[wen]

Do any of you ever make any of you home cleaning supplies? I've seen all the "recipes" for things like window cleaner, furniture polish, all-purpose cleaner, and they say it really is cheaper. Since I'm looking for any way I can think of to reduce costs in 2007, I'm thinking of doing this...

I haven't yet, but I did tell my husband I wanted to make my own laundry detergent! I really want to, too... I think a 5 gallon bucket would only cost like 5 bucks or something... if that...

That'd be super compared to our 11 bucks for the big thing of Tide when it's on sale. That's all he'll use, so it's tough trying to talk him into my making the detergent... lol

[wen]

Well, if you get a "recipe" for making laundry detergent, please share it!

The only thing I make myself is a cleaner for my sinks. I have this phobia about being poisoned so I don't use anything inedible in my kitchen sink. And since I don't have a garbage disposal to get rid of the food bits from dishes, my drains start to smell funny after a while. So I just use baking soda and distilled vinegar to clean them. I've convinced myself that the bubbling action cleans the drains plus it does deodorize. And I can rest assured that it won't poison me.

[celeste]

I don't have any recipes but a few suggestions, my mother has a cleaning business and she said to use your old newspaper to clean the window instead of paper towels with the cleaner. It keeps them from getting steaked and that's always what she used and we had the cleanest windows around.

And wen11, when this board first started a lady posted about about making her own laundry detergent and she said it was great, I'll try to find it and bump it back up for you!!

ETA: I can not find the post, maybe it was on another board I saw it? I'll keep looking!!!

[jenninator]

I don't have any recipes but a few suggestions, my mother has a cleaning business and she said to use your old newspaper to clean the window instead of paper towels with the cleaner. It keeps them from getting steaked and that's always what she used and we had the cleanest windows around.[/b]

really?? I wouldn't think that the print would rub off on the glass. You learn something new everyday!

I make all of my own cleaners! All I really keep on hand are the basics:

baking soda (or washing soda when I can find it)
vinegar
borax
essential oils

Here's a recipe for laundry soap:

Liquid
3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Powder
1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax

For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
*I found that with my hard water I need to use about 1/4 cup, so I make bigger batches

**If you can't find Fels Naptha Soap or washing soda in the store, you can buy it from this website:
http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/Arm_and_Hammer...da_p/ah1001.htm

As an experiment I tried using baking soda instead, but it doesn't clean as well with the powdered version and won't gel properly with the liquid version.

[Faith]

I have a vinegar/water cleaner I use on everything - I use a lot of baking soda, too. Homemade wipes (like the lysol ones).

I tried making my own (liquid) laundry detergent for a while but we have hard water and it just didn't work for very long - everything got really dingy and discolored - despite using more than the recommended amounts. So that's one I still buy.

I haven't tried this laundry soap recipe yet, but its supposed to be better for hard water:

2 cups pure soap flakes (usually stocked next to the borax and color-safe bleach)
1 1/2 cups Borax
6 cups warm water
1/2 cup glycerin
2 tsp any essential oil (optional)

1) In a medium saucepan, stir together the soap flakes, borax, and water. Heat slowly and stir until the mixture is clear. Add the glycerin and set aside to cool.

2) When cool, add the essential oil and stir thoroughly.

3) Pour into a mason jar or other container and cover until needed. To use, add 1 cup of Gel per load of clothes, making sure the soap is dissolved well before adding clothes to the water. This gel works best with warm water, or dissolve it in a quart of warm water before adding it to the wash water.

[wen]

really?? I wouldn't think that the print would rub off on the glass. You learn something new everyday!
[/b]

Oh, yes, it does work! I've been doing that for a long time and it seems illogical, but it works like magic

[wen]

Thank you all for the recipes, esp for the laundry detergent and the website to get fels naptha. I'm planning on using up what we have in the house, then converting over. I'm trying anything to save $$ this year, and I think I can do this one pretty easily!

[MandiK]

I make sink scrubber.

1 part baking soda
1/2 part water
1 crumpled piece of aluminum foil

It only works on stainless sinks, but it will literally take off anything, and is much cheaper than something like name brand scrubber or steel wool pads. I love it!

Otherwise, I buy my cleaning stuff because I'm in love with cleaning supplies. Some people splurge on shoes or magazines. I buy new spray cleaners and swiffer refills.

[~Kris~]

At our Jewel store they have a section called Value Zone and they have cleaning supplies for a buck each. Ktichen countertop cleaner, bathroom cleaner, window cleaner, dusting spray ,etc. It's great!