You know that saying about death and taxes?
Maybe we should add cleaning to the list of life’s inevitabilities.
Your could skip your housekeeping chores, but eventually someone will want to come over and you’ll have to play catch up to get the job done. Cleaning is one of those things that is just never really finished.
It’s also pretty expensive. Just take a peek at the pricing the next time you walk down the soap aisle at the grocery store. A gallon of dish soap will run you about $26, which is a good seven or eight times the price of milk or gasoline.
Since you can’t stop cleaning if you care at all about your health, hygiene and house value, it makes sense to find a way to cut down on the cost of your cleaning supplies. Fortunately, there are lots of DIY solutions that can cut your bills and make your spring cleaning a little more eco-friendly to boot.
- DIY Swiffer Covers
Swiffers are a game-changer, and you were probably thrilled to kick your mop to the curb in favor of this handy floor duster to pick up pet hair, dust and all the other crud that ends up skidding across your tile and hardwood floors. Unfortunately, the refill cloths get expensive after a while — especially if you have a dog or cat in the throes of shedding season. Even if you use both sides — you definitely do that, right? — you’ll still be shelling out good money on replacement covers and adding significantly to your landfill footprint.
Good news! You can make your own Swiffer covers for practically nothing, and you can wash and reuse them for months. Cut a few scraps of fleece or flannel to size and just push them into the little grippy teeth as you would a normal Swiffer cover. When they get dirty, toss them in the wash. Repeat forever.
Pro Tip: For wet spills, consider using an absorbent microfiber cloth or shammy cut to size.
- Homemade Vinegar Solutions
White vinegar is an effective disinfectant, and it’s less toxic than bleach for use around the house. This makes it a great for choice for all sorts of cleaning tasks, and one big jug of vinegar is a whole lot cheaper than a collection of household cleaning solutions. Here are just a few ways to use it to save on your cleaning costs:
- To Remove Mold and Mildew: Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle and use to get rid of the black stuff in your bathroom. The acidity will kill the organisms; then scrub and rinse away for good.
- To Shine Counters and Faucets: That 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water is also a great solution for general purpose cleaning, especially in the kitchen. Vinegar’s acidity will dissolve mineral deposits on faucets for a nice shine. Just don’t use it on marble, which can be permanently damaged by acid cleaners.
- To Clean Windows and Mirrors: Skip the bright blue ammonia-based cleaners and use your spray bottle of vinegar and water to clean smears and smudges off of all the glass in your home.
- To Clean Toilets: Dump a cup of straight vinegar into the toilet and allow it to soak for 30 minutes before using the brush to clean. You’ll kill germs, odors and cut through hard water deposits, too.
- To Clean Tubs: You can also wipe down the inside of your bathtub with straight vinegar to cut through mineral build-up and soap scum. Rinse thoroughly when you’re done.
Hate the smell of vinegar? Most people find that diluted vinegar’s distinctive aroma disappears quickly, but you can add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil to your mixture if you really can’t stand the smell.
If you’re committed to using vinegar for cleaning you can get rid of four or five expensive cleaners to help you cut back your grocery budget.
- Baking Soda Scrubs
When you need some extra oomph to get rid of tough stains, you can always count on baking soda to put more muscle into your cleaning. Baking soda is a mile abrasive that helps scour away dirt, but it’s super cheap. Use it instead of oven cleaner, Drano and Soft Scrub to keep your dirtiest stuff clean. Here’s how you can make the most of it around the house:
- To Clean Pots and Pans: Soak the worst cooking dishes in hot water with a shot of dish soap for a bit. When you’re ready to scrub, sprinkle your sponge with some baking soda to clear away baked on food and absorb grease for a cleaner finish.
- To Clean Your Oven: Instead of harsh — and expensive — oven cleaner, make a thick paste of baking soda and water and scrub the inside of your oven well. Allow the paste to sit over night absorb grease and odors before wiping it out the next day. Then use your old pal vinegar to rinse out the rest, which will make a foaming cleaner to blast away the rest of the dirt.
- To Clean Clogged Drains: Pour a pot of boiling water down your drain before adding a half cup of baking soda. Let it sit a bit before adding a cup of vinegar and another cup of hot water. Cover the drain to contain the foam and let it work. Then flush with another pot of boiling water to clear the pipes.
- To Deodorize Anything: You probably already know that baking soda absorbs odors in the fridge, but it works everywhere. Sprinkle it in Tupperware containers to remove the aroma of your leftovers, add it to smelly gym shoes or sprinkle it over carpets and upholstery for 30 minutes before vacuuming it up.
With just a small investment in vinegar, baking soda and some cheap flannel from the craft store, you can clean just about every surface in your home without resorting to expensive cleaning products. This can save you some significant cash each month, which you can save or use to pay down your debt. The more you use these basic cleaners, the more likely you are to find even more uses for them to keep on saving.
Got any other DIY cleaning solutions that work for you? Share your thoughts in the comments!
