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?
Key ingredients for frugal house cleaning:
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
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 juice
Lemon juice is an acidic cleaner like vinegar. But it smells better. Vinegar is stronger.
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
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 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
Frugal Tips
Frugal, Flexible Monthly Menu Planning OR
Great Depression Era Real Food Recipes OR
A Crunchy Baby Registry: 34 Things You NEED (or should make) Before Baby Comes
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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