| Tips: how to reduce housekeeping costs |
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| Wednesday, 18 March 2009 08:09 |
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• Use household product instead of commercial cleaners. Vinegar baking soda toothpaste, lemons and household ammonia are excellent substitutes for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces. • Buy in bulk • Choose “reusable” rather than “disposable” • Keep dirt out to mini-mise cleaning and related expenses. Close windows on windy days to minimize dust; lay doormats to catch shoe dirt; brush and cats outdoors. • Maintain the integrity of the house to minimise cooling costs. Seal door and window leaks. Use tints, shades blinds or drapes to reduce transfer of heat through glass windows. Ensure that the level of insulation in the ceiling is optimum. • Lower the power bill by reducing energy wastage. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. • Use washing machines for full loads only. They consume as much energy running a small load as a full load. • Ironing several items of clothing in one session is more cost- effective than ironing them individually at different times. • Lower the water bill by reducing water wastage. Use water- saving faucets, showerheads and toilet tanks. Water the lawn at night or early in the morning to minimise loss from evaporation. • Invest in energy-efficient appliances. |