Money-Saving Cleaning Hacks To Make Life Easier

A clean home is a happy home but no one likes spending their time and money on cleaning! You want to spend your free time doing fun stuff, not scrubbing and washing. Fortunately, we have some amazing cleaning hacks that will save you time and money. 

Cleaning Solution: Coca-Cola
Cost: $1.99

Coca-Cola isn’t just a refreshing beverage – it works great as a toilet cleaner too! Coca-Cola contains carbonic, citric, and phosphoric acids, which can help get rid of pesky stains and limescale buildup on the inside of a toilet bowl.

Cleaning Solution: Onion
Cost: $0.50

Rather than using toxic spray cleaners and detergent to clean your grill, why not use an onion instead? Onions have natural antibacterial properties, and the moisture and acid from the onion can help get rid of the residue on your grill.

Cleaning Solution: Lemons
Cost: $1 per lemon

Like most household appliances, your garbage disposal needs some TLC every once in a while. Garbage disposals are a natural breeding ground for all sorts of harmful bacteria and mold that can stink up your kitchen and possibly your entire house.

Cleaning Solution: Vodka
Cost: $25

Though vodka is commonly associated with parties and nights out with friends, this alcoholic beverage can also double as a carpet stain remover. Cheap vodka works just as well as expensive ones, but use unflavored vodka to get the best results.

Cleaning Solution: Vegetable Oil
Cost: $1

If you catch your child doodling on your laminate floors or countertop with a permanent marker, there’s no need to panic! You can easily wipe permanent marker stains off laminate or plastic surfaces – all you need is some vegetable oil.

Cleaning Solution: Plastic Wrap
Cost: $3

Clogged toilets can be such a pain to deal with. It’s even worse when you realize you don’t have a plunger to unclog it. The next time you find yourself dealing with a toilet that just won’t flush, try this clever hack.

Cleaning Solution: Pillow Case
Cost: $5

Have you ever tried cleaning your ceiling fans, only to end up scattering dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles all over the room? There’s a simple solution to keep this from happening, and all you need is an old pillowcase.

Cleaning Solution: Charcoal
Cost: $7

Leaving spoiled food in your fridge for too long is one sure way to stink up your fridge. To get rid of the foul odor, you first need to empty your fridge, unplug it, and rinse the interior with water and a mild detergent.

Cleaning Solution: Plastic Bag & Vinegar
Cost: $3

Cleaning your shower head may not seem as important as cleaning your toilet bowl or tub, but mineral deposits and dirt can build up over time and cause it to get clogged up or spray water in all directions.

Cleaning Solution: Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide, & Dish Soap
Cost: $10

Mattresses are constantly exposed to bodily fluids and oils from your skin or hair (or drool!), so it shouldn’t be that surprising to see stains appear over time. If you want your mattress to last, then you need to give it a proper cleaning.

Cleaning Solution: Pair of Socks
Cost: $2

Window blinds collect dust and dirt quite easily, so it’s important to clean them regularly – at least once a week, if possible. While cleaning your blinds may seem like a tedious task, it doesn’t need to be! 

Cleaning Solution: Baking Soda, Citric Acid, Hydrogen Peroxide, Lemon Juice, & Essential Oils
Cost: $15

Cleaning the toilet bowl is hardly anyone’s favorite task, but using toilet cleaning bombs can certainly make doing it a little bit easier. Toilet cleaning bombs are not only super easy to make, they’re surprisingly fun to use, too!

Cleaning Solution: Shaving Cream
Cost: $5

Shaving cream isn’t just for shaving – it’s great for cleaning glass, too! Shaving cream contains the same active ingredients as most household cleaning soaps, which makes it perfect for when you need to clean your glass shower door in a pinch.

Cleaning Solution: Laundry Detergent, Baking Soda, & Vinegar
Cost: $5 – 10

Don’t throw away those dirty or aging shower curtains just yet – in most cases, you just need to wash them and they’ll look as good as new in no time. 

Cleaning Solution: Rubber Gloves
Cost: $2

If you love having pets around at home but hate having to clean up all the fur that gets everywhere, we have a solution! This trick won’t cost you an arm and a leg – all you need is a rubber glove.

Cleaning Solution: Coffee Filter
Cost: $1

If you want to clear away dust and fingerprints on your computer screen, reach into your kitchen cabinet and grab a coffee filter! These thin, cloth-like pieces of paper are lint-free, so they won’t scratch your screen and won’t leave behind any fibers.

Cleaning Solution: Toilet Cleaner
Cost: $7

Without question, the trash can is one of the dirtiest items in your home. You need to disinfect it regularly if you want to keep yourself or anyone in your household from getting sick.

