9 Mindless Cleaning Habits That Surprisingly Cost You Money

Want to save your hard-earned cash? Then pay attention to your everyday habits — especially when it comes to cleaning. You might not realize it, but mindless kitchen-cleaning routines could be wasteful or even contributing to costly damage in your home. The solution: Slow down and be strategic when it’s time to check the next chore off your list. Oh, and read this post.

Here are nine mindless cleaning habits that could be costing you money — either now or in the long run.

Your dishwasher’s wash cycle usually saves water compared to hand washing. What makes the machine inefficient is the heated drying cycle. Running this cycle means more time (usually around 30 minutes), more energy, and more money that has to go to your utility bill. The cycle can also wear down your dishwasher over time because the appliance has to work hard to pump all that hot air through the exhaust vents. Skip the cycle and crack the door to let things air dry.

Mindlessly running water — especially hot water — can rack up your utility bills. It’s also wasteful! Instead of keeping your faucet on the entire time you do dishes, fill up your sink with soapy water, clean the items, then rinse. You can also fill up an already-dirty pot with water and a few drops of dish soap to let smaller things soak. Or try this soapy bowl trick.

More is not more. More is actually worse. Rather than wasting a cleaning solution or potentially causing damage, read the directions on the bottle and use the recommended amount. Maybe even less! Take dishwasher detergent, for example: You probably need half the amount you’re currently using. Cut back and your supply will last longer and you might even notice that your dishes start coming out of the machine cleaner than usual.

Every square inch of space is valuable real estate in a trash bag — so if you take yours out before it’s totally full, you could be throwing away money, too. It can be hard to wait until the bag is full if your trash gets smelly, so get in the habit of taking particularly odorous items out to the trash immediately rather than throwing them away inside.

We’re big fans of cleaning up as messes happen — not only because it’s hard work to clean bigger messes, but also because it’s more expensive. Older burnt-on food in your oven and splatters in your microwave will require more cleaning products, which means you’ll have to spend more money to replenish your supplies sooner. So rather than putting off messes, do your future self a favor and clean as you go!

Appliances run more efficiently when you take care of them properly. If you don’t, you’ll end up dishing out more money on your utility bills and, potentially, costly repairs. Your range hood is a great example. If your filter is dirty, the range has to work harder to do its job — and that’s money out the window. Make sure to clean your range hood filter at least every few months — or more frequently, if you do a lot of cooking on the stove.

Speaking of appliance maintenance! Maybe you vacuum in the kitchen regularly, but when was the last time you vacuumed the coils on your fridge? You should do it every six months!

Yes, you have to clean your dishwasher. (Even though it’s the thing that cleans other things.) A dirty dishwasher, like any other appliance, has to exert more energy to do its job. Make a routine of cleaning the grime from your dishwasher’s rubber seal every now and then. You can also run a dishwasher-safe bowl full of white vinegar through a cycle to remove food grease and grime. 

Paper towels aren’t only bad for the environment; they’re also expensive. Instead of using them to wipe down messes, grab a microfiber cloth, which is much more absorbent and better for the planet. Keep a fresh hand towel near your sink, too, so you avoid using paper towels to dry your hands.

How do you try to save money while cleaning in your kitchen? Tell us your tips in the comments below.