cleaning on a budget

 i have been rather sappy on social media lately (ahem, thanks pregnancy) ... so i wanted to shake off the emotions and do something a bit different.

let me begin by saying that we are not rich. like, at all. we like nice things as much as the next family and try to budget in a way that everyone is satisfied and we still have a little money left in bank ... it doesn't always work out that way because we are not perfect, but that is ultimately the goal.

for instance, if i have $100, i would rather spend it on a zoo pass than a years worth of expensive cleaning products.

a couple of years back ... when we first bought our house, i vowed to no longer spend money on lysol or windex or any of that other stuff that you just do not need. so, i began to make my own cleaner.

all purpose cleaning spray:

all you do is take the peel of one grapefruit and put it in a mason jar. you fill the jar with white vinegar and seal. sit it in the sun for about a week and give it a good shake about once a day. next, put a funnel in a spray bottle and pour the grapefruit vinegar in. discard the peels. lastly, fill the rest of the bottle with warm water and voila! i literally use this on just about everything. counter tops, toilets, spills, the stove ... everything. i do not spray it directly on wood. for wood surfaces, i just use a dry or damp cloth. nothing fancy.

glass cleaner: one part rubbing alcohol, three parts warm water.


so ...

one jug of white vinegar is usually under $2.00 and if used just for cleaner .. it will last well over a year.

one grapefruit usually costs me about 79c and i have to buy about three a year to make cleaner.

one bottle of rubbing alcohol costs about $2.00 and i honestly can't remember the last time i had to buy it ... it has lasted me a while because i only use it for glass cleaner.

most people who make their own cleaners will add a few drops of essential oils ... i do not. i happen to love the smell of oils and if someone gifted me a bottle, i would use it ... we just simply do not choose to spend our money on them. :)

for my wood floors i add one drop of dish soap to a bucket of hot water. sometimes, i will add a tiny drop of almond extract that i use for cooking because it just smells so good!

lastly, i would say that the biggest money waster when it comes to cleaning are paper towels! i bought twelve white cloth napkins and just simply wash and reuse them. they work perfect for counter tops, dusting, windows and mirrors!

i am by no means a cleaning expert ... this is just what i do and it has worked wonderfully for my family. happy cleaning! :) p.s. forgive the state of my scrub brush. it gets used multiple times a day on our big industrial kitchen sink! it has seen better days ... but oh boy, i have loved that thing! i bought mine here