Save money and embrace self-sufficiency by making your own cleaning products. Using natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and borax, you can create effective cleaners for your home. Try these easy recipes and share your own cleaning tips in the comments!
Powdered Laundry Soap
- 1 bar soap (preferably olive-oil-based)
- 2 cups Borax
- 3 cups Baking Soda
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Spread 2 cups of baking soda onto a shallow pan and bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The texture will change from powdery to grainy and dull.
- Allow the baking soda to cool.
- Grate the bar of soap while the baking soda cools.
- Mix the grated soap, 2 cups Borax, 1 cup uncooked baking soda, and 2 cups of cooked baking soda in a container. Cover tightly.
- Use ¼ cup of the mixture per laundry load.
All-Purpose Cleaner
- 1 tbsp White Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tbsp Castile Soap
- 1 tbsp Borax
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well. Use to clean surfaces in your kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom.
Bathtub Cleaner
- 1 cup Baking Soda
- ¼ cup Salt
- 10 drops Citrus Oil
- 5 drops Tea Tree Oil
Mix the ingredients and store in an airtight container. Apply the scrub to tough bathroom build-ups and scrub with a sponge.
Carpet Deodorizer
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup Baking Soda
Combine the ingredients and store in an airtight container. Sprinkle over carpets and vacuum after 15 minutes.
Oven Cleaner
- 1 small box Baking Soda
- 1 cup liquid Castile Soap
Mix until smooth and apply with a cloth to clean your oven. Wipe away residue with a damp cloth.
Tile Mildew Scrub
Spray lemon juice or vinegar onto tiled surfaces and let sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a stiff brush to remove mildew and stains.
Window Cleaner
- 2 tbsp White Vinegar
- 1 gallon Water
- Newspaper
Mix vinegar and water in a bucket. Transfer to spray bottles for easy use. Clean windows with the solution and wipe dry with newspaper to avoid streaks.
Carpet Cleaner
For spills, sprinkle cornmeal over the affected area and let it sit for 10–15 minutes. Vacuum thoroughly to remove the absorbed spill.
Drain Declogger
- ½ cup Baking Soda
- ½ cup Vinegar
- Boiling Water
Pour baking soda down the drain followed by vinegar. Seal the drain to let the reaction work. After 30 minutes, flush with boiling water.