Is it happening to you yet? I’m beginning to find myself clearing clutter around my house even when it’s not a part of the challenge. This was EXACTLY what I had hoped would happen! It’s a little contagious. And then I pop over to the Financial Decluttering Facebook Group and see your efforts and results. It just makes me want to do MORE.

Just as a reminder, each of the Financial Decluttering assignments should only take 10-15 minutes and you’ve only missed assignments to Clean Out Your Wallet, Clean Out Your Refrigerator Door, Clean Out Your Car Console, Clean Out Your Sock Drawer, Organize Your Coupons, Clean Out Kids’ Backpacks, Clean Out Your Purse or Bag, Clean Out ONE Pantry Shelf, Clean Off Your Desk. Then check out Clean Up Your Phone’s Apps, Clean Out Your Inbox, Clean Out the Junk Drawer, Declutter Your Shoes, Clean Out Your Freezer, Count Your Change, and Clean Out ONE Clothes Closet.

Just a reminder, don’t forget to join the Financial Decluttering Facebook Group of almost 1400 people (we just need 11 more) for ideas and encouragement. You’ll love the photos of the clean wallets, clean refrigerator doors, car consoles, coupon binders, backpacks, purses, desks, shoes, inboxes, and more!

Now, on to the challenge!

Day 17: Clean Out Cleaners

I have at least 3 areas in my house where I keep cleaners. Under the kitchen sink, you’ll find dishwasher detergent (homemade that I’ve used for almost 3 years). And you’ll also find multipurpose cleaner, special cleaner for my granite sink, and special cleaner for my glass stovetop. Plus there are extra Scrub Daddies (MY FAVORITE), some lightbulbs, and a few bottles that must be older than the hills.

In the bathroom, there are some bathroom cleaners under the sink. In my laundry room, you’ll find the raw ingredients to make homemade laundry detergent. Plus I keep paper towels, Lysol wipes, and gallon jugs of white vinegar in the same space. Even if I don’t toss anything, my cleaners need cleaning. What about you?

And I totally forgot the mops/brooms/dusters in the closet along with the garbage bags. They’re everywhere!

Why It Matters:

There are all the opinions on the Internet about cleaners. I’m not looking to start a discussion about what products you do and don’t use/should and shouldn’t use. I prefer to make most of my own cleaners for a number of reasons. However, I use a handful of others that get the job down around our house. I’m not going to hate on what you use – you be you.

BUT . . . (there always seems to be a big BUT with me), you and I both know we could make better use of the space where we store what we use. Half used bottles, cleaners we’ve long abandoned, that one with the smell you can’t stand – we probably have them all.

For me, keeping the cleaners straight is difficult because when I finish cleaning I just want to be DONE. And so I toss the bottle back under the sink and try not to think about it until I have to deal again. Anyone else?

Today, let’s get clean by cleaning cleaners.

How to Do It:

• Gather all the cleaners in one area of the house.
• Pitch/recycle empty bottles.
• Dispose of cleaners you won’t use any more.
• Zone the cleaners by areas of the house. It’s TOTALLY fine to keep them in separate areas. But sometimes they creep back and forth and end up in the wrong place.
• If you need to, invest in baskets to store the items neatly where they belong. I bought a few at the Dollar Tree in the fall that made it so much easier to keep things in the right place under the sink.
• Consider making your own cleaners to save money.
• When you’re finished, take a photo and post it to the challenge post in the Financial Decluttering Group. We’ll celebrate your victory. And/or post on Instagram with the #FinancialDecluttering Hashtag.
• You’ll get bonus points and virtual fist bumps for interesting discoveries.

How to Keep It That Way:

We both know the answer to this one is pretty simple. Put things back where you find them. If you can, keep things as minimal as possible, too. The less you own, the better. Keeping a running list of what you need to purchase as soon as you finish a product off will also keep you from purchasing duplicates. Try to stick with the products you know work, too. It’s easy to get sucked in by promises of a new and improved cleaner that will make all our dreams come true. Most of that is straight up marketing.

Consumers spend tens of BILLIONS of dollars of year on Household Cleaners. The average American spends $40-50 a month or around $500/year. Y’all that is a whole lot of cash on half used bottles under the sink, amiright? Plus, if you’re a coupon loving friend, you know that these coupons are frequent. It can convince us we’re getting a good deal when in the end we purchase products we don’t really use. It’s OK to try out something new, but realize those coupons are marketing tools attempting to hook you.

We got this. Let’s tackle the clutter together today.

A Few More Thoughts:

I can’t wait to see all we achieve together this month. I’ll continue sharing my own journey in the Financial Decluttering Facebook Group and via e-mails. Be sure you subscribe for both.

Post a photo of your cleaner victories and tips in the comments! I want to see what sorts of systems you use to organize.

Our new book Your Money, Your Marriage is now available! Be sure to check out videos on managing money together on Facebook.

My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional on Kindle.  

This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.

Related posts:

Financial Decluttering Day 4: Clean Out Your Sock Drawer Financial Decluttering Day 8: Clean Out ONE Pantry Shelf Financial Decluttering Day 7: Clean Out Your Purse or Bag Financial Decluttering Day 13: Declutter Your Shoes