• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Peaceful Mom

  • HOME
  • START HERE
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • PRIVACY
  • CONTACT

September 21, 2011 By Kimberlee 5 Comments

Q&A: How Do You Budget for Cleaning and Toiletry Products?

Affiliate Link Disclosure B
  • 1
  • 130
  • 2
  • 6

Q:

Reader B. asks,”I’m a new reader and appreciate your menu planning and budget ideas. Do you have a budget and plan for purchasing your household necessities like cleaning products and toiletries?”

 

A:

Our budget for household items and toiletries is $50 – $75 a month. My primary strategy is to watch for sales on items we regularly use like shampoo, razors, body wash, etc. and stock up when I see a really low price.

I also purchase toilet paper cheaply from Amazon. I love the convenience of having it shipped directly to my home and the fact that we don’t run out and have to make a trip to the store for “emergency” toilet paper. Click here for the details.

As far as household cleaners, I only use a few:

 

Bar Keepers Friend – Great for sinks, counters, tubs and toilets, has no chemical smell and costs between $2 and $3. I use this to clean my stainless steel pots and pans as well, and it works great to get stuck-on food off in a jiffy! Click here to grab it on Amazon.

 

Unscented Bleach – I mix about 1/8 cup of bleach with a liter of water in a spray bottle labeled “Bleach” and use this for disinfecting counter tops or sinks after I have handled raw meat, bleaching out stains and cleaning the bathroom surfaces to keep germs to a minimum. The 1.42 gallon of bleach costs less than $3.00 and lasts FOREVER (not really, but a very long time)!

 

Vinegar – I use white vinegar mixed with water to clean my windows and to mop the floors. I use this DIY Citrus Cleaner for other surfaces.

 

Laundry Detergent – I buy an allergy free brand which my daughter with skin issues uses to wash her clothes. I watch for sales and printable coupons and stock up at the lowest price which is usually $2.50 for a 50 ounce bottle. One bottle lasts a couple of months with only one person using it. I also buy a 1.5 lb. box of powder detergent for around $2.00 for everyone else’s clothes. We use about 1 box every 3 or four weeks. You can read more here about my experience with homemade laundry detergent (along with lots of great tips in the comments of the post).

 

Dish Detergent – I buy the cheapest dish detergent and dishwasher detergent I can find and we only use about a tablespoon of the dishwasher detergent per load. If you read the manufacturer’s instructions, you only need a small amount of detergent to wash dishes effectively. [UPDATE: Since we moved to our new house we have a new dishwasher that requires Finish detergent because it contains phosphates. You can grab the 64 count Finish Dishwasher Detergent here.

 

To simplify life I have instituted a Once-A-Month Non-Food Purchases Policy. My teens know that when their products are running low they need to add them to the list I have on the fridge. I make one trip per month to purchase anything we need that I haven’t found on sale and if the item isn’t on the list they have to wait until my next trip.

 

How do you save on cleaners and other non-food items? Leave a comment.

 

You May Also Enjoy:

DIY Cleaners
DIY Detangler
Money Saving Ideas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 1
  • 130
  • 2
  • 6

Filed Under: Questions

Previous Post: « Earth Fare: Free Bell Peppers Coupon!
Next Post: Taste and See… »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy Bowman says

    March 26, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    Use plastic Walmart type bags for small trash can liners or reuse them in other ways like for crafting a wreath to decorate with.

    Reply
    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      March 28, 2016 at 10:45 am

      Thanks for the tips Judy!

      Reply
  2. The Peaceful Mom says

    October 23, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Grace I actually purchased it at Walmart when we lived there but if they don’t have it you might try Home Depot or ordering online through Amazon. I love that stuff. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Julie says

    August 4, 2014 at 8:09 am

    I hate the smell of bleach. When you use it to clean countertops, etc., does your kitchen smell like bleach? I have been out of floor cleaner for a while now, and have used dish detergent. I will try the vinegar.

    Reply
    • Kimberlee Stokes says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:25 am

      I use a bleach and water combination so it is not as strong as straight bleach. I also open the window or turn on the exhaust fan in the bathroom to dissipate the smell more quickly.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hey! I'm Kimberlee and I help busy women just like YOU thrive in challenging times and circumstances. . Get started HERE.

See all coupons HERE.

Please note that ads are placed by a third party ad agency and are NOT specifically endorsed by The Peaceful Mom.

These third party advertisers may gather information from your use of this site. Read our Disclosure and Privacy Policy HERE to find out more.

Most Recent

  • My 2023 Un-Goals
  • 2022 Goals Update
  • My Word of the Year for 2023
  • 5 Easy Busy Night Dinners
  • Weekend Plan to Save Time During the Week
  • Simple Evening Routine to Start Your Day Better
Click here to read The Peaceful Mom Privacy Policy and Disclosure. ThePeacefulMom.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
  • BE HAPPY!
  • CONTACT
  • PRIVACY

Copyright © 2023 - The Peaceful Mom |