6 Money Saving Household Tips

© Doran Roggio 2007

Being a single mother and the sole breadwinner of my household there were small tasks I learned to do that would stretch the dollar and afford my children and I more enjoyment from my earnings. In today’s hard economical times these invaluable intents can benefit everyone in making financial ends meet.

Here are 6 household tips that can save you money. These small concerns with economizing will afford you some money left in the budget for pleasure in spite of the economic pressures.

1. Buy Generic and Reuse Vacuum Cleaner Bags

Brand names vacuum bags are way over priced and not necessary for efficient cleaning. Generic bags are just as efficient and can be purchased as inexpensively as 2 or 3 bags for $1.00 at various dollar store franchises. If you do not mind getting your hands a little soiled these bags can be easily reused.

When the bag is full, place a few sheets of newspaper on the floor to collect the dirt. Wear a pair of rubber gloves (surgical gloves work great) for sanitary purposes. Remove the bag from vacuum. Hold the bag with opening close to the newspaper and proceed to pull the dust out. The dust will pull out in clumps until you get closer to empty when all that remains will be loose dirt. Don’t bother with the loose dirt. There will be very little and it will cause too much dust to remove.

Place the bag back in the vacuum and discard of the dirt. This process can be repeated until the bag gets weak or tears. Generally, vacuum bags can be reused at least 2 or 3 times. Your cost of vacuum cleaner bags will go down considerably saving you even more change to put in a fund for fun.

2. Use White Vinegar To Cut Costs On Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies can be very costly. An efficient way to save money is to use white vinegar for your household cleaning. With a 50/50 solution of white vinegar in a spray bottle you can clean almost everything in your home. Toilets, tubs and sinks will not only be cleaned but sanitized as well.

This same solution will help to minimize food bacteria on kitchen counters and leave the kitchen shiny clean and aid in eliminating odors.

If you prefer a sudsy cleaner you can add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid but no more. If you add suds you will need to keep a separate bottle for cleaning glass and mirrors. Suds will tend to smear on the glass and leave a film.

White vinegar and water will also remove stains from carpets and clothes. Do not use on bright colors without testing an inconspicous area first. Weaken the solution to 25 vinegar /75 water for colored items as white vinegar has a mild bleaching effect.

3. Wash Ironing Board Covers

Family ironing can pile up quickly and spray starch can build up on your ironing board cover. Don’t just throw away and replace covers when starch builds up. Covers can wash repeatedly for extended use, however, I suggest you invest in a quality (middle priced, not the cheapest covers). Better quality will ensure a cover that will not slipp on the board and hold up after many washings.

You can extend the life of the cover by first turning it inside out and using the other side when the starch builds up and cover becomes tacky. By using both sides you will not have to wash as often.

4. Darn Runners In Nylon Stockings and Socks For Longer Wear

The costant replacement of nylon stockings can be very costly. A trick is to sew the runners. It takes only a few moments. Carry clear nail polish in your purse. When a runner starts stop it immediately with the nail polish. At home take a few minutes to sew up several pair at a time (tv time is good).

You will need a thin needle, thread matched closely to the color of the stockings and a darning mushroom (lightbulb works fine). Slip the light bulb or darning mushroom into the stocking and wrap material around snugly and sew with overlapping stiches, only taking up what is needed in order to keep the line as neat as possible.

If the runner is below the skirt line, repair them as well and wear these particular stockings under your slacks, using the ones with runners higher up for skirts. You will get amazed how much money you will save with this trick. Socks can be easily darned in the same fashion when a small hole appears.

5. Use Less Laundry Soap For Less Fading and Money Saving

When doing laundry there are always those items that are not very soiled. I hate to wear anything more than once which could cost a great deal in water and soap. Generally I am washing out sweat or just bringing back shape to items I have worn for a few hours. The items are not laden with dirt.

While you would not want to do this with heavily soiled kids clothes, with clothes that are not really dirty you can cut back on some of the soap use. The money savings is twofold. Your dark colors will not fade as quickly and you will save on the cost of laundry detergent. Experiment with how much to cut back. If the clothes are not very soiled you can cut back as much as half and still have fresh, clean clothes.

6. Freshen Faded Clothes with Tintex or Ritz

You buy a costly pair of black slacks for work and a few months of washing and the black is beginning to look faded. Soon you decide they are too dingy to wear to work and go shopping for a new pair. A few dollars for Tintex or Ritz clothing dye with bring the color up to par.

Dyeing is relatively simple and can be done in the washing machine, bathtub, or in a large pot. With the price you pay for a new skirt, blouse, dress or pair of slacks it is well worth your time and couple of bucks to dye those faded items and renew the color for extended wear.

A Little Thriftiness Adds Up To Savings

You will find these ideas, though seeming small will add up to significant savings. So apply, put aside the money saved, and take the family out for an day of entertainment.

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