Save Money By Making Your Own Household Cleaners

Making your own cleaning products has two great advantages. Depending on what types of cleaners and what brands you use, it can literally save you hundreds of dollars over a years time. But, home made cleaning products are non-toxic and chemical free and are completely safe to use around children and pets. It’s the perfect way to save money and create a healthier home.

Most people are completely misinformed when it comes to cleaning products. They believe that the only way they can clean really dirty areas or remove grease and grime is with harsh chemicals. This is simply not true at all. If you really think about it, people managed to keep their homes clean way before we had all these fancy cleaners in all these fancy containers!

Your great grandmother probably kept her home spotless and she did it without all of these foaming, bubbling cleaners that come in really neat packages and smell like flowers. Whether you are trying to find ways to save money, or you just want to get away from harsh chemicals, making your own cleaners is the perfect solution. It takes very little time and you’ll be amazed at how much money you can really save.

Chances are you already have the ingredients to make home made cleaners in your cabinets. There are only a few basic ingredients that will literally make almost any type of cleaner for just pennies. While some of these recipes include other ingredients, the main ones are white vinegar, baking soda, borax and dishwashing liquid.  And, if you really like products that smell good, simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Glass Cleaner

Glass cleaner is so easy to make, all you need to do is mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and a liter of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and you will have streak free windows and mirrors.

Fabric Softener

Baking soda is the perfect replacement for high cost fabric softeners. Just add 1/4 cup at the rinse cycle and your clothes will be soft and have a natural fresh scent.

Furniture Polish

To make your own furniture polish you will need to mix 4 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 teaspoons lemon juice and 1/4 cup mineral or olive oil. The vinegar will clean the wood and the oil will add some moisture to the wood to keep it from drying out. Just remember, if you use this recipe, keep the furniture polish in the refrigerator. The lemon juice will sour if you don’t!

Automatic Dishwashing Rinse

If you hate finding spots all over your dishes, add some vinegar to the rinse water. This works great whether you wash your dishes in the sink or in an automatic dishwasher.

Liquid Scrubbing Cleaner

You can make your own soft scrub cleaner by mixing dishwashing liquid with 1/4 cup borax and 3/4 cup baking soda until you have a soft paste. This is a great cleaner for counters, sinks and bathrooms. And, it won’t scratch delicate surfaces.

All Purpose Cleaner

You can clean almost any surface with a solution of half water and half vinegar. If you need a little extra “boost” for really dirty areas, add some borax to the mix.

Carpet Freshener

To make a great smelling carpet freshener combine one cup of your choice of either lavender, rosemary or southernwood with one teaspoon of ground cinnamon and ground cloves. Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda and mix well. Sprinkle the powder on your carpet and let it sit for about an hour, then vacuum as usual.

Floor Cleaner

The next time you need to mop your floor try adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the mop water instead of those expensive cleaners.

Oven Cleaner

Oven cleaners contain toxic chemicals that are bad for your skin and really bad for your lungs. If you dread cleaning your oven because of the noxious smell, try this recipe. Combine 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, 2 teaspoons borax, 1/4 cup ammonia and about 1 1/2 cups of warm water. Allow the solution to sit for about half an hour and scrub with an abrasive sponge.

Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010 SaveMoneySpot.com

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