- Vinegar
- Lemons
- Baking Soda
- Cornstarch
- Ketchup
- Table Salt
That sounds like a grocery list, right? How about a list of cleaning supplies?
A good and easy way to save money is : buy products that can be used for more than one purpose. All the products on the above list are cleaning items too.
White vinegar is a good cleanser and disinfectant. I use it in the laundry rinse water; it cuts soap residue. (It does the same thing when I rinse my hair with it after shampooing.) I also use white vinegar to clean the toilet bowl. Usually I pour about 1 cup in the bowl, let it set for at least 15 minutes, then brush. There’s no harsh chemical smell, and the vinegar gets the job done. White vinegar in hot water makes tile floors shine without any harsh smell, and there’s no danger to the paws of a resident cat or dog who strolls across the floor before it dries. Vinegar is an alternative cleaner for people bothered by the fumes from some manufactured cleansers. Plus, it costs less!
Lemons are also a disinfectant. They are good to use on countertops around food items.
I sprinkle baking soda on the carpets before running the sweeper. Baking soda is another good disinfectant and deodorizer which doesn’t have a harsh odor to it. I use baking soda in hot water to clean a variety of surfaces. I used to buy clay kitty litter. I sprinkled baking soda on the bottom of the pan before adding the litter. The baking soda helped the litter absorb odors longer.
I use cornstarch as a dry shampoo and as talcum powder. It’s effective and costs much less than products bought specifically for that.
Ketchup, good old American ketchup, isn’t just to put on hot dogs, hamburgers and french fries. No, ketchup, along with table salt, has a surprise in store for a homemaker who needs some copper-bottomed pots cleaned. Check out this link: http://www.thesquirrelseye.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/the-great-ketchup-experiment.
Beside the cost savings and the effectiveness of the above products, all these items are readily available. Try them out and see what you think!
P. Booher
Country Ripples 