These days everybody's wallets are hurting and for people who receive food stamps, finding cheap cleaning products that are safe for families can be a challenge. But I've found ways to use a few items that can be purchased with food stamps to clean my house and I'm sharing my secrets so we can all live healthy, happy and inexpensively. Everything I use can be purchased with EBT.
1.Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and in fact I've stopped using Lysol in my house. I got a spray bottle at the dollar store and filled it halfway with water, hallway with distilled white vinegar. I use this for almost everything. If something is particularly germy or I'm doing a seasonal deep-clean, then I'll bring out the big guns. Otherwise I use my 50/50 mix.
2. Baking Soda
Combine baking soda with vinegar for a powerful solution that's great at scrubbing tough stains and greasy spots. Baking soda deodorizes (gets the smell out) and scrubs without damaging surfaces. For dried-on, gonna-beak-a-nail-scratching-this-off gunk stuck to your counters or stove-top, sprinkle with baking soda (just a little bit, enough to make a tiny hill) then lightly spray with your 50/50 mix. Let it foam up and leave it alone to do its magic. Come back once its dry, ten-fifteen minutes give or take, spritz again and wipe away. TADA! It's gone!
Another way I use this combo is to clean the inside of my dishwasher. Believe it or not, those things can get pretty grimy on the inside and you wouldn't take a bath in a dirty tub, right? Here's what you do:
Fill up the detergent cups as full as you can with baking soda.
Place a small GLASS bowl in the bottom of the dishwasher, under the bottom rack. Make sure the rotating arms can still move or else this won't work.
***IMPORTANT*** DO NOT use a plastic bowl. It will melt and probably ruin your dishwasher.
Run the dishwasher on a regular cycle. You'll be able to hear it foaming up as the vinegar mixes with the baking soda. You can even add some lemon juice to the vinegar for a nice, fresh scent.
Scoop some baking soda into a small bowl (not metal!!). One tablespoon should do, then carefully stir in one shot-glass of vinegar. Stir with a fork to make a paste that you can use to gently scrub the inside of your oven, your stainless steel pots and pans, and those pesky stains on your apartment's kitchen counters that you can't afford to scratch with harsh cleaners.
Dump your mop bucket onto the toilet so the bowl empties of most of the water. Sprinkle in some baking soda, spritz with your 50/50 spray and scrub. Flush and admire your shiny potty.
Clean your in-sink garbage disposal by pouring in some baking soda, then vinegar and quickly flipping the switch. Run for about ten seconds without the water running. Then turn on the water and run for ten more seconds to rinse. Next, toss in a few lemon peels and ice cubes. The lemon will freshen your kitchen and the ice will sharpen the blades.
Slow drain? Go get your baking soda and vinegar. Dump em in and QUICKLY plug the drain. Some foam will escape but, for the most part, the gunk will be shoved down the pipes. Now if there's actually something in there like hair or your kid crammed cotton balls in there, this method won't change that.
3. Water!!! Water wipes away most anything and is the safest cleaner you'll ever have.
Soak paper towels in water and close them in your George Foreman grill immediately after cooking, while it's still hot. The steam will loosen whatever's stuck on the cooking surfaces. Wait till there's very little steam coming out then carefully lift the lid and, using tongs, fold up the paper towels and wipe the grill clean.
Microwave a coffee cup of water and lemon juice a couple times until it boils. Leave the door closed at least ten minutes so the steam can loosen any dried-on particles. Wipe down the surfaces with a damp paper towel.
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