Ammonia To Whiten ClothesI found a way to whiten and brighten my clothes without bleach or Oxyclean, which I am allergic to. I take a bucket of approximately 1/2 gallon of very warm to hot water and 1 cup of lemon ammonia.
Use Sanitizing Bleach SprayThe one tip I can't live without on a daily basis is I keep a 48 ounce bottle of a mixture of 1/4 chlorine bleach and the rest water. I find myself using this bottle several times/day.
Homemade Sanitizing WipesI used old cloths materials for these to avoid wasting paper towels in this trying time. After use of cloths, wash and reuse cloths. I use them at home and at work and they work out wonderful!
DIY Counter CleanerAt one point I started making my own kitchen/all purpose cleaner becuase I wanted to save money and use simpler ingredients.
All Natural Leather Cleaner and ConditionerThis is a fabulous all-natural 2 ingredient leather cleaner and conditioner. All you need is one part olive or coconut oil and one part white vinegar. You can make a spray or shake it in a bottle, then use a small amount to clean and condition. Use a soft cloth to spread it around in small circles.
Vinegar and Dish Soap as Best Natural CleanerThe best natural cleaner for many uses is classic blue Dawn dish soap and white vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle 50/50, it works wonders in the shower, tubs, sinks, on stoves, and for pots and pans just to name a few.
DIY Kitchen Cleaner SprayKitchen cleaners can be costly. Make your own cleaner solution for appliances, formica counter tops, and sinks. Buy a 32 ounce size spray bottle with an adjustable spray nozzle. Make the cleaning solution formula of Murphy Oil soap 2 ounces, Dish soap 1 tablespoon, and water to fill the spray bottle.
Using Sugar and Dish Soap as a Hand CleanerThis does make a great hand cleaner. It is made using dish soap and sugar. Place some dish soap in your hand and then pour some sugar on the dish soap in your hand as well. Use like 2 tablespoons of dish soap and a teaspoon of sugar or even mix the same amount of dish soap and the sugar.
Homemade Electronics Touch Screen CleanerYou can make this up in little bottles and give one to each child. Use 1 part water and 1 part rubbing alcohol. Removes grease and kills bacteria. Use a micro fibre cloth on phones. Use on television screens, tablets, etc.
Homemade Linen SprayWith 3 dogs and 5 kids, it's hard to keep stuff smelling nice. Febreeze is about $8-10 dollars a bottle, so I make my own.
Homemade Miracle Orange Oil CleanerBy happy accident the other day, whilst saving money making my own candied citrus peel for the upcoming festive baking frenzy, I 'discovered' a fantastic new cleaning product. It is fragrant, non-abrasive, chemical free and, best of all, FREE! It cleans and degreases most surfaces very effectively.
Baking Soda and Peroxide for Cleaning GroutI have always used baking soda and peroxide in the spray bottle with some warm water and a scrub brush and it works wonders! Spray it and scrub it. It gets the grout very clean, the white will be very very white.
Using Lemon For CleaningI clean a lot with vinegar because bleach is harsh on your family and pets. I wanted something more so I added lemon to the vinegar in a spray bottle. I use it on almost everything including walls and furniture. I put lemon, vinegar, and fabric softener into a spray bottle for my couches and furniture.
Homemade Goo GoneGoo Gone is a great product for cleaning, stain removal, and getting rid of tacky adhesives from all kinds of surfaces. You can make your own version out of equal parts baking soda and melted coconut oil.
Homemade Bleach AlternativeThis is an easy and safe homemade alternative to bleach. Combine 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of lemon juice (fresh or bottled), 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil, and 6 cups of water. Make sure to store mixture in an opaque bottle because over time, light affects hydrogen peroxide.
DIY Carpet CleanerThis cleaner works very well and smells good. The website says you can mix it up in advance and store it in a spray bottle.
Homemade Laundry DetergentHomemade laundry detergent has saved my family a lot of money. I buy the ingredients about every 6 months. It is very effective on cleaning clothing, linens, delicates, and even a husband's work clothes!
Reuse Vinegar for Cleaning JobsVinegar is a great cleaning tool. I buy it by the gallon for cleaning all over the house. However, I use it most often in the kitchen. Depending on how you use the vinegar, you can sometimes reuse the same vinegar. Here is an example of what I did today.
