Small little frugal changes can really add up. Let me give you an example. I have not bought an actual cleaning product in almost a year. Since I usually picked these up at the store while I was shopping for groceries for my family, I never really knew how much I was spending on them per month. Just by making those small changes and not changing my buying habits otherwise, I ended up saving $60 per month which quickly adds up over the course of the year.

Here’s what I do to clean my home instead. Laundry detergent was one of my biggest expenses, which is why I switched to this homemade laundry detergent which costs my less than 10% of my old soap.. To get my clothes nice and soft, I use I also switched to this frugal fabric softener made from things I have sitting around anyway.

I also started to clean my home with things that I already had sitting around, including:

• mild dish soap
• lemon juice
• olive oil
• salt
• white vinegar

Here is how you can put those ingredients to use as homemade household cleaners.

For an all purpose disinfecting counter cleaner mix 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water. Pour it into a spray bottle, spray and clean away.

For a simple but effective scouring powder mix baking soda with a little bit of mild dish soap until you get a paste. Put in a little elbow grease and scrub away.

Clean your floors with a gallon of warm water, a good splash of vinegar (which gives it a nice shine) and a few drops of dish soap. .

Make your own wood polish by mixing a cup of olive oil with ½ cup of lemon juice. Mix it well and keep it in a bottle or a small spray bottle. Add a little of the mixture to a soft cloth and apply it to wood tables etc. Wipe any residue off with a clean soft cloth.

Here’s a great stain remover: Mix 1 cup of borax with a cup of salt and a cup of baking soda. . Pour this mixture on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Give it a good scrubbing with an old nail brush, then wipe everything clean with a damp cloth.

I love to use baking soda to remove funky odor from my carpets. Sprinkle it on and then allow it to sit for at least an hour. Then just go over it a few times with your vacuum to get all that baking soda back up. This also works on mattresses, sofas etc.

Speaking of baking soda … it is also perfect for keeping odors in your refrigerator at bay. Open a box of baking soda and stick it in the back of your fridge.

Did you know that chances are pretty good that you don’t need a pricey drain cleaner? . Combine a cup of salt, a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda in a small bowl. Pour the mixture down the clogged drain. Leave it for a few minutes then rinse it with plenty of hot water. Works almost any time and is certainly worth trying first.

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