How to Save $165 a Year on Cleaning Supplies

In an effort to save some money, I have changed my cleaning habits and in doing so I have also become more eco-friendly. Below I have detailed how my cleaning habits have changed over the past few months. My house is just as clean as it was before but this time I’m saving money and the earth. By slightly changing my cleaning habits, I will save approximately $165 over the course of a year. It’s not going to make me a millionaire by any means, but I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I’m no longer wasting money and senselessly polluting the earth.

Use a good ‘ol fashion mop.

Not only have I found that these clean up messes better, they are also the cheapest to use. A bottle of Pine-sol will last a whole lot longer than a box of Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mopping Cloths. I will save approximately $45 a year by using a rag mop. (This calculation is based on my usage of the Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mopping Cloths compared with Pine-sol.)

Use a damp rag to dust.

I got into the habit of buying the Pledge Multi-Surface Clean & Dust Wipes. I was buying two packages a month and I really did love them dearly; but once I realized I could save a little over $90 a year by nixing them completely, my love faded. A damp rag cleans just as effectively and is far more eco-friendly than the Pledge wipes.

Use vinegar to clean windows and glass.

Yes, it might smell funky, but it doesn’t streak and it’s eco-friendly. The savings of switching from Windex to vinegar isn’t extravagant, only a $5 savings over the course of a year.

Use bleach.

Safety is important when using bleach, make sure you follow the very specific directions on the bottle you buy. Also, be sure to store bleach out of the reach of children. Using one tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water is efficient for cleaning counter tops, toys, and dishes. Using a stronger solution, one half cup of bleach to one gallon of water, is great for cleaning mold and mildew in bathrooms. Switching out Scrub ‘N Bubbles and Clorox Clean-Up for bleach will save me about $10 a year.

Go bagless.

Most vacuums are bagless now, in fact, when I went vacuum shopping a few months ago I couldn’t find a bagged, upright vacuum. Switching to a bagless vacuum will save me about $15 a year.

I plan to continue to change my cleaning habits to better suit my wallet and the earth. How do you save money on your cleaning bill?