In an attempt to be a good steward of God given money, possessions, and health, I have made the move toward homemade cleaning products in the past year. I make about 90% of all our cleaning products. I would definitely call it a slow move as I have been interested in doing this for more than a decade. Let me just say, it is easier than you think. It saves a ton of money. It costs just a little more time. It is so much healthier for your family. It is gentler on the things you clean regularly. I have a shopping list of items I purchase very inexpensively. I buy off brands/cheap when possible.
I use the spare space of my A/C closet and an over the door shoe hanger to store my cleaning stuff, so I can easily get to them. I hate digging under a sink to find a cleaner.
For added thriftiness, I have repurposed bottles from when I did buy cleaning products so that the bottles are already labeled!
Click on the name of cleaners that do not have instructions to be linked to their instructions:
Making this has generated the most savings for our family's budget. From Tide to homemade, $.25 a load to $.02 a load. Plus, cleaner clothes!
Laundry Stain Removers
A wet Fels Naptha bar rubbed on most stains will remove them. A squirt of hydrogen peroxide will remove blood stains and grease stains. Scrub with a soft tooth brush.
Dishwasher Rinse Aid(This one is easy) Add vinegar to the rinse aid compartment in your dishwasher. No more spots on glass!
Use old newspapers for a streak/lint-free shine!
General Purpose Cleaning Spray
I use this with paper towels on surfaces where I used to use cleansing wipes. This will gently clean light dirt and dust on most surfaces.
Extra Strength Cleaning Solution
I use this paper towels on surfaces where I used to used disinfecting wipes.
This will give an extra strength cleaning to eating surfaces and disinfect porous surfaces.
This will make all your metal, tile, and non-granite surfaces sparkle!
Daily Granite Cleaner
Equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Keeps the porous surface of granite disinfected and ready for cooking.
Laminate Floor Cleaner
Equal parts water and vinegar with just 2 tablespoons of Pine Sol for color and fragrance.
Very similar to General Purpose cleaner. Could be used interchangeably.
Very similar to General Purpose cleaner. Could be used interchangeably.
Won't make 'em shiny,
just keeps 'em clean.
This is a very gentle floor cleaner for our waxed stained concrete floors.
(Looks like it's time to make more!)
(Looks like it's time to make more!)
Fabric Refresher
I use the finest mist setting of the spray bottle. Use just like you would a fabric refresher.
In place of Comet Powder
Baking soda has great scrubbing power like Comet. But, to make a sink REALLY shine, wet sink, toss baking soda onto sink surface, spray it with a spray bottle of only vinegar. It will foam then you can scrub to sparkling clean!
EXTRA HINT: Keep a recipe card of "ingredients" used to make each cleaner with your cleaning products so when your run out, you have the instructions right there. I keep mine in one of the shoe compartments with all my cleaners. VERY HANDY!!!
I have a list of the things I buy still. I buy these because the homemade versions either did not work well or did not work with our well-water. I hope you get started on your quest to homemade cleaners much faster than I did! Don't wait a decade, like me.
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