Cleaning Solution: Rubbing Alcohol & Cotton Balls
Cost: $3

Your shoes come into contact with dirt and all sorts of nasty germs every time you use them, and they tend to smell awful after a while. If you want your shoes to look and smell fresh, try this life hack!

Cleaning Solution: Dryer Sheets
Cost: $8

Baseboards collect plenty of dust and dirt, which is why you need to clean them regularly. Though cleaning them can be rather tricky, you can make this task a lot simpler by using dryer sheets.

Cleaning Solution: Swiffer Sweeper & Cloths
Cost: $15+

Swiffer Sweepers first hit the market in 1999 and have since become a staple in many households. While most people use them to clean hardwood floors, you can certainly use them to clean other parts of the house, too!

Cleaning Solution: Plants
Cost: $10 – 15 per plant

Looking to give the air quality in your home a boost? Consider adding more indoor plants! Though you would need a ridiculous amount of foliage to fully eradicate toxins, every little bit helps, right?

Cleaning Solution: Salt & Aluminum Foil
Cost: $9

If you’ve been noticing a sticky residue on the bottom of your iron, then it’s probably time for you to clean it. Like most household items, cleaning your iron regularly is a must if you want it to last.

Cleaning Solution: Aquarium Gravel
Cost: $5

It’s easy enough to clean a dirty vase if you can reach inside, but if the vase has a narrow neck, try this simple trick! All you’ll need is some water and aquarium gravel, which you can buy at any pet store or big-box store.

Cleaning Solution: White Vinegar
Cost: $5

Kitchen surfaces are bound to get messy, which is why it’s always a great idea to have a kitchen cleaner on hand. If you’d rather not use products that are filled with all sorts of chemicals, you can always make an all-natural kitchen cleaner!

Cleaning Solution: Vinegar & Baking Soda
Cost: $6

You might think that your dishwasher can clean itself – unfortunately, it doesn’t. Bits of food and grease can build up over time, which can make your dishwasher smell awful and become less effective.

Cleaning Solution: White Vinegar
Cost: $2

It doesn’t take much to turn a shiny and clean microwave oven into a greasy, grimy mess. Lucky for you, there is a simple and effective way to clean your microwave with just water and vinegar, and it only takes a few minutes!

Cleaning Solution: Dish Soap
Cost: $3

You’ve made your delicious smoothie – now you need to clean your blender. Blenders can be tricky to clean, but what if we told you there’s an easy way to clean them without scrubbing and taking them apart?

Cleaning Solution: Sponge & Microwave
Cost: $200 for a new microwave

Sponges regularly come into contact with dirty dishes and silverware, so it’s important to clean them regularly. The frequency may vary depending on how often they’re used, but sponges should be sterilized at least once every three or four days.

Cleaning Solution: Dish Soap, Sugar, & Ice
Cost: $3

When you use your plastic food containers regularly, they inevitably become stained or discolored. Though stained plastic containers may seem unsightly, don’t throw them out just yet – they can still look as good as new with this simple trick!

Cleaning Solution: Salt, Potato, & Vegetable Oil
Cost: $3

Cast iron pans are known for their durability and reliability. However, they are also notoriously difficult to clean. If you have a cast iron pan that needs some cleaning, here’s how to do it safely.

Cleaning Solution: Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide
Cost: $7

After using your baking sheets to make cookies, it’s now time to give them some TLC! Regular dish soap usually isn’t enough to get rid of deep-seated grime, which is why you’ll need a stronger solution.

Cleaning Solution: White Vinegar & Baking Soda
Cost: $3

Scorched pots and pans may seem like a lost cause, but there is a simple and effective way to bring them back to their former glory. All it takes is a little white vinegar, some baking soda, and a sponge.

Cleaning Solution: Salt, Dish Soap, Baking Soda, White Vinegar, Steel Wool, & Paper Towels
Cost: $15

Now that you’ve cleaned the inside of your pan, it’s now time to get rid of the grimy layer on the outside! This time, you’ll be needing some salt, dish soap, baking soda, white vinegar, steel wool, and paper towels.

Cleaning Solution: Ammonia & Large Sealable Bag
Cost: $8

Whether you’re a professional chef or someone who rarely cooks, your stove grates will become greasy and grimy over time. Luckily, there’s an easy way to get rid of that baked-on grease with no scrubbing required!

Cleaning Solution: Dryer Sheets
Cost: $2

Here’s an easy way to get rid of burnt-on food on your pans – use dryer sheets! Who knew that a laundry room staple can also help save you from hours of scrubbing in the kitchen?

Cleaning Solution: Clear Tubing
Cost: $5

If you have a freestanding oven in your kitchen, there will likely be a gap between your oven and countertop. If you don’t want bits of food to fall into that space while you’re cooking or eating, then you need to seal that gap!

