If you've been to the grocery store lately (and, let's face it, who hasn't?) then you might be experiencing a mild to moderate case of sticker shock.  Everything, from milk and eggs on down to cereal, is going up in price.  And, this especially includes the cleaning products we use everyday in our homes.

Why?  Well, you can thank several factors but the biggest is due to the price of oil.  The trickle-down effect hits us all.  But, there are some steps you can take to lessen the pain of keeping a clean house. 

The trick is to sample the products you're interested in trying first.  This helps in several ways.  First, it enables you to avoid buying a product you don't like.  When you can try before you buy, you don't waste money purchasing something at full price and then finding out it doesn’t work for you.

Secondly, many companies send great coupons out with their samples, which can add up to significant savings over time.

So, ready to try out some new cleaning and home improvement products?  We’ve got a great list for you.

To Glue Or Not To Glue?

If you own a home then your project list is probably a mile long.  There's the lose banister on the stairs, the cracked cabinet in the kitchen, and the tile that's about to fall off in the bathroom.

Well, rather than making some expensive replacements, did you know you could simply glue these things back together?

Thanks to the makers of Gorilla Glue, the world's toughest glue, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in expensive replacements.  Gorilla Glue works great on almost any surface, is 100% waterproof, and will stand up to extreme temperatures.  No matter what you’re trying to fix, chances are you can save time and money by using Gorilla Glue to mend it back together.

Pledge To Banish Dust…

Most of us have about a dozen different cleaning products for our home.  We use one duster on wood, another on stainless steel, yet another on our floors…  The list goes on and on.

Thankfully, Pledge is saving us a bit of sanity with their Multi-Surface Wipes.  These wipes work great on any surface, be it wood, glass, metal, or even electronics.  They safely wipe away dust and smears, leave absolutely no residue, and save you time (and money) because you don't have to keep switching products.  Yep, it's a hassle-saver for all you busy people out there.  Don’t miss this one.

Is It Magic? 

If you’ve never tried Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser, then you're missing out on a great time-saver.  The Magic Eraser does just what it sounds like; it magically erases things that seem impossible to clean (think heavy crayon on your walls, here).  Traditional spray cleaners can often damage or wipe off paint and scratch surfaces, but Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser uses micro-bristles that gently clean stains away.  Is it magic?  You’ll have to see for yourself, but there's a good reason why the site boasts so many glowing reviews from customers.

Although it seems like every time we turn around prices have gone up again, by sampling and utilizing coupons we can transform ourselves from ordinary shoppers to savvy shoppers.