Keeping a clean home is something most of us like to do, but the costs associated with this chore can really add up.
Nowadays, there seems to be a speciality cleaner out there for each type of item around the house. Without knowing any better, we often buy these things thinking that they are the best solution, and our cupboards end up overflowing with too many cleaning products. Some of these things we may only use once or twice per year and end up going to waste.
Being frugal is always a great idea, but your cleaning power doesn’t have to suffer because of it. In this post, we are going to share with you some of the thriftiest ways to save money on cleaning.
Use Dish Soap Instead of Specialty Cleaners
Stockpiling an assortment of speciality cleaners can cost you a fortune and often they are not necessary to get the job done.
Most objects in the home can be cleaned with plain water or using a mild dish soap. If you have not tried dish soap on anything other than your dishes, you are in for a big surprise. Dish soap is an excellent cleaner for most surfaces. It is also a great solution for carpet stains, laundry stains and as a window cleaner.
Just add a dab to a wet sponge or washcloth, but don’t go too overboard, otherwise, you will have suds everywhere!
Use a Store Brand
There are some cleaning products that make life a whole lot easier and get the job done faster than dish soap. An example of that would be the [easyazon_link identifier=”B0047SCJWI” locale=”US” tag=”joleisacom21-20″]Mr Clean Magic Eraser.[/easyazon_link] This product is made of a melamine foam that can dig into stains that other products can’t touch.
However, many people don’t realize that there are generic store brands of this product that work just as well as the name brand thing.
When you are shopping for cleaning supplies, always look for the cheaper, store brand version if it does exist. Often there is no difference between the two and you can save yourself about 25-50% of the cost.
Don’t Buy Disposable Items
Disposable cleaning items sure are handy, but they can rapidly eat up your household budget. Here are some do’s and don’ts to save the most money on cleaning:
- Don’t use paper towels. Do use a rag. It can be washed and reused.
- Don’t use disposable sponges or scouring pads. Do use a scrub brush that rarely needs replacing.
- Don’t use a mop that requires disposable mop pads. Do get a mop that includes a reusable mop head.
- Don’t use a vacuum that requires bags. Do get a vacuum that is bagless.
Get More Life Out of Your Broom
A lot of people toss out their broom once it starts to look frayed and haggard. But, you can get a lot of life out of it by following one simple trick.
When the broom tips start spreading and getting out of control, wrap a rubber band around the bristles a few inches from the tips. If it is in really bad shape, use several rubber bands to firm the bristles back up. After a few days, you can remove the rubber bands that the broom should be refreshed. If not, consider keeping the rubber bands on it until it really becomes unusable.
Cut Down on Dusting with an Air Purifier
Household dusting is a job that never seems to end and it is one of those chores that take up most or your time and money on supplies.
Fortunately, there is a way you can cut down on how often you have to tackle this task, which is by using an [easyazon_link identifier=”B004VGIGVY” locale=”US” tag=”joleisacom21-20″]air purifier[/easyazon_link] in your home. An air purifier is a device that collects dust and other particles from the room through the use of a fan and filter. The concept is similar to how a vacuum cleaner works, but an air purifier draws in airborne particles from everywhere inside the room without you having to do a thing.
Air purifiers come in various types, styles and prices and the biggest expense for these products is the replacement of the filters when they get dirty. The best money saving tip is to buy an air purifier that uses a permanent washable filter. Once you buy this device, there are no more expenses to use it. It will clean your home forever and all you have to do is wash the filter to remove collected dust and dirt.
Running an air purifier inside your home will drastically cut down the amount of dust that accumulates, which will save you both time and money.
Implement a No Shoes Rule
So much of the dirt and grime that makes its way into your house comes from the outdoors. The biggest culprit for this mess is wearing shoes inside the house. If you want to reduce the need to clean then implement a no shoes allowed rule. Anyone who comes to your home must take their shoes off at the door.
Another positive side effect of not wearing shoes indoors is the prolonged life of your floors and rugs. It will also make your home healthier since soles of shoes can track in bacteria and viruses picked up from other places.
Ditch the Air Fresheners and Do This Instead
Everyone loves to have a fresh smelling home, however air fresheners are an added expense that goes against living frugally. Luckily, you can have a pleasant smelling home using items you probably already have in your kitchen. christmas time is famous for these scents.
You can easily add fragrance to your home by adding 2-3 cups of water to a small saucepan and tossing in a few ingredients. Try herbs, slices of oranges or lemons, a few drops of vanilla or cinnamon sticks. Set the stove top on simmer and enjoy a home full of pleasant aromas.
This was a guest post by Home Air Quality Guides, a company that’s dedicated to helping people learn how to create a cleaner, healthier environment inside their homes through air purifier and air cooling products. The business also has a blog with cleaning tips, home maintenance advice and air quality topics. Do check them out soon.
For even more tips for saving money, we have 101!
