Frugal Spring Cleaning Tips Using What You Already Have on Hand

Spring cleaning can take a lot of time. It can also quietly become expensive.

Walk down the cleaning aisle at any store and you’ll see a product for almost every surface in your home. If advertisers are to be believed, you need a different cleaner for windows, floors, counters, cutting boards and dozens of other items.

Reader Ashley suggests that most homes can stay just as clean using a few simple household ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. Basic items like vinegar, baking soda, dish soap and lemons can handle many everyday cleaning jobs.

Using simple cleaners can also reduce costs and cut down on unnecessary chemicals in the home.

Here are some of Ashley’s favorite low-cost cleaning ideas.

A Cheap All-Purpose Cleaner

Keep a few simple ingredients on hand for everyday cleaning. These combinations can handle many common cleaning jobs without the need for several different products.

For general household cleaning, try mixing:

• 2 teaspoons borax
• 5 cups hot water
• ½ cup dishwashing soap
• 10–15 drops essential oil

Mix well and use for general cleanup around the house.

Ashley also points out that vinegar alone or diluted with water works well as a basic cleaner for many surfaces. If the smell bothers you, a few drops of essential oil can help mask the odor.

For tougher spots, sprinkle baking soda on the surface, lightly mist it with water and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing.

Cleaning Cutting Boards the Frugal Way

Kitchen cutting boards can also be cleaned with a few simple ingredients.

Sprinkle salt over a plastic cutting board and squeeze half a lemon over the surface. Scrub the board with the lemon and rinse with warm water.

For wooden cutting boards, use the same cleaning method followed by light maintenance. Occasionally, sanding the board lightly and rubbing a small amount of olive oil into the wood can help protect it.

Note: wooden boards should not be submerged in water.

Keeping Drains and Faucets Clean

Ashley also shared a couple of simple tricks for keeping drains and faucets in good shape.

To help clear or maintain drains, pour:

• 1 cup baking soda down the drain
• Followed by 1 cup vinegar

Let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes, then flush the drain with hot or boiling water.

To make faucets shine, spray them with club soda and wipe them dry. A couple of drops of olive oil on a dry cloth can help bring back the shine and reduce spotting.

Simple Floor Cleaning Ideas

You don’t necessarily need specialty floor cleaners either.

One option is mixing:

• 2 cups vinegar
• 4 cups hot water
• A few drops of essential oil
• A couple of drops of tea tree oil (which can act as a disinfectant)

Another simple option is to add 2 tablespoons of dish soap to a bucket of hot water, then rinse with a vinegar-and-water mixture.

Ashley also suggests a heavier-duty mix using:

• ¼ cup borax
• 1 tablespoon dish soap
• 1 cup vinegar
• Warm water to fill the bucket

Add a few drops of essential oil if you prefer a light scent.