Former royal maid reveals the cleaning item banned in Buckingham Palace bathrooms by King Charles

Daily Mail​

11-05-2025

King Charles banned a popular cleaning item from royal residences, according to a former maid.
For more than a decade, 57-year-old Anne Simmons worked as a royal cleaner across Buckingham Palace 's 775 rooms.
While the royal household is stocked with multiple cleaning products, there is one item that will never be found among the supplies.
Anne, from Berkshire, told UK bathroom and kitchen expert Plumbworld that the item banned by Charles, 76, is disposable wet wipes.
The reasons for the items being banished are two fold according to Anne, who revealed that they have caused damage to Palace bathrooms - and this has been expensive to fix in the past.
In addition, the wipes are thought to be bad for the environment, and the king is known for his concern about the planet.
Anne explained: 'At the palace, wet wipes caused significant plumbing issues. Despite being advertised as 'flushable,' they don't break down in the system like toilet paper does.
'This led to repeated blockages and costly plumbing repairs. It became clear that they simply weren't worth the trouble.'
She added that instead of the disposable wipes, they opted for reusable cleaning cloths.
In addition to preventing the issues the wipes caused with plumbing, the switch saved money, as the need for frequent repairs was reduced.
Anne has previously revealed which item was banned when it comes to cleaning palace kitchens.
Speaking again to Plumbworld, she claimed that steel wool cleaning pads were not allowed on the premises to prevent any scratches on their pristine marble surfaces.
'We were strictly trained to avoid steel wool and scouring pads at all costs,' she explained.
'While they can scrub grime away, they're too harsh for kitchen surfaces, especially in royal estates where quality materials like marble and granite are used.'
Steel wool dishcloths have become extremely popular as their hard material helps remove stubborn grime and dirt that otherwise wouldn't come off.
But according to Anne, palace officials didn't want to risk them scuffing up their lavish kitchen.
'High-end kitchen surfaces such as granite, marble, and stainless steel are prone to scratching,' added Anne.
'Even small scratches can affect the surface's appearance and make it harder to clean. The royal kitchens couldn't afford to damage their materials.'
Instead, she said they used 'microfiber cloths,' as they are 'soft and non-abrasive.'
'Steel wool and scouring pads might make your kitchen look clean immediately, but over time they can dull the finish,' dished the former royal maid.
'Once surfaces are scratched, they're harder to maintain, and bacteria can get trapped in those grooves.
'A beautiful kitchen doesn't require harsh tools - just the right cleaning habits. Use gentle products, and your surfaces will stay pristine.'
Anne also opened up about the one hack that she used regularly at the palace to ensure it was in tip-top shape.
She explained that all the royal maids used a 'natural' and 'gentle' cleaner that they created themselves using ingredients found in everyone's kitchens.
'Every evening, we'd spray down all the kitchen surfaces using a homemade mix of vinegar, lemon juice, and warm water,' she revealed.
'It cuts through grease effortlessly and leaves everything looking polished without any sticky residue.
'PH-balanced cleaners like vinegar and mild dish soap work wonders for everyday cleaning.'