What do you do to cut down on cleaning costs? Let’s talk specifically about surface cleaners. I have recently gone to using baking soda and white vinegar for all of our surfaces – mirrors, countertops, sinks, tubs, etc. I have been extremely pleased! I do still buy a generic non-bleach disinfecting wipe for the youngest princess’ high chair tray but I haven’t bought a glass or surface cleaner in forever. I pour equal parts of white vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle (that I bought at the Dollar Tree) and clean away.
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Though it takes an upfront investment, replacing paper towels with simple white flour sack cloths has made our household cleaning cheaper and less detrimental to the environment!
I have used homemade cleaners for years with much success. I have some natural/frugal cleaning recipe cards available to print from my blog. Yesterday I posted my homemade “Fauxbreeze” recipe as well.
In addition to my homemade cleaners I have been using some lint free cloths I got from Walmart. They work really well with just water on them. My mirrors have never looked so good. They work on windows as well. The cloths look like they will last a long time. They are kind of shiny on one side and came in a 2 pack.
http://blessingsoverflowing.blogspot.com (click on the natural cleaning link on the right side)
Is there an advantage to using vinegar as opposed to baking soda for cleaning surfaces? I have seem recipes for all purpose cleaners using one or the other. Just wondering what your opinion is as I try to make the switch to homemade cleaners. Thanks.
Kirsten – I have been thinking about going PT free, too. I’m afraid my husband would take to throwing away the towels. 🙂 I’m hoping to ease our way into the practice.
Jackie – Thank you so much for your link. All great ideas.
JCo – I like to use the vinegar as a daily shower spray (it’s a little stinky but hey), on mirrors, and on countertops. I use the baking soda to scour things (kinda like you’d use comet) so on sinks, tubs, countertops with something icky on it, and throw it in a load of laundry that’s particularly stinky or dirty for extra freshening. Hope that helps!
This month’s issue of Real Simple magazine is chock full of “green” cleaning tips and recipes. Lemons, vinegar, baking soda, borax…all the “old time” standard cleaning methods are back in vogue and Real Simple covers them all really nicely. I checked online and the site doesn’t seem to have all of the same information as the magazine does – so if you aren’t a subscriber or don’t want to spend the money on a personal copy, perhaps your library or a friend might have a copy you could borrow! I found it super informative.