11 Household cleaners you can make yourself

Why spend money? Use out "Recipes" to make cleaning solutions that do the same job- for less!

 
This formula doesn't suds up much, but it's effective and gentle on your hands.

Prep: 2 min.
Cost: $2.48
Yield: 16.5 oz.

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoon
• 24-oz. squirt bottle (or empty dishwashing-liquid bottle)

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup liquid castile soap
• 3 tsp. vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops tea-tree essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS
Using funnel, pour soap, glycerin, tea-tree oil, lemon oil and water into bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Place soap beside sink and use on dishes and hands. This fragrant formula also will clean your kitchen countertops beautifully.

 

 This recipe harnesses baking soda's gentle abrasiveness, vinegar's acidity and the stain-lifting power of the fizz created by mixing the two, plus tea-tree oil's antibacterial capabilities.

Prep: 2 min.
Cost: 48¢
Yield: 1 cup (enough for 1 use)

YOU'LL NEED

• Measuring cup
• Toilet brush

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup baking soda
• 10 drops tea-tree essential oil½ cup
• distilled white vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour baking soda directly into the toilet bowl, add oil, then vinegar—in that order. Let water effervesce for several minutes, then scrub bowl with brush. Flush.



Use this germ killer on sinks, vanities and toilet seats. White thyme oil, although expensive, inhibits bacterial growth.
Prep: 2 min.
Cost: $11.57
Yield: Approximately 18 oz. (a 2- to 3-month supply)

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoon
• 24-oz. spray bottle
• Microfiber cloth

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups water
• 2 Tbsp. liquid castile soap
• 1 Tbsp. white thyme essential oil (amazon.com)
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Using funnel, pour water, soap and oils into bottle. Shake. Spray and let sit for 20 minutes. Wipe down surfaces with damp cloth.

Vinegar is a safe, nontoxic antiseptic that you can let dry on nearly any type of flooring including linoleum, vinyl, tile and wood. The castile soap offers just enough detergent to dislodge stubborn dirt.
Prep: 2 min.
Cost: 25¢
Yield: 2 gallons

YOU'LL NEED

• Measuring cup
• 2-gallon bucket
• Mop

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• ½ capful liquid castile soap
• 2 gallons warm water

INSTRUCTIONS
Add vinegar and soap to bucket, then add water (stopping about 7 inches from the top). Swish with mop to mix. Wring out mop and wash floors, but don't get them too wet. Let air-dry—no rinsing necessary.

Use rubbing alcohol and white vinegar to clean windows, mirrors and car windshields.

Prep: 2½ min.
Cost: 29¢
Yield: 27 oz.

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoons
• 32-oz. spray bottle
• Newspaper

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups water
• 2 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional, for scent)
• ½ Tbsp. liquid castile soap

INSTRUCTIONS
In a well-ventilated area, use funnel to pour water, alcohol, vinegar and oil, if desired, into bottle. Shake. Add soap. Shake well. Spray windows; wipe with newspaper.

Meant for use on painted walls, this spray has germ-killing capabilities and can remove a variety of marks, including crayon.
Prep: 3 min.
Cost: 83¢
Yield: 29 oz.

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoons
• 32-oz. spray bottle
• Rubber gloves
• Sponge

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp. borax
• 3 cups warm water
• ½ cup distilled white vinegar
• 6 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 1 tsp. liquid castile soap

INSTRUCTIONS
Using funnel, add borax, water, vinegar and oil to bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Add soap. Shake well. Put on gloves. Lightly spray on walls and wipe with a damp sponge, rinsing sponge as needed. (Work from the bottom up so streaks don't form.)