Homemade Stainless Steel CleanerMix 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 tbsp baking soda and 1/8 cup hydrogen peroxide. Add 4-6 cups hot water. Use a clean cloth. Dip cloth in solution and wring out, leaving cloth a little sloppy. Wipe down stainless steel with cloth. Allow to sit a minute. Wipe down with a dry cloth. Then wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Homemade Stain RemoverMix 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part original blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. Brush on stain. Wash as usual. Note: I let it sit half an hour.
Vinegar Makes a Wonderful CleanerIf you don't have any cleaner in the house, you can always use vinegar. It makes your floors shine and cuts the grime off your floor. It makes your house smell cleaner than regular cleaner.
Homemade FebrezeCombine one cup warm water with baking soda and fabric softener.
Cheaper and Less Noxious Cleaning ProductsMake cleaning sprays for many uses from 4 spray pump bottles, simple household products, and water. Take a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid, add water and shake. Spray bathroom mirrors, wipe with dry cloth.
Homemade Cleaning ProductsThese are a few tips/recipes that have saved me loads of money! Three products that we use a lot of in our house are Febreze, All Purpose Kitchen Cleaner and liquid hand soap. I used to spend at least $25 a month on these. Now I spend around $3.50 a month.
Homemade Carpet Shampoo That WorksI have my own carpet cleaning business, and I make my own homemade shampoo. Combining 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 large bottle of lemon juice, and 1 pint of witch hazel will make a super effective carpet cleaner.
Homemade Cleaning WipesRather than making a big mess trying to cut a roll of paper towels in half as most instructions suggest, I took a tall container such as the "Club Mix" container from Costco. A regular-size roll of paper towels fits in this perfectly.
Homemade Glass CleanerFill up bottle sprayer almost two inches to the rim. Add 1 Tbsp dish detergent and 1 tsp. of any dishwasher rinse aid. Add blue food color, if desired.
Baking Soda and Citrus Foaming CleanerThis is my favorite foaming super cleaner! You can use lemons or limes, especially ones past their prime that you are not going to eat. This time I used a lime and simple baking soda. Squeeze the lime directly on impossible to clean places like the burned scum on a glass cooking stove top.
Natural Oven CleanerI had been using conventional oven cleaner for years and then discovered the way my granny probably cleaned hers. It's a tip for young people and some old like myself who got stuck into the habit of thinking you have to buy everything. It's the best way to clean out the oven.
DIY Gel Laundry DetergentMany years ago when I was a student, I first found a homemade laundry detergent recipe on ThirftyFun (so long ago it wasn't even called TF yet!) and have used a variant of it for years and years.
Removing Any Stain from a MattressTen minutes is all it takes!
Cornstarch, Vinegar and Water for Window CleaningA wonderful window cleaner can be made out of cornstarch, vinegar and water.
Fabric Softener from Conditioner and VinegarYou can make your own fabric softener out of your favorite conditioner for your hair. Put all this together in a container you can easily stir, but do not shake.
Glass Cleaner From Leftover DrinksPour all your leftover alcoholic drinks that your guests did not finish into one big spray can. Add water and use it instead of Windex.
Removing Stains From CountertopsFor wine stains, I just mix a molding plaster and then bleach it to form paste. Apply the paste on the stain and leave for 30 minutes then rinse with water. For organic stains like juice, tea and coffee, I use 3 drops of ammonia and 12 percent of hydrogen peroxide.
DIY Bleach Gel PenIn a saucepan, add 2 Tbsp. of cornstarch to 1 cup of water. Stir until dissolved. Place mixture on the stove and stir until it comes to a boil. Turn off stove. The mix will become really thick.
Make Your Own Washing SodaUsing a large cookie sheet and spread a box of baking soda on it. Put it in the oven at 400 degrees F for 1 hour. Let it cool and you have your own washing soda for much cheaper.
Homemade DranoClean out clogged pipes with three kitchen ingredients.
Pumpkin Air FreshenerAfter carving your pumpkins, sprinkle some cinnamon inside the pumpkin then light your candle. Your house will smell like you're baking!
