Ten Fantastic Cheap and Simple Housework Cheats

We could all use a little simplicity in our lives. And when it comes to keeping one’s house clean, simple and cheap is the way to go. Try these homemade and/or simple solutions to common household needs and problems:

1. Aluminum Foil Ball as Dryer Sheet. If you want a cheap and reusable way to remove static cling from your load of laundry, try a simple rolled up ball of aluminum foil instead of dryer sheets. While it won’t make your clothes nice and “fresh rain” scented, it will get the job done.
2. The Stair Basket. Leave a small basket at the foot of your stairs for odds and ends that are brought or left downstairs but need to be taken upstairs. Unless you like the extra exercise, you can take everything upstairs at one time.
3. Windex Everything! So, this isn’t a homemade cheat. But I can’t say enough good things about Multi-Surface Antibacterial Windex. I use it in every corner of my house. I spray it on, of course, my windows and bathroom mirrors for a streak-free shine, my kitchen table (it’s not real wood), my kitchen floors (they’re laminate), and every nook and cranny of my bathrooms. It’s simple, effective, cheap, and it smells good. I use it all day long!
4. Water and Vinegar to Clean the Microwave. Fill a microwave-safe bowl half-full of water and add a tablespoon of white vinegar. Microwave on high for five minutes. The splattered-on gunk will become softened and wipe off easily.
5. No Shoes for You! I’m not one of those people that force guests to remove their shoes before entering my home (after all, maybe their socks aren’t so fresh that day). But my kids know to remove their shoes in the garage before entering the house. It simply saves a whole lot of my time that would otherwise be spent vacuuming and mopping because my floors really do stay cleaner.
6. Use Lemon to Remove Hard Water Stains. You may have seen this on Pinterest and wondered if it worked. It seems too simple, but give it a try! Cut a lemon in half, and wipe the juice on your bathroom fixtures with hard-water spotting. It will quickly and naturally remove much of the buildup.
7. The Sock Trick. A damp old sock is a great way to clean your mini-blinds. Just wipe each slat clean. You can also use a sock or towel that you’re ready to toss into the washing machine to do some quick, touch-up dusting. A little is better than nothing, and it takes no time at all!
8. Shake that Rug! I find that it’s not all that effective to vacuum the small rugs I have in the entryways of my house. Nor do I remember to actually wash them but once in a blue moon. Instead, I just give those rugs an occasional shake to make them look clean (or clean enough).
9. Zap Your Sponge. We’ve all heard that sponges are playgrounds for nasty bacteria. If you wring out your kitchen sponge and microwave it for a minute, you’ll kill that bacteria. Take that, germs! When it gets too smelly, just replace it. I get sponges in bulk from Costco.
10. Make Your Sink Work for You. A great tip for assisting with greasy or crusty dinner dishes is to fill up your sink with warm soapy water while you are assembling your meal. Toss (OK, don’t literally toss!) your dirty dishes in to soak while you eat. It will make clean-up so much easier! And don’t forget to thoroughly clean your sink regularly with a disinfectant.

These ten tips are only a handful of tricks to help you keep your home spic and span. No doubt you can find countless more online or from good old-fashioned word of mouth. Sometimes a little goes a long way, and when it comes to housekeeping, those little tricks do add up to a happy, clean, and tidy home.