Stay spiffy for less

<p>A dear friend once said to me, “I love coming to your house.” In an instant, I began thinking about the many ways my gifts of hospitality warm and welcome others. I imagined a world where people lived to knock on the door of our mid-century brick and stone ranch home. I pondered the wonderful aromas of fresh baked goods that must waft out our doors and windows, up and down the street. I thought of the cheery decor and the comforts of home.</p><p>My friend continued “No matter if your home is neat and clean or a complete trainwreck, you act just the same.” I giggled, not sure whether to be flattered or embarrassed. I suppose it’s true. If you visit our home, I want the occasion to be about you and not the dishes in the sink or the laundry piled high on the couch. I’d rather clear the crumbs from the breakfast table with a swoop of my arm to make room for two cups of coffee than worry about how our mess makes anyone feel.</p><p>I’m less than the best when it comes to keeping house. In fact, I can almost always think up a list of what I’d rather be doing than cleaning. However, the process is necessary to prevent those who live in these walls from going to school smelly or going crazy from the clutter. So when I find a cleaning strategy that works, I hold on for dear life.</p><p>Nothing drives me battier than overpaying for something I don’t even enjoy. For this reason, I’ve paid close attention to ways to save money when it comes to cleaning products. After all, just because something is required doesn’t mean we should drop more than necessary on it.</p><p>Make your own</p><p>The cleaning product industry brings in big business. But your grandma knew how to make most of her own detergents and scrubs. Bring back her strategies by making your own household cleaners. White vinegar makes for an excellent glass and all purpose cleaner. You can even use it in lieu of fabric softener. Borax, washing soda, and an oxycleaner combine to make a phenomenal powdered laundry detergent (what we’ve been using for close to a decade). You can make your own dishwasher detergent, too. A quick Internet search provides a plethora of recipes guaranteed to keep your home cleaner for less cash.</p><p>Look for coupons</p><p>Your weekend newspaper, favorite coupon websites and even store apps are chock full of coupons for cleaning products. Always scour all of the above for discounts before you make a purchase. You may even be able to stack a store and manufacturer coupon together at select retailers to sweeten the deal further.</p><p>Shop at home improvement stores</p><p>We know that home improvement stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Menards sell what we need for remodeling projects galore. However, these establishments also sell bulk quantities of cleaning supplies at lower prices, too. It’s a great idea to stock up when these retailers offer special promotional discounts, like the rotating Menards’ 11 percent rebate sale.</p><p>When you can, buy double</p><p>Find a cleaner you love? When your budget allows, purchase more than one bottle. More than likely, you’ll run out of said product when you least expect it. Many times, running to the store for “just that one item” leads to secondary impulse buys. Doubling up your purchases on products you know you’ll use saves both time and money when your supply runs low.</p><p>Buy some (but not all) products online</p><p>I love shopping on Amazon for many products. However, household cleaners are on the whole more expensive on the website. What you can find at a discounted rate online are paper goods that help you clean your home. Be sure to check the unit price carefully and look for additional fees like shipping and handling. And don’t forget that many online sites have coupons of their own. Just be careful making a buy if you don’t know how much the product runs in your store.</p><p>Whether you keep your floors spic and span or run the vacuum to bring them from extra crispy to original recipe, you need to clean your home. What you don’t need to do is waste money on the necessary process. Hopefully, no matter the physical condition of where you live, people will long to sit at your table and linger in meaningful conversation — dirty dishes in the sink and all.</p>