50 Ways to Save Time and Money While Cleaning Your Home

Products Needed: Hairdryer, olive oil
What it Does: Removes water stains from wood and shines the surface
Cost: $40*

When it comes to wood, water stains are almost an inevitability, especially if you have kids. These stains often show up onto wood as light-colored rings, which are caused by the bottoms of hot plates or cold mugs that rest onto the wood surface.The condensed moisture seeps into the wood, causing a noticeable stain. If you want to fix that problem, plug in your hairdryer. Spray the water rings with a hairdryer, drying the water from the wooden surface. Then, freshen up the area with olive oil. The result will be shiny wood without a hint of annoying water stains.

Products Needed: Cream of tartar, cloth, water
What it Does: Cleans and shines stainless steel  
Cost: $10*

Cream of tartar isn’t just something you eat; it’s also something you can clean with. A lot of food products on this list overlap into cleaning products, and cream of tartar is no exception. You can use it to clean stainless steel.Cream of tartar works as a scrub, as it is a powdered form of tartaric acid. All you need to do is dampen a cloth with water and sprinkle cream of tartar onto it. You can use it to spot-clean all types of stainless steel surfaces, from small appliances to pots and pans. It will remove stains and replenish luster.

Products Needed: Chalk  
What it Does: Absorbs the oil and grease from the stain, drying it out
Cost: $2*

Grease stains are among the most stubborn stains to get out of clothes, and they usually arise as a cooking mishap. Luckily, there’s a cheap solution to keeping your clothing stain-free. Use chalk to rid clothing of grease stains.Rub chalk into the grease stain. Let the chalk absorb the grease from the fabric, and then brush it off. You might have to rub it for a while. If the stain is stubborn, keep at it, and then throw it in the wash as usual. Chalk will also help get rid of collar stains, as the substance is great at absorbing oil.

Products Needed: Raw potato
What it Does: Cleans cheese from grater holes
Cost: $1*

Shredding cheese with a cheese grater is the best way to get all the cheesy goodness you want on your preferred dish. However, there’s no denying that cheese graters are nearly impossible to clean, and it can feel as though you’ve been scrubbing for ages when you clean them.Put away the steel wool and dish soap, as there is another option. You can clean your grater using a potato. Shred the raw potato after you shred the cheese. It will clear the gummy cheese from the grater’s holes, and you can then use the shredded potato for all sorts of food.

Products Needed: Plastic bag, white vinegar
What it Does: Cleans dirt and grime from the showerhead
Cost: $5*

Your shower is an essential part of your day or night, and it’s definitely a place that is ripe for cleaning hacks. Cleaning your showerhead might not seem as pressing to you as cleaning the tub or walls of the shower, but it is still a bacteria-prone area.To clean your showerhead, fill a plastic bag halfway with white vinegar. Don’t overfill the plastic bag, as the vinegar could overflow when you submerge the showerhead into it. Place the bag over the showerhead, fully soaking it in the vinegar. Let it soak for a few hours, and then remove the bag.

Products Needed: Old toothbrush, toothpaste
What it Does: Removes stains from white, non-mesh shoes
Cost: $5*

White sneakers will never go out of style, but it’s a shame that they get dirty so easily. Keeping white shoes dirt-free is a Herculean task, but it doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Chances are, you’ve got the key tool right in your home.All you need is an old toothbrush (one you don’t use anymore, obviously) and toothpaste. Squeeze the toothpaste onto the brush, and work the brush in a circular motion onto the stain. Let the paste sit for ten or fifteen minutes, and then clean it off with a clean sponge or damp towel. Repeat as necessary, until your shoes are bright white again.