Cheap Cleaning Hacks for a Sparkling Fresh Home

Cheap Cleaning Hacks for a Sparkling Fresh Home

One thing taking social media by storm is short little videos designed to grab your attention! Everything from dancing to cooking, viewers are engaged and ready to learn something new. A popular trend? Cleaning clips that hook you in, wanting to know more.

The cleaning industry is booming. Raking in over $46 million dollars a year, and it’s growing from there! Cleaning products take up a good portion of that. 

Cleaning should be a simple concept, right? It basically is. But there are some recipes and hacks going around that are pretty amazing. We have done the legwork for you. Here are some of the most popular cheap viral cleaning hacks and tips that you can put together right now. 

Stubborn Stain Removal Hack

We all have those stains that take aim on furniture, especially material that shows stains easily. Carpeting also gets bombarded with stains that can be hard to get rid of. They may clean up fine, only to return the next day once the stain has dried. 

Here are some different things you can use to keep stains at bay permanently. You may even have them in your cupboards. 

  • Shaving Cream- A good fast-acting stain remover. Simply spray some on the stain and let it go to work. It works similar to scrubbing bubble cleaners that use foam as their workhorse. After it has set, blot the stain with a warm washcloth and dry. 
  • Vinegar- This product should be a mainstay in every cleaning caddy. It brightens material and helps lift stubborn stains like grass and dirt. It’s also an excellent cleaner for hardwood floors as it breaks down residue left behind from wax and previous cleaners. 
  • Hydrogen Peroxide- With the same disinfectant power of bleach, diluted hydrogen peroxide can be an excellent stain fighter. Use the same caution as you would bleach, as it can stain easily, including your skin. 
  • Baby Powder and Dish Soap- For stubborn grease stains, get out some baby powder and dish soap. First, sprinkle baby powder on the stain. This helps to dry up the area and pull any wetness to the surface. Then vacuum. Next, apply a small amount of dish soap to cover the stain. Use a warm washcloth to scrub and lift the rest of the stain. 
  • Lemon Juice- Add the juice from one lemon to two-parts water to create an eco-friendly cleaner. Use on countertops, painted trim and laminate. It helps to remove stains and leaves behind a fresh, lemony smell. 

These are some inexpensive cleaning tricks you can use right now. Just use caution when applying to certain materials and floors, as some could stain. 

For Clean Sparkling Floors Try This Floor Cleaning Hack

Social media is beaming with floor cleaning hacks that claim to make the entire house smell like fresh laundry. There are some secret ingredients that they often leave out, leaving you guessing or coming up with a false recipe concoction. 

Here is a simple old-fashioned recipe that is inexpensive and easy to make.

In a mop bucket, add 2 gallons of hot water and combine: 

  • 1 tbsp liquid dish soap
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • ¼ cup Super Washing Soda

Mix ingredients until dissolved. 

Use this to mop sealed floors, including tile, stone and laminate. Use with caution on sealed hardwood flooring. You can also use it to spot clean carpeting and upholstery.  

The Smell-Good Hack

The disposable wet dry mops are convenient to use and provide a mess-free cleanup for sparkling floors. But for this next cleaning hack, you’ll need a map and wring bucket. 

If you want more than just sparkling clean floors, there are some secret ingredients you can add to make your entire house smell clean and super fresh! 

Here is a smell-good hack that will have everyone asking what you use to clean your home. In your mop bucket, add the following:

  • ¼ cup of Gain scented Mr. Clean cleaner
  • 1 tsp Gain liquid laundry detergent
  • 1 tbsp oxi clean
  • 1 cascade dishwasher tablet (top secret ingredient)

Fill the rest of the bucket to the top line with hot water and mix. Use on floors (sealed hardwood) walls that have washable paint and sealed wood furniture. You can also use on bathtubs, tile and grout. Be sure to rinse completely in-between uses. 

Set expensive cleaning products aside. You don’t need to go over budget to buy supplies and items to clean your home. Using things you may already have or products from the dollar tree, you can create a savvy cleaning stash and a great smelling home in no time! 

Here’s to Saving and Thriving Daily!

Copyright 2022, Nurturingcents.com

5 DIY Landscaping Tips on a Budget

5 DIY Landscaping Tips on a Budget

Spring is just around the corner! It’s time to start thinking about how your outdoor space is going to stand out and offer stunning curb appeal. The issue is, it can be costly to hire someone to landscape your yard, so doing it yourself is the next best option. Prepare to grab your garden tools and evaluate your yard space. Here are 5 landscaping adds to implement this spring without emptying your wallet. 

1. Don’t Pay Top Dollar For Garden Tools

A discouraging factor for many people is that they don’t have fancy garden tools and gadgets in their garden shed. This shouldn’t be a deciding factor on revamping your outdoor space. There are several places to look for slightly used garden equipment that can make life easier. Check out:

  • Your local online marketplace
  • Auctions and swap meets
  • Garage and estate sales
  • Thrift and recycle stores

There are people eager to trade out or discard their slightly used garden tools. You really just need the basic tools to get started. Knowing where to look results in super cheap finds. 

2. Clear Out Beds and Trim Back Plants

One of the best landscaping tips is to clear out clutter in the garden. If you’re strapped for cash and can’t afford to add plants right now, at least tidy up garden beds. Trim back overgrown bushes and plants. Get rid of old landscaping rocks and ripped weed blocker. Repair fences and borders, and if you can’t fix them now, tear them out.   

3. Consider Mulch Alternatives

Mulch is the icing on the cake when it comes to the final presentation of your  landscape. It not only looks great, it keeps weeds at bay and helps plants retain their moisture. But it can be pricey. Consider some alternatives:

  • Pine needles
  • Compost
  • Newspaper
  • Straw

While these are temporary mulch solutions, they help get the job done. 

4. Revitalize What You Already Have

While it’s nice to dupe a garden look displayed on your favorite website or garden magazine, it can go beyond your budget. Take a close look at what you already have. Split up clumps of plants and disperse them elsewhere in your garden or give them away. Trim back trees and overgrown bushes. Transplant perennials to bare areas to fill in empty spots. 

5. Hit the Clearance Rack

In the back of most nurseries and garden retailers are clearance racks. Those dilapidated, wilted plants that no one wants. Don’t pass them by! You can save a fortune by revitalizing them. Some are pennies on the dollar of the original retail price. Go home and soak them, fertilize, and trim back. They may not be plant-in-the-ground ready just yet, but in time, they could be the showcase of your garden. 

Getting your yard in tip-top shape this spring starts with planning now. A little hard work and ingenuity will have your property looking top notch. Nothing beautiful happens overnight, but implementing a few landscaping tips will pay off big in the long run. 

Here’s to Saving and Thriving Daily!

Copyright 2021, Nurturingcents.com