Homemade Cleaning Supplies

Haven't found any good deals on cleaning supplies lately? Being frugal and saving money is all about being flexible and creative. The following are some recipes for homemade cleaning supplies. They don't always have a good scent but I have used some of these and in a pinch they work well.

Homemade Spray Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

This mixture can be used to clean kitchen countertops and appliances. It can also be used in the bathroom to clean countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet. For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by removing the sprayer element and heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls with the warmed solution, allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The heat helps soften stubborn soap scum and loosens hard water deposits.

Other ways to use White Vinegar:
You can use undiluted white vinegar for tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum. Clogged shower heads can be cleaned by placing 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish. White vinegar is also a good fabric softener for people with sensitive skin. Just add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener.

Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol1 cup water1 tablespoon white vinegar

Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup olive oil1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.