Unless you're a filthy Millennial, we all want to live in a clean home. Here are some low-cost cleaning ways to keep your house clean, cheap, and healthy.
There is a reason that cleaning is referred to as a chore and that is because it is a total chore and no one really enjoys cleaning.
Well, today I have a few tips and ideas for you that are going to help you cut down on the amount of time you are cleaning and no, shoving stuff under the sofa or your bed is not one of them!
We will be looking at ways that can make sure your place is kept nice and clean, but also ways that are not going to cost you much money.
Let’s face it, no one actually likes to clean and certainly, no one likes to spend a ton of money to clean either!
So by the end of this, you will have more free time and a few extra bucks in your pocket!
1. Clean As You Go
Leaving the sink full of dishes, blowing off the vacuuming for another day or ignoring that big pile of clothes on your bedroom floor may seem like a great idea at that moment in time.
However, at some point that is going to have to be dealt with and there is nothing worse than realizing you have a dirty, stinky living space and then realizing you are going to have to waste a whole day cleaning.
By cleaning as you go, doing a little bit here and there, you are preventing the house from getting too messy.
So if you are making yourself a cup of coffee, do the dishes while you wait, if there are clothes on the sofa, take them to the hamper as you walk past. Little simple things like this can go a long way when it comes to keeping the house clean.
2. Get A Robot Vacuum To Do The Dirty Work For You
I am not talking about some kind of cyborg that is going to become self-aware and hunt you down Terminator style!
Robot vacuums like iRobot (Amazon), are very popular right now and they are far more affordable than you may think. The idea of these is that you can set them to clean just how you like.
So you can have them set to clean each and every day at 10 in the morning or in the evening or actually whenever you want. A robot vacuum like the iRobot will go around where you tell it to, picking up any dirt, dust, and mess along the way.
What is great about this is that it really cuts down on how often you have to vacuum those floors. Let your robot vacuum do a different room each day and you will hardly ever have to get out the old upright vacuum again.
I know I said we were looking at saving you money, but robot vacuums have really come down in price, plus can you really put a price on the amount of time and hassle it is going to save you?
3. Do Not Buy Overpriced Cleaning Products
While it may be very tempting to stock your cupboards with all the cleaning products that you see advertised during prime time, the reason that these guys can afford to advertise is that they are much more expensive!
It can be so easy to fall into the trap of spending five bucks or more on a bottle of cleaner because the TV or the internet tells you to.
I say, check your store's own brand or one of the not well-known brands. You will still get a product that is going to help you clean, but you will also have a little more money in your pocket after!
4. Cut Back On the Cleaning Products
When I had my first place, the number of cleaning products that I had was insane. I think I had a different product for each surface in the apartment!
Guess what? I ended up using about two of them and the rest just sat there which is a huge waste of money. Many cleaning products can be used for multiple things.
Buy an all-purpose cleaner that can handle all kinds of surfaces instead of one for each. Of course, you can even look into using things you have in your home to clean.
White vinegar, lemon, and baking soda can perform miracles and if you already have these types of items in your place, you might as well use them.
While you may have to do a little research to know the best way to use them, it can be worthwhile as it will not only clean your home but also save you some money in the process.
Related: Tips to Save Money on Cosmetics, Makeup & Beauty Products
5. Get An Item You Can Use More Than Once
While getting a pack of floor wipes that you use and the just throw away may seem like a great idea, you are throwing money down the toilet by doing this. Instead, purchase a product that you can use over and over again.
A microfiber cloth can be used to clean many surfaces and you can also wash it, meaning you can use it time and time again. A mop is a far better solution than floor wipes as yes you guessed it, you can use it time and time again.
When purchasing items for cleaning do not just think of the cleaning job you need to do right away, think of how you can use them over and over again.
6. Organize Your Place Better
When I had my first apartment after just a few short weeks it looked like an episode of Hoarders. I had stuff all over the place, not because I was dirty, but because I was unorganized and an unorganized mess is a mess that you have to deal with.
Make sure everything you own has a place and the floor of your bedroom does not count! By taking the time to organize properly, your home is going to look much cleaner and also when it does come time to clean, you will have less stuff to worry about.
One other bit of advice I would tie into this is that you could use this as an opportunity to get rid of any unnecessary clutter you may have. Things you do not use, things that are broken and things that you can sell for extra cash (like selling all your old shoes) for are all candidates for items that can be removed from your home. Remember the less stuff you have, the less stuff you have to clean.
Keeping Your Home Clean
Keeping your home clean does not have to be as expensive or time-consuming as you think.
The tips I have given you today should help you get on the right track. Be it cleaning as you go or picking up a robot vacuum cleaner to do the vacuuming while you are at work, I hope that you will have more money in your pocket and more time on your hands.
If you love these cleaning hacks, take a look at these money hacks to help you save even more.
