It is a common misconception that keeping a home sanitized and sparkling has to be an expensive endeavor.
From sprays and soaps to brushes and brooms, cleaning costs can quickly add up, particularly if you are someone who likes to keep on top of their cleaning routine. But, according to professional cleaners, they don't have to – it's just about knowing where it's possible to save instead of splurging.
Here, we spoke to our experts for their cleaning tips on budget cleaning hacks for the home, using items you probably already have lying around.
The best budget cleaning hacks
From saving money on laundry to cutting back costs on appliance use, these budgeting hacks mean you can spend your hard earned money on things you enjoy instead.
1. Use lemons
Are you clued up about cleaning with lemon juice?
Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service says, 'One of my personal favorite cleaning hacks is just to use lemons for cleaning. Citric acid found in citrus fruits like lemons is actually a great de-greaser, so it can be used more than you might think!'
In fact, there are many things you can clean with citric acid around the house, including coffee makers and cutting boards, and you probably have half a lemon lying around in your fridge, from cooking and cocktails, that might otherwise go to waste. There are things you should never clean with citric acid in your home, though, so keep it away from any precious surfaces, such as copper and quartz.
Kazimierski continues, 'I recommend using lemons for things like cleaning oven racks and even stove tops that tend to get spattered with grease and other sticky, tricky messes,' and, in the bathroom, I tried cleaning stubborn faucet limescale with lemon juice and was amazed at the results. Simply mix a 1:1 lemon juice and water solution in a spray bottle, such as the Equate 8 oz Plastic Spraybottle available at Walmart.
This citric acid has no artificial coloring, meaning you won't damage or dye surfaces around your home. It's also shelf-stable, and can be used for canning and preserving, as well as cleaning.
2. Mix up a homemade floor cleaner
Provided you don't have real hardwood, granite, or marble flooring, you don't need expensive floor cleaning products, advises Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids.
Instead, you can create your own solution, using one gallon of warm water, half a cup of white vinegar, such as the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar available at Walmart, and one tablespoon of dish soap. We recommend the Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap available at Amazon for this, and you can also add 20 to 30 drops of lemon or lavender essential oil for extra scent, says Evans.
He continues, 'This is as cheap as it gets, and it's perfect for regular cleaning.'
If you're unsure how to clean a floor without streaks, ensure you opt for the right equipment for your floor, and always use your best vacuum first.
3. Use baking soda and vinegar
There are many things you can clean with baking soda and clean with vinegar at home, and it's one of the affordable cleaning hacks recommended by Forrest Webber, founder of Bear Brothers Cleaning.
He says, 'It's a great duo for everything from unclogging drains to tackling grimy stovetops.' At home, I cleaned my house using only baking soda and vinegar for a week, and was amazed at how many stubborn, stuck-on stains it helped lift.
You probably already have some in your pantry, but, if not, we recommend using the ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda available at Walmart for this budget cleaning hack, which has hundreds of uses from deodorizing and cleaning, without any harsh or harmful chemicals.
4. Buy in bulk & use less than recommended
While it can sometimes be more challenging to organize your home after bulk buying, according to Alessandro Gazzo, professional cleaner at Emily's Maids, doing so can be a great way to save money at home.
He says, 'Find some multi-purpose DIY cleaning products and find out if it's better to buy them in bulk, like a gallon of vinegar, a 13lb pack of baking soda etc. Items like these are good enough to easily clean 70 percent of your home.'
For example, an affordable, bulk pack of four bottles, or 64 fluid ounces, of Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray is available at Amazon, and there are many things you can clean with Dawn Powerwash around the house, including gardening tools, barbecues, and even shoes.
Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, also recommends using less product than recommended, to make bulk-bought products go even further.
He says, 'I recommend trying using less product than whatever's recommended in the instructions. You can try this with laundry detergent, or dishwasher liquid.
'Try using 75 percent, or even 50 percent of the product, and see if it works. If it still does the job, then you're saving 25 percent or 50 percent of your product.'
Sometimes, using the recommended amount can create much more soap than needed, which is a bad cleaning habit to break, so it's always worth cutting down the amount of product you're using if you're looking for ways to change up your cleaning routine.
5. Use old toothbrushes
Your toothbrush holder is one of the dirtiest places in a bathroom, so why not use an old toothbrush to clean it?
Cleaning expert Webber says, 'These little guys are the unsung heroes of cleaning. Use them to scrub grout, the bits around taps, or any tight spaces. And, let's be honest, we've all got a few old ones lying around.'
If you don't – wait until you next need a new toothbrush, as they're one of the household items you should replace often, and hold onto your old one. Along with it, there are also surprising things you can clean with toothpaste, which is also a highly effective and affordable cleaning hack.
To set your toothbrush up for cleaning, soak it in a mixture of equal parts warm water and either baking soda or some hydrogen peroxide, from Walmart, to kill bacteria first.
6. Wipe windows with old newspaper
If you regularly read the newspaper, you probably have a stack of them at home, and Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless, suggests, surprisingly, using them to clean your windows.
She says, 'For a free, budget-friendly alternative, try using old newspaper instead of paper towels to wipe windows after cleaning. Newspaper doesn't leave lint behind and results in a streak-free shine.'
This is also a great, budget way to clean a mirror without streaks, paired with a glass cleaner such as the Windex Glass Window Cleaner available at Walmart, or the best homemade glass cleaner.
I use this dish soap solution for streak-free windows, which is one of the budget cleaning hacks I love for instant results.
7. Declutter
Decluttering is one of the minimalist home hacks loved by professionals and organizing enthusiasts alike, and it's an affordable cleaning hack recommended by cleaning expert Webber, too.
He says, 'The fewer things you have, the less you have to clean. The best cleaning hack of all is just having less stuff to begin with!'
It seems simple, but it's also a free way to transform your home, and make your achievable cleaning routine easier. You can then either donate or sell decluttered items, or pass them onto family and friends.
With an affordable cleaning schedule sorted, why not read about decorating budgeting mistakes to avoid?
From compromising on quality to splurging on fleeting trends, being aware of these will prevent paying the price later down the line while heling you cut back on the hardest home decor to clean, too.
