First Project: Homemade Cleaning Products

So in an effort to cut down on our household spending, my husband Steve and I have been thinking a lot about where our money goes. Which of those expenses are actual necessities, and which are merely wants and unnecessary luxuries. Gas and electric? Necessities. Cable and pricey cell phone plans? Luxuries. This process was a bit painful to say the least, but for the most part wasn't all that surprising. What WAS surprising was how easy it would be to make some smaller changes that would really add up in the long run.

Household Cleaners:

As a busy mother of three children all under the age of ten, I was spending a lot of money on cleaning supplies. When I learned it was possible to make my own all natural cleaners, simply,  without all the harsh chemicals of commercial brands and be just as effective... well you can bet I jumped at the idea! And the results? Even better than I could have imagined. Here are a few of my favorites so far that seem to work really well (and smell great too!)...

All-purpose cleaner:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
10 drops essential oil like Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, Sweet Orange, or a combination of your favorites (I like Lavender and Tea Tree so far, as they both smell great and have effective antibacterial properties)

Add vinegar and water to a clean plastic spray bottle. (found mine at Walmart for 98 cents near the cleaning supplies) Add drops of essential oil last, directly to the bottle of liquid, as it tends to cling to the sides of whatever you're mixing it in. Replace the top and give the mixture a good shake. The vinegar, lavender, and tee tree oils are all antibacterial, so feel free to use this as you would any kitchen, bathroom, or general surface cleaner. Be sure to list the ingredients used and purpose on the bottle to avoid any mix-ups. Should last up to 60 days.


Floor Cleaner:
1 gallon hot water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup borax
10 drops Tea Tree essential oil
5 to 10 drops lemon essential oil (lemon tends to be pretty strong so less is more in my opinion, but you decide)

Add vinegar and borax to your mop bucket first, then fill with hot water. Add the oils last, then give it a good swirl with your mop or sponge. Good for most hard surfaced floors, though not recommended for tile. (The vinegar tends to eat away at the grout.)


Laundry Detergent:
1 bar castile soup (I like Dr. Bronner's Lavender Hemp or Peppermint scented, but you can also use Zote, Fels Naptha, Kirks Castile, or even plain white Ivory soap)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda (made by Arm and Hammer, but different from baking soda. Usually found near or beside the Borax in the laundry aisle)

In a medium size bowl, grate the bar soup with a simple box grater as you would a block of cheese. Once that's done, add the borax and and washing soda, then stir until well blended and soup is about the consistency of basic laundry powder. If the mixture still seems to lumpy or coarse, you can run it through a food processor, coffee grinder, or blender until it reaches the proper sandy texture. (any large clumps could clog the lines in your washer, so make sure it's fine enough). Makes enough to fill a medium to large yogurt sized container. Use only about 1 tablespoon per load, as the soap is highly concentrated. This recipe makes a very low suds detergent and is safe for regular and HE washers. Washes about 32 loads.
Here's a few pics of the finished product:

Fabric Softener:
1 cup white vinegar
A few drops favorite essential oil (may be omitted for extra sensitive skin, for scent purposes only)

Add just before the rinse cycle in your washing machine or use just as you would any other liquid fabric softener. Can also be put in a spray bottle and misted lightly over wet clothes just before drying. (I also like to throw in a couple of dryer balls for extra softness, but that's just me)


Here's a list of the products used...

20 Mule Team Borax: (Borax is a natural mineral deposit found in certain evaporated lakes, used as a safe all-purpose cleanser and deodorizer since 1891)
76oz. box, between $2.50 and $3.00 at Walmart and most other retail grocery stores.

Arm and Hammer Super Wash Soda: (different from baking soda)
55oz. box between $2.50 and $3.25 at Walmart and most retail grocery stores.

Dr. Bronner's Organic Pure Castile Bar Soap: (made from an organic blend of vegetable oils, rather than animal fats like most commercial soaps)
5oz. bar between $3.25 and $4.05 at Publix, Kroger, Walgreens, and many other retail stores. Can also be ordered in larger quantities for a discount directly from the Dr. Bronners website and many online retailers.

Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap:
5.5oz. bar soap about $3.00 at Walmart and most other retail grocery stores

 Pink Zote Soap:
14.1oz bar about $3.00 at Walmart and most other retail grocery stores.

100% Pure Essential Oils: (Can be found in a variety of scents and sizes, and are very concentrate. Use sparingly) Can be ordered online at discounted prices, or purchased at many grocery and health food stores. My favorite online retailer for herbs and essential oils is Mountain Rose Herbs

Basic White Vinegar:
128oz. bottle about $1.99 at Walmart and most other retail grocery stores.

Dryer Balls:
2 pack about $1.99 at Walmart and many other retail grocery stores and pharmacies.

Hope you enjoy! (: