Cleaning house. Some of us love it, some of us hate it. Either way, it has to be done. Kids, pets, husbands…all tend to track dirt into the house. But do you really need a bunch of premade cleaners and supplies to get it done? It can be so expensive to buy a variety of different cleaners, not to mention having to make the space to store it all. Guess what? You don’t really need all that stuff! You can totally keep your house clean with a bare minimum of supplies. Easier, cheaper, and even healthier! Below is all you need for cheaper cleaning as well as DIY cleaning products.
Cleaning Tools
Vacuum– You will need a vacuum. I prefer a Shark vacuum as it is high quality but not a super high price tag.
Broom and dustpan– Again, doesn’t have to be top of the line.
Microfiber cloths– I have one for TV screens/electronics, one for dusting, and one for glass. Super easy to wash and reuse.
Old toothbrush– Yup, an old toothbrush. When you replace yours, wash up the old one and use it for cleaning smaller things that a regular scrub brush can’t reach like window tracks.
Scrub brush– I likes nylon bristle ones with a handle but that’s just my preference. I usually find them for around $2-4 at Walmart. Nothing fancy!
Mop– I have used a sponge mop and bucket, a refillable spray mop with a microfiber pad, and a Swiffer WetJet. Obviously the Swiffer is the most expensive option as you have to buy the refills but it’s another one of those preference things. I go back and forth between all of these over time.
There are other cleaning tools that are nice to have but not necessary. I love my hand vacuum but survived many years without one. I dream of one day owning something to make cleaning the tall corners and ceiling fans easier but do just fine with a stool and dusting cloth/vacuum.
Cheaper cleaning with minimalist tools and DIY cleaning products Click To TweetDIY cleaning products
When it comes to cleaning products, this is really where less is more. All you really need for cleaning products are: water, dish detergent, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, and essential oils. Happy bonus: less toxic chemicals in your home!
Most of these in different combination can clean just about anything. Cleaning recipes that I use often or used often in the past:
Window cleaner– 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, 4-5 drops of dish detergent
All purpose cleaner– 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of vinegar, 10 drops of essential oil of choice (tea tree, orange, or lemon would be great choices)
Laundry stain pre-treater– 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, 1 part dish detergent
Drain cleaner– 1 tablespoon of baking soda poured in drain followed by vinegar until it stops fizzing (1/4 cup or so). Let sit for a few minutes. Pour in boiling water. If drain has a smell, pour in some lemon juice and let sit for at least 5 minutes.
Air freshener– 3/4 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of witch hazel (could use rubbing alcohol or vodka), 18-20 drops of essential oils of choice (I like bergamot and lemon)
There are plenty more DIY cleaning product recipes out there. Check out my cleaning Pinterest board for more ideas. If you don’t want to make your own products or make as many, I highly suggest Thieves cleaner. I now use it for my all purpose cleaner, shower cleaner, and toilet bowl cleaner. It works great, smells great, and all I need is a spray bottle and water. For the toilet bowl cleaner, I just pour a capful directly into the toilet and clean as usual. A bottle lasts for a long time too as you don’t need much to make a big impact.
Cleaning house doesn’t need a ton of tools or expensive products. A small collection of simple things can make a big impact. With just a few tools and products, you can keep your entire house clean. Don’t fall into the trap that each application needs a special cleaning product or that you need an expensive, state of the art vacuum cleaner. One of the bonuses of using simple products to clean your home is that you keep toxic chemicals away from your family and pets. If you do have a lot of specialized cleaning products, I suggest that as you use them up, you don’t replace them but instead make your own. Happy cleaning!
Becky says
My grandma used to swear by using homemade window cleaner and cleaning her windows with newspaper! Thanks for the reminders on all of these great alternatives.