Make Your Own Cleaning Products and Save Money
One of the most expensive things that you can buy for your home is cleaning products. But the good news is that there are some recipes that you can use to help you save money and keep your home clean at the same time. Below are 5 homemade cleaner recipes that you can make for especially cheap.
All-Purpose Cleanser
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 10 drops of lavender, lemon or tea tree essential oil (all have disinfectant properties)
Mix essential oil, a little bit of water and the vinegar together before you add baking soda in a clean glass spray bottle. Then fill it with water. Shake the bottle gently and then use it to spray the surface. Wipe the surface clean using a clean cloth and let it dry.
Soft Scrub Cleanser
- 5 cups baking soda
- ½ cup laundry soap (choose one that's safe for the environment)
- 10 drops of lavender, lemon or tea tree essential oil (all have disinfectant properties)
Mix your laundry soap and baking soda in your mixing bowl and stir it vigorously to create a paste. Add the essential oil drops and then mix it well. Store it in an airtight container.
Disinfectant Wipes
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 8 drops each of tea tree, eucalyptus and lemon essential oils
- empty container for wipes, like baby wipes
- 15 to 20 cloth squares — you can use old, clean rags, t-shirts or dish towels
Fold your cloth squares and then put them into your container, setting it to the side.
Put your water, vinegar and the essential oils into your mixing bowl and stir until mixed well. Pour the mixture over your cloth pieces in your container. The cloth pieces will soak up the mixture and you'll have wipes ready to use when you need it.
Wash your cloth squares and then repeat the process as long as your cloth squares are holding up.
Dishwasher Detergent
- 1 cup salt
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2 cups Borax
- 1 cup Lemi-Shine (this is non-toxic and is located with detergents)
Mix your ingredients together and transfer mixture into an airtight storage container. Use just two tablespoons each time you wash your dishes. It's also a good idea to keep some white vinegar inside your dishwasher's rinse-agent compartment.
Oven Cleaner
- ½ cup baking soda
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water (may need more or less, use your judgment)
- ½ cup white vinegar
Put baking soda and water into a small bowl, adding more water as needed to make a spreadable paste.
To use, spread paste on oven walls and scrub. Then allow mixture to rest in oven overnight.
In the morning, put vinegar in your spray bottle and then spritz onto the dried cleanser. This will start a foaming, cleansing effect. Dampen a cloth and use it to wipe down, rinsing your oven until it's clean.