On the hunt for some Homemade Cleaners & DIY Homemade Cleaning Solutions??
Here are some of my favorite recipes and money-saving tips…
- Thrifty At-Home Facials & Masks
How to Save Money on Spa Treatments…
More $$ Saving Tips from ‘Ask Your Frugal Friends’:
Got a Thrifty Tip or Trick…. or a favorite Homemade Cleaning Solution you use??
Leave a comment & share!
Love the site and already made my batch of 409, it works great. I received a refillable mop for Christmas and was looking for homemade floor cleaning recipes to fill the bottle. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for the help.
We have a small cleaning business and the best product for cleaning floors is, white vinegar and water. Vinegar is a natural rinse agent. It will not streak your floors or cause build up. Not to mention, that you are not breathing in harsh chemicals. This is a great window/glass cleaner also!
Can you use the vinegar/water solution on laminate wood floors?
Yes, you can use it on anything. Just make sure your rag is rung out well, just damp. Laminate floors should not have a lot of water on them. Hope that helps!
anyone know what the ratio on the water and vinegar for the floors is?
With vinegar, a little bit goes a long way. I usually add about 1/4 cup or slightly less to my mop bucket if it’s a regular sized bucket. If you have a large or extra large bucket, you could use 1/2 a cup probably.
Ok, Thank you! And does the vinegar sanitize in all these cleaning solutions?
This is a great website I found on vinegar. I cannot say enough good about it. Go to the dollar store get a spray bottle, dilute vinegar in water and you have a fantastic spray cleaner!!!! Quit giving those chemical companies money and keep your health too!
http://www.vinegartips.com/scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=7
I found this http://www.household-management-101.com/uses-for-vinegar.html that defines sanitizing & disenfecting the same (basically they kill close to 100% of germs)-they say it doesn’t do that, but it gets a lot of them.
Not totally sure what you mean, but I only use vinegar and warm water for mopping (linoleum floors, tile,and hardwoods).
Just DO NOT use Vinegar on Granite surfaces!! It eats away the granite and will cause holes.
You want to avoid any type of acidic cleaner on a granite surface; that’s because acids will cause etching in the surface, which are tiny lines and fissures. Etching mars the surface of granite. Since vinegar is a strong acid, you want to leave it on the shelf when choosing a cleaner for your granite. It will clean and disinfect the surface, but it can also mar the finish permanentl
Yes! It works great on tile, laminate, and most all harder surfaces.
We have laminate floors and were instructed specifically to not use vinegar or water……..only LAMINATE cleaner or swifter cleaner. If you use the least bit too much water, within a year or two, your floor will become dull and start to bubble. That is what they told us. i have a friend that used vinegar and water, and 2 years later, her floors look terrible
Does anyone know how to get pee stains that are bright yellow from the carpet?
My husband is the manager of a carpet cleaning company and he always tells me if I have to clean up pee use 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Spray it on but don’t saturate it you don’t want to wash it into the pad. Then lay a towel over it and stand on it till it feels dry to the touch. You can place something heavy on it and let it sit. If that doesn’t work you will have to call a prfessional to clean it up. If you do call someone make sure to ask what they clean with. You want someone that uses an enzyme. It breaks down the dirt & oils in the carpet unlike soaps that attract dirt & make your carpet look dirty faster. I use the enzyme my husbands company uses to wash my laundry. Some companies use soaps so they get repeat business. Also don’t get suckered into protector. Most carpet now comes with it on it and if yours didn’t then it is old carpet and the protector won’t do you any good. Hope this helps.
Another item for helping to wick up liquid is a disposable diaper. Open flat and lay it on the wet area. As you walk on it wicks up the liquid without reintroducing the liquid into the floor/rug. I kept these in my van when I had small children as it was a quick pick up for any liquid spill!
hydrogen peroxide diluted w/ water has always worked for me. My carpets range from blue to dark grey and beige. You’ll want to test for colorfastness prior to putting it on, I just use a spray bottle with the mix *you need to use it as soon as you mix it, it won’t ‘keep’* My mom swears by oxyclean for her dog messes, she also mixes it in a spray bottle and saturates the area, lets it sit, pats it up w/ a towel. Hope this helps
I have used a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and dawn dish soap. This got Merlot out of my beige carpet.
