Tips and tricks for spring cleaning on a budget

It's time to tackle the clutter and do some spring cleaning. Give your home and yourself a fresh new feeling with these easy and cheap cleaning tips and tricks. Click on and take a look!

A cleaning bucket

Having your cleaning products in a bucket is the easiest way to organize and have your products ready to use and move at all times.

Bicarbonate soda

Bicarbonate soda has many uses. You can sprinkle some in your shoes so they smell better, wash your washing machine, remove the toughest of stains, shine jewelry... you name it!

Make your own cleaning spray

A homemade cleaning solution is not only environmentally friendly, but cheaper too. With baking soda, white vinegar, and hot water you have yourself a green cleaner for any type of surface. You can also add some essential oils or fruit peels for extra fragrance.

Do not clean windows on a sunny day

Good Housekeeping magazine suggests cleaning windows on a cloudy day. This helps the cleaning product from drying too quickly and leaving streaks on the glass.

Use dryer sheets in more ways than one

Dryer sheets can be used beyond the tumble dryer. Use them to wipe irons clean, remove sawdust residue, or even as air filters inside your air conditioning for lasting freshness. Used dryer sheets can be used to clean blinds, screens, and surfaces in general.

A second basket for laundry

Aside from your main laundry basket, have another, smaller one for emergency laundry. This trick will help you keep on top of what you need without it getting lost in the pile.

Newspapers in garbage bags

Many spring cleaning blogs and websites suggest wrapping leftover food in newspaper before placing it in the garbage. Newspaper soaks up liquids and keeps garbage bags from leaking.

Put charcoal in your car

According to Molly Maid, pieces of charcoal can be used as a cheaper alternative to air fresheners. Place them under car seats, but make sure not to buy charcoal with lighter fluid, which gives off a fuel smell.

Ketchup cleans copper pans

According to Counting Coins, ketchup is a great (and cheap) alternative for wiping and shining your copper pots and pans.

Use microfibre cloths

According to Molly Maid, microfiber towels retain a lot more dust than other cloths. They require less cleaning product to get the job done, are easy to wash, and are re-usable.

Organize your closet

Perhaps an obvious one, but an important part of spring cleaning nonetheless. Go through all your clothes, make piles of what you want to keep, what you want to store away, and what is good to donate.

Tidy your pantry

Clear out your kitchen cupboards and throw out any expired foods. Check open packages for freshness and seal them in jars to last longer.

Clean the ceiling fan

It may seem a tedious task, but you'll appreciate it in the warmer months. Remove dust from the fan's panels by soaking a pillow cover, covering a panel with it, and wiping it clean.

Clean a scorched iron

Use coarse table salt to clean a scorched iron and return it to its usual shiny state.

Wipe your shower glass clean

Wipes and cloths do the job, but dryer sheets do it better. According to Real Simple, dryer sheets and a sprinkle of water are a great way to remove obstinate dirt from shower stall glass.

Wash your washing machine

Even if they clean your clothes, washing machines often need a clean of their own. You can do this by mixing 1/4 cup of water with 1/4 cup of baking soda, pour it into the "detergent" section of your machine and put it on a normal load. Then take two cups of vinegar and scrub the interiors of the drum.