Easy Microwave Cleaning

Our microwave gets tons of use. It's easily used 6 - 12 times every day. But, I never think of cleaning it until I am just about to put something in there. Right at that moment, I don't want to stop what I am doing and get a scrubber to clean it.

So, here's what I do (it only takes 1 minute to clean):

• put a cloth or sponge wet with water, windex, disinfectant, etc into the microwave
• turn the microwave on high for 1 minute
• be careful of the HOT cloth! - wipe the softened food off the microwave with the cloth

Whatever you use to wet the cloth with will leave its scent in the microwave, so be sure the cloth is clean and you like the scent you are using.

Brand Names I'll pay Extra for

Most of us Frugal Aficionados praise generics, and attempt to prod you into trying the no-brand equivalent of the items you buy. And, in most cases, buying a generic will not only save you money, it will do the job just as well as a higher-priced Brand Name. However, there some generics that just won't do the job or fill the need as well as Brand Name products.

Now, I can squeeze a penny till Lincoln squeals, and I enjoy doing it. But, saving money is just not satisfying when the product you bought doesn't fill the need. And, it doesn't save you money if you end up buying it twice (once for the generic, and then a second time to buy the brand that fills the need or does the job right).

So, here is a list (HA you knew it was going to be a list, didn't you) of Brand Name items that, in my opinion, are worth the extra money.

• Colgate Total toothpaste.
  For the last few years, I've noticed that my teeth seem to be shifting. Once this became obvious and I realized it wasn't my imagination, I did some research and discovered that more than 75% of Americans over 35 have gingivitis or periodontal disease (which can cause loosening or shifting of the teeth). Colgate Total is the only toothpaste approved by the FDA for helping to prevent gingivitis. It also contains triclosan, a mild antimicrobial that has been clinically proven to reduce plaque and gingivitis. I've been using Colgate Total for about a year now and my teeth have stopped shifting.


• Crest Pro-Health Oral Rinse.
  This mouthwash effectively kills the bacteria that causes gingivitis and periodontal disease (and bad breath). Because it contains no alcohol (alcohol containing mouthwash can actually make bad breath worse), it is much easier to keep in your mouth for 30-60 seconds as recommended.
  


• Pantene or Tresemme shampoo.
  If you've read Frugal Extremes you know that I prefer these products because they do a better job with my fine, limp hair than the generic shampoos. And, because these products are thicker, you use less so it ends up costing about the same as a generic.


• Caress bath soap.
  Generic (and many brand name) bath soaps dry my skin out. That means that when I use a generic soap, I must also buy a moisturizing lotion. Caress ends up costing about the same as a generic soap + lotion, so I skip the extra step and just buy the Caress.


• Swiffer Sweep and Vac.
I know, I know, a broom is wayyy cheaper. But, a broom also sends the dirt and dog hair flying all over the room, and I end up having to sweep again and again and ... (well you get the idea). I can't stand it when I mop - after using a broom to sweep - and find dried dog hair stuck all over the floor. The Swiffer sweep and vac simply works better and saves me time and frustration. (I don't buy the Swiffer cloths, I make my own).




• Dawn dishwashing liquid.
  It takes less to do a better job. It's also a great stain lifter in the laundry.


• Awesome or Greased Lightening cleaners.
  I don't know if these are big brands any more, but they both still work very well. When you have a really grungy cleaning job, they do the job.


• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
  I don't buy this product often, maybe once a year. But nothing works better on textured surfaces (like the refrigerator), or to get out stains that would otherwise need such hard scrubbing that you risk damaging the surface.
  
  
• Hunts or Del Monte ketchup.
  I don't really care which brand I buy as long as it's a name brand. Generic ketchup does not taste very good to me, and I do like my ketchup.


• Dukes mayonnaise.
  Another food that I am picky about is mayonnaise. It has to be tangy and it has to taste rich, and Dukes is both. My family will just not eat the generic.


• Prego, Hunts, or Del Monte spaghetti sauce.
  Like with ketchup, I will eat several brands, but I won't eat generic pasta sauce. I just don't like the taste. (With the can sauces I have to add a teaspoon of sugar, I like my pasta sauce a touch sweet).
  


• Purina dog and cat food.
  Now, I know that Purina is not one of the top brands of pet foods, but it is one of the lower priced brands that is actually good for your animals. I had a vet tell me that Purina foods are just fine for your pets, and they cost significantly less than the fancier brand names. The generic pet foods are so full of fillers that to give your animals the needed nutrients you have to feed them much more food (that's not saving money), and they make your pets poop more often.
  

Make Your Own Fabric Softener or Air Freshener

This is a cheap way to make fabric softener stretch. It's all I use anymore. An additional bonus is that you don't have to remember to catch the rinse cycle.
It can also be used as an Air or Fabric Freshener, like Fabreeze.

