Nick’s Tips for the Frugal Housekeeper
Every household tries to save money, especially in this difficult economic situation. Saving money from cleaning is easy with a few tips that you might find useful.
- Whatever cleaning product you use, make sure it will do the cleaning properly so you don’t have to reapply an additional quantity.
- You may find the washing-up liquid useful for cleaning certain areas around your home. The kitchen worktops, the hobs, the kitchen cupboards, the skirting boards and the doors at your house could be cleaned with it, and it successfully removes dirt and grime. It could also be used to remove stains from clothes before being put in for washing – rub a drop of washing-up liquid on the stained area and wash as normal. You can also prepare a mixture of warm water with a little washing-up liquid to treat your carpets.
- You can save energy when doing your laundry – wash a full load rather than just a few items. You will save money as you save energy.
- As today’s laundry detergents are concentrated, it isn’t necessary to use a huge amount each time you do the laundry. Use as much detergent as you need, as any excessive amount you use is wasted money.
- You can save money on your water bills by not running tap water when you don’t need it. You can also save rainwater and use it to water your plants.
- Do not always believe that green cleaning products are cheaper than commercial products. For example, to remove limescale from your bathroom, you will need the juice of at least 5-6 lemons, which costs more than the amount of limescale remover you will use for one cleaning session when bought from the supermarket. As long as you are happy with the facts and making an informed decision, you can save money. I am sure many people prefer to spend a bit more and protect the planet. No judging here.
- Always use the right cleaning product for the right surface. If you apply the cleaning product according to its instructions, you will save money on damaged surfaces. Do not believe natural cleaners like vinegar and lemon juice can be used on any surface. Due to their acidic structure, they are harmful to granite and marble surfaces.
- Use discount vouchers when buying cleaning products. Your tightened household budget can benefit from buying discounted products or coupons. When you notice a certain promotion, buy multiple products and store them for later use. This is a real saving, although you will spend more money buying the products now.
- Multi-purpose cleaners are useful as they can clean different types of surfaces. Instead of buying several cleaning products for different kinds of surfaces, you can buy a combined cleaning product, which will save you money. However, you should keep in mind that multi-purpose cleaning products might not remove very stubborn stains and dirt from certain surfaces. They could surely work to disinfect areas around your home.
- Clean a little bit every day. This will save you effort and time, which in turn will save you money!
