How to Save on Housekeeping

Keep your home spic-and-span and your wallet from feeling the burn

By Sabah Karimi

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Housekeeping expenses can make it difficult to stay within your monthly household budget, but there are several ways you can pare down costs while maintaining a clean and well-organized home. Whether you live in a studio apartment or a large family home, you can save on your monthly housekeeping bill in several ways.

• What You Need to Know
• To save on housekeeping, cut costs by spending less on cleaning supplies and electricity.

Step 1:

Use washable dusting and cleaning cloths. Reusable dusting cloths, wipes and cleaning supplies typically cost less in the long run than purchasing disposable cleaning supplies on a regular basis. You can simply use these cloths and throw them in the washing machine or dishwasher each week or twice per month as needed.

Step 2:

Clean the vacuum cleaner regularly. Make sure that the rollers of the vacuum cleaner are free of debris, hair and dirt so that the vacuum cleaner is functioning at its optimal level. This will reduce the number of times you need to vacuum your home and save you money on electricity.

Step 3:

Make your own floor and surface cleaner. You can save money on cleaning supplies by making a simple surface cleaner for cleaning tiles, flooring and cupboards with equal parts vinegar and water. Mix the vinegar and water together and keep it in a spray bottle for everyday use.

Step 4:

Don't do laundry until you can run a full load. Each load of laundry costs you money in detergent, softener, electricity and water. You can cut down on these costs by only doing laundry when you have a lot of clothing to wash.

Step 5:

Make your own room deodorizers. Air fresheners, deodorizing sprays and candles can become a costly household expense. You can make your own deodorizer by placing an open box of baking soda in a cupboard or the refrigerator, and by setting out a bowl of white vinegar in any room to absorb odors naturally.

Step 6:

Don't run the dishwasher until it's completely full. The dishwasher uses up cleaning solution, electricity and water on each load. Cut down your utility bill and save on this housekeeping expense by running the dishwasher only when it's completely filled with dishes, silverware and glassware.

• Tips & Warnings
• Keep track of your monthly household supply expenses so that you can find ways to cut down the use of pricey products.
• Generic brands of housekeeping supplies and products are often just as effective as premium brands.
• Make sure that you understand the care guidelines of natural wood surfaces and other materials in the home before applying a homemade cleaning product.