Cleaning Secret Weapons – Key Ingredients for Frugal House Cleaning

I have been cleaning houses for several years. I have worked in a pet boarding facility, and an assisted living facility. Between babies, pets, and old people, I’ve cleaned it all.
What are my secret weapons for housecleaning?

Cleaning Secret Weapons - Key ingredients for frugal house cleaning from The More With Less Mom

Key ingredients for frugal house cleaning:

Vinegar and Mr Clean  Photo by Elyce Feliz on Flikr
White vinegar

Clean washing machine. Clean dishwasher. Clean glass.
Shine your sink (furniture cleaner works too).
Vinegar will absorb odors and then evaporate. Perfect for the bathroom.
You can make your own Febreeze with 1 part vinegar, 1 part liquid fabric softener, 2 parts water.

Baking soda Photo by Noah Scalin on Flikr
Baking soda

Add to hot water, run through coffee pot (doesn’t stink up your house like vinegar).
Use as an abrasive scouring powder in sinks.
Sprinkle on carpets to absorb odors.
Sprinkle on drains, add vinegar to dissolve, run hot water. This is not Drano®, but it will loosen clogs and clear odors, and it won’t hurt your pipes or septic system. Do this a little while before applying a bent coat hanger to clogs.

Lemon tree  Photo by YoungToymaker on Flikr
Lemon juice

Lemon juice is an acidic cleaner like vinegar. But it smells better. Vinegar is stronger.

Rice  Photo by tamaki on Flikr
Rice

Water, a drop of Dawn, and a little rice in little things like vases with tiny necks. Plug with finger/rag and shake well.
Rice and florals or stuffed animals in brown paper bags. Shake well. If the stuffed animal smells funny add a little baking soda.

Olive oil  Photo by sikachu! on Flikr
Olive oil

Olive oil can polish wood furniture. Apply a tiny dab to your rag and rub in. If it seems wet, buff it with a clean rag.

Baby butt  Photo by Amanda McNeal on Flikr
Baby oil

The best thing for a glass shower door is baby oil. Just poke a little hole in the foil and apply it to your rag. If it looks greasy after applying the baby oil just wipe it down with a little vinegar.

Participated in Mostly Homemade Mondays linky party

Cleaning Secret Weapons series:
Good Tools for Frugal House Cleaning
Key Ingredients for Frugal House Cleaning
Next: Frugal, Natural Cleaners
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We hope you enjoyed Cleaning Secret Weapons – Key Ingredients for Frugal House Cleaning

Photo credits
Cleaning lady mural bulent_yusuf on Flikr
Mr Clean friend of vinegar Elyce Feliz on Flikr
Baking soda Noah Scalin on Flikr
Lemon tree by YoungToymaker on Flikr
Rice tamaki on Flikr
Olive oil sikachu! on Flikr
Baby butt Amanda McNeal on Flikr
All photos licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License

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