Homemade Cleaning Products
SAVE ON CLEANING SUPPLIES WITH THESE DIY PRODUCTS
In times where it might be difficult or inconvenient to find or purchase cleaning supplies, it’s good to know that you can make your own household cleaners with a few common household items. DIY cleaners are a great way to be resourceful and save money—you could save hundreds per year making your own! However, it’s important to note that these cleaners are not disinfectants, and you should still use a labeled disinfectant to clean surfaces of bacteria and viruses.
1.ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER
This cleaner is the solution to so many messes — in the kitchen, bathroom and the dinner table where your little one (perpetually) spills some milk. Vinegar is a homemade cleaning heavyweight and the star of this potion, with disinfecting properties thanks to its acidity. A batch of this miracle worker cost its inventor 52 cents, or a sixth of what leading cleaners sell for.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 1 part water
- 1 part vinegar
- 10-15 drops essential oils of choice
- Spray bottle
2.GLASS CLEANER
Save lots with this easy-to-make glass cleaner. It’s as simple as vinegar + rubbing alcohol + water — three ingredients already in your house! The gamechanging ingredient in this concoction is rubbing alcohol, which works to dissolve dirt and oil and dries quickly for a streak-free finish.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- ½ cup rubbing alcohol
- ½ cup white/distilled vinegar
- Water (Clean tap water is fine for short-term use. Use distilled or boiled and cooled water for long-term use.)
- Essential oils of choice (optional)
- 16 oz. glass spray bottle
3.FABRIC SOFTENER
It’s worth repeating, vinegar is the cleaning superhero that conquers all. This recipe for fabric softener uses it as a softening agent and static cling fighter, while a measure of conditioner incorporates your favorite scent. And at as low as $2 per batch, the price can’t be beat.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 12 oz. container of hair conditioner
- 1 ½ cups distilled white vinegar
- 3 cups warm water
- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Storage container
4. FABRIC REFRESHER
This DIY makes use of the simple ingredients to fight unwelcome odors. Baking soda acts as a deodorizer, while essential oils add your favorite scent. Essential oils are another concentrated ingredient; a little will go a long way. Mix the ingredients and place in a small jar to make this easy room freshener. Perfect for bathrooms, your pet’s favorite chair and teenager’s bedrooms everywhere.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 1 TBSP of baking soda
- 2 cups warm water
- Essential oils of choice
- Spray bottle
5.WOOD POLISH
This two-ingredient furniture polish employs olive oil for shine and lemon juice to help remove any buildup or stains. Leaving your furniture shiny and lemony-fresh will only cost you $1.55 per bottle, a fraction of leading commercial wood polishes.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 2 parts olive oil
- 1 part lemon juice
- Spray bottle or empty jar
6.OVEN CLEANER
Cleaning out the oven is not for the faint of heart. Between the crouching, scrubbing and nauseating fumes, we tend to avoid it for as long as possible. This oven cleaner is nontoxic and fume-free, and budget-friendly. Just mix baking soda and salt for ultimate grease-cutting, scouring power. Let it sit and work its magic!
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- ¼ cup castile soap or concentrated dish detergent
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup coarse sea salt or kosher salt
- Warm water
- Distilled white vinegar
- Sponge or scrubbing brush
- Spray bottle
- Mixing bowl
7. BLEACH PEN
Bleach pens are the laundry room sidekick we can’t live without. But they’re a little pricey! This homemade bleach pen will cost you a minuscule 25 cents. That’s not a typo. Cornstarch, water, bleach and a little bit of stovetop magic make for a household product that’s cheaper than anything we can remember buying … ever.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
- 1 cup cold water
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 5 tablespoons regular bleach
- Medium sized sauce pan
- Container of choice (e.g condiment bottles)
- Container of choice (e.g condiment bottles)
- Whisk
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*Article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens
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