The big names (Fairy, Dettol, Flash, Comfort) turn up on surplus constantly, often at half the shelf price or less. Here are ten worth watching for, and why the discounts are so steep.

Why cleaning products go surplus so often

It's a category that generates a lot of clearance stock, for reasons that have nothing to do with the product inside.

Packaging gets redesigned constantly: a new bottle shape, a refreshed logo, a “new and improved” flash on the label, and the old design has to clear before the new one lands. Seasonal lines pile up too: limited-edition scents, Christmas gift sets, spring-cleaning bundles. And because household products are bought in enormous volumes, even a small overproduction run leaves a lot of stock needing a home.

The upshot is that cleaning products are one of the best-value categories on any surplus site. The formula in the bottle is identical. You're just not paying for the newest label.

Ten brands worth looking out for

•     Fairy: Washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets. One of the most-bought household brands in Britain, and one of the most frequently discounted.

•     Persil: Laundry detergent, liquids and capsules. Bulk boxes are where the real saving is.

•     Comfort: Fabric conditioner. Seasonal and limited-edition scents clear regularly, which is when the prices drop hardest.

•     Dettol: Disinfectant sprays, wipes and surface cleaners. Multipacks of wipes in particular are worth grabbing.

•     Flash: All-purpose floor and surface cleaner. A little goes a long way, so a discounted bottle lasts.

•     Cif: Cream cleaners and sprays, the go-to for kitchens and bathrooms.

•     Domestos: Bleach and toilet cleaner. Cheap even at retail, borderline free on surplus.

•     Ariel: Laundry detergent, especially the capsules. Watch for the big boxes.

•     Febreze: Air fresheners and fabric sprays. Heavy on seasonal scents, which means lots of clearance.

•     Method: The more design-led, plant-based option. Turns up less often, but the savings tend to be bigger when it does.

Stock rotates constantly, so what's in this week won't necessarily be there next week. Worth checking the household and cleaning range regularly rather than waiting for a specific brand.

Where the biggest savings are

Not all cleaning products discount equally. A few patterns worth knowing:

•     Laundry detergent gives the biggest absolute saving, simply because it's expensive to begin with. A big box of capsules at half price saves more than a fistful of cheaper items.

•     Multipacks of wipes and sprays are usually the best value per unit, and they don't go off, so buying ahead costs you nothing.

•     Seasonal scents are the cheapest of the lot. A limited-edition fabric conditioner from last winter cleans exactly as well as this winter's.

•     Bundles and gift sets get cleared in bulk after Christmas and Mother's Day, often at a fraction of the original price.

Do cleaning products expire?

Most have a best-before or period-after-opening date, but household cleaners are among the most forgiving products going. Bleach loses potency slowly over a long period; detergents, sprays and conditioners keep for years when stored somewhere cool and dry with the cap on.

In practice, a cleaning product a few months past a printed date works exactly as it should. Which is precisely why surplus makes so much sense in this category. You're getting a product with a very long usable life, at clearance prices.

Stock up while it's cheap

Cleaning products are the ideal thing to buy ahead. They don't spoil, you'll definitely use them, and the savings are among the biggest on the site. Have a browse through the cleaning and household range and see what's landed this week.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy cheap cleaning products in the UK?

Surplus and clearance retailers like Peeko stock big-brand cleaning products (Fairy, Dettol, Flash, Persil and others) at well below supermarket prices. The range changes as new stock arrives, so it's worth checking regularly.

Why are branded cleaning products so cheap on clearance?

Usually because of packaging redesigns, seasonal and limited-edition lines, or overproduction. The product inside is identical to what's on a supermarket shelf. It simply can't be sold at full price through normal retail channels.

Do cleaning products expire?

Most carry a best-before or period-after-opening date, but household cleaners have a very long usable life. Stored cool, dry and sealed, detergents, sprays and conditioners keep for years. Bleach loses potency gradually but slowly.

Which cleaning products give the biggest savings?

Laundry detergent typically gives the largest absolute saving because it's expensive at full price. Multipacks of wipes and sprays offer the best value per unit, and seasonal or limited-edition scents are usually the cheapest of all.

Is it worth buying cleaning products in bulk?

Yes. They don't spoil, you'll always use them, and the per-unit price on multipacks and big boxes is considerably lower. Cleaning products are one of the few categories where stocking up carries almost no downside.