Many of us find keeping our homes clean and tidy very important. You will be less stressed, more relaxed and able to think clearly when you live in an environment with straightened and organized conditions. Many people don’t like spending their money for the purpose of getting cleaning products especially when they are on a budget. Here are some great ideas for keeping your home clean on a budget if you are looking for ways to beat the cleaning supply costs at the store.
Clean with Vinegar
Cleaners and sanitizers that are up for purchase at the store are numerous and better still, you can look right in your pantry for something you probably already have: vinegar. Vinegar is great for streak-free shine and it helps to sanitize which is an added benefit of being friendly to the environment. Below are some of the cleaning benefits you can get from vinegar.
- Make a 50/50 solution with water and white distilled vinegar to clean your windows and mirrors.
- Run distilled white vinegar through your coffee machine to clean it out.
- Add a ½ cup of distilled white vinegar half a gallon of warm water and use to mop your floors.
- Pour 2 cups of distilled white vinegar into the bottom of your next dishwasher cycle to boost its cleaning power.
- Unclog and clean your shower head by pouring distilled white vinegar into a plastic bag and using a hair band or rubber band to tie it over your shower head. Leave like this overnight and then remove and run the shower to clean.
- Use distilled white vinegar to clean off sticky residues left from stickers, price tags, and bumper stickers.
- When your kitchen drain has an odor, pour distilled white vinegar down it and then run cold tap water after 30 minutes to flush.
- Clean your microwave by boiling ¼ cup and 1 cup of water together in the microwave, then simply wipe clean.
Dust with Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are expensive. It is however wise to get more than one usage out of a product as expensive as this. Save your dryer sheets for dusting your home after using the sheet in a load of clean laundry. Dust and dirt are attracted to dryer sheets and this makes it a great way to quickly dust fixtures around the house.
Cola for Cleaning
Another product that you probably have in your pantry or fridge that you can use for the purpose of cleaning is cola. Below are some of the ways you can use cola.
- Spray on or pour cola on pesky toilet stains and scrub away with ease after a few hours.
- Remove rust from your tools and screws by soaking or spraying them with cola and then scrubbing or pouring water over them to clean off.
- Clean and shine your coins by soaking them overnight and then rinsing off.
- Clean oil stains from your driveway by pouring cola on the affected area, leaving overnight, and then washing away the area in the morning.
- When you have grease stains on your clothing, pour a can of coke into your wash cycle along with your regular amount of detergent and run a cycle. The stains should come out with ease.
Use Old Coffee Grounds
Do not toss those coffee grounds off when you are done brewing, they can be used for other purposes. Tips for repurposing coffee are listed below:
- Use as a deodorant by placing a bowl of them in your fridge or freezer, or place a sock filled with the grounds in places that tend to smell like your gym bag or car.
- Coffee is great for scrubbing. You can use the grounds for a facial cleanser (great for exfoliation!) or for scrubbing hard surfaces like pots and pans.
- If you’re in need of a meat tenderizer, look no further than your old coffee grounds. The natural acids in the coffee help break down and soften the meat, plus they add flavor.