Save money on spring cleaning

NEWTOWN, Pa. - March 4, 2009 (WPVI) -- As owner of a franchise of The Maids Home Services, Warren Uzialko, has learned many "tricks of the trade" when it comes to house-keeping.

And as it turns out, some of those tricks can help you save money.

Warren says used toothbrushes are great for cleaning tight areas, like corners and behind faucets.

And he says you don't have to buy fancy cleansers to get those places clean. Instead, use a sprinkling of baking soda. It's non-abrasive and can be used on just about any surface. Just wet the area first, scrub and then rinse.

He adds that baking soda's also good for deoderizing the refrigerator and garbage disposal.

Warren says you can also re-use old socks and even dryer sheets for cleaning windows and mirrors.

And you can make your own glass-cleaning solution out of a 50-50 mix of vinegar and water. In a pinch, he says coffee filters (unused) also make good, non-abrasive cleaning cloths. Many offices throw out extra filters, so by using them to clean, you could actually be helping the environment.

When it comes to dusting, you can make tough jobs easier by using tools in different ways.

He showed us how to dust a ceiling fan using attachments on a vaccuum cleaner. Warren also suggested setting a hair-dryer on low to blow dust off electronics.

And save your old paintbrushes. He says clean paintbrushes can be used to brush dust off the leaves of both real and artificial house plants.

Our friends at About.com also have some frugal housekeeping advice, including a recipe for homemade laundry detergent.

If you'd like to contact Warren, here's a link to The Maids Home Services franchise he owns.

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