Cleaning Solution: Toothpaste
Cost: $4

Just as toothpaste can be used to get rid of plaque and bacteria from your teeth, you can also use it to get rid of dirt, grime, and oxidation on your car’s headlights. If you want a much safer drive, try this simple money-saving cleaning method!

Cleaning Solution: Foam Paintbrush
Cost: $1 – 3

Your car’s air vents can be difficult to clean with a rag. However, foam brushes – available at art supply stores or dollar stores – can make the job a lot easier! Foam brushes provide extra reach so you can clean every nook and cranny of your car’s air vents.

Cleaning Solution: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cost: $5 – 12

Why spend so much money on dashboard cleaners when you can easily achieve the same result using something that you already have at home? If you want your car’s dashboard to look shiny and new, grab a bottle of extra virgin olive oil!

Cleaning Solution: Vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, and lemon or lime 

Cost: Less than $10

Everybody knows how frustrating cleaning your oven can be. We will probably try and avoid it if possible. Luckily, it’s so simple to create a homemade, toxin-free oven cleaner from basic household products. The best part is – you don’t have to break an arm and a leg to do it! 

Cleaning Solution: Baking soda, warm water, and vinegar

Cost: $5

You might think that you need a specific cleaning product to unblock the drains in your home, but that’s far from the truth. It’s much simpler.

Cleaning Solution: Fabric softener, alcohol, and water

Cost: $6

No matter how much we keep our living spaces tidy and clean, odors can still creep up and leave an awful residual scent. You can use this DIY fabric deodorizer on any upholstery (except leather) or fabric.

Cleaning Solution: Baking soda and essential oil (if you’re feeling like it)

Cost: $5

It’s not often a common thought to clean your mattress, but it’s actually really important! They must be cleaned periodically. 

Cleaning Solution: Flour

Cost: $2

It’s natural for spills to occur in the kitchen or other areas of your home, but there is a cool hack to resolve that problem. The only thing you need is an essential and cheap household item: flour. 

Cleaning Solution: Cotton wool balls and bleach

Cost: $6

Most people may underestimate the practical uses of a cotton wool ball. In this case, it serves a functional purpose that is extremely helpful for clearing up the grout or sealant in your bathroom. 

Cleaning Solution: Just a lint roller!

Cost: $4

It’s a well-known fact that lampshades (while necessary) can be an annoying thing to keep clean. Often, they get full of dust and other gunk that makes the lampshade unpleasant to look at.

Cleaning Solution: Foil and cling film 

Cost: $8

It’s a good motto to live by that things don’t have to get cleaned if they never get dirty in the first place! Thus, aluminum foil and cling film are absolute staples in the kitchen. 

Cleaning Solution: Ketchup

Cost: $3

Ketchup? Yes – this is one of the greatest (and not as well-known) cleaning hacks. Your silver, copper, and brass won’t survive when the acidic tomato and vinegar from the ketchup.

Cleaning Solution: Cotton swabs and isopropyl or rubbing alcohol 

Cost: $4

With our busy schedules and lives, it can be challenging to remember something as minor as cleaning between our keyboard keys. But, it’s actually very important to get rid of the stagnant germs and bacteria. 

Cleaning Solution: Ice, rock salt, and lemon

Cost: $4

Cleaning your garbage disposal is probably not at the top of your list, but doing it weekly is a good way to remove food scraps and sharpen disposal blades. It’s important to add a bit of lemon in there, too, to get rid of any odor.

Cleaning Solution: Water and denture tablets

Cost: $4

Many people probably don’t know that denture tablets do much more than clean dentures. Since the tablets contain ingredients such as potassium persulfate, sodium perborate, and sodium bicarbonate, they make wonderful cleaning agents and are super cheap, as well.

Cleaning Solution: Some hairspray 

Cost: $5

Stains can be very irritating and a hassle to clean, especially on upholstery. If you have pets or kids (or both) stains probably become a daily occurrence. Hairspray, a common hair product, effortlessly removes stains, scribbles, splotches, and splatters.

Cleaning Solution: Hot water, detergent, fabric softener, and oxy powder

Cost: $15

Hopefully, we all are aware of the importance of washing and changing bed linen often. The duvet should be changed every eight to 12 months, but make sure to check the instructions before putting it into the washing machine.

Cleaning Solution: Foil, dish soap, and water

Cost: $5

Have you run out of pot and pan washing ideas? Well, we have another one for you! For this frugal hack, get a thin piece of aluminum foil (used or new), make a ball, put in some dish soap, and water to the pot or pan, and begin scrubbing away.

Cleaning Solution: Paper, Pen, & Your Imagination
Cost: FREE

Finding time to clean your house when you’re working full time and have kids to take care of can be a challenge. If you want to make things easier for you, then you need to have a weekly cleaning plan!