Cleaning: Common Household Cleaning Items that Save Money

by Sheryl Cuevas on August 18th, 2018 | 1 Comment »

With the beginning of the school year, many of us are probably finding that our day is just too “full” and our wallets are ever shrinking. With the kids in school, money for activities and clothes (and shoes!) seems to disappear more quickly than at other times of the year.

With a few simple changes in your household, you can free up some money by incorporating common household items into your cleaning routine, leaving you more on the table for your kids and their new school supplies, activities, clothing requirements, or perhaps even your bank account.

Common Household Cleaning Items

Lemons and Baking Soda

Most folks have baking soda, lemons, and even mouthwash sitting in their cabinets. Lemons work as the best de-greaser for dirty ovens, toilets, and sinks. Combine it with a few shakes of baking powder and you have your own homemade scrubbing powder.

Dawn + Vinegar

Vinegar is an amazing item to have in your home and it works even better when you can combine it with Dawn. Those two items combined yield the most amazing magic shower cleaner. Simply mix equal parts of vinegar and dish soap—preferably Dawn—and spray your shower down after use. Let it sit and you’ll see the scum dissipate, making you wonder why you ever purchased commercial shower cleaner.

Listerine

An overabundance of Listerine works wonders on cleaning tile floors. Use a capful or two in your water, and you’ll kill bacteria and keep your floors germ free. Listerine contains thymol, an antiseptic used to keep fungus at bay. You can also use Listerine on your scalp if you suffer from dandruff.

Use Freezer Meals to your Advantage

Stock up on inexpensive tortillas each month at the grocery store and make your own beans using a crock pot. Use both of those resources to make your own breakfast burritos and freeze for quick mornings.

Likewise, take 1-2 days each month to plan your menu, and set aside time to make some freezer meals for the family. Not only will it save you a few nights of dinner, it will eliminate those last minute instances where you feel the need to purchase anything unnecessary when you can use what you already have to trim your budget.

Try a Stockpile Swap

Have close friends and neighbors? Use a stockpile swap to capture items that you might need more of.

Your neighbor, or close friend, might have the item you need, allowing you to forego another trip to the store, and thus keeping your wallet in check. You can even gauge interest and host a swap as well.

Those three simple areas can help you trim your budget while maintaining your frugal home.

There are many other frugal ideas you can incorporate into your household. They all work great to keep your budget in check and your household a bit more streamlined.

What do you do around your house to save money? Do you make your own cleaning supplies?

Featured image courtesy of Flickr.

Sheryl is the author behind "The Cents'Able Shoppin," where she writes about frugal living tips, and matches grocery store ads with coupons for readers residing in the state of Arizona and Western U.S. She has 3 kiddos, ages 5 and under, and is the proud military veteran, and wife of husband David who serves in the U.S. Army.