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.

I'm reading a GREAT book!

My friend recently recommended a book called The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews. I borrowed it from her and started reading it and couldn't put it down. I told my husband when I was finished reading it he should read it because it was very profound and thought provoking. Then I decided to start over and read it aloud with my husband every evening. We have learned two of the seven decisions that determine personal success and I am going to blog about them here so don't continue to read if you would rather read the book yourself!

The First Decision For Success is: The buck stops here. The author discusses the fact that we cannot blame anyone or any situation for anything. We must accept responsibility for our past and know that the future is of our choosing.

The Traveler's Gift is a very easy, entertaining read that combines self-help with fiction and my husband and I are enjoying it together.

The Second Decision For Success to be continued.

Coors & Tostitos $10 Rebate (no beer purchase required)

UPDATE: There are four different rebates (two that require a beer purchase and two that don't require a beer purchase.) The rebate that does not require a beer purchase is not valid in Oklahoma!

I'm so excited about this rebate! Coors has several different rebate options available and the reason I'm excited is that I have purchased the necessary items and spent the required amount of money and I didn't even set out to do that!

Here is the scoop: purchase $30 worth of Tositos chips or dips, Pepsi carbonated soft drinks, condiments, plastic cups, ice, paper plates, and/or deli items (any brand, any size).

Send in your original, dated cash-register receipt(s) with the price circled along with a completed official mail-in certificate and they will send you $10.

Items must be purchased between 12/11/09 and 2/8/10.

I went through my grocery receipts and found that I have spent enough on the above listed items to submit for a $10 rebate which is extra money in my pocket. The other cool thing is that I didn't really spend $30 on those items since I'm sure I used coupons for 99% of them!

Homeland Coupon Match-up 1/20 thru 1/26

Homeland has a few good coupon match-ups this week!

Hiland Dips or Sour Cream $1
use $.40/1 DND 12/6 SS
Final: $.60 each

Crest Toothpaste $1
buy two and
use $.50/1 12/27 P&G and $.75/1 1/17 P&G
Final: two for FREE

Kotex Tampons $2.79
use $1.50/2 1/10SS
Final: $4.08/2

Quaker Products (including Aunt Jemima Syrup)
Buy 5 Participating Quaker items for $8.00 (which is $1.60 each)
Have 2 of the items be Aunt Jemima Syrup
use $3/5 Quaker coupon in Homeland Ad
use $1/2 Aunt Jemima Syrup 1/3 RP
Final: $3/5 Quaker products!!!
UPDATE: The $5/Quaker coupon is actually a manufacturer coupon so it can't be stacked with the Aunt Jemima coupon! However, you still get 5 items for $5 which is a good deal.

Birds Eye Vegetables $1
use $.35/1 1/10SS
Final: $.30

Carnation Evaporated Milk $1
use $.50/2 11/1 RP
Final: Two for $1

Dawn Dish Liquid 10.3oz $1
use $.25/1 12/27 P&G or
use $.50/1 from Home Made Simple coupon booklet (Thanks, SimpleSavingSavvy)
Final $.50 - FREE

For more Homeland Deals visit Simple Saving Savvy.

Homemade Pancake Syrup!

Like every Saturday morning, my kids wanted pancakes and scrambled eggs. I whipped up the batter and then discovered I didn't have any syrup! I began to wonder if I could improvise with staples I already had in my pantry and started looking for recipes on the internet and there were a bunch. I chose a recipe and the pancakes were saved. The syrup was good but not as good as store bought. However, in a pinch it tasted great! If you are interested in making homemade syrup try this recipe I found on AllRecipes.com.

Homemade Pancake Syrup

Ingredients:
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
In a saucepan, combine the sugars, water and corn syrup; bring to a boil over medium heat. Broil for 7 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in maple flavoring and vanilla. Cool for 15 minutes. Serve over pancakes, waffles or French toast.

3 FREE issues of Family Circle Magazine!

Sign up HERE for 3 free issues of Family Circle magazine. You will enjoy the May, June, and July 2010 issues delivered to your door. No strings attached and you will never receive a bill!
Thanks, MomsByHeart

UPDATE: Unfortunately the offer for a subscription to Family Circle has expired.

My shopping trip today

I went shopping today at Walgreens and Homeland and spent a total of $16.01 out of pocket and that includes tax! Here is how I did it:

Walgreens: I had register rewards left over from my awesome bargain last week and so I bought the Angel Soft toilet paper, 2 gallons of milk and 2 plastic sport bottles and spent $2.06 out of pocket after my register rewards.

Homeland: I purchased
5 Totino Pizzas for $6.25 and used $1/5 coupon (which doubled to $2)
2 8pks of Juicy Juice for $2.49 each and used $1/2 coupon (which doubled to $2)
Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner for $3.66 each & used $3/2 coupon
10 pk of Mission Tortillas for $1.99 and used $.75/1 coupon (which doubled to $1.50)
Ivory 3 pk for $1.49 which would have been free but I forgot to give them my coupon!
2 Best Choice diced tomatoes for $.59 each (no coupon)
2 lb bag of carrots for $1.99 (no coupon)
Homeland hot dog buns for $1.49 (no coupon)

I also used a $5/$25 Homeland coupon from the Thunder program!

This made my total out of pocket at Homeland $13.95 and would have been less if I wouldn't have forgot my Ivory coupon.

Cleaning for A Reason

Cleaning for A Reason offers free professional housecleaning and maid services to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment for cancer - any type of cancer. What a wonderful service to help out those that are going through such a difficult illness.

DOLE 30-Day Challenge and FREE Dole Fruit Cups

Take the Dole Challenge to earn (4) four-packs of Dole Fruit Cups FREE!

Here's how it works: Purchase (8) four-packs of Dole Fruit Cups between now and 2/10. Print the rebate form and send your UPC's and receipts from the purchases to address shown. Get four coupons for FREE four-packs by mail!

Don't forget to use the coupons from the 1/10 insert to get $1/3 and sweeten this deal.

Thanks, Moms by Heart

How to Coupon Class

Saving Money Plan is starting a Coupon Class today (1/11/10). If you are new to couponing and overwhelmed, head on over here and start learning how to save money!

Amazon: Presto Pressure Cooker 58% off!!

Amazon is offering a Presto 8-Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker for $24.99–down from $59.99! This also ships FREE with Amazon Prime or Super Saver Shipping (on $25 or more).
Thanks, Hip2Save

FREE light bulbs at Ace Hardware!

Visit your nearest Ace Hardware to get GE Energy Smart light bulbs for just $1. Use the $1 coupon from 1/3 SS and get them FREE ($1/2 printable also available HERE). Sale price valid thru 1/31.