With the start of the new year, I'm sure you all have many new years resolutions. This year, I decided to tone down my usual new years resolutions craziness and focus on the essentials. My main goals are to simplify and balance my life. I never want to be one of those women who is doing the laundry or cleaning every day of the week, or going to the grocery store every other day to pick up a few things. I want each day to feel individual and special, and be able to have time to do the important things, like playing cars with my little boy.
So let me tell you about a few things I'm doing this year, although not all of them specifically deal with saving money (but I'm saving my sanity here, and that is worth something!!):
I make bread every Tuesday -- I bake it, cut it up, put it in a bread bag, and it's ready for sandwiches and toast all week.
I clean the house every Thursday -- this includes cleaning both bathrooms, dusting, mopping, sanitizing doorknobs and countertops, and any small organizing jobs that need to be done.
I do the laundry every Friday -- this includes sorting, washing, drying, folding, ironing, and putting away ($$ saved by not running the washer/dryer every day!)
I go grocery shopping every Saturday -- this includes planning my weekly menu, clipping coupons, and then going to my regular grocery store (Smiths), Sam's Club for bulk items, Rite Aid for toiletry items, and Sunflower Market for specialty items. ($$ saved by not running to the store every day!)
In the interest of full disclosure, I babysit my neighbor and have art class on Monday's and Wednesdays, which keeps me busy all day. So I keep those days free of house duties.
Also, we do many small household chores on a daily basis -- take out the garbage, run the dishwasher, clean the counter tops, pick up toys, etc.
By dividing up my week in this way, my life is suddenly more balanced than it ever has been. My laundry basket is full, but I'm not stressed about it because I know it will all be washed and put away today. We are running out of milk, but tomorrow is shopping day so why waste my time by running to the store today (especially when I'll probably come home with $20 worth of groceries!) -- we'll just have toast for breakfast. And each of these daily duties only takes me an hour or two of hands on time, so I have plenty of time for other things during the day.
When you have specific days dedicated to your various duties, you can better commit to each of them and perform better at each of them. You're probably not going to save much more money if you spend hours clipping coupons every day -- you're just going to hate couponing.
So do yourself a favor and bring a little balance into your life this year. Everyone, including your wallet, will be thanking you.
Showing posts with label Cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleaning. Show all posts
Jan 28, 2011
Oct 1, 2010
Homemade Clorox Wipes (Merrick)
Because several of you asked so nicely, I went on the hunt to find a way to make homemade clorox wipes. Turns out it's pretty darn easy, and surprisingly similar to making homemade baby wipes. I found probably five different recipes for it, and here is the common theme:
Homemade Clorox Wipes
1/2 roll extra strong paper towels (I've heard Bounty is good..)
2 and 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup bleach
Cut your roll of paper towels in half and place in your tupperware (just like with the baby wipes). Boil water, add bleach, pour over paper towels. Remove wet cardboard tube. To use, pull out wipes one at a time from center.
Also, here's another recipe if you want something a little more natural (aka. no bleach)
Natural Disinfectant Wipes
1 cup witch hazel
1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil or peppermint oil (natural disinfectant)
1/2 cup water
Prepare your paper towels in the tupperware. Mix the three ingredients together and pour over your paper towels. Remove tube.
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Jun 10, 2010
Cheaper Cleaning Products: Part 4 (Merrick)
I recently found a recipe for homemade furniture polish. I have a wood cleaner that I frequently use, but it leaves little spots on my front table, which looks terrible. So when I found this alternative that was cheap, healthy, and got good reviews, I decided to give it a try it out and give a review of my own.
Here's the recipe:
Needed
Cooking oil (no need to waste the good stuff on this, cheap unhealthy stuff will do fine)
Lemon juice
2 rags
1 container to hold the mixture (cup, basin, or bottle)
Instructions
1 In your container, mix a few tablespoons of oil with a dash of lemon juice. Stir or shake well.
2 Dip your rag into a tiny bit of the oil-lemon mixture.
3 Rub thoroughly over the wooden surface, adding more liquid as needed.
4 When completed, the wood should be dirt free and glistening.
5 Use the second cloth to rub down the furniture so no oil remains on top, so the furniture is not slippery or prone to giving oil stains.
