Warm weather is here, which means opening the windows, letting in the fresh air, and its a good time for clearing away all the dirt and grime that has accumulated around your home. Don’t worry about making a trip to the store for cleaning supplies. There is no need to purchase expensive specialty cleaning solutions when you can easily use the cheap products you already have in the house.
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Clean and Disinfect With Bleach
Bleach can be used for much more than brightening your whites in the laundry room or removing mold and mildew in the bathroom. Need to get rid of that you moss growing on your roof? Mix a solution of half bleach and half water, then use a spray bottle to apply it to the moss to kill it. You can also use a bleach and water solution to clean your lawn or patio furniture and disinfect trash cans.
Bleach can also be used to sanitize cutting boards, especially those you have used to cut meat. Wash with dish soap, then add two teaspoons of bleach to some water. Plastic cutting boards can be left to soak overnight if you wish, but wood cutting boards should only be washed and rinsed.
Use Vinegar for More Than Windows
Most people know white vinegar is great for cleaning windows, but you can also use it to clean blinds. Soak a cloth in vinegar and wipe away any dust that has accumulated. You can remove hard water build-up from shower heads by pouring some vinegar into a plastic bag, securing it around the shower head with a rubber band, and allowing it to soak.
Stains and odor in carpets? Vinegar can work like a miracle to eliminate both. Add two cups of water, one teaspoon of baking soda, and one tablespoon of white vinegar to a spray bottle and shake to mix. Spray, let it sit for a short time and blot with a towel to remove excess moisture.
Cheap Cleaning Solutions With Baking Soda
A box of inexpensive baking soda does more than help biscuits to rise. It can make your house look clean and smell fresh. A sprinkle of baking soda can deodorize carpets, drains, and sponges, and an open box can eliminate food odors in refrigerators or musty smells in closets.
A half-cup of baking soda added to liquid detergent can work as a laundry booster to brighten and freshen clothing. Sprinkle some on a sponge to gently clean the inside of your microwave. It will also remove coffee and tea stains on mugs and pots by washing them in a solution of one-quarter cup of baking soda and one quart of warm water.
A Silver Polishing Miracle
Did you know that baking soda will also polish silver? Combine a tablespoon each of baking soda and salt and sprinkle the mixture into an aluminum baking pan. Then add one-half cup of vinegar and one cup of boiling water. The chemical reaction between the aluminum, baking soda, and vinegar should begin to remove the tarnish immediately. Allow heavily tarnished pieces to soak a little longer.
Cleaning Hacks With Dish Washing Soap
One of the best homemade cleaning solutions for windows is made with dish washing soap. Add a teaspoon of dish washing soap to two gallons of water. Apply the solution to windows with a sponge and squeegee dry.
Dish washing soap can also be used to clean your air conditioner filter. Remove the filter and soak in warm water and with about two teaspoons of dish washing soap. Scrub it with a toothbrush, rinse and allow it to dry before putting it back.
By using these cheap cleaning solutions made with products you already have in your house, your home will be looking and smelling as fresh as the summer itself. So open those sparkling-clean windows and let the sunshine in.
