Whether you are interested in environmentally safe products for the home or need to shave a few pounds off your budget, these recipes for homemade cleaners will help you out. So why not make your own cleaning supplies and see how you get on.
Window Cleaner
Mix equal parts of white vinegar with filtered water and store them in a plastic spray bottle. Make sure to label the spray bottle appropriately. Use crumpled pieces of newspaper to clean. This solution works well on glass and mirrors. You need to apply a little more elbow grease with this cleaning solution than you would with a store-bought cleaner, but it is still easy to use and worth it.
This literally costs pennies to make your own cleaning supplies like this compared to the £2 or more you would spend per bottle at the store. Simple swaps like this are good for the environment and save money too so a bonus!
Disinfectant
For a great home disinfectant, mix 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of liquid soap, and 20 drops of tea tree oil. Store in a labelled plastic spray bottle and use as you would a store-bought disinfectant.
Depending on you are, the tea tree oil will run you around £3, but it will make at least a dozen batches of this disinfectant. If you have children, add a few drops of tea tree oil to your regular shampoo and mix it up. Tea tree is a natural head lice preventative as well so don’t just use it to make your own cleaning supplies.
Carpet Odours
Fill a sprinkle shaker with bicarbonate of soda. This could be a store-bought container or poke holes in a plastic food container that has been washed and dried thoroughly. Sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda on your carpet, and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Vacuum the room. You can also add your choice of scented oils to the bicarbonate of soda to leave behind a soft fragrance in the room.
Bicarbonate of soda is very inexpensive, and this could save you up to £3 per container of your usual scented carpet freshener.
General make your own cleaning products
Not all solutions for home cleaning problems require being mixed into a solution. Also, try these great tips.
Baking Soda
Add 1/2 cup to your load of laundry in addition to your regular detergent to give you brighter clothing. It’s also great as a monthly drain cleaner. Pour about 1/2 cup down your drain followed by boiling hot water, and you won’t be bothered by sink odours again.
Corn Flour
This removes greasy or oily stains. Make a paste with warm water to use on carpets or clothing.
Distilled White Vinegar
White vinegar can be used as a drain cleaner as well. It can be used to wash your hardwood floors. Also, add it to your white laundry to help get rid of the dingy colouring.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This works great as a disinfectant. Also, soak cotton balls in hydrogen peroxide and leave them in areas where mould and mildew are a problem to help break it up for easier cleaning.
Isopropyl or Rubbing Alcohol
Another great disinfectant. It also works well to clean windows (mix with equal parts of water), mirrors, eyeglasses, computer screens, car windows, and more.
Kosher Salt
Very abrasive. Great for cleaning those tough stains. Add baking soda to make a great grease and grime cleaner. Make a paste with lemon juice to take stains out of white clothing. Leave the clothing in the sun to dry before washing.
Lemons or Lemon Juice
Used to polish brass or copper. It can be used as a drain cleaner. Add to the window cleaning solution from above to make a great all-purpose cleaner.
Will this mean that next time you start your cleaning schedule you will use your own homemade products instead of shop-bought supplies? Why not also try this all-purpose cleaner?
