Today I start tackling the kitchen. If you are like me, there is always something in your kitchen to organize, clean, or throw out that you wish you had noticed BEFORE your guests arrived.
Let's start under the kitchen sink. What do you really NEED under the sink, anyway? How about dishwashing detergent , automatic dishwasher solution, powdered sink scrubber, floor cleaner, window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, oven cleaner, silver polish, air freshener, drain declogger, and the list goes on.....and on.....
Seriously, you do not need all of these commercial (and expensive) cleaners. If you have Baking soda, borax, vinegar, peroxide, lemons, olive oil, bar soap, and washing soda on hand, you can make you own cleaning supplies at a fraction of the cost . PLUS you won't have to worry about child-proofing against harsh chemical commercial products and the area under your sink will be clutter-free.
Since you already are making your own Laundry detergent you already have borax, washing soda, and soap on hand, and I would bet the farm that you have the other ingredients in your pantry somewhere. Gather them all together and get ready to create your very own non-toxic, environmentally friendly, grandchild-safe cleaning supplies!
I found this Video about making your own cleaners on youtube. Sorry about the advertising, but it is helpful and informative.
There are tons of variations on cleaners, so don't get overwhelmed. Here are some homemade cleaners for you based on what they clean best. You can experiment with proportions until you find the best ones for you.
SURFACES
If you're on a mission and want to just attack a bunch of dirty surfaces at once, check out some of these cheap, homemade, all-purpose cleaners. Just grab a cloth and rub.
Make an all-purpose cleaner using 2 tablespoons of borax mixed with 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle.
Combine one part each of vinegar and water in a spray bottle. You can use this on anything EXCEPT granite or limestone.
For a general household cleaner, mix together 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 gallon of water in a spray bottle.
OR combine 1/2 tsp washing soap with a dab of liquid dish soap and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Shake until washing soda has dissolved.
For heavy-duty jobs, mix 1 tablespoon of non-sudsing ammonia, 1 tablespoon laundry detergent and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
BATHROOM
To clean the bathtub, pour 1/2 cup baking soda into a bowl and add enough liquid dish soap to make a texture like cream cheese. Scoop this mixture onto a sponge or cloth and wash. Make only as much as you need at a time because it will not store well.
Pour 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach into the toilet bowl and swish around with toilet brushbefore flushing. Be careful not to breathe the fumes - be sure you are in a well-ventilated area.
To clean the shower stall, tile and grout, dilute 3/4 cup bleach in a gallon of water and scrub. Be sure the area is well-ventilated, and rinse rinse thoroughly.
For rust or hard-water stains, apply vinegar or lemon juice full-strength. Let it stand until the spot disappears. Rinse, repeat if necessary.
FLOORS
Remove scuff marks with a solution of 1/2 cup baking soda and a bucket of warm water. Mop and rinse.
No-rinse formula : Fill a bucket with hot water and pour in 1/4 cup white vinegar, then add 15 drops of your favorite essential oil. Try this on ceramic tile, vinyl, laminate and hardwood floors.
For heavy-duty messes like spills, grease, etc., fill a bucket with hot water and pour in 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 tablespoons liquid dishwashing soap and 15 drops of essential oil. To increase potency, stir in a 1/4 cup of baking soda. Rinse.
KITCHEN
Mix 5 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of hot water until the baking soda dissolves. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and use on countertops.
For an oven cleaner in a spray bottle, combine 2 tablespoons vegetable oil soap and 2 tablespoons borax with warm water. Spray this mixture on the oven and leave on for 20 minutes before scrubbing.
Microwave a mixture of 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl on high for about 3 minutes. Let it sit for 3 minutes, then you'll be able to wipe down the walls with a clean, wet sponge. The
steam will soften the spills inside, the vinegar will cut through the grease and deodorize. Dry with a clean cloth.
GLASS
Fill a spray bottle with water and add 1 tiny drop liquid dish soap and 1 tsp vinegar. Shake this well and clean your windows and mirrors with a sheet of newspaper. (Newspaper has no lint.)
Mix together 1/4 to 1/2 tsp liquid detergent, 3 TBLSP vinegar and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Clean windows and mirrors with newspaper for lint-free cleaning.
For a glass cleaner that shouldn't freeze, try a 1/2 cup ammonia, 2 cups rubbing alcohol, and 1 tsp liquid dish soap mixed into a gallon of water.
There are so many homemade cleaning recipes out there that every frugal person should make them.
A big thank you goes out to Tip Hero for all of these these great ideas.
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