Dry Laundry Soap for Twenty Dollars a YearBuy these ingredients at the dollar store. You will only need 2 tablespoons per load of laundry. First grate your soap, then mix all ingredients together. I used two garbage bags doubled up.
Homemade Rug FreshenerUsing 1/2 cup of borax, half cup of baking soda, and 20 to 25 drops of essential oil or ground spice cinnamon is good. Mix all together and put into an old container that has holes for sprinkling, like a mozzarella container.
Homemade Granite Counter Top CleanerDo not use citrus based cleaners, you can damage granite counter tops. Do not use Windex it will strip the seal off the stone.
Using Soap Nuts for Household CleaningI have become a recent convert to soap nuts. These are dried berries which many countries use for cleaning. They clean your clothes just as well as washing powder, but the clothes are so soft, and residue free.
Cleaning Gift BasketBe careful giving these as gifts as the recipient may be offended. They may think that you are hinting that they are dirty! I prefer to show up when someone is ill and clean something with the materials I bring, then leave them behind.
New Homemade FebrezeMix with 1-2 cups of hot water, enough hot water to fill spray bottle. Shake bottle well and wait till crystals dissolve. This makes your home smell wonderful.
Polishing Silver With Baking SodaTo polish silverware and remove tarnish, use your Arm and Hammer baking soda, a bowl or pan to fit your silverware, and aluminum foil to line the bowl.
Add Citrus Peels To VinegarPlain, old vinegar is still one of the best and thriftiest cleaning products going. But the smell can put some people off and keep them from using it more often, even though it dissipates quickly after use.
Sanitize With Vinegar and Hydrogen PeroxideThis non-toxic method was developed by Susan Sumner, from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, as a way of sanitizing food. Not only does it work great for that but I have found it useful elsewhere around the home.
Use Vinegar For Cleaning Wood FloorsThe best cleaning solutions for wooden floors I've ever used is white vinegar and a warm water. The floors will shine!
Easy Homemade Brass CleanerUse equal amounts of Coca-Cola (Pepsi and sugarfree don't work) and ammonia mixed together and wipe brass with a cloth or cotton ball.
Homemade SoftscrubI prefer this version. I keep a plastic spoon next to the container under my sink and just scoop out a little when I want it. If it's been long enough since I used it that it has dried out, I just add a little more water. I make about a cup of this at a time.
All Natural Mandarin Mint Mirror and Window CleanerMix well before each use to avoid streaks. Use newspaper to clean windows; it works better.
Wood Cleaner RecipeThis is my favorite wood cleaner recipe:
Homemade Oxi-CleanIf you are anything like me, you spend too much on laundry products each month. I especially would splurge on stain treatments that were overpriced, as I found their generic counterparts to often be ineffective or too diluted to cause any real savings on our monthly budget.
Homemade OxicleanMake your own oxi-clean using 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup peroxide, 1 cup warm water. Mix in a jar and shake well. Add it to your regular load, or pre-soak for the night. Works really well on stains! We love it. This works as well as store brand.
Lye Free Laundry SoapI make laundry soap for myself and both daughters-in-law. We all really like it and it is so easy. One batch makes 2 gallons of soap and this is how I do it.
"If Nothing Else Works" Cleaning PasteMaking a paste out of whitening toothpaste and baking soda is an easy, wonderful way to tackle some of the things that were hard to clean before I started using it. I get the cheaper whitening paste (or gel).
Mean Green and Vinegar for Pet StainsI have been using Mean Green to shampoo my carpets for years. I use about 1/2 cup per gallon of water and it doesn't clog up your pump like pine oil will.
Homemade Household CleanerThis is the best all-purpose household cleaner I know of. I make a batch and put it in an old spray bottle that once held a commercial cleaner. I keep the extra in an old gallon sized vinegar bottle.
Use White Vinegar for CleaningI like cleaning with vinegar, but I found that the white vinegar is my preference. I ran out and had apple cider vinegar and that smelled so bad with what I was cleaning, it was like there was a reaction to whatever I was cleaning at the time.
