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house cleaning
By ALEX LIGHT 2,511 views
HOME IMPROVEMENT

DIY Ways To Save Your Money During Cleaning Your House

House cleaning does not have to be a costly and ‘product-heavy’ thing – as advertised everywhere. If you know a few basic hacks and tricks, you can save a tonne of money in the process. Especially when you are moving out of a rented house, expenses become an issue on another level. You’re already paying for packers and movers. Then, there are additional expenses in the new house. Now, to get your bond back, the landlord demands that the house should be in spick and span condition before you vacate.

It can be a little too stressful for your liking – we understand. While you can go ahead and hire end-of-lease cleaning companies that come with their own cleaning solutions, you can also go in the direction of trying these hacks that will help you save a few more bucks. Bond cleaning needs to be thorough and deep, and normal methods, although effective, aren’t always good enough for the owner.

We scoured the internet for do-it-yourself tricks and tips that you can implement while cleaning your house. It’ll help you save during this super expensive time in your life.

Most of the cleaning tools you find online are useless

Yes, we said it. The internet is flooded with all kinds of uncanny gadgets that are supposed to help you with a very specific problem while cleaning your house. No, you don’t need that complicated scrub that is designed to clean the back of your dishwasher! Even worse are the products that are supposed to work only a few times before you need to purchase a brand new one.

Do not get enticed by marketing campaigns that sell you irrelevant cleaning products. Most of the house cleaning can be done using products and tools that you already own. From your dishwashing sponge to your old toothbrush, everything can be used – and effectively – to help you properly clean your house. So, do not buy everything you see on the internet and go for the old and trusty ways – it’ll help you save a lot!

Expired cleaning products can be used

There are several things that a manufacturer considers before setting an expiry date for a product. It can be the ingredients used, the kind of packaging the products come in, the usage, etc. For cleaning products, usually, you can use expired products instead of throwing them away. As long as the products are kept away from sunlight and moisture, you are good to go. Spoilage, when it comes to cleaning items, is usually different – you can see it. If your detergent is no longer useful, you’ll see large lumps in them. So, instead of buying new items, you can use expired products that seem alright to you.

Make DIY cleaning solutions

Do you know why there are so many DIY solutions for everything on the internet? Who are these people who consume such content? Well, DIY videos and content are so common because:

  • They are super satisfying to watch.
  • They help you save money.
  • They actually WORK!

Yes, talking about DIY cleaning solutions, most of them are effective to an extent. Of course, the kind of problem you’re dealing with also has a say in the problem. Here are some of the most common cleaning solutions you can make at home:

Bathroom cleaner

Add 1 and a 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda, 1/2 cup of warm water, 1/2 cup of liquid soap, and two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar. This solution works nicely on tiles, bathtubs, shower walls, showerheads, and bathroom sinks. You can also add lemon juice to make this solution more effective.

Glass cleaner

Add 1 cup of hot water and 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. Add 4 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add this solution to a sprayer and clean your windows and glasses using this.

Microwave cleaner

Appliances and electronics need extra care while cleaning. Also, microwaves are home to some of the slimmest, stinkiest kinds of dirt. Months of neglect leave them with a nightmare to clean. Use 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water and heat them inside the appliance. After cooling, use a cloth and dip it into the solution to use.

Steel cleaner

Stainless steel is also a very stubborn material to clean. To deal with this, simply add liquid soap and warm water to a spray bottle and spritz away at the dirt.

All-purpose cleaner

Finally, you can make an all-purpose cleaner for everyday use or for your end-of-lease cleaning. Just add 13 ounces of hot water to 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 10-12 drops of grapefruit essential oil and drops of lavender essential oil, and 5-7 drops of lemon essential oil. Use this mixture as a spray to clean countertops, windows, tabletops, shelves, etc.

Use cleaning appliances using optimized settings

Whether it is your washing machine or your dishwasher, always use these machines at their most optimum settings. It saves power as well as water. Also, fill these appliances to their capacity before using them – that is, make the most of the space. Also, you won’t have to do laundry or the dishes for a long time after that. Using them at full capacity not only helps you save power but also a few bucks on the water bill. Although it may not be a lot, these things add up over time and soon, you’ll start noticing how much money you saved.

Smart shopping

Whenever you go out to buy cleaning products, it is wise to go for generic labels instead of the brands. Branded solutions are more expensive and work almost the same as generic labels. You can check the ingredients to understand the difference – most of the time, they are exactly the same, minus the marketing!

A declutter checklist

A checklist before you start doing your chores makes it very easy to track what you’ve done and what needs to be done. Especially during an end-of-lease cleaning scenario, when you actually have a set of demands to go through, a checklist is essential. If you are not moving and it is a simple spring clean, a checklist can help you save time and also help you in decluttering your house more effectively. You can get rid of useless items and make an inventory of things you no longer need. Keeping a track can also help you organize a garage sale and earn you a few bucks in the process – while decluttering your house.

Other hacks for cleaning your house

Other than making your own cleaning solutions, here are some things that you can do instead of hiring a bond-back cleaner or purchasing expensive items online.

  • Use baking soda and boiling water to unclog pesky drains.
  • Use a squeegee to clean off stubborn pet hair.
  • Use baking soda and water to clean stains on mattresses.
  • Use a wet cloth and an iron to clean stains on carpets, especially pet urine stains and wine stains.
  • Put activated charcoal in your freezer to soak up all the bad food smell.
  • Always sweep the floor and then mop. Use a disinfectant for tiles and hardwood floors.
  • Apply products and let them stay for a while before cleaning. This makes them more effective.
  • Use tennis balls while doing your laundry.

The list is endless, but we’ll have to stop somewhere. The truth is that the internet is full of cleaning hacks that you can use in a normal weekend cleaning or for a deeper and thorough bond back cleaning.

Do your research before hiring professionals

House cleaning experts can do the job in less than half the time and effort as you but they also charge you money for that. It defeats the whole purpose of this article, but the truth is that you might need professional help at some time. end-of-lease cleaning or bond cleaning scenarios usually call for professional help just because the amount of work to do is overwhelming. Also, in the end, you get your security deposit back, so it is a win-win.

It is crucial to do your research about the house cleaners that you are looking to hire. Make sure that:

  • They have good online reviews on search engines.
  • Charge a moderate amount.
  • Offer discount packages and offers.
  • Are easily accessible and provides transparent estimates.
  • Offer customer support.

This should simplify things for you. Make sure that the house cleaners do what they claim in their advertisement. Always be open to asking questions.

Conclusion

House cleaning will obviously incur some expenses for you but it doesn’t have to be an amount that overwhelms you and makes you think twice about cleaning in the first place. Also, end-of-lease cleaning can be really stressful especially because your money is stuck in the pipeline. These tips and tricks might help you save a few extra bucks and leave you with house cleaning wisdom that will last you for ages!

Alex Light
Author
ALEX LIGHT

Hi, I am Alex Light. An exceptionally professional and accomplished executive assistant, with an impressive range of secretarial and office management skills. My passion for work is contagious.