Save money at home with these 6 simple tips
Many people have been consuming a lot of product – even more as the world has become more vigilant about washing our hands and keeping our homes, cars, and desks cleaner. Americans, in fact, are spending a whopping 34% on cleaning supplies alone since COVID-related worries began in March of 2020.
As you walk around your home now, you can definitely spot the biggest offenders to your wallet - from paper towels to cleaning supplies, storage bags to fresh herbs. Lifestyle expert Anna De Souza has rounded up the best value swaps to save you big bucks now and in the long run.
Anna's picks for saving money at home:
Blueland The Clean Up Kit, $29, blueland.com
Utopia Kitchen Cloth Napkins, $14 (was $16), amazon.com
Swedish Dishcloth, $20 (was $25), amazon.com
Zip Top Reusable 100% Silicone Food Storage Bags, $22, amazon.com
Hilife Steamer for Clothes Steamer, $22, amazon.com
AeroGarden Harvest 360, $135 (was $150), amazon.com
Video Transcript
ANNA DE SOUZA: From paper towels and cleaning supplies, to storage bags and fresh herbs, we hunted down the best value swaps to save you big bucks at home.
We're spraying and pumping through cleaning supplies now more than ever. And it can really break the bank. But now, you can mix up your own bathroom and window cleaner with just a little tablet and some tap water. Now Blueland ships you a starter kit with gorgeous, hefty, color-coded bottles. And after that initial startup cost, refills are just $2. Efficient and affordable, love it.
Transitioning to a paperless kitchen can save you a ton of money. And an easy way to make the swap is napkins. Encourage your family to use the same napkin all day by personalizing clothespins with everyone's name on them to keep each napkin with their owner between meals. Opt for cotton, which is soft and washes really well. And if you're a big fan of marinara sauce, you want to go for those darker colors to avoid visible stain.
Swedish dishcloths might be a newer concept for us. But in Europe, they're really popular. It's basically a hybrid of a sponge and a cloth which allows it to absorb 20 times its weight in liquid, but it dries really quickly. Now, each dishcloth can withstand 200 washes in the washing machine and on the top rack of your dishwasher. But frankly, I just hang mine over my faucet, not that it gets much rest there with twin toddlers running around.
My collection of zip top is growing and I use it all around my house. I love that it stands up alone, so I can easily dish in fruit, sweet potatoes, anything at all. And the seal is really thick, so it keeps anything with a consistency of applesauce or thicker, easily stashable in my fridge and in my freezer.
Did you know that you can use your clothing steamer to clean your whole house? Steam is sanitizing and deodorizing. And if temperatures reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it can destroy bacteria. You can quickly sanitize high touch areas like countertops, bathroom sinks, and more. Plus, forget renting that carpet cleaner to deep clean your upholstery. You just add three parts water and one part vinegar to your steamer to blast away stains and dust mites from your sofa.
I may not be a gourmet chef, but fresh herbs are definitely my secret ingredient to take a dish from so-so to so delicious. Now I had my doubts about the Aerogarden, but holy cow, you guys. My entire neighborhood has been able to enjoy my little herb garden. The Harvest 360 allows you to grow six plants at a time. And the control panel basically tells you everything-- tells you when to add water, reminds you when to add plant food, and automatically turns the lights on and off. This is a no brainer for me. And I'm loving experimenting with these new herbs.
How are you saving money around the house? Don't forget to let us know in the comments below. And thanks for hanging out.
