Frugal Cleaning
by Michael Nolan
Stop buying expensive, toxic cleaning products!
There is precious little that cannot be easily cleaned with just a handful of items that most people already have. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Homemade Window Cleaner (Cost: Pennies)
Add 2 Tablespoons of vinegar to clean spray bottle (I always reuse mine) and fill will tap water. It won’t be blue, but it also won’t cost you two or three bucks! For particularly dirty glass, you can add a squirt of liquid dish detergent to the bottle.
- Ditch the Paper Towels (Cost: Free!)
Paper towels are a waste of money, plain and simple. Keep a collection of old (clean) rags handy, and when you use one, just toss it in the laundry. As for windows, old newspaper does a much better job an doesn’t leave streaks.
- Homemade Scrubbing Cleanser (Cost: Pennies)
In a small bowl, mix baking soda, a squirt of liquid dish detergent and water to make a thick paste. Apply with a damp rag. Unlike many commercial products, this cleanser won’t leave the first sign of residue!
- Antibacterial Cleaner (Cost: Pennies)
For all of you who buy into the whole “antibacterial” craze, numerous studies have proved that a simple 5% solution of distilled vinegar and water can kill 99% of bacteria and 80% of both mold and mildew.
Ever have a problem with your towels being sour even after a wash? Stephanie at Household Tips offers some great suggestions on how to deal with it.
Did You Enjoy this Post? Subscribe to Frugal Mania. It's Free!
May 13th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Great tips! I use vinegar to clean sometimes but I had no idea it actually killed bacteria. I think it’s time I get rid of all my toxic cleaners since there’s much healthier alternatives.