Save $$ on cleaning supplies with this Homemade 409 Recipe!
Just a few simple ingredients, and you’re on your way to an effective and thrifty all-purpose cleaner!
Homemade 409 Recipe:
- 2 Tbsp. Distilled White Vinegar
- 1 Tsp. Borax
- 1/8 cup Dawn Dishsoap
- 1 cup Hot Water
- Triggered Spray Bottle {16 oz.}
- Pour vinegar, borax and hot water into spray bottle.
- Then continue filling spray bottle with cool water.
- Add Dawn Dishsoap last. {no need to shake}
- It’s as easy as that!
I gotta ask – Do you have a problem with suds with the 409? Maybe it’s just my perception, but they both seem to have a lot of dish detergent in them. I’m really interested in trying both of these; thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for posting the Homemade 409 recipe. I’m always on the look out for a product I can make at home and save $$$! I have all of those items on hand (I use Borax to make my laundry detergent). Can’t wait to try it!
I actually haven’t had any problem with suds. I was pretty skeptical before ever making these solutions, but they’ve worked great for me… and saved a lot of $$ along the way!
One more thing… to avoid suds, don’t shake the solutions when you’re mixing them. I just turn the bottles gently side to side to stir it all up.
Thank you so much for the sprays recipes. These are what I have been looking for!
Donna
Great Frugal Tip! Thanks!
Hi,
Does your homemade 409 work on appliances? Specifically, stovetops and microwave keypads? Thank you so much for your tips, I love frugal blogs!!
Hi Sherna ~ this cleaner works great both on regular appliances and microwaves. I've never tried it on stainless steel surfaces.
Thanks so much for sharing this! I mixed our first container full and “LOve It”! I love making things (especially cleaners) and saving a ton too! Works great and smells clean too! thanks again!! :>)
OMG! How did I ever live without these homemade products? These homemade products have saved me so much money and time from trying to clip coupons and find the best bargain for cleaning products. I’m still looking for the homemade shout??
My Mom used shout our WHOLE lives – she now uses the homemade Shout….The recipe she uses is really easy – Equal parts liquid Laundry detergent and Dawn dishwashing liquid. She swears by it. It even got the diesel grease out of my Dad’s clothes. There has never been a product out there that has been able to do that!!!!
I read in some literature that came with our granite counter top to avoid any type of vinegar on the stone. Just wanted to let you all know to not use the homemade solutions on this type of counter. Of course, there are millions of other things to clean in the home with these.
I must have missed something – the recipe says “Then continue filling spray bottle with cool water.” What size bottle are you filling?
Judy, Judy, Judy…the recipe above says “16 oz.” bottle! You don’t need super-great exactness for most of the homemade cleaners. Hope this helps! Have a good one!
Just curious, but my husband can’t stand the smell of vinegar…so I have to ask…does the homeade 409 smell like vinegar? Or does the dishsoap cover it up? As a side note, if you ever have problems with fruit flies, fill a small bowl with vinegar, add several drops of dish soap, and mix well. They are attracted to the vinegar smell, and the dishsoap finishes them off! (My husband hates it though…it stinks like vinegar!)
thanks Christina, I am going to try this. I hate those annoying little things that seem to appear from nowhere…
I use apple cider vinegar and dawn dish soap in a small bowl on the counter to kill fruit flies and it works VERY well
We did the vinegar and dishsoap thing for fruit flies. Sure does work!
I love this 409 recipe!!! I will never buy sparay again. I keep one in every bathroom for clean ups and one in the kitchen for counters. Love it, thanks!
Homemade Laundry Stain Removers
Recipe #1
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 #2
2 quarts water
1/2 cup ammonia
2 TBS laundry detergent
Directions:
Mix ingredients then store in spray bottles. Spot treat stains then soak overnight.
Do not use with bleach.
Was going to make the home made 409, but don’t have DAWN dish soap. I usually buy the generic. Does it matter if it is DAWN or does any dish soap work? I have all the other stuff already and was going to mix up a batch, but wanted to check first! Thanks!! =) LOVE THE LAUNDRY SOAP AND FABRIC SOFTNER!!!
Amanda, I used to buy the generic or cheaper dish soaps but I went back to Dawn. The truth is you use so much less of it that it’s more economical. It’s an excellent grease cutter. Check the prices on it at Walmart and Family Dollar, you can generally get a 2 pack of it for approximately $4.00.
BETTER YET! Have you heard of wine away and other red wine removing products. I randomly discovered that my 409 turned the stain dark purple and then it simply disappeared after I blotted, just like the WAY more expensive, MUCH smaller bottle of the specialized product. It must have similar properties. We entertain a lot and I will probably save substantial money this year!
Thank you so much for all the cleaning recipes but does anyone have any for making something similiar to the Lysol or Clorox disinfectant wipes or would the recipe for 409 work?
Hi Amanda ~ I have found that Dawn dish soap works best. There is just something in it that seems to cut through grease and grime, and remove stains so well! Hope that helps!
~ Heidi
Nobody did ever say what size bottle to use – I’d think it was important since the directions tell you to “continue filling spray bottle with cool water.”
Hi Judy ~ You’ll want to use a 16 oz. triggered spray bottle for this recipe.
~ Heidi
Is this formula safe for granite?
No, it’s not. You should not use vinegar on granite!!
what would you use on fiberglass tubs to clean hard water lime spots and soap scum?
Do you use the regular Dawn, or the concentrated? Just wondering if it makes a difference in the amount of Dawn you add.
Hi Heather ~ I usually use just the regular Dawn Dish Soap, but I’m sure the concentrated formula would work just fine, too!
~ Heidi
I have a problem with flies. I really hate to use those ugly fly strips. Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get rid of them????
I hate cleaning…really I do. Mostly because of the fumes associated with cleaning products. Thank you for this 409 recipe. I mixed up a batch tonight and it cleaned my bathroom better than ever and I didn’t get a headache from the fumes! The smell of the vinegar disappeared as soon as the shower walls dried. Thanks for saving me from a headache and I love that I am saving money too!
i have just really got started with the whole couponging thing and am excited to start saving money. i am excited to try the homeade cleaners too.. tyfs the recipes
I was just wondering if this is safe in the kitchen or around baby? I have heard so many bad things about Borax being toxic I have stopped using it on baby clothes for this reason. We use baby-ganics now and it is quite costly. Can this be made with anything other than borax like maybe baking soda? Thanks.
http://simpleorganic.net/easy-recipes-for-natural-homemade-cleaners/
Here is another version of this recipe!
HELLO!!!! So glad I found this site!!! I will definitely be making some homemade cleaners this weekend!!! Can not waite!!! Thank you for all of your helpful hints and tricks. This site ROCKS!!!!
Aww ~ thanks, Megan! So glad to have you here, joining in the $$-saving FUN!
~ Heidi
Thank you so much I just found this on this site and I am so excited to start saving even more money, my question is about the shout I love it but so expensive what kind of Liquid laundry detergent do you use or does it matter? Thank you so much