It’s all too easy to spend a lot of money on household cleaning. You see products that promise to make cleaning easier. Of course there are also tons of gadgets and tools you can buy for cleaning the house. But people have been cleaning their houses well since long before the fancy supplies and gadgets. Therefore, there are much more frugal ways to keep your house clean. Here are five things you can start doing today to reduce the cost of cleaning your home:
1. Make Your Own Household Cleaners
If you’re looking for frugal ways to keep your house clean then you should start by learning how to make your own household cleaners. You can clean almost anything in your house using a few basic supplies including water, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Buy those things in bulk to further reduce what you spend to clean your house. As a bonus, these things are much better for the environment and your own health than chemical cleaners in the home. Check out 10 Household Products You Can Create Yourself to get started.
2. Establish a Daily Cleaning Ritual
The more frequently that you clean the house, the easier that it is to do so. If you wait too long, then the gunk and grime is harder to remove. Therefore, you end up spending more time in the long run if you’ve waited. Time is money, so cleaning more often wastes both. Moreover, you might end up wasting money on stronger cleaning supplies or even replacing items sooner because you haven’t cared for them well. A daily cleaning ritual, with more detailed cleaning weekly and monthly, is one of the surprising frugal ways to keep your house clean.
3. Stop Using Throw-Away Cleaning Supplies
For example, every time that you use a paper towel, you have to throw it away. In contrast, if you use a dish towel, then you can re-use it over and over again for a very long time. Yes, you do have to spend some money washing it when it gets dirty. Nevertheless, the cost of washing a load of towels and rags is significantly lower than replacing paper towels. Similarly, you can use an old sock in place of dryer sheets.
4. Spend Wisely on Cleaning Gadgets
First of all, don’t assume that you need a cleaning gadget at all. For example, does your home really need a vacuum? Or would a broom and mop work in your space?
Second, don’t assume you need the most expensive gadget. If you do need a vacuum, ask yourself what you really need from one? Does it need to be a heavy duty model or could a lightweight inexpensive option work just as well?
That said, shop for quality and durability. You don’t want to buy the least expensive vacuum today only to have it break tomorrow. This doesn’t mean the most expensive option is the best. However, it means that you should take time to read reviews, assess your needs, and find the option that will likely last.
Finally, when you do shop for cleaning gadgets, always make sure to wait for sales, look for coupons, and use comparison shopping to keep your costs low.
5. Reduce Energy Use When Cleaning
Use the cold setting on the washing machine to reduce the heating costs at home. Skip the dryer and line dry instead. Likewise, washing and drying dishes by hand saves the cost of running those appliances. Look for ways to reduce energy use around the house as you clean.
Read More:
- Uses for Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
- Home Maintenance for Frugal Homeowners
- 12 Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes for Every Room of Your House
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.