We can spend a lot of money on cleaning supplies. There are two ways to curb that spending. One way is watching how often we clean and another way is using inexpensive household products as do-it-yourself cleaners. Here are a few tips along those lines.
How often should you clean:
Bed sheets – Once a week
Car – 1 to 3 weeks
Jeans – Every 4 – 5 wears
Bras – Every 3 – 4 wears
Windows – Twice a year
Oven – Every 6 months
Carpets – Once a year
Dishwasher – Once a month
Bed Pillows – Every 3 – 6 months
How to clean up after a pet accident to get the smell out:
On carpet: Blot up all that is possible (do not rub). Mix one cup of water and 1/8 tsp. dish soap:
blot with a clean dry cloth. To remove any remaining soap, mix 1 Tbsp. white vinegar in 1 cup water and
dab. Blot dry with paper towels.
On ceramic tile: If tile is glazed, wipe up with your normal tile cleaner. If the tile isn’t
glazed or the liquid has spread to the grout, use grout cleaner. To remove odor, make a thick paste
with water and baking soda, rub in let set until dry and wipe up.
On wood flooring: If it has a sealant, use paper towel to clean up accident and clean with your normal floor cleanser.
If the urine has soaked into the floor and odor lingers, use an enzyme-based pet-odor remover on the area (sold at pet stores).
Useful secrets of vinegar
Use white vinegar to remove sticky labels and it will peel right off!
To eliminate a burnt odor in the kitchen, mix 1 cup of vinegar in 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Turn off to cool.
Within 15 minutes the smell should be gone.
Clean your shower by mixing one part vinegar with 10 parts water. Pour in an empty spray bottle to use as cleaner.
Stung by a wasp? Apply apple cider vinegar to the area with a cotton ball and the sting will subside.
Clean the dishwasher by running it on an empty cycle using vinegar instead of detergent. It will be sparkling clean and your next load of dishes will be too!
Greasy Hair? Simply shampoo your hair as usual, rinse, then pour 1/4 cup vinegar over it and rinse again.
Never buy fabric softener again! Simply use white vinegar. Use the same proportions as you would for a liquid fabric softener you will never notice the difference. Try it!
