Frugal Cleaning Tips That Will Make Your Home Sparkle on a Budget

In today's world, maintaining a clean and tidy home is more important than ever. Our homes should be our havens, our safe spaces and not a place of overwhelm or distraction. Keeping a tidy home can feel daunting and you might think you need a bunch of over priced cleaners or a housekeeper to have the home you truly want, I'm here to tell you that's just not the case! With household expenses on the rise, you may be looking for cost-effective ways to keep their living spaces clean without overspending and guess what keeping your house clean and decluttered can actually save you money! With a little creativity and resourcefulness, it's possible to achieve sparkling results while sticking to a budget. Here are some frugal cleaning tips to help you maintain a clean home without breaking the bank.

Declutter

A good spring clean and declutter of your home is always refreshing and a great start to keeping you home clean. I have a friend who does a quarterly home declutter and she sells any items that she or her family no longer need, she actually makes money cleaning her home. Amazing! I have found that by decluttering my spaces I am also less likely to buy things I don't need or may already have. Decluttering is a great way to do a little home inventory and get acquainted with what your family does and does not use.

Stay on Top of it

I can't tell you how this has changed my life. Piles of laundry, paper clutter, toys you name it. I was overwhelmed and couldn't find what I was looking for ever. This led me to buying things I didn't need instead of taking care of what I already had. By staying on top of things and organizing my schedule to do so, I started saving money almost immediately because I could find and utilize what I had instead of going out and buying something new! I created a cleaning routine that works for me! I now load my dishwasher and pick up my kitchen each night, waking up to a clean kitchen is a game changer, but it also allows me to unload the dishwasher first thing in the morning and stay on top of dishes throughout the day instead of letting them pile up.

I do something similar for laundry. I try to wash, dry, fold and put away at least one load of laundry each day. By completing the whole process I don't feel overwhelmed by five loads piled on my bed needing folding etc.

If you can manage to stay on top of household chores and cleaning each day instead of letting it pile up and become overwhelming, I swear you will save money and your sanity!

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

I have an entire blog post dedicated to the best homemade cleaning products and spoiler alert, they are inexpensive and a great way to frugally clean your home. You may even have some of these items in your home already! A few frugal cleaning supplies I always keep on hand are.

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Fresh Lemon
• Bleach (not "green" but inexpensive and necessary for some dirty jobs)

Reusable Cleaning Tools

Invest in a set of microfiber cloths, which are highly effective at trapping dust and dirt particles without the need for disposable wipes or paper towels. Microfiber cloths can be washed and reused multiple times, making them a cost-effective and eco-friendly cleaning solution.

Don't throw away old toothbrushes—repurpose them as handy cleaning tools for hard-to-reach areas such as grout lines, faucet crevices, and keyboard keys. The small bristles are perfect for scrubbing away dirt and debris in tight spaces.

Budget for a great vacuum that will last for years. I currently have a Meile that I purchased 12 years ago. It's a workhorse and keeps my floors clean. It has paid off itself ten times over at least!

Smart Cleaning Hacks

Vinegar Steam Clean: Freshen up your microwave and eliminate odors by heating a bowl of water and vinegar until it steams. The steam will help loosen food splatters and grease, making it easier to wipe clean with a cloth.

Old Sock Dusting Method: Use old socks to dust surfaces around your home. Slip the sock over your hand and wah-lah you have the perfect dusting mitt for baseboard hard to reach areas even ceiling fans!

Cornstarch for Window Cleaning: Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to your vinegar-water window cleaner for extra cleaning power. Shake well before each use.

Homemade Carpet Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of essential oil (my go to is lavender). Sprinkle on carpets, let sit for 15-20 minutes, then vacuum. This deodorizes and freshens carpets.

Keeping our home clean and tidy doesn't have to cost a fortune. By implementing these frugal cleaning tips, you can maintain a sparkling living space while saving money and reducing waste and maintaining what you have! With a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can achieve a clean and inviting home without breaking the bank.