Posted on May 12 2022
One basic principle of saving money is using some products for things other than their advertised purpose. Many household staples have lots of potential.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Peroxide has a thousand uses. Usually available for pennies per bottle, peroxide is ideal for getting stubborn stains off light colored fabric and carpet. It does tend to bleach, so it is excellent for cleaning tile grout. It disinfects and has no messy fumes, although it still must be kept from children and pets.
- Use it to clean the fridge and as a bleach alternative in your laundry.
- Add just a quarter of a cup to a sink full of cold water for a cheap vegetable wash.
- To prevent mold and mildew in the shower, mix equal parts peroxide and water in a spray bottle and spritz the shower when you're done.
- Add peroxide to the pre-wash compartment of your dishwasher to clean the washer and the dishes at the same time.
- Leave peroxide in the toilet overnight. In the morning, you can easily scrub the toilet clean.
Vinegar
Ordinary distilled vinegar is another 'miracle' product.
- Use it to shine up faucets and fixtures
- Mix with baking soda and pour down the garbage disposal to clean and deodorize
- Clean your microwave by placing equal parts water and vinegar in a microwaveable dish. Bring to a rolling boil, then wipe the inside of the microwave clean.
- Make your own scouring cleanser with 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and enough white vinegar to make it look creamy.
- Polish your metal. For copper and brass, mix 2 tablespoons ketchup with 1 tablespoon vinegar. Rub with a clean cloth until shiny and dry. For other metals, mix vinegar with 2 tablespoons cream of tartar to make a paste. Spread paste on metal surface and allow it to dry on the surface, then wash it off and dry.
- Find more tips for using vinegar for cleaning here.
These tips will keep your home smelling nice, looking great and minimize the time and effort it takes to keep it that way, all for less money.
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