Old school shaving cream the white kind not the new stuff..You just spray it on and rub it in and then use a damp rag and get it up very simple and it really works…
To clean rings out of the toilet, this works great. First, flush the toilet and when the water is all flushed out turn it off back behind the toilet. Then spray the entire ring with warm vinegar. Sprinkle that with Borax and let sit for 1/2 hour. Then scrub the ring with drywall sandpaper. You can get this at any building supply store. With a very little elbow grease, the ring will come right off!
Wow! Thanks! Will have to try that! Is it hard to turn off the toilet?
Not at all. The turnoff valve should sit on a water hose or pipe just behind the toilet. When all the water is flushed out, just turn the knob the only way it will go. This turns off the water to the toilet. Good luck!
If you use a johnny mop, you can easily push the water down the toilet. Then use a pumice stone to rub the ring out. It really works and doesn’t scratch the bowl. p.s. never use a razor blade, the cold water can shatter the blade putting your eyes in danger.
If you use lemon juice in your dishwasher along with your dishwasher soap your glasses come out sparkling.
AND LEMON OIL..IS A LOT CHEAPER…CAN GET IT AT HEALTH FOOD STORE OR ONLINE AT THE ABOVE WEBSITE…IT IS NOT MY WEBSITE…BUT A GREAT SITE!!
Fill you rinse agent dispencer with white vinegar. Really works and so cheap. Also works great as fabric softener. NO your clothes don’t smell like pickles
thanks for the tip! Do you just mix the lemon juice right in with the detergent when you put it in?
Just be carefull if your dishes have paint on them. Mom has glasses with paint on them that have been washed in the dishwaser for years, but the paint started to wash off when she started adding lemon juice to her load.
I was told years ago, to clean your dishwasher use TANG. I have not tried it yet! To clean a coffee pot use white vinegar and water.
Can also get powdered citric acid at the pharmacy…it tends to work faster without the extra colors…it is natural white colored….
Another great restaurant tip for cleaning coffee pots is to fill with ice, salt, and lemon juice and swirl periodically until ice melts a bit and then let it sit over night and rinse in morning!
When I worked at a restaraunt, this is the formula we used. It always amazed me at how well it got the stains ou.
My mom told me to help clean out your dishwasher and make it smell better and give your dishes a pretty shine to get one packet of lemon flavored Kool Aide and put it in the part that has the lid and run the washer for a whole cycle. It starts to smell lemony fresh and looks great and the dishes and glasses don’t spot anymore. Lots cheaper than other dishwasher agents!!
You can use lemonade flavored Koolade to clean your toilets. First, add the packet of drink mix to the bowl, brush as you normally would to clean it, then let sit for 4 hours or overnight. The citric acid in the drink mix is what actually does the work….Just be sure to close the lid if you have animals….
the best way I have found to clean a coffee pot is to put about 1-2 tablespoons dry dishwashing powder in pot and fill with hot water. the pot comes clean in a matter of minutes.
I recently started using essential oils for health reasons….foot soak with epson salt with some essential oils…they are wonderful.pulls the toxins out of you body….Another tip is to mix water and a couple of drops of lemon oil or orange oil…they can be found at health food store…..or I buy mine from a girl at
IT IS A WORLD THAT NEVER STOPS AMAZING ME…USING ESSENTIAL OILS!!
http://www.butterflyxpress.com her name is cara…(I BOUGHT ONE BOTTLE OFF EBAY..WHICH I DO NOT RECOMMNED…IT DIDN’T WORK WELL) it is a wonderful way to clean and it not be toxic….I also add a couple of drops to my dishwashing soap.(A lot of the oils are antibacterial and antivirus).TELL HER ELAINE SENT YOU!!!!
NOTE…PUT THE WATER IN A SPRAY BOTTLE AND USE TO CLEAN THE FLOOR, SINK, COMMODE, COUNTER TOP …SMELLS GREAT AND IS SOOOOOOOOO MUCH SAFER THAN OTHER CLEANERS
What is your most cost effective stain remover/pretreater? I have been buying Clorox 2 free and clear. Any alternative suggestions? Thank you!!
