Homemade Clean

So I have been holding on to these recipes for awhile (I know, I know; how shameful!!) of some homemade household cleaners and laundry essentials. I have not been able to try all of them out yet but reviews on all of these are phenomenal! Living on one income I have been looking for every way possible to save as much as we can and these homemade household items were a great place to start, because let's face it...we all have to clean and wash clothes (sigh) so why not save money while doing it?!?!

Recipe #1

Degreasing All Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients:

•1 teaspoon washing soda

•2 teaspoons borax

•1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid

•5-10 drops essential oil (you can find this at Michael's in the soap making section, or order online @Brambleberry.com)

•2 cups hot water

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together into a spray bottle, and shake to combine this homemade all purpose cleaner.

Recipe #2

Homemade Laundry Stain Removers

1 cup hot water

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Directions:

■Mix ingredients then store in spray bottles. Spot treat stains then soak overnight.

Recipe #3

Homemade Fabric Freshener (Febreeze)

Ingredients:

•1 part baking soda

•1 part fabric softener 

•2 parts warm water

Directions:

Mix those three ingredients and there you go, your own home-made Febreeze.

Recipe #4

Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder

Ingredients:

•1/2 cup laundry soap flakes*

•1/2 cup baking soda

•1/4 cup washing soda

•1/4 cup borax

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together and place into a 16 ounce (or larger) plastic container, with a lid.

Each time that you do a load of laundry use 1/2 cup of this mixture as your laundry detergent.

* Nowadays it can be difficult to actually find soap flakes. You can make your own, however, by grating a bar of laundry soap with a kitchen grater. Fels-Naptha is a popular soap and I have seen a few others at Albertson's and Wal-Mart

Recipe #5

Homemade Dish Soap Recipe

■1/4 cup soap flakes or soap shavings (I use Ivory--buy with coupon @ WM for 0.47!!)

■2 cups water

■1  tsp lemon juice or white vinegar

Pour the water and soap fakes in a sauce pan and slowly heat it over medium heat. Stir the mixture and keep heating it until all the soap flakes melt into the water. DO NOT let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat if needed.

Allow the soap  mixture to cool a bit, then stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Keep it sitting in the pot until it is completely cooled, then pour it into an old dish soap bottle.

Recipe #6

Diaper Rash Cream

■1 tsp olive oil

■1 tsp cornstarch

■2 tsp zinc oxide ointment (you can find at dollar store)

■2 tsp antibiotic ointment (dollar store!)

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and cornstarch until it becomes a paste.

Stir in the zinc oxide and antibiotic ointment, blending well with whisk or fork.

Store in tightly sealed container and apply as needed.

Recipe #7

Cleansing Soothing Baby Wipes

■1/2 cup light olive oil

■4 cups water

■1/2 cup gentle baby shampoo

■1 roll paper towels cut in half

■2 empty baby wipes containers, plastic coffee cans, or other containers that fit the halved paper towels

Mix olive oil, water, and baby shampoo.

Remove the cardboard center from both halves of paper towels.

Place halves of paper towels in 2 separate containers.

Pour 1/2 of mixture into each container, cover shake gently.

Pull sheet from the center of the paper towel roll and poke through the hole in top of baby wipe container; or cut hole in lid of plastic coffee can. Use just like regular store-bought wipes.

So there you have it, just a few small ways to save BIG MONEY!! Many of these ingredients can be found at the dollar tree and Wal-Mart, and re-use your old cleaning bottles to save even more.