   

• 
  

Make your own cleaning products with ingredients straight from your pantry. You'll be shocked at the savings:
Instead of: Powdered laundry detergent
Finely grate one 14-ounce bar of Zote soap and one 5-ounce bar of Fels-Naptha laundry soap; mix well with 4 cups borax and 4 cups washing soda. Store in a lidded plastic container.
Instead of: Toilet bowl cleaner
Fill a small empty dish-soap bottle with half water and half bulk dish soap and use it to squirt around the bowl. Scrub and you're done.
Instead of: Hand soap
Wash out an old hand-soap bottle and add about 1 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's castile soap. Fill the rest of the container with water.
Instead of: Disinfecting surface spray
Mix 1½ teaspoons bleach and 22 ounces water in an empty spray bottle.
Instead of: Microfiber cloths on glass surfaces
Try coffee filters. They’re lint-free.
Instead of: Eraser pads
Try whitening toothpaste on a toothbrush to scrub away crayon and scuff marks.
Instead of: Glass cleaner
Try a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water to clean mirrors. Spray the homemade solution onto a cloth and wipe.
Instead of: Silver cleaner
Try filling a spray bottle with inexpensive vodka. Spritz, let sit for 15 minutes, then rub with a cotton cloth. Buff to a shine.

Dishes, silverware and glassware come out shiny and clean thanks to this simple three-ingredient powder containing antibacterial grapefruit essential oil.
Prep: 4 min.
Cost: $2.45
Yield: 32 oz. (enough for 32 loads)

YOU'LL NEED

• Rubber gloves
• Measuring cup
• Mixing bowl
• 32-oz. lidded plastic container

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups washing soda
• 2 cups borax
• 25 drops grapefruit essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax and oil to bowl, stirring with your hands to mix and eliminate clumps. Transfer powder to plastic container. Use 2 Tbsp. detergent per wash. You also can add 1 tsp. vinegar, if desired, to the rinse cycle to prevent spots on silverware and glasses.

Borax and vinegar remove (and stave off) mold and mildew growth and soap scum.
Prep: 3 min.
Cost: 15¢
Yield: Approximately 28 oz.

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoons
• 32-oz. spray bottle
• Rubber gloves
• Sponge

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp. borax
• ½ tsp. liquid castile soap
• ½ cup distilled white vinegar
• 3 cups hot water

INSTRUCTIONS
Using funnel, pour borax, soap, vinegar and water into spray bottle. Shake well to mix. Put on rubber gloves and spray surfaces, scrubbing with sponge as you work. Rinse with water.

High-efficiency washers use less water than their conventional counterparts, so this detergent produces less lather and easily rinses out.
Prep: 15 min. (includes grating soap)
Cost: $4.03
Yield: 18 oz. (enough for 12 loads)

YOU'LL NEED

• Rubber gloves
• Measuring cup
• Lidded 24-oz. plastic container

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup washing soda
• ½ cup borax
• 1 bar lavender castile soap, grated (about 1 cup)
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 15 drops lemon essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax, grated soap, baking soda and oil to lidded container. Cover and shake well. Use 3 Tbsp. detergent per load, or slightly more for very soiled clothes.






Apply this formula to clean and restore luster to wood furniture. It also may be used to help remove superficial water rings on wood tables.
Prep: 1½ min.
Cost: 34¢
Yield: Approximately 2½ oz.

YOU'LL NEED

• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoons
• Lidded 8-oz. plastic squirt bottle
• Microfiber cloth (or clean, soft rag

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• ¼ tsp. lemon oil (or fresh lemon juice)

INSTRUCTIONS
Using funnel, pour olive oil, vinegar and lemon oil into bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Squirt polish onto microfiber cloth and rub onto finished-wood furniture. Always go with the grain and evenly distribute polish. Remove any excess polish with a clean cloth.








This formula combines the antimicrobial and scouring powers of borax and washing soda—and good old soap and water—and imparts a lovely scent.
Prep: 5 min.
Cost: $1.74
Yield: Approximately 23.5 oz.


YOU'LL NEED

• Rubber gloves
• Funnel
• Measuring cup and spoons
• 32-oz. spray bottle
• Sponge

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp. washing soda
• 2 tsp. borax
• 2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
• 2½ cups hot water
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 7 drops lemon essential oil
• ¼ cup liquid castile soap

Simple cleaning recipes

A clean house doesn’t have to mean a toxic house. Simple, safe ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, vegetable oil and borax are effective at cleaning, disinfecting and removing stains and odors. Making your own products also costs a fraction of commercial cleaners. Try these eco ideas:

From Allyou.com Posted by Mags