I use 2 parts peroxide to 1 part Dawn in a spray bottle. It’s good on carpet stains too.
I tried this recently and I was amazed at how well it worked on stains. This will definitely be the first thing I go to for future stains.
I’ve tried almost every deep conditioning treatment out there. After getting tired of spending anywhere from $15-$40 for so-so products, I did some research and now make my own.
Mix the following together:
2 Egg Yolks
2 Tbsp Mayonnaise (optional since mayo contains egg and olive oil, but it helps the treatment to not be as runny)
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Honey
Apply mixture to hair and cover with a plastic cap (I recycle a plastic grocery bag, twist to fit my head, and tape in place).
Wrap a towel around plastic covered head and hang out for 15-30 minutes (the towel and plastic combo helps the treatment penetrate better using your own body heat, no need for a dryer).
Shampoo and condition as normal.
This treatment makes my hair feel like heaven and really brings out the shine. The egg yolk adds protein, the olive oil adds moisture, the mayo adds both protein and moisture, and the honey gives incredible shine.
I’ve been using apple cider vinegar to rinse/condition my hair for a while now and I love it. I wash my hair, rinse it, spray ACV on, work in with fingertips, put a shower cap on, finish showering and when done, take off cap, rinse hair and it shines like the sun and is soft as can be. All with no vinegar scent. I love it.
i use strictly baking soda and water to wash my hair and water and apple cider vinegar and water to condition it. I have VERY longhair and don’t have any issues with needing to use any other type of deep conditioner or other additive in my hair.
Hi L.Ann………I would like to post this on my web site do you have it posted anywhere so I can also give you credit…………Thank you, CK
Recipe for Homemade Stain remover for clothing:
In a large spray bottle add 1/2 cup of laundry detergent, 1/2 cup of ammonia and then fill the rest of the way to the top with water. Shake well. I spray this on stains and then use an old toothbrush to rub it in well so it penatrates the stain. I have 4 & 5 year old boys and this stuff has saved me a lot of money on stain removers.
Wondering if anyone has tried this stain remover and if you had good luck with it? Does it work for all stains? Would appreciate any comments on this one. I use the former Spray and Wash Spray Can which has worked best for me! Thx
I am wondering what can get hairspray build up off of standard Apt style bathroom floor(linoleum)? I’ve tried the basic “store” product & lots of scrubbing, but not much luck…any ideas?
I have sprayed the floor with 409 and let it sit for like 5 minutes then scrubbed whith a bristle scrub brush and then mop the floor. A friend of mine and I have a cleaning business and this gets pretty much anything off of the linoleum. Hope it works for you!
Cheap .97 shaving foam from Wal-Mart works GREAT!!!
I love my hairspray but my tile floors hate it!! I bought a HAAN floor steamer (I’m sure any would do) and VIOLA!! No build up and no sticky floor either!! Easy Peasy!!
I have a large mirror in my living room that seems to streak no matter what glass cleaner I have tried. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Have you tried newspaper instead of paper towels and vinegar to clean it?
To clear military housing our windows had to be perfectly streak-free. I poured full strength vinegar onto a rag, wiped it all wet & then used another rag to dry. My rags are just old dishtowels or washcloths, nothing fancy. I have gotten a few microfiber ones from the dollar store I like & they don’t seem to streak my bathroom mirrors.
I have the same problem with a large mirror in my living room. I have tried EVERYTHING- vinegar, newspapers, etc…still streaky. I recently bought a microfiber cleaning cloth for my new t.v. and I tried it on my mirror. It works like a champ! Just spray the cloth with a little water and rub the mirror in small sections
A 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle is a great mirror cleaner! No streaks at all.
Hot wet washcloth will leave windows and mirrors streak-free and cleans like a champ.
I once worked at a hotel. The cleaning lady there used nothing but a hot wet rag and a dry rag. No cleaner at all. She would wipe the entry door (all glass) with the wet rag, then dry it with the dry rag. Never a streak! I now do this on all my mirrors and windows. Works great and is free.
