I hate to break it to everyone, but maintenance can be a dirty job. Being in this business for as long as I have been, I have found that sometimes grease and grim are as much a part of doing the job as the pat on the back when it’s finished and working right. After that, all you’ll need to do is clean up and enjoy your very own handiwork.

Needless to say, I have discovered some serious cost effective ways to clean up when the going gets tough, that won’t break your bank account buying heavy-duty industrial cleaners that work just as good, and will leave a smile on your face.

The first method is as tried and true today as it was in the 30’s when this soap was invented. It’s Lava brand hand soap, and with the built in pumice, it’s like little bitty scrubbies each time you wash. Although it may not cut through the thickest of grime and grease, for most household applications, it can’t be beat. I have had Lava on my sink for as long as I ever have done maintenance, and it works as good today as anything.

My favorite grease and gunk remover is Dawn dishwashing liquid. That stuff is amazing, and I’ll match it with any other grease remover on the market. It is pretty inexpensive as far as cleaners go, it’s completely non-toxic, and will cut grease on virtually any surface. Hands, arms, even a little dab on clothing before it goes in the washer, won’t stand a chance under the power of Dawn.

Diluted, it makes a great tool wash, and a very good car wash too. Straight from the bottle, it is so harmless that it can be rubbed on any surface until it’s clean, and then easily rinsed off. No muss, no fuss, a little Dawn goes a long way.

Try Oxy Clean for soiled clothing. It’s an additive when you do regular wash, and if I really get dirt, grime or oily residue on my clothing, I won’t even mix it with the rest of the laundry. I’ll just throw in my usual cup of detergent, rub some Oxy Clean slurry on top of the worst stains, and then do a regular cycle. I must say, I am duly impressed by its cleaning power, and my work clothes have certainly looked for-the-better when I began doing this.

Lastly, a wonderful all-purpose cleaner is something called Simple Green. It is biodegradable so it can be used anywhere inside or out, even around pets and kids. It is enzyme based, which means it eats up organic things like spills and messes, leaves no residue, and is a quick cleaner for the garage, camping trips, and anywhere that water is scarce. I keep some in my shop with some old rags, and for a quick clean-up on the go, it’s the best.

So next time you do the maintenance scrub, try a few of these cost effective alternatives, do the rub-a-dub-dub, and save a little clean green in your billfold.