Move over Swiffer, there's a new mop in town...

My friend Dawn has been posting frugal tips over on Facebook for the past week or so and shared this little gem that I felt needed to be passed along.  Dawn is a tried and true Frugalista (yup, I'm making up words!!), raising three of the nicest kids, working side by side with her husband and just being an all around great person.

I'm sure we've all been tempted or have actually caved and at one point in our cleaning lives bought and used a Swiffer.  I've owned one.  In the beginning it was extremely handy.  I bought mine when we lived in a house with a ton of exposed hardwood floors.  The duster pad made quick work of the floors and once I upgraded to the Wet Jet, I was able to (almost) seamlessly go from mopping linoleum in the kitchen to the hardwood.  Until that fateful day when the cleaning solution and pads ran out.  Oh, the horror!!!!

I've pulled out my trusty, rusty abacus and did a little ciphering...

Swiffer Wet Jet Starter Kit (1 bottle solution and 2 pads)- $18
Bottle of solution for wood floors- $4
Box of 12 refill pads-$8
Grand Total-$30
You'll get a total of 2 cleaning solutions and 14 mop pads which if you're anything like me will last a month, maybe 6 weeks if you try and stretch the use on the pads.  Add in another $4 if you want the pads for dry dusting.  I found those lasted a little longer than the wet ones.

Or, you can try this bad boy.  Yes, I'm excited about a mop...it's how I roll!!

Rubbermaid Reveal Spray Mop Kit-$31.49 (Amazon).  Comes with 2 refillable cleaning solution bottles and 2 washable wet mop heads.
Dry dusting head available for $6.39.
Grand Total-37.88 and it'll last you for years!!

I'm sold.  Whip up a batch of homemade vinegar cleaner and you'll save even more $$.


Mopping good times...........Deborah

Vinegar ROCKS....

Reader's Digest has complied a list of 150+ uses for vinegar.  This stuff is amazing I tell ya!  Studies have shown that 5% vinegar is 90% effective against mold and 99.9% effective against bacteria.  The perfect choice (in my opinion) for wiping down kitchen counters before and after food prep.  Perfect for cleaning the bathroom.  Perfect for killing germs in my house with out the use of potentially harmful chemicals.

Here are a few of my favorite vinegar cleaning applications.  I have a great list of vinegar health applications I'll post some day soon!!

Laundry Softener

• 1 gallon distilled white vinegar
• 30-40 drops essential oil 
• lavender oil is good for promoting calm mood and sleep, orange oil helps brighten whites, peppermint helps fight odors

Use 1/2 cup per load in your softener dispenser.  1 gallon of vinegar will last you 32 loads for a price around $2 with no chemicals or additives.


Weed Killer-especially good if you have free range chickens who eat everything in sight!!

• 1 gallon 5% distilled white vinegar (some Ag stores carry higher percentage vinegar, sometimes under the name Acetic Acid, if you can find this, it will work quicker but use with caution as it is an acid and WILL burn)
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon dish soap

Mix together in a spray bottle and kill them weeds!!!

All Purpose Cleaner

• 60%/40% vinegar/water solution in a spray bottle
• tackles kitchen counters, stove top grease and foods, microwave explosions, bathroom counters, the nasty toilet, works amazing on soap scum in the tub, cleans windows, faucets, dirty floors, dirty walls, dirty everything!!!

Laundry Detergent Tutorial...

Hello to all my frugal minded friends!!  Here are the step-by-step instructions to making your own laundry detergent.

You'll need the following items:

Borax: $1.99 (on sale a few months ago)
Washing Soda: $3.29 (regular price)
Color Safe Bleach: $2.89 (regular price)
Ivory: $1.58 ($0.79 each after 2 $0.50 coupons)  **see note at bottom regarding soap**
Total: $9.75

Yes, only $9.75

Next step is most time consuming and potentially dangerous.  Well, only dangerous if you're me and unable to handle a simple food grater without removing large chunks of your fingertips. However, if you're challenged like I am, your cost may go up slightly with the addition of a few bandaids!!
I digress...plop down in a comfy chair and grate up the soap.  Took me about 10 minutes and I got to catch a few minutes of a college football game and listen to Mr. Awesome© yell at the T.V.  Fun, right??

I like to grate the soap as fine as I possible can.  I think it helps the soap dissolve a little better in the wash.

I store my laundry detergent in a 5 gallon bucket.  You can pick one up super cheap at any hardware store.  I recommend you store it with a lid as I've noticed excess moisture results in clumping and well, no one likes clumps.

Last step is to pour all ingredients into your bucket or preferred storage device and mix them together.  Please note that these powders are chemicals and breathing them in is not the best for your health.  I either tie a bandanna over my mouth and nose or grab a mask before this step.  Needed to put that disclaimer out, however, you're all big girls (and boys) so proceed as you see fit!!

You are now ready to tackle that pesky, ever-growing laundry pile!!  1/8 cup per load, 1/4 if it's really, really, nasty.  This amount will last me close to 6 months as long as Mr. Awesome© sends his uniforms off to be cleaned at work.  In a typical week, I wash 3 loads of dark clothes, 1 load of whites and 2 of towel/linens for a family of 5 with 2 dogs who love to play in the muddy creek.

Soapy and bandaged........Deborah

**Soap note: Feel free to substitute for the Ivory soap.  Kirk's Castile, Fels Naptha and Dr. Bronner's would work well.  Personally, I have tried Fels Naptha and never liked the smell and noticed the clothes just didn't seem to smell as fresh.**