11 Best CLEANING HACKS to SAVE you MONEY now {Feat DIY Cleaning Dupes}

Cleaning doesn’t have to be expensive. We’ll teach you the 11 best cleaning hacks to save money. Watch our video to learn more.

Featured products

➡️ Dupray Neat steam cleaner (our top pick)
➡️ Bestselling steam cleaners on Amazon
➡️ Pumice stone for cleaning
➡️ Our favorite Mr Siga microfiber cloths

11 Best Cleaning Hacks to Save Money

Please note that prices were current when this video was made but due to inflation or over time, prices can change (sometimes dramatically). They were accurate at the time this was created.

1. Don’t waste disinfectant wipes by using them on dirty surfaces.

The disinfectant can’t work with all the dirt and crumbs. You are just wasting the disinfectant. After your surfaces are all clean, use disinfectant for what it is for…. Disinfecting. So be sure to first remove dirt, dust, and anything on the surface before you use a disinfecting wipe or spray. You can do this with a damp cloth, paper towel, or steam cleaner.

2. Make your own cleaning wipes

Lysol wipes are not cheap. There are lots of DIY Lysol wipes videos that use paper towels. The trouble is that paper towels are flimsy and fall apart easily. Instead, get a package of diaper wipes from Dollar Tree. If you buy a case of anything, Dollar Tree will ship them to the store for pick up or straight to your home. Some items are available in lower quantities.

Next, open the package to let them air dry. Then, place them in the diaper wipes container you emptied. Lastly, saturate the wipes with the proper dilution of Lysol and cover them with a lid. There you go, easy-to-make wipes.

Janet says Clorox Wipes rule. Diana loves Lysol. Which do you prefer? Let us know by commenting!

3. Make reusable wipes

Reusable wipes are a money saver and eco-friendly. To do this, pour 1 cup of boiling water into a container, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol, and 2 tbsp of dish soap. Soak 4-5 small pieces of fabric (reuse old clothing) in this mixture. Now you can just throw them in the washing machine and instead of tossing them, use them again and again.

4. Use this instead of bleach as a deodorizer

There are funky smells everywhere, including the fridge, mudroom, and kid’s rooms. Many people rely on scented candles, Fabreeze, or other expensive options to get rid of or cover bad smells.

A very cheap alternative to air fresheners is baking soda. This miracle deodorizer can be used anywhere. It absorbs smells and can be left open in an area for continuous odor absorption. Or sprinkled onto surfaces like carpets or beds and then vacuumed after it has done its job of absorbing smells.

Unlike candles and air fresheners that just cover up bad odors, this absorbs odors and leaves your home smelling fresh and clean. Best of all, a box is very inexpensive (a dollar or two). We use it so much that we buy it in bulk.

5. This is a cheap mold remover

Mold removers such as CLR can be expensive. But mold in your showers and sinks happens. Don’t buy expensive mold removers. Instead, use bleach.

Soak a few cotton balls with bleach and place them over the moldy areas. Let them sit overnight (at least for 8 hours). This should clean up the mold and clean the area. Before you do this, read the label first to determine if the surface is safe to use bleach on.

6. Invest in a steam cleaner

I know steam cleaners can be a lot of money, but it’s HIGH VALUE. It is an investment, but it’s an investment in your time and efficiency. The best part is a steam cleaner can replace so many of your household cleaners, and all it uses to clean is water.

Use a steam cleaner on the stove, replacing those degreasers. Use it in the oven, replacing smelly chemically oven cleaners. Use it to clean your vehicle (think how expensive car detailing is while you can easily detail your own car with a steam cleaner). Use it in the bathrooms, floors, sinks, counters, the list goes on forever.

I should mention a warning. Cleaning with a steam cleaner can be addictive, and resulting addiction can lead to excessively cleaning surfaces resulting in unusually clean homes….. you’ve been warned.

But in all seriousness, a steam cleaner is best on nonporous surfaces (solid surfaces). If in doubt, test a small area first.

We recommend Dupray Neat Steam Cleaner because it’s so well built and lasts. But if it’s not in your budget, follow our link for other options (like the Bissell Steamshot Pro).

And, while you have it out, be sure to watch our video about how you can steam clean your car…

7. Olive oil as a wood polisher

You can replace your wood polish with something you already have in your cupboard. Olive oil. Put a few drops of olive oil on a cloth and rub it into wood furniture to keep it shiny and healthy. Just don’t be too heavy-handed or it will attract dirt.

8. Old sock with vinegar as blinds cleaner

There’s more than one way to clean those dusty blinds, but the least expensive way might be to use an old sock and dip it into vinegar. Slide it over your hand and go at it. It’s easy and fast too.

Vinegar is a great all-purpose cleaner that costs very little and is easy to find.

9. Inexpensive drain clog remover

Blocked drain got you down?? You could buy something like Drano. If you have more money to spend, you can call a plumber. Or, you can follow these simple steps to clean out your drain.

First, remove the stopper and pour ½ cup baking soda into the drain. Then 2 cups of vinegar into the drain. Finally, follow that down with a pan full of boiling water. Repeat if necessary.

10. Use a pumice stone for burnt-on oven stains

Stubborn burnt-on oven problems? You could buy expensive chemical cleaners. Or you can use a pumice stone (check on a small inconspicuous corner to check for scratching). This simple utensil cleans almost anything on your oven without making your home smell awful for days.

We recommend this pumice stone. It costs more than the cheap gray stick kind, but it lasts longer and has a handle and a case to store it in (with holes, so it stays dry). The white stone is much denser than the porous one you see in grocery stores for a few bucks. But they work too. They just fall apart faster.

Check out how to clean an oven with baking soda and vinegar here.

11. DIY bag sealer

No one likes stale potato chips, but you don’t need chip clips to keep them fresh. Lay to bag down, fold the top down once again and once more. Fold the corners under and then fold them back one more time… And now your bag is closed without a clip and keeping your chips fresh and crunchy.

The best thing is most of these substances are not only less expensive, but they’re also often better for the earth too.

Do you have other cleaning hacks to save money? Feel free to drop them in the comments section.