Cleaning Secret Weapons – Frugal, Natural Cleaners

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 - Frugal Natural Cleaners from the More With Less Mom

Frugal, natural cleaners for your home:

White distilled vinegar bathroom sink  Photo by cafemama on Flikr
If you make your cleaners they will almost always be cheaper than buying them. Even if you aren’t excited about living “green”, just about everybody likes to save a buck.
I admit I used to buy all kinds of cleaners. When I was working full time (in the gap between the eleven year old and the one year old) with a one hour commute I had no time for anything. I would buy anything that would make my life easier and my house cleaner.
Happy Housewife Stencil  Photo by duncan on Flikr
I am no Susie homemaker. I am not super picky or finicky. Sometimes there’s dirt in the corners, dust on the books, cat hair on the couch (!gasp!)… When our circumstances changed and we ran out of money, I started to run out of cleaning supplies. With no money to buy more, I had to get creative about what I was using. A quick search on the internet, and voila, tons of cleaners that are not only cheaper, but don’t fume you out of the house, fry your hands, or burn your pipes on the way down!
Water crown  Photo by Michael Scott on Flikr
The ONLY thing you absolutely have to have to clean anything is water. If they turn your water off you are DOOMED to filth.

The dollar store has a lot of cleaners that are fine if you don’t want to go the “green” route. The only one I don’t like is their furniture polish, it just smells funny.
Gel toilet cleaners cost more but they do work better.
Pledge® does keep the dust off longer.
The only product I recommend people purchase is the Scrubbing Bubbles® automatic shower cleaner, the thing you hang in the shower and when you’re done you press the button and it sprays cleaner for you. This product does work. I haven’t figured out how to refill it, so you have to buy the brand refill, but it isn’t terribly expensive. You can make a cleaner to put in a spray bottle and leave in the shower for use, which will work even better. But it seems like families of working moms have a 1-button-pressing limit. Anything more complicated isn’t going to happen and mom will be in there scrubbing away on the weekend.
There are a million sites with different recipes for natural cleaners. I always start with The Dollar Stretcher. If you have a trouble spot they always have suggestions, too.
Spray  Photo by Darin House on Flikr

Natural Cleaner Recipe Links

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