Keep the house clean on a budget

No matter if you live in your own house or in a rented property, cleaning and general maintenance is often associated with a lot of expenses.
If you have a tight budget, you probably buy the least expensive detergents and spend twice as much time in cleaning as they are not powerful enough to lift the dirt immediately. Well, that might be a completely wrong approach towards the house cleaning chores. You can enjoy your free time by optimizing the cleaning process and reducing the money you spend on cleaning supplies.

• If you are keen on green living, you can make your own eco-friendly detergents. They are inexpensive and in most cases, ingredients are to be found in your kitchen. The well-known cleaning properties of the baking soda and white vinegar can be used for various surfaces. You can pre-treat stubborn stains before the actual carpet cleaning or neutralise unpleasant smells. You can also take advantage of cleaning with tea tree or peppermint essential oils – their sanitising properties are incredible!

• Buy cleaning supplies in bulk. Yes, that means setting aside a larger amount of money for cleaning supplies, but this comes with a number of benefits. First, wholesale shops offer products at a much lower price and second, you will not have to worry about detergents for at least a couple of months. So, you save both – time and money.

• There`s a popular disbelief that taking advantage of the services of your local domestic cleaning company can be costly and is considered a luxury but if you do the math, you will see that it is actually less expensive than doing the cleaning on your own. If you arrange house maids for cleaning visits twice a month, that will probably cost you less than you spend on detergents and of course don`t neglect the part that you can spend the hours in mopping and scrubbing enjoying your hobby or spending time with your family.

• Apply the 'clean as you go' method. If you establish your cleaning routine and deal with spills and dirty spots immediately after they occur, you will not have to use a powerful cleaning detergent. In most cases water and some dishwashing liquid would be enough or in the worst-case scenario you will have to make a baking soda and vinegar paste.

• Do you buy a limescale remover for your washing machine? Of course you do as you believe this is the only method for preventing breakdowns caused by the accumulation of limescale. However, people who have already tried it, claim that adding a cup of baking soda to the laundry detergent does the same excellent job as an expensive product tailored to prevent the presence of limescale buildups. Consider saving up some pounds from that!

• If you are looking for a frugal method for making your clothes soft and saving up from buying a fabric softener, why don’t you try the following solution? Mix equal parts of baking soda, white vinegar and twice as much water. Add the solution before the last rinsing cycle.

• How many sponges you throw in the trash every month? Prolong their lifespan by soaking them into hot water and dish soap. Sponges can be easily disinfected if you put them in the microwave for a minute or two. Little did it cross your mind that you can cut them in half – they would do the same job and they will even take less space on the countertop.

• Many people rush to the store and buy expensive rust removers but what they do not know is that rust will vanish completely if you cut a lemon in halves and scrub the affected area. You will also remedy the situation if you pour some cola onto the rusty area.

• The mixture of lukewarm water and white vinegar makes an excellent window cleaner. You can use it as a floor cleaner as well, but be careful if you have a wooden or marble floor. Vinegar is an acid and as such it can cause damages to the wood and porous surfaces – any other surface you can treat with this sanitising solution.

• You probably have a bundle of cotton t-shirts you have outgrown or they are just out of fashion. Well, instead of keeping them in the closet for no reason, you can use them as rags. You can do the same with all socks that have lost their matches. Put a sock on your hand, spray some vinegar or hydrogen peroxide onto it and there you have it, the perfect blinds cleaning solution. These two common household items are known for their excellent sanitising properties, so you can also use them for disinfecting the toilet bowl or the sink in the bathroom.

These were the most popular frugal cleaning solutions. If you are willing to commit some time and prepare the aforementioned recipes, you should expect the same results you achieve by using a commercial degreaser or all-purpose cleaner. You even get a bonus – you will not expose yourself to unnecessary health risks caused by the dangerous ingredients most cleaning supplies contain.