Fabric Softener Spray or Air Freshener

• 1 capful of fabric softener (any brand)
• Fill the rest of a 32 or 36 oz spray bottle with (boiled, then cooled) water.
  

Use 8-10 Sprays per load, or just spray the clothes that you know will wrinkle before putting them in the dryer.

This Spray can also be used as an air freshener or fabric freshener, like Fabreeze. Just spray into the air or directly on curtains or fabric covered furniture.

For a stronger scented Air Freshener, you can use 2 capful of softener (it doesn't work any better as a fabric softener with 2 capfuls).

Make Your Own Baby Wipes

If you buy Baby diaper wipes, you can save money by making your own.

Homemade Diaper Wipes Recipe

• 1 roll of high-quality paper towels, washcloths, or homemade rags
  
  
• 2 Cups water (boiled for 10 mins then cooled)
  
• 1 TBS baby shampoo
  
• 2 TBS baby oil
  

Pour liquid ingredients into a measuring cup or a bowl, and stir.

Pour over homemade rags that were placed in an empty diaper wipe container or tupperware-type container (old, hemmed t-shirt material works great for this).

If you use paper towels, cut the roll in half to make them smaller and pull the cardboard center out. Pull the paper towels out from the center.

Rags or washcloths are much better for this (and cheaper if you use what you already have), but they either have to be washed or you will need a large stash of rags to replace what you throw away.

I had trouble with the paper towels tearing after awhile, and unless you already have one of the cylindrical containers, it's difficult to find something that the paper towels will fit into. But some people prefer paper towels.

Make Your Own Face Cleansing Pads

Do you buy those Face cleansing pads? If you do, you can save money by making your own.

Homemade Facial Wipes Recipe

• cotton rounds
  
  
• 2 Cups water (boiled for 10 mins then cooled)
  
• 1 TBS shampoo
  
• 1 TBS white Vinegar
  
• 1 TBS rubbing Alcohol
  

Add liquid ingedients to bowl or measuring cup and stir.

I buy 200 cotton rounds at the Dollar store for $1.

Boiling the water first keeps bacteria from growing, so it won't "turn" or go bad.

You can use whatever kind of shampoo that you use to wash your hair. I've not used the 2 in 1 shampoos with added conditioner for this recipe. I think it might make your face oily. If you have dry skin, this might be a benefit.

Use the empty face pads container you already have or use a rubbermaid-type container with a lid to store these.

Just add the cotton rounds to the container and pour liquid ingredients over cotton rounds (you may have some left over depending on the size container you are using. Just save it for next time).

Make Your Own Simple All Purpose Disinfectant

I use this disinfectant everywhere in my home. I mop with it, clean out sinks with it, disinfect doorknobs and faucet handles with it, use it on countertops, and sometimes spritz a dusting cloth with it. Rinsing is not needed, nor is it recommended when using it to disinfect.

This home-made disinfectant is both environmentally safe and very frugal (inexpensive). You can increase the cleaning strength or the disinfectant strength easily.

All Purpose Disinfectant

• 1 cup white vinegar
  
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
  
• 1 TBS scented cleanser
  
• 1 gallon water (boiled for 10 minutes then cooled)
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup high powered cleanser like Awesome, Greased Lightening etc. (optional)

Using a kitchen funnel, add all ingredients except water to a one gallon jug (I re-use the gallon jug my drinking water comes in). Fill gallon jug the rest of the way with cooled, boiled water. Fill spray bottles, using a kitchen funnel, to keep in as many rooms in your house as you find a need for.

Vinegar is both a disinfectant and a mold/mildew cleaner. To increase disinfectant strength, add more vinegar or more alcohol.

Rubbing alcohol is both a disinfectant and a quick drying agent. This is what those high-priced floor cleaners use to make the floor dry faster. To increase disinfectant strength or reduce drying time, add more alcohol.

Scented cleanser is used primarily for its scent. It can be anything from Tide with Fabreeze (I get free samples and save them for this cleanser) to a pine scented cleaner. The scent is up to you.

I boil the water for at least 10 minutes. Once it is sterilized this disinfectant cleanser will last indefinitely without discoloring.

I add 1/4 cup Awesome to this cleanser when I am using it on something really grimy. I keep one spray bottle filled with this disinfectant cleanser in my bathroom and another one in my kitchen. The spray bottle in the bathroom has extra vinegar. The spray bottle in the kitchen has Awesome in it (in addition to the usual ingredients).

I also have an empty dish detergent bottle filled with this disinfectant that I use to mop the floor. I just squirt out a line and mop. No rinsing and the floor dries in about 5 minutes.

Just spray and wipe.