Homemade Liquid Dishwasher SoapI have had to be very frugal with my budget and have found myself without dishwasher detergent. Take a squirt of orange cleaner, a squirt of your homemade everyday cleaner, and a squirt of dishwashing liquid.
Peroxide and Ammonia CleanerThis cleaner is cheap and works wonders. The recipe was given to me by my daughter years ago.
Make Your Own Disinfectant WipesI learned to make my own disinfecting wipes when my kids where in diapers and the disinfecting wipes had just come out and were/are expensive.
Homemade Laundry DetergentThis is a super simple way to save a ton of money that goes down the drain for everyone. This also reduces some of the chemical toxicity in the water. For a little work, you can make 20 gallons for less than $5!
Carpet Cleaning SolutionWhenever my carpet is looking a little dingy from dirt spots and/or those darkened paths that go from room to room, I use a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia, 2 cups rubbing alcohol, and 1 teaspoon liquid Dawn.
Homemade Pre-Wash SprayPut these ingredients into a clean spray bottle and shake to mix. Be sure to clearly label the bottle, to use this pre-wash just spray on the stained area of clothing and wash immediately.
Make Your Own Disinfectant WipesNever buy disposable cleaning wipes again. Layer inexpensive coffee filters in a resealable container and pour in just enough multi-surface cleaner to dampen each one.
Homemade Disinfectant Spray CleanerFor just pennies, yes pennies, you can have a disinfectant spray cleaner that is not only green, but frugal as well.
Bleach to Clean Hard SurfacesA 22 oz. bottle of Clorox Spray Cleaner for hard surfaces costs about $3.00 per bottle. If you check the ingredients list, it will indicate 1% sodium hypochlorite (aka bleach) and 99% H20 (aka water).
Homemade Stain RemoverMake a spray for the stubborn stains that your kids or your better half like to leave on their clothes.
Bleach For Stained CountersI dyed a shirt a different color and placed the newly dyed shirt on my bathroom counter top. What a mistake! I tried using every day kitchen/bathroom cleaner. Nothing worked until I scrubbed the dyed area with plain household bleach.
Make Your Own Disinfectant SolutionI never buy any anti-bacterial or bleach spray for my bathroom or kitchen anymore. I mix my own. I buy a bottle of bleach every so often and put a little in a container, then add water. I keep a bottle to clean and keep down germs in the bathrooms and in the kitchen.
Household Uses for VodkaFor fresher linens, try this recipe: vodka, 20 oz. distilled water, and 1 tsp. lavender essential oil. Find a large container with a lid. Mix the vodka and water, then add the essential oil.
All-Purpose CleanerFor a good all-purpose liquid cleanser, combine 1 teaspoon borax, 2 tablespoons white vinegar or lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon washing soda, 1/2 teaspoon vegetable-based detergent and 2 cups very hot water.
Frugal All Purpose CleanerFor a good all purpose cleaner, you need water and Ivory liquid dish soap. Fill a 32 ounce spray bottle nearly full with water. Add a squirt or two of Ivory Liquid Dish soap. Put the sprayer back on and gently shake the bottle until the soap has been evenly distributed.
Use Leftover Soap To Make Homemade Laundry SoapUsing dish soap for laundry soap is cheaper, but making your own from Ivory soap bars, washing soda (not baking soda), and borax, is extremely cheap and very easy to make.
Hard Water Spots on WindowsI have had very hard water spots on my windows from the irrigation system for a year. I just tried Colgate Toothpaste as suggested by Chris on ThriftyFun. My windows are now perfectly clear and it was so easy!
Soft Scrub RecipeFor homemade soft scrub cleaner, mix 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup dish soap, and 1/8 - 1/4 cup vinegar. Adjust amounts of baking soda or vinegar until it's the consistency you prefer.
Dryer Sheet Air FreshenerUse a scented dryer sheet in your A/C intake to spread a nice scent all over the house. Just place one sheet on top of your filter. The air will pass through and distribute the scent through the duct work.
Homemade Stain SprayTo make a pre-wash stain remover, mix 1/3 part non-sudsing ammonia, 1/3 part dish soap and 1/3 part water. Pour into clearly labeled spray bottle. Apply to stains and allow to sit only 5 minutes, then wash ASAP.
