Save Money When Cleaning Wood

I have a little trick for you that I think you are going to like. If you have wood in your house to clean, such as trim, doors, panelling and furniture, you can take advantage of this idea. I’m always at a loss when it comes to cleaning wood. I’ve tried so many different products. In fact, there is a whole collection of things sitting on one of my shelves down in the basement, next to my regular stockpile. I’m always so worried that some cleaners might be too harsh for the wood, and others I have tried just don’t … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Sanitizing Wipes

Commercial sanitizing wipes are so easy to use. You know the kind? They come in big cylinder containers and are made by Clorox, Lysol or other companies. They are disposable, so you can use them and immediately toss them away. I used to use them all of the time, to wipe the counters after preparing chicken, or anytime I wanted something with a little more germ killing power over soap and water. They work wonderfully in the bathroom. I would use them pretty much daily for sanitizing touch ups to keep everything clean. There is just something about knowing that … Continue reading →

Frugal Drain Cleaner

If you have slow drains but don’t want to spend a lot on commercial drain cleaners, you can try this trick. It doesn’t use harsh chemicals, so it is safe for septic tanks and can be used over and over again. You can use help dissolve built up scum and hair in any of your drains (ugh), including the sink, the shower, and the bathtub. Regular maintenance will help keep your drains clean and flowing well. If your drains have gotten to the point where they are completely clogged and absolutely no water is moving through, then this remedy might … Continue reading →

Flylady the Frugal Way

Have your heard of FlyLady? She is a very popular woman who teaches and supports others on how to keep a clean, clutter-free home. Through her books, tools and website, she promises to help keep you on track. I have many friends who swear by the FlyLady’s methods for maintaining their homes. I’ve even done a bit of flying myself. But is flying frugal? Well it can be. FlyLady doesn’t ask you to do anything that would break the bank, and she has hundreds of positive reviews on the merchandise she sells. But of course, I started to think about … Continue reading →

Frugal Cleaning: Using Lemons

Put those lemons to good use in your cleaning to save $$$$! Who doesn’t like the scent of lemons in a nice clean house? Practically every commercial cleaner out there on the market has a version that contains a lemon scent. Sometimes the scent is not just lemon, but “fresh lemon.” I have even seen a cleaner with the scent of a “fresh lemon breeze.” I’m not sure how breezes get to be lemon scented. Perhaps they hold the lemons up to the kitchen window? Regardless, there is a reason behind the lovely scent of lemons in cleaning solutions. Not … Continue reading →

Frugal Lessons from The Amish: Giving Up Your Vacuum

Can giving up your vacuum really save you money? Vacuum cleaners use large amounts of electricity, require the purchase of bags and filters, and eventually need costly repair or replacement. Eliminating this piece of equipment can save you money. I know, I know. You are shaking your head at me again. How on earth can I possibly recommend giving up your vacuum? While it is great being frugal, no one wants to live in a dirty house, right? I don’t know about you, but I use my big vacuum on a daily basis. I have three small children worth of … Continue reading →

Frugal Spring Cleaning: Taking Advantage of Nature

It is Sunday evening and we are still settling in to our new home. It is a great house and property, but it needs a lot of TLC. There are big things to do and small things to do before this house will truly feel like home. One of the most immediate things to do here is some good old fashioned spring cleaning. The house, I am afraid looks like it hasn’t been cleaned for a very long time. Cleaning one single window pane required three whole paper towels to before they wouldn’t come up black, and that was for … Continue reading →

The Cheap Way to Use Your Swiffer

Why spent a lot maintaining those fancy kitchen floor systems? From Clorox to Swiffer, it seems like there is always a new way to clean your kitchen floor. Here is a secret of mine. I love those swiffer wet mops. They are so much easier to use than the traditional bucket and pail, but the cleaning solution and the replacement pads can get pretty expensive. I was buying the supplies by bulk, but I was also going through those supplies pretty quickly. I started to notice that the supplies were affecting our budget, but I didn’t want to give up … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Bathroom Cleanser

Learn to make your own tub cleanser for a frugal alternative to a commercial cleanser. It just costs a few pennies and is so easy to make. You know those scrubbing powders that come in a cardboard tube with a shaker top? Well, it isn’t hard to make your own version that works just as well but is a lot cheaper to use. You can use this cleanser for your tub, tile, toilet and sink. While it does have some scrubbing powder, it isn’t too abrasive, and I have never seen this home made cleanser scratch any bathroom surface. In … Continue reading →

When Mildew Gets Ugly

I hate harsh chemicals because they make me break out in rashes. Even the smell sometimes can make me want to itch. So whenever there is a job that requires a heavy duty cleaner, I usually ask someone else to do it. Like my husband. Like the shower curtain. Despite my repeated asking nicely (okay nagging), however, it was no surprise to me this morning that the curtain still required a good cleaning. In fact, the mildew had rallied itself together to spell out “ha ha” on the plastic liner. So I went to do what I always do when … Continue reading →