Money Saving Monday How to Save Money on Spring Cleaning

 It's that time of year again-- rain showers and melting snow, brighter sunshine, and SPRING CLEANING! It's no surprise why we want to clear out our clutter during this time of year. We are preparing for summer by going through our clothing and storing sweaters, pulling out bathing suits. There is more mud outside, which often tries to make its way inside. The light is finally shining on all those dusty surfaces and into those nooks and crannies of piled stuff. It's time to CLEAN it up or MOVE it out!

Just because you want to clean every room in house doesn't mean you need a lot of expensive cleaning products in your arsenal. You can get a sparkling clean home with five fantastic products you probably already have at home.

• Distilled White Vinegar
• Lemon Juice
• Dishwashing Liquid
• Baking Soda
• An All-Purpose Cleaner

 {Distilled White Vinegar}

• Mix with equal parts water in a spray bottle to wipe down countertops and appliances. 
• Use to remove annoying water rings that build up on fish tanks or glasses lost and forgotten somewhere.
• Use it in a pinch with warm water to clean up animal accidents. The vinegar will help eliminate the odor, hopefully preventing future accidents in that spot. 
• Add 1/2 Cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle to keep lint from sticking to clothing.
• Run vinegar through the washing machine without clothes to break up soap scum and lint buildup.
• Mix with salt to form a paste for removing coffee and tea stains from dishes.
• Run vinegar through your empty dishwasher to clean out soap buildup.
• Unclog drains with baking soda and vinegar. (Volcanoes anyone?)
• Clean and deodorize the fridge with equal parts vinegar and water.
• Use with water to clean the inside of your car windows.
• For a more extensive list of ways to use vinegar please visit this website.

{Lemon Juice}

• Make a paste with salt to clean and shine copper.
• Use to clean cutting boards with stubborn stains.
• Make a paste with baking soda and place in cracks of the shower where mildew builds up. Leave for 30 minutes then gently scrub with a toothbrush and rinse. 
• Wipe down shower doors or other glass surfaces.
• Put lemon juice and rinds down the garbage disposal to freshen.
• Make homemade wood polish with olive oil.

{Dishwashing Liquid}

• Lather on a rag with water to wipe down countertops for a streak-free finish. 
• Use with water to clean tough grease stains on stove tops.
• Use with water to remove grease and grime from inside your oven.
• Use with water to remove stubborn stains from your carpet.
• Use with water to clean the inside of your car windows. (non-tinted windows only)
• Use with water to wipe down the dash of your car.
• Do the DISHES! 

{Baking Soda} 

• Use with distilled white vinegar to unclog drains.

• Use with lemon juice to remove mildew buildup.
• Mix with water in a spray bottle and spritz your dirty oven. Wait for it to dry and spritz again. After repeating several times, wipe out the grease and buildup that has been loosened. Repeat the process until the oven is sparkling!
• Use with water to wash out and deodorize garbage cans.
• Use in the wash to remove oil and grease stains from fabrics.
• Run a water and baking soda solution through your coffee pot, then rinse.
• Use with water and fill stinky food containers. Leave to soak.
• Make a paste with water and use to cover a sunburn. (If you receive one from all the outdoor activity you'll be doing!)
• Use dry with a toothbrush to remove stains from canvas bags.

 {All-Purpose Cleaner}

• Clean Floors
• Clean Countertops
• Clean Appliances
• Wipe Down Bathrooms
• Read the label for directions, and use it on pretty much any surface. It really is ALL purpose!
• To take it a step further, read how to make your own homemade all purpose cleaner.

 There is a lot that can be handled with these simple five ingredients. You can even learn how to combine them to make a powerhouse cleaning crew. If you need to get a stain out or clean a stubborn surface, chances are these ingredients from nature are going to help you out. Take the time to look it up, and you'll learn all about these great old-school tricks - chemical free. 

- - Happy Cleaning! - -