what is your most frugal cleaning tip?

**forestdale** · 08-31-2005, 01:55 AM

Mine is to clean with water and elbow grease. Since cutting down on the amount of products I use for certain tasks I've been amazed at how little cleanser you need to do just about anything that isn't greasy. Grease is another story. But for any spill on the stove top - like soup or sauce etc., water will remove it. Just sprinkle a little water over the spill when it happens and come back to it later. You'll find it wipes off with a rough towel, like a terry cloth. If you have a microfibre cloth, that's good too, but any terry cloth will work if you apply the water first, then wait.

It's also a good idea to add a little water to just cover the bottom of a saucepan or frypan when you remove the food from it. By just covering the base with water, you'll find pans much easier to clean when you wash up.

I used to buy microfibre cloths but now I'm using old terry towels. I cut them up and hem them. They make perfect cleaning cloths because of their course pile.

So my tip - water and terry cloth. Very frugal, with a touch of recyling thrown in for madam's enjoyment.

Do you have any tips to share?

**babetteq** · 08-31-2005, 02:30 AM

Well, I try not to clean if I can at all help it. I feel that it cuts down on just about everything... vaccum bags, cloths, products...

Very frugal

whatever I can't use just water with (because I'm a big fan of water washing), I use a bit of dishsoap, or, if I need an abrasive, I live near the beacha nd always have a small bucket of sand by the back door. This is great for stainless steel adn the like.

babs

**Darlene** · 08-31-2005, 07:13 AM

I'm with Babs on cutting down on vac bags etc. Dust is a great insulator and a source of endless fun to doodle in.

My pic is ~ Vinegar is a wonderful thing!
http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/tips/a/vinclean.htm
http://www.cyberworking.com/vinegar/...rcleaning.html

**jlxian** · 08-31-2005, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by forestdale

It's also a good idea to add a little water to just cover the bottom of a saucepan or frypan when you remove the food from it. By just covering the base with water, you'll find pans much easier to clean when you wash up.

This is so true --- and I discovered it practically by accident. In July this year, my DH was away for 2 weeks and I had a "kid watcher" (not a baby sitter LOL) come to the house each day to make sure my 12 year old twins didn't kill each other during the day. On the mornings I made scrambled eggs, I put cold water in the pan afterwards and in 20 minutes or so when I came back to wash up, before my "guest" arrived, the pan and spoon I used to cook with came clean with ease. A WONDERFUL discovery. And I have an oh-so-dim recollection of my mother telling me this long ago ---

Normally, the pan would have sat on the stove until evening when I did the day's dishes --- not any more!

Along the line of using plain water to clean --- if you have a dried gunky spot (but I'm sure none of you ever have any of that!!! LOL) on your counter or stove, put a warm wet cloth over it for a while and it will soften and clean up much more easily.

**PrairieRose** · 08-31-2005, 09:34 AM

My best tip would be baking soda....it can be used for loosening up burned on stuff from stove top, in a pan (along with some hot water), etc., can also be used as an abrasive in the sink.

The other cleaning tip that's pretty darned frugal is to keep things all picked and put up. Even if it's not sparkling, just cleaned it looks clean being clutter free.

**daddys3chicks** · 08-31-2005, 09:37 AM

Isopropyl Alcohol - you know the rubbing stuff you get at the drugstore for .99 a huge bottle. I use it to clean windows, glass, mirrors, chrome. It dries streak free and lasts forever.

**SCDowney** · 08-31-2005, 10:17 AM

Cheryl, do you mix the rubbing alcohol? And if so, what is the ratio? Thanks!

**alabamagirl** · 08-31-2005, 10:40 AM

I like to clean with diluted Murphy's Oil soap.

**daddys3chicks** · 08-31-2005, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by daddys3chicks
Isopropyl Alcohol - you know the rubbing stuff you get at the drugstore for .99 a huge bottle. I use it to clean windows, glass, mirrors, chrome. It dries streak free and lasts forever.

Nope, I just put a little on a washcloth and go at it. I got this tip from the lady who cleaned my house when I worked outside the home. It works great!

**Valerie in WA** · 08-31-2005, 11:21 AM

I recently started using water for cleaning in the bathroom. I take one wet used wash-cloth and one dry used wash-cloth. I wipe down the mirror, faucet and sink with the wet one (removing fingerprints and tooth paste smears). I use the dry one to shine the mirror. Then both go in the wash - where they were headed anyway. I also use the toilet brush without any cleaner. Just a bit of scrubbing cleans the toilet bowl. Now some might think this is germy, but -first of all I'm a nurse, you can trust me

- bathrooms ARE germy. That's why you wash your hands right before you walk out. If hygiene was a problem, people in my house would get sick, mostly with vomiting/diarrhea, but also with colds. In reality, we pass around a cold about twice a year and RARELY have intestinal/stomach upsets (maybe once every two years). I think we're doing okay.

I have a bagless vacuum, a Eureka that I got refurbished at a vacuum repair shop for $60 - about 3-4 years ago.

Oh, I have a comment about the water in the pans. If your pan is hot, you stress the metal by adding cold water. It's not going to crack right then and there, but it does weaken it. Try to use hot tap water - you'll prolong the life of your pans.

**peanut** · 08-31-2005, 01:51 PM

I use vinegar and/or baking soda for most of my cleaning chores. Vinegar cleans porcelain...think toilet...real well.

I use a mixture of baking soda and borax for an abrasive cleaner that costs a fraction of storebought.

**babetteq** · 08-31-2005, 02:26 PM

"I'm with Babs on cutting down on vac bags etc. Dust is a great insulator and a source of endless fun to doodle in. "

I forgot about the cheap recreational activities not-cleaning provides! Another frugal property to not cleaning! Good thinking Darlene.

babs

**Michele Annette** · 08-31-2005, 02:36 PM

Great tips everyone!

My best tip would be baking soda....it can be used for loosening up burned on stuff from stove top, in a pan (along with some hot water), etc., can also be used as an abrasive in the sink.

Mine too! I just cleaned the inside of my range hood with baking soda and water. Any of those old sticky grease spots come right off. Make a thin paste with water and baking soda. Wipe on a thin layer, let it set for about 5 to 10 mins and then rinse with a clean wet cloth. It works great!

**SCDowney** · 08-31-2005, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by daddys3chicks
Nope, I just put a little on a washcloth and go at it. I got this tip from the lady who cleaned my house when I worked outside the home. It works great!

This is a new one to me - I'll try it! Thanks!

**Jeanieb** · 10-16-2005, 01:32 PM

I save money on dish soap by mixing it half dish soap with half white vinegar.This makes the dish soap work better because the vinegar cuts grease. I also put this dish soap mixture in a small spray bottle to spray on the dishes and pots and pans i hand wash,using the spray bottle cuts down on the amount of dish soap i use so i also save money by using less.