How to Affordably Clean Your Home

We all need to save money on our household budget these days, so here are ten tips on affordable ways to clean your home that will keep your home sparkling clean. You will be able to save money as you will not be spending out on expensive, store-bought, commercial products and big-name, branded cleaning products

What you save by using these store-cupboard alternatives could save you a healthy sum each year. Did you know, for example that the average American family spends in excess of $650 on cleaning supplies each year? What else could your family do with that sum of money? I found that the annual spend does vary slightly, regionally but the amount spent Nationally amounts to around $69 Billion!

You may be trying to get rid of commercial cleaners in your home for other reasons too. While they may do the job effectively, more and more people are becoming aware of the dangers of chemicals in these cleaning products. On top of the dangers, they can really take a chunk out of your budget.

There are plenty of natural, affordable alternatives to the commercial products and you probably have most of them already. These alternatives produce great results and are often much more Environmentally-Friendly than their commercial counterparts.

When throwing out old cotton T shirts, either because they have become outgrown or mis-shapen, think again. These make wonderful, lint-free polishing and cleaning cloths and avoid buying cloths for this purpose.

Use a fabric softener sheet you have already used in the tumble dryer, to wipe over blinds to repel dust, rub over the fur of a soft toy to renew this, wipe over the screen of your tv to repel dust – and when you have done all that, pop it into a waste paper bin or the bottom of a clothes drawer to benefit from the remaining fragrance!

A little bit of cleaning, done often, will avoid build-up of dirt or stains that would otherwise demand more drastic action. Doing a little cleaning every day rather than a major ‘blitz’ once a week will save you money on more powerful cleaning products and save you time scrubbing away at marks that could have been wiped away with ease if you had dealt with them when you first noticed!

Now, here are some tips for store-cupboard alternatives to the big-name brands that you can use in your home for great cleaning results – on a budget!

1. Vinegar. One of the most common natural cleansers is simple white vinegar. Add a quarter cup to a liter of hot water to wash mirrors and windows without leaving streaks, or spritz on carpet stains and then scrub out.
2. Salt. Found in every household pantry, salt is an excellent abrasive. Use it to clean the oven by combining equal parts salt and baking soda, along with enough water to create a thick paste. Spread the mixture in the oven and let sit overnight, then wash out with hot water. This same mixture can be rubbed into carpet stains, allowed to dry and then vacuumed up.
   Salt and lemon juice left on a rusty pan for a few hours will help get rid of the rust. You can also use salt to scrub at particularly tough stains while washing dishes and dissolve in boiling water to clean a drain on a regular basis.
3. Hydrogen peroxide. Usually found in the first aid kit as it is an antiseptic solution, hydrogen peroxide is a safe alternative to bleach and can be sprayed on grout to kill mold, or mixed with baking soda to form a paste which will get rid of stains on counter tops, clean faucets and even rid pots of their unsightly stains. You can also use it as you would bleach, to wipe down bathrooms and counters.
4. Lemons. Lemons are also disinfectants and have the added benefit of smelling great. You can squeeze your own lemon juice, but may need to buy the oil, which is good for polishing furniture when a few drops are added to a cup of water. The juice can be placed directly on lime or hard water deposits and left to sit, then scrubbed away, or you can rub a cut lemon over any wooden surface to kill any bacteria and to help remove stains. Lemon juice can also be used to polish brass and bronze when applied with baking soda.
5. Baking soda. Commonly used in baking, this white powder is a deodorizer and simply having some in a dish will help remove odors from the air. It can also be mixed with hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice to give you a strong cleaning paste that will work on nasty bathroom and kitchen stains. Sprinkle baking soda over grease stains on carpet, concrete or even wood and let sit for a moment to absorb the oil, then scrub away with hot water.
6. Cornstarch. Another baking item, cornstarch can be sprinkled over grease spots and vacuumed up or scrubbed with hot water.
7. Cream of tartar. Mix this pantry powder with enough warm water to form a paste and apply to aluminum items with a soft cloth to polish them.
8. Aluminum foil. Rather than purchase expensive scrubbies, opt to use a crumpled ball of aluminum foil (previously used is fine, as long as it's clean), to clean those stubborn pots and pans. You can also use it to polish chrome by rubbing the shiny side against the chrome.
9. Toothpaste. As long as you are using paste and not gel, you can use this bathroom staple to remove water rings in wood. Just apply and rub gently into the ring with a soft cloth and buff when finished. You can also use toothpaste to remove ink or lipstick from fabrics and crayon from your walls or doors. Use it to polish jewelry too!
10. Hot water. This is the cheapest cleaning agent on this list, plain old hot water. You would be surprised at how many things you can clean with just a bowl of hot water and a soft rag. It can also be used in combination with other products on this list to boost the cleaning power, such as hot water with vinegar to wash windows.

These simple and more affordable alternatives for cleaning your home, clean just as well, if not better, than most commercial products and they can save you a bundle. For children and pets, in particular, these options are safer as well.

Spend less, clean better . . . and stay green while doing it.