It’s always important to clean your house to keep germs and pests away. But with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping us all mostly at home, it’s essential to clean and disinfect surfaces and floors regularly.Â
Of course, we don’t necessarily want to go into debt to stock up on cleaning supplies. To help you keep your home fresh and clean while on a budget, consider these inexpensive ideas for fighting back against bacteria in your home.
Straighten up throughout the day
If you take a few minutes throughout the day to tidy up your space, you can keep grime from building up and becoming a problem. For instance, work desks have up to 400 times more germs than office toilets. Keep germs at bay by giving your home office and door handles a good wipe down once a day. A 10-minute daily routine can save you a lot of time and energy.
Use microfiber dusters
Microfiber dusters are a great way to clean your house on a budget because they’re reusable. Use them to clean around your doors and windows, which can lose almost 38% of your heat if you’re not careful. They’re also incredibly handy for cleaning off countertops and dusting your shelves. When they get to be too gross, you can just remove them and put them into a load of laundry.
Make vinegar your best friend
When you’re only cleaning and not disinfecting, white vinegar is a great solution. Just mix equal parts water and vinegar into a spray bottle and you can use it to clean countertops, mirrors, glass shower doors, faucets, and windows. This cleaning solution is not only cheap, but it also keeps your home clean without using harsh chemicals. Don’t worry about the smell, either. The vinegar smell doesn’t linger once it dries.
Make your own disinfectant
It’s important to disinfect certain areas around your house to prevent bacteria and viruses from making you sick. As of 2018, 8.5% of Americans don’t have health insurance coverage, and the last thing you want is to end up in the hospital for an illness-related medical emergency.Â
If you can’t find disinfectant in the store or you’re looking to save money and make your own, the Food and Drug Administration has a DIY sanitizing solution listed on their website: mix 4 teaspoons of bleach per every quart of water. This solution and other disinfecting products should NOT be used on food.
Buy quality tools
Buying quality tools doesn’t necessarily mean buying expensive tools. With over 30.2 million small businesses and retailers across the country, you can find affordable cleaning tools made of good quality materials that won’t break or wear down when you use them. Look for durable plastics, bamboo, and microfiber when buying cleaning tools.
It’s important to keep your house clean and disinfected to prevent illness, mildew, mold, and pests. But you don’t need to break the bank to keep your house clean. By following these tips, you can keep your home spotless and germ-free on a budget.