subject: Frugal Cleaning – Save Money And Have A Squeaky Clean House [print this page] Frugal Cleaning Save Money And Have A Squeaky Clean House
Cleaning your home is unavoidable if you want to have a clean and healthy environment to live in. Unfortunately it can be quite costly too if you buy and use all the recommended products advertised.
In these times of economic recession and with everyone needing to tighten their purse strings, finding cheaper but effective ways to clean your home is a necessity for most of us. That's where frugal cleaning comes into its own.
What do I mean by frugal cleaning, it simply means using cheaper alternatives to many of the branded cleaning goods without sacrificing cleaning or germ killing power. It really isn't that difficult, after all our grand parents didn't have all these fancy cleaning products available to them and they managed to survive.
How to be a frugal cleaning whiz
There are two ways you can be frugal about your cleaning methods. You can either still buy products but choose cheaper alternatives or make your own cleaning solutions.
If you prefer the first option there are several things to keep in mind to help you save money.
Don't buy branded products; often the shops own brands are just as good at a fraction of the cost.
If there is a concentrate version of your cleaning product buy that one as it will work out a lot cheaper in the long run.
Buy either in bulk if on special offer or buy the biggest pack size, again this will save you money over time.
Use your products frugally by always measuring out your cleaning products; this is especially true of washing powder.
If you want to go the whole hog and make your own cleaning products just like our grandparents did then all you need are a few simple ingredients. These ingredients will make up several different types of frugal cleaning products and don't contain the chemicals of shop bought products. These ingredients are:
White Vinegar good for killing germs, bacteria and mould.
Baking Soda A deodoriser and scourer.
Lemon Juice the acid provides antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
Olive Oil Good for polishing wood surfaces and adding shine to stainless steel.
Salt A multi purpose cleaner and deodoriser.
Basic cleaning recipes
The following recipes are tried and tested but to be on the safe side always try on a small area first to make sure it does not harm the particular item you are cleaning.
Multipurpose frugal cleaner for Worktop tops, splash backs and hard floors:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
Mix together and wipe over surfaces
Wood polish:
1 cup olive oil
Half cup lemon juice
Mix together. Use a small amount on a soft cloth. After applying, rub off and buff with a dry soft cloth.
Fridge odour remover
1 cup dry baking soda
Place on a saucer and place in the back of the fridge. Can be kept in the fridge for a few days and then replaced if necessary.
Baking soda can also be mixed with warm water to wash out the inside of the fridge.
Blocked drain cleaner:
1 cup salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Mix together and pour down the drain. Leave for a few minutes then flush the drain with hot water.
Stubborn stains:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup salt
1 cup borax
Mix and pour onto the stain. Leave for at least 10 minutes then using a scourer rub off. (Only use on surfaces that will not scratch)
Carpet freshener:
Dry baking soda
Sprinkle on the carpet and leave for 1 hour then vacuum up.
