There are so many reasons to keep your home clean. It’s more inviting, you don’t feel embarrassed when guests pop over and you eliminate germs and bacteria therefore, protecting your family’s health.
The problem with cleaning is actually the expense. Cleaning supplies are not cheap and there’s a different one for every application you can think of!
So, how do you make your home sparkle without spending a lot? Here are ten ways to be thrifty and save on cleaning.
How To Save On Cleaning
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, there’s absolutely no extra cost to you. Read my full Disclosure Policy here.
1. DIY Cleaning Products
You probably have many items sitting around your house that can be used for cleaning. Things like white vinegar, baking soda and plain old dish soap remove dirt and grime quite efficiently. A few drops of essential oil add a lovely fragrance and some, e.g. Tea Tree oil, even contribute antimicrobial properties.
These homemade housecleaning product recipes are mild and won’t damage surfaces in your home like some specialty cleaning products can.
2. Buy In Bulk
If you don’t fancy making your own cleaning products, then consider buying in bulk. Many wholesale stores offer larger quantities of products for less. Instead of buying a single bottle at one time, get a case. If you clean frequently, you’ll use them up long before the expiration dates.
3. Buy Generic Brands
It’s a well-known fact that name brands often cost way more than store brands and the generic ones usually work just as well.
Shop smarter. Skip the brand name items and pick up the generic labels instead. You’ll save yourself a few dollars off your bill guaranteed.
4. Use Coupons and Shop Sales
Using coupons and purchasing cleaning supplies on sale are great ways to save on cleaning. Grocery stores often print coupons and advertise sales so keep an eye out and take advantage of these opportunities.
5. Get Reusable Products
I’ll be the first to admit that I love Lysol wipes. They’re handy for wiping off surfaces quickly and easily. But, when you’re trying to save on cleaning, cut out things like wipes and paper towels in favour of microfiber cloths and old rags. You can easily clean with these, wash them and use them again later.
Swiffer products like the Duster, Sweeper and Wet Jet all require refills. This means you’ll constantly be buying products just to continue cleaning. A regular broom and mop do the same job minus the expensive refills.
Invest in a bagless vacuum cleaner. Over time, you’ll save some cash since you won’t need to purchase bags.
6. Multi-purpose Cleaners
Manufacturers will tell you that need a concentrated specialty cleaner for a particular job but more often than not, you don’t. When shopping, pick up multi-purpose cleaning products so you can tend to multiple jobs instead of just one.
7. Clean Frequently
Cleaning often really cuts down on the need for tough cleansers. Even a speed clean can help keep dirt at bay. Pick a room, set a timer daily for just fifteen minutes and see how much you can accomplish. The results just might surprise you!
Be sure to clean up spills immediately. Not only is it easier to wipe up a mess as soon as it happens, it also prevents stains.
8. Proper Storage
Store cleaning supplies in accordance with their instructions. This will usually be a cool dark place. Some chemicals react with heat and light, often with disastrous results.
Make sure products are kept upright and away from children and pets to prevent spills. Improperly stored supplies can be a pain to clean up and you definitely don’t want accidental mixing to happen as this can be dangerous.
9. Make Cleaning Products Last
They are a few tricks I use to make my cleaning products last as long as possible.
Add water to dish soap and hand soap. Some of these products are very concentrated so I add water up to one-third of a bottle, then fill the rest with liquid soap. You will still get a nice lather and save product. This works especially well with concentrated cleansers like Dawn.
Another tip is to use foaming soap dispensers to make hand soap last longer. It really does work! Pour your diluted soap into a foaming bottle. That way, it will actually foam up where as the concentrated product won’t.
It can be a pain trying to coax the last few drops of cleaning product out of the bottle. Simply turn the container upside down and let gravity do the rest. Also, try adding some water to get the last little bit of soap out of the bottle.
10. Declutter and Simplify
My final idea for how you can save on cleaning is to organize your home. When you declutter and simplify the contents of your house, there’s less to clean. Less cleaning means you reduce your need for cleaning products.
These ten simple tips can save you big bucks on cleaning over time. This can be a huge help if you’re budgeting and trying to increase savings.
Did you enjoy this post? If so, don’t forget to share it on Pinterest!