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Frugal Cleaning by Nikki Willhite When I was in the hospital having my 3rd son, my mother-in-law came to help out. She was a war bride and came to this country from Germany. As much as I hate to stereotype- the German people are a very cleanly people. She had also lived through WWII, and knew how to do without. I couldn't believe it when I came home from the hospital. My house was literally sparkling. When I asked her what she had done, she replied she had "cleaned it". " "Yes, but, what did you use?", was what I wanted to know. Her answer- "Ammonia"- She had used nothing but a bottle of ammonia- for Everything. When I think of how many cleaning products there are on our supermarket shelves, and how much they cost......it is clear that we could save a lot of money on our cleaning supplies by not being "lured" into buying all the cleaning products advertised over and over to us . Here are some ideas: -First, it is important to remember NEVER to mix ammonia with bleach. This will result in toxic fumes. -It doesn't take much ammonia to get the job done- about 1/4-1/2 cup to a gallon of water. -For walls and floors, add a cup of liquid detergent. -For windows, add a little vinegar and baking soda. -For sinks and tiles, add just the baking soda. -For fresh, clean drains -  put 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup vinegar down your drain. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water. -To Remove Stains - On Upholstery try shaving cream; with ink, hairspray; and if your kids have been very bad with their crayons, try toothpaste. -Freshen up your house - with a nice blend of spices, wrapped up in a loosely woven fabric, and tied up at the ends with ribbon or another decorative tie. -Remember to vacuum those draperies and keep the dust on your mini-blinds under control. Also, hose down those screens. If you let things go- it will take more time and money to make them attractive again...and you may never get them looking good. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!  Article first published at www.allthingsfrugal.com

 

 

 

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