Household Cleaner. This solution also lasts forever. Household cleaner used to cost me $80 per month, but now I buy detergent every three months, vinegar once a year at $1.50, washing soda every 18 months at $0.98c and eucalyptus oil once every eight months at $3.50 – a saving of $880 a year minus $20 […]
There was a really horrible stain in our wall-to-wall carpet. Fortunately we had some off-cuts and did a successful repair job by cutting out a square (in our case 200 x 200 mm) and replacing it by fitting and gluing down a corresponding square taken from an off-cut. This method is not for the faint-hearted! […]
Liquid Laundry Detergent. You need: Hot water, 1 bar Sunlight Soap (grated), 1 cup washing soda. In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted. Fill a large bucket with 9.5L of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well […]
Multi-Purpose Cleaner. You need: 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1.8 litres of water. Combine ingredients in a clean container (a 3L milk bottle will do), shake to blend. Then for ease of use, I pour into a spray bottle. A great all-purpose cleaner for a fraction of the price.
I’m actually surprised no one has said it yet but steam cleaning mops with surface and clothes/fabric attachments. They can be found cheaper new or even cheaper again, used, on Trademe. Nothing is going to clean better than boiling hot steam. Save money on cleaning chemicals because they don’t need them, save slaving away ironing, […]
I used to live near the sea where I had unlimited access to sand. When cleaning, I used to put a little sand in a dish followed by cheap dish washing liquid, which I would mix together to make a sandy paste. Cheap, and just as good as “sand-soap”.
I bought the cheapest bleach in a trigger spray bottle and keep it at hand to clean benches, tea stained cups etc. Using a trigger spray is very economical. By using bleach in kitchen, the summer flies are kept away too!
An ‘Awesome’ brand of calcium lime and rust removal is available in a green bottle (US 32 fl oz – 946 mls to us) selling for between $3-5 at some $2 shops, The Warehouse or Bin Inn. Just as good as more expensive brands. Worked well for me – I got rid of the white […]
I use WD40 for heaps of things. It is brilliant at removing oil stains from concrete drives – just spray on and hose off immediately. Also polish your stainless steel fridge and shower cabinet with it. Stops water marks on your shower and fingermarks on your fridge door. Gaynor from Paraparaumu says she has read […]
Ross and his woodburner glass cleaner can economise further. Dip crumpled newspaper into hot water, then into the ask, to clean the glass. Polish dry with more crumpled newspaper and use it us when setting up the fire. Cheaper than paper towels!