'I'm a cleaning expert and these are the 6 budget cleaning hacks I swear by.'

Keeping your home clean doesn't have to drain your bank account. Some of the best tricks come straight from the pantry, with no fancy sprays or gadgets needed.

As the Co-Founder of Ministry of Cleaning, I've helped Aussie households keep their homes sparkling for over ten years. So I know what works, without the hefty price tag. 

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Here are six budget-friendly cleaning hacks that will leave your home spotless, without spending a fortune.

The $2 cleaning hack.

Forget those expensive store-bought sprays filled with chemicals you can't even pronounce. Making your own all-purpose cleaner is super simple and costs next to nothing. Just mix one-part white vinegar, one-part water, and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle.

This DIY cleaning spray works wonders on kitchen countertops, sinks, and even glass surfaces. If you prefer a fresher scent, add a few drops of lemon, lavender, or eucalyptus essential oil to the mix.

Bonus tip: This also works as a quick deodoriser for smelly bins, shoes, or musty fabrics. Just spray and go!

The baby oil trick for fingerprints.

Stainless steel appliances look sleek, but they attract fingerprints and smudges like a magnet. The secret to keeping them smudge-free for longer? A few drops of baby oil on a microfiber cloth.

Just rub the oil onto your fridge, oven, or dishwasher in circular motions and buff it with a dry cloth – be careful to only use a small amount to begin with. It creates a barrier that repels fingerprints and watermarks, so you won't have to keep wiping them down every five minutes.

This one ingredient fixes dull silver.

If your silverware or jewellery has lost its shine, don't rush out to buy silver polish. Baking soda works just as well, if not better — and it's only a few dollars at your local supermarket.

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a few drops of water until it forms a paste. Rub the paste onto tarnished silverware using a soft cloth or an old toothbrush, then rinse and buff dry.

For heavily tarnished silver, line a bowl with aluminium foil, sprinkle in baking soda, and pour hot water over the top. Let your silver soak for a few minutes, then rinse clean. Your silverware will sparkle like new!

Got a stinky cutting board? Try this lemon hack.

Wooden cutting boards can trap odours and stains from food, even after a good wash, but they don't need to be thrown out. Let me introduce you to a quick and natural way to clean and deodorise them — lemon and salt.Sprinkle coarse salt over the surface, then cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the board, squeezing out the juice as you go. The salt lifts grime, and the lemon's natural antioxidant properties disinfects and removes odours.

Rinse with warm water, and your cutting board will be fresh, clean, and ready for your next meal prep.

Bonus tip: avoid soaking wooden cutting boards to stop warping.  

Dishing tablets: the cleaning powerhouse.

Dishwashing tablets aren't just for cleaning dishes — they can tackle tough grime all around the house. Placing a dishwashing tablet into an empty washing machine and running a cycle helps break down built-up residue, keeping it fresh and odour-free (please note, these are not fabric-safe).

In the kitchen, these tablets work wonders on greasy oven doors and burnt pots or pans, cutting through stubborn stains and food with ease. They're also great for restoring glass surfaces, like shower screens and windows, by removing soap scum and hard water marks.

Bonus tip: For an extra cleaning boost, placing a tablet into a damp sponge can make scrubbing even more effective on tiles, sinks, and other tricky spots.

Ditch the paper towels.

Paper towels and disposable wipes may seem convenient, but they're a waste of money and not great for the environment. Instead, invest in microfibre cloths. They're reusable, super absorbent, and can be used on almost every surface.

Use a dry microfiber cloth to dust furniture and electronics, and a damp one to wipe down countertops, mirrors, and windows without leaving streaks. They also work great for scrubbing sinks and stovetops when paired with a bit of vinegar or baking soda.

Pop them in the washing machine after use, and they'll last for years, saving you heaps of money in the long run!

What are your top house cleaning hacks? Share in the comments below.

Prerna Jain is the Co-Founder of Ministry of Cleaning. Established in 2015 by Prerna and Manish Jain in Melbourne, the Company provides a wide range of services to meet the cleaning needs of Australians across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. 

Feature Image: Supplied.