Note: This works on faux wood as well as real wood.
{source: penniless parenting}
My review:
I tried this mixture on three surfaces: my real wood front room table, my wood kitchen table that has a seal over the wood, and my son's non-real-wood IKEA dresser.
Every. Last. One. Of Them. Is. GLEAMING!
The front room table has zero spots, and is shining like it's never shined before.
We have been struggling to find something to clean our kitchen table that doesn't leave streaks and won't hurt the sealed surface. This left NO streaks, and the table looks brand new again. And because it's not full of chemicals, it's safe for the surface.
The IKEA dresser looks beautiful too, and after cleaning it there was some dirt left behind on the rag, so I know it was really cleaning it.
For all three of these surfaces, I used probably 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture, so the several tablespoons that I made will last a long time. And because it was only oil and lemon juice, the several tablespoons cost almost nothing. Probably only a few pennies.
Bottom line, I'm sold. I'm using this furniture polish from now on. Go right now and make yourself a mixture and clean every wood/faux wood surface in your house!
Here's the recipe:
Needed
Cooking oil (no need to waste the good stuff on this, cheap unhealthy stuff will do fine)
Lemon juice
2 rags
1 container to hold the mixture (cup, basin, or bottle)
Instructions
1 In your container, mix a few tablespoons of oil with a dash of lemon juice. Stir or shake well.
2 Dip your rag into a tiny bit of the oil-lemon mixture.
3 Rub thoroughly over the wooden surface, adding more liquid as needed.
4 When completed, the wood should be dirt free and glistening.
5 Use the second cloth to rub down the furniture so no oil remains on top, so the furniture is not slippery or prone to giving oil stains.
Note: This works on faux wood as well as real wood.
{source: penniless parenting}
My review:
I tried this mixture on three surfaces: my real wood front room table, my wood kitchen table that has a seal over the wood, and my son's non-real-wood IKEA dresser.
Every. Last. One. Of Them. Is. GLEAMING!
The front room table has zero spots, and is shining like it's never shined before.
We have been struggling to find something to clean our kitchen table that doesn't leave streaks and won't hurt the sealed surface. This left NO streaks, and the table looks brand new again. And because it's not full of chemicals, it's safe for the surface.
The IKEA dresser looks beautiful too, and after cleaning it there was some dirt left behind on the rag, so I know it was really cleaning it.
For all three of these surfaces, I used probably 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture, so the several tablespoons that I made will last a long time. And because it was only oil and lemon juice, the several tablespoons cost almost nothing. Probably only a few pennies.
Bottom line, I'm sold. I'm using this furniture polish from now on. Go right now and make yourself a mixture and clean every wood/faux wood surface in your house!
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Jun 3, 2010
Cheaper Cleaning Products: Part 3 (Merrick)
Someone mentioned in the comments of the last post that white vinegar was a great cleaning product. I personally have never used vinegar to clean my house, but after a little google search I found out how great it is -- not only is it cheap, it's also non-toxic, and kills bacteria, mold, and germs!
My husband hates the smell of vinegar (while I love it -- reminds me of salt and vinegar chips...yum!), but apparently the smell goes away as soon as it dries. That's a good thing because I probably don't want my house smelling like potato chips.
From cleaning your counter tops to making your pennies sparkle like new, white vinegar has so many uses for cleaning. Check out this awesome list here.
Philip is gone this weekend, so I think I'll be testing it out on my shower...I'll let you all know how it goes!
My husband hates the smell of vinegar (while I love it -- reminds me of salt and vinegar chips...yum!), but apparently the smell goes away as soon as it dries. That's a good thing because I probably don't want my house smelling like potato chips.
