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Kids are messy. Spills, stains, and general disorder are a part of life with kids. To clean up after them, we're required to provide a never-ending stream of cleaning products, paper towels, sponges, detergents, and much more. All of these expenses can add up quickly, even for the most avid coupon clipper. Here are a few ideas that will help you save on cleaners for all of life's messes.
- Buy in bulk. It's almost universally true that buying more of something leads to bigger savings. With food and other perishable products, it's not a good idea unless you're sure you will use it. But with cleaning supplies, you don't have to worry about an expiration date. If they expire at all, it's years in the future – you're sure to have used it all up (and then some!) before that day comes.
- Don't buy name brands. In some cases, off-brand just doesn't work quite like the name brand products. But for the great majority of messes, you'll save 25% or more and never notice the difference. One common product to avoid is generic Windex – I don't know of a generic version that works as well as the name-brand product. But for everything else, take a chance and step away from the name brand, at least for a little while.
- Shop at dollar stores. Cleaning supplies for $1 apiece? It's pretty hard to beat that – and that's before any coupons. I generally recommend checking your local dollar store first, before you go to a big box store. Unless you have a particularly awesome coupon, it's unlikely that their prices are going to beat what you'll find at a dollar store. $1 per cleaning item? It doesn't get much better than that.
Once you've purchased your cleaning supplies, make sure you store them wisely. Close them up where needed. Don't let them dry out or become contaminated. And don't overuse them. Read the directions on the packaging and don't use more product than is recommended. Tough messes may require that you add a bit more, but you shouldn't need to go all-out. By increasing the amount you use slowly, you'll save more in the long run and make the whole bottle last longer.
Save money on the purchase, store smart, use wisely, and you can really cut down on your cleaning supplies expenses throughout the year – without having to sacrifice your clean home.
Nikki is a freelance writer for Dollar Tree, your one-stop-shop for discount cleaning supplies. She has a passion for frugal living and has firsthand experience with messes from her little ones!