠️ Caution: Multipurpose cleaners should not be used on unsealed stone, polished wood, or delicate surfaces, as they may cause damage.

Not sure which cleaner is best for your surfaces and infection control routine? Tell us what areas you’re cleaning and we’ll recommend the safest option.

Get Advice on Cleaner Selection

DIY Touch-Ups

While commercial products are always recommended in care homes for compliance and safety, some prefer simple solutions for non-clinical areas:

  • Homemade general-purpose cleaner: Mix 1 tbsp mild dish soap with 2 cups water. (Optional: add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance.)

  • Grease boost option: Use baking soda as a gentle scrub on kitchen tiles or sinks, applied separately—not mixed into vinegar-based solutions, as they neutralise each other.

👉 Avoid vinegar-based cleaners on natural stone (e.g., marble, limestone) as it can cause permanent etching. Homemade cleaners should only be used in non-regulated or personal areas; they are not suitable for care-home environments where CQC and IPC compliance is required.

Practical Workflow for Care-Home Teams

  • Morning rounds: Use general purpose cleaner (or disinfectant if required) on high-touch areas—doorknobs, handrails, nurse-call buttons.

  • Post-breakfast deep-clean: Use multipurpose cleaner for kitchen counters, dining-room floors, and bathrooms.

  • Spot checks: Keep a general purpose spray in portable caddies for quick spill response.

  • Weekly maintenance: Alternate between products—multipurpose for kitchens and bathrooms, general purpose for lounges and hallways.

Recommended Cleaner Types for Care Homes

For care homes looking to standardise cleaning routines, many teams use a general purpose cleaner with disinfectant for daily wipe-downs of high-touch surfaces such as tables, handrails, and bedside areas, where safety and surface compatibility are key. Alongside this, a multipurpose cleaner is typically kept for heavier-duty tasks, including kitchens, bathrooms, and hard floors where grease, soap residue, or dried-on soiling is more common. Using both products together allows staff to match the cleaner to the task, reduce surface damage, and maintain effective hygiene standards. If you’re reviewing or updating your cleaning products, Able supplies both general purpose and multipurpose cleaners suitable for care-home environments and can advise on choosing the right options for your specific areas and compliance requirements.

Need help choosing the right cleaner?

We help care homes choose compliant cleaning chemicals and routines that balance safety, infection control, and surface care.

Speak to a Care Home Specialist

General Vs. Multipurpose Cleaners FAQ’s

Use multipurpose cleaners for tougher soils like grease, dried-on food, or soap scum. General purpose cleaners are better for everyday light cleaning.

No. Avoid using them on unsealed stone, polished wood, or delicate finishes, as they may cause damage. Stick to general purpose or specialist cleaners for sensitive surfaces.

Professionals often use a mix: neutral pH general purpose or disinfectant cleaners for daily tasks, and multipurpose products for deep cleans in kitchens, bathrooms, and high-use areas.

Follow COSHH guidance: dilute correctly, ventilate areas, use PPE, and ensure products used in care homes meet infection prevention and control (IPC) standards.