From cleaning your counter tops to making your pennies sparkle like new, white vinegar has so many uses for cleaning. Check out this awesome list here.
Philip is gone this weekend, so I think I'll be testing it out on my shower...I'll let you all know how it goes!
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May 27, 2010
Cheaper Cleaning Products: Part 2 (Merrick)
In my last post about cleaning products, I mentioned the plethora of cleaning products I have in my house. Each product has a different cleaning purpose, so in order to clean each area of my house I need LOTS of products.
A cheap cleaning product that cleans MANY areas around your home and can replace nearly all of those bottles? Baking Soda.
I've never personally used baking soda for cleaning, but after finding this list of ways to clean with it, I am converted. (Also, it's completely non-toxic).
Cleaning the Kitchen with Baking Soda
1. Use in the refrigerator, freezer, or cupboard to keep odors away.
2. To clean surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe, then rinse with clean water.
3. To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
4. To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!
5. For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.
Cleaning the Bathroom with Baking Soda:
1.To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean.
2. Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned in a baking soda solution.
3. To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.
Cleaning the House with Baking Soda:
1. To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.
2. To quickly clean pets and remove "wet dog" odor, sprinkle with baking soda and brush out their fur.
3. Clean children's toys using 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Submerge in this mixture (or wipe with a cloth dampened in it), then rinse with clear water.
Doing Laundry with Baking Soda:
1. Replace half of each measure of laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothing fresh.
2. To remove grease stains, either add baking soda to the wash load or pretreat the stains with a baking soda paste.
3. Baking soda increases the effectiveness of chlorine bleach. Add 1 / 2 cup to your laundry, along with the usual amount of bleach.
Cleaning Outside the House with Baking Soda:
1. Baking soda can be used to help clean up grease spills.
2. To remove burnt food from the grill, sprinkle with baking soda, then soak. After several hours, the charred pieces will come loose easily.
3. Lawn furniture can be easily cleaned with a rinse of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water.
With Baking Soda available in large quantities at Sam's Club or Costco for only a few dollars, you can replace nearly all the cleaning products in your house for next to nothing.
Who's willing to try it with me?
A cheap cleaning product that cleans MANY areas around your home and can replace nearly all of those bottles? Baking Soda.
I've never personally used baking soda for cleaning, but after finding this list of ways to clean with it, I am converted. (Also, it's completely non-toxic).
Cleaning the Kitchen with Baking Soda
1. Use in the refrigerator, freezer, or cupboard to keep odors away.
2. To clean surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on a damp cloth. Wipe, then rinse with clean water.
3. To clean silver, use a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water. Rub the paste onto each item, then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
4. To remove scuff marks or grease spills from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth. This is even safe for no-wax floors!
5. For burnt-on food in the bottom of pots, sprinkle with baking soda, then add hot water. Let soak overnight; the dried on food will come loose much more easily.
Cleaning the Bathroom with Baking Soda:
1.To remove stubborn stains from most surfaces, use a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda, one part water). Apply, let stand, then scrub or wipe clean.
2. Hairbrushes and combs can be cleaned in a baking soda solution.
3. To avoid clogged drains, pour 1/4 cup baking soda down weekly. Rinse through with hot water.
Cleaning the House with Baking Soda:
1. To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda. Let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.
2. To quickly clean pets and remove "wet dog" odor, sprinkle with baking soda and brush out their fur.
3. Clean children's toys using 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water. Submerge in this mixture (or wipe with a cloth dampened in it), then rinse with clear water.
Doing Laundry with Baking Soda:
1. Replace half of each measure of laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothing fresh.
2. To remove grease stains, either add baking soda to the wash load or pretreat the stains with a baking soda paste.
3. Baking soda increases the effectiveness of chlorine bleach. Add 1 / 2 cup to your laundry, along with the usual amount of bleach.
Cleaning Outside the House with Baking Soda:
1. Baking soda can be used to help clean up grease spills.
2. To remove burnt food from the grill, sprinkle with baking soda, then soak. After several hours, the charred pieces will come loose easily.