Hydrogen Peroxide Stain RemoverFor several years now, I have been buying hydrogen peroxide by the bottle. When I get a stain on clothing, I lay the clothing on the counter, pour peroxide on the stain, rub in, and after a few hours wash as usual.
Cleaning with Rubbing AlcoholI bought a large mirror at the Goodwill several months ago. No matter what I tried to clean it with, it still had streaks and spots that would not come off. Several family members tried to clean it for me, but nothing worked.
Homemade Wrinkle ReleaserI was buying a bottle of wrinkle releaser every week so I decided to experiment with cost costing methods. At first I simply added water to make the bottle last longer. Then I decided that was still too expensive.
Homemade Carpet FreshenerWhen your carpets needs refreshing, mix half baking soda and half dry laundry detergent. Sprinkle it all over, let it sit, and vacuum.
Homemade Fabric Freshener (Febreze)I find that Febreze will freshen but the smell only lasts a few hours and with our very humid environment, Febreze does not dry. So I came up with this great home-made Febreze. It really works.
Homemade Glass CleanerIn a gallon jar, mix all 3 ingredients. Fill jar rest of way up with water. Use in spray container.
Cleaning With Hydrogen PeroxideMy best cleaning tip is hydrogen peroxide. I put it in a spray bottle and clean everything in my bathroom from sinks to toilets, chrome, and mirrors. It also sanitizes and kills germs.
Formula for Mechanic's Hand CleanerI'm posting a simple, economical, and very effective formula for mechanic's hand cleaner.
Best Homemade CleanerI take a dollop of bleach and add it to an empty spray bottle. I then add a dollop of Dawn liquid detergent (this one seems to work the best because it's a grease cutter) Finally I fill the bottle with water.
Dishsoap Instead of Stain RemoverSmall squeeze bottles of dish-washing liquid are wonderful substitutes for the high priced stain removers when prepping your shirt or blouse collars for laundering.
Homemade Pet Clean Up SprayThere are products on the market to clean up after pet accidents. They can be expensive and don't always work. This recipe works very well, is very inexpensive and removes all traces of the accident.
Homemade Automatic Dish Washing DetergentHere is the recipe for automatic dish washing detergent.
Mold and Mildew RemoverI have noticed several requests for getting rid of mold. My mother found some things in a book that may help.
Homemade DegreaserA natural and inexpensive degreaser is to keep white vinegar, water, and perhaps a drop of dish detergent in a spray bottle. This is handy to keep in the kitchen, but can be used in any room.
Cleaning With Baking SodaI have started keeping a clean glass Parmesan cheese dispenser by my bathroom and kitchen sink filled with baking soda. Great for a quick scrub for the sink, etc. I also sprinkle it on my toothpaste and sprinkle into my facial cleanser before I apply it.
Homemade Stain Remover for ClothingI recently had gotten cherry stains on a off-white cotton top. I tried many things and the stains did not come out. I finally found this recipe and soaked the shirt for 30 minutes and all the stains were removed.
Cheap Jewelry CleanerI was shopping for jewelry cleaner one day and a lady saw me and said "don't waste your money on that cleaner". She told me to use ammonia straight out of the bottle.
Homemade Clorox CleanupShe ran out of Clorox Cleanup so she put 1/4 cup of Clorox in a spray bottle with 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent, she then filled the bottle with water.
Clean Drains With Baking SodaBaking soda and lemon juice works like baking soda and vinegar to do your drains. It's the same chemical reaction and it smells good. I discovered out of curiosity and a tree full of lemons.
Frugal Wrinkle ReleaserInstead of buying pricey wrinkle releaser, when the fabric softener bottle is almost empty fill it half way with clear water, shake and pour into a spray bottle. It works exactly the same was as the $4.00+ per bottle stuff in the stores.
Homemade Green Laundry DetergentPour hot water in a empty milk bottle or a detergent bottle. Then add all ingredients and shake to mix. 1/2 cup for small load, 1 cup for large load.
Inexpensive Vinegar Glass CleanerHere is a great inexpensive and ozone friendly tip for cleaning windows and mirrors. Alcohol vinegar is found in almost every household and is a very good cleaning agent.