3. Lawn furniture can be easily cleaned with a rinse of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart warm water.
With Baking Soda available in large quantities at Sam's Club or Costco for only a few dollars, you can replace nearly all the cleaning products in your house for next to nothing.
Who's willing to try it with me?
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May 24, 2010
Cheaper Cleaning Products: Part 1 (Merrick)
If your bathroom cabinet and under your kitchen sink look anything like mine, you have upwards of twenty different cleaning products in there. One to clean your mirrors, another for your toilets; several to clean your sinks and showers, and a few more for wood, carpet, fabric, etc. Every single one of these cleaners in my cupboards cost several dollars, and many of them are not even being used. What a waste of my money!
I was recently reading an article on cleaning, and it brought up “Organic Cleaning.” Now, I’m not really a “green” kind of person, but when I read this I about died:
The main reason we should be keeping our homes clean is to keep our families healthy, and if we’re forking over big bucks for toxic products that are actually making them unhealthy, then we should be finding healthier and better cleaning products that are also CHEAPER.
These next few posts will cover some cleaning solutions that are much cheaper, much healthier, and still will keep your house as clean as ever.
Cleaning Solution #1: Make Use of Old T-shirts and Towels
When I do kitchen and bathroom cleaning, I use paper towels and/or anti-bacterial wipes. Even though we buy both at Sam’s club in bulk, they are fairly expensive and we go through them pretty quickly. In our house growing up, we always used sponges, which may seem like a better solution because they’re cheap and last a long time. But after a little research, I discovered the disgusting amount of bacteria that builds up on them. So really you’re just spreading germs around rather than getting your house clean. Also, that bacteria can spread to you through a cut.
But enough about that…let’s talk about a cheaper, cleaner, and healthier solution.
Tear up your old t-shirts and towels! They are free (or you can buy really cheap rags at the store), and after cleaning with them, bleach them out in the washer to kill all the bacteria. In your laundry room, have a bucket where you can store the dirty ones so you only have to wash them every few weeks (we don’t want you using up all your saved money just to run the washer and dryer!)
By eliminating, or decreasing your use of paper towels, cleaning wipes, and/or sponges, and using towels or t-shirts instead, you are not only saving money, you’re also getting huge health benefits and helping the environment! What more could a girl ask for??
I was recently reading an article on cleaning, and it brought up “Organic Cleaning.” Now, I’m not really a “green” kind of person, but when I read this I about died:
The main reason we should be keeping our homes clean is to keep our families healthy, and if we’re forking over big bucks for toxic products that are actually making them unhealthy, then we should be finding healthier and better cleaning products that are also CHEAPER.
These next few posts will cover some cleaning solutions that are much cheaper, much healthier, and still will keep your house as clean as ever.
Cleaning Solution #1: Make Use of Old T-shirts and Towels
When I do kitchen and bathroom cleaning, I use paper towels and/or anti-bacterial wipes. Even though we buy both at Sam’s club in bulk, they are fairly expensive and we go through them pretty quickly. In our house growing up, we always used sponges, which may seem like a better solution because they’re cheap and last a long time. But after a little research, I discovered the disgusting amount of bacteria that builds up on them. So really you’re just spreading germs around rather than getting your house clean. Also, that bacteria can spread to you through a cut.
But enough about that…let’s talk about a cheaper, cleaner, and healthier solution.
Tear up your old t-shirts and towels! They are free (or you can buy really cheap rags at the store), and after cleaning with them, bleach them out in the washer to kill all the bacteria. In your laundry room, have a bucket where you can store the dirty ones so you only have to wash them every few weeks (we don’t want you using up all your saved money just to run the washer and dryer!)
By eliminating, or decreasing your use of paper towels, cleaning wipes, and/or sponges, and using towels or t-shirts instead, you are not only saving money, you’re also getting huge health benefits and helping the environment! What more could a girl ask for??
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