I recently saw a general cleaning recipe using alcohol, water and I think vinegar. I cannot find it on the web site anymore. Can you please send it to me?
Thank you
Patti Bell
Thanks but I do not see it here. I am almost positive that it was water, vinegar and alcohol general cleaner. Do you remember it? Is it in your archives?
The window cleaner recipe I have used for years is equal parts of water, rubbing alcohol and ammonia. Best window cleaner I’ve ever used!
Just another tip for windows: Use newspaper instead of paper towels. It leaves NO streaks! And it makes you glass so clear, that it looks like its not there at all!!
How do you clean water marks from glass shower? I feel like I’ve tried everything, the previous owners evidently didn’t!
Thanks in advance!!!
Dawn
the homemade 409 on this website works wonders… i would try that… it takes the rust stains off too…
Thanks Ashley ! I will give it a try !!
I have really hard water and it leaves the water marks and spots behind on my glass shower doors. I have found that to get them really clean with very little effort use Lysol toilet bowl cleaner and one of the green scrubby pads it will take off all of the water marks and make the glass look new just be sure to wear rubber gloves so the Lysol does not get on your hands. It is not too expensive and what ever is left you have to clean your toilets with.
Magic Erasers!! My new house had HORRIBLE hard water stains, couldn’t see out of the shower! Wiped it with the magic Erasers and they are crystal clear! I keep one in there and periodically wipe to keep them clear
I seen an article that dryer sheets work on shower doors but haven’t tried it yet
Hey Dawn,
Use baby oil on a rag and wipe away all the soap scum and white streaks/spots from the doors and all the chrome trim on the door frames. I have been doing it here for years. Leave some of the baby oil on the chrome and doors too, it almost acts as a wax and the water will bead off. I usually do this once a month, that’s it and it takes me 15 minutes or less.
Thanks so much for all of these tips! I had a new Army wife email me once she checked their LES (the shutdown week) & I was able to remember most of these & pass them on. I’m almost out of laundry detergent & since the possible shutdown scared the bejeebers out of me too, I’ll be making my own this week.
Does anyone have any recipes for homemade “shower clean”? I’m talking about the stuff you spray on the shower after you get out. As it is, I am using scrubbing bubbles automatic cleaner in a spray bottle since the little sprayer machine stopped working despite fresh batteries. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated!
I keep a spray bottle with a mixture of bleach and water in the shower. My family uses this each time we take a shower and just spray all the surfaces. I even spray the back of the shower curtain liner. This really keeps it clean and sanitized. Just be careful not to spray any fabric (curtains, towels, etc.)
Also if you use bleach/water mixture. Be very careful about using too much bleach per water and then breathing the fumes. That will burn your nose hair off! LOL (I learned from experience, I’m said to say!)
Whoops! That should have read Sad to say.
Guess the bleach got to me a little more than I thought.
HELP!!!! Can anyone tell me (at this point it doesn’t matter cost/chemical embedded,etc.) if you know of anything that will take permanent parker off of a leather seat and cloth top in a vehicle. My 2 year old found one that his brother accidently dropped and now….you know the rest of the story. I would be grateful for any suggestions. I know it says “permanent” for a reason but I am hoping all is not lost. Thank you to all my frugal friends!
I can say about a car but I got permanet marker on my suede comforter,I removed it with hairspray and alcohol.I worked really well and then rinsed it really well because the material was stiff.Hope this helps.
Fingernail polish remover works GREAT on permant marker just dab it on with a paper towel until the mark is gone IT HAS NOT DISCOLORED ANYTHING FOR ME SO FAR *GOOD LUCK*
Mr. Clean eraser got permanent marker off of a door and a wall for us…two year old artist…:)
Go Gone, works for everything!
Mr. clean eraser will clean anything, I had permanent marker on a white shelf (actual pictures) from a house I moved into, took it off like it was nothing.
I agree… Mr. Clean Eraser WILL clean anything. Use it inside your glass coffee pot, one whoosh and the stains are gone. Use it on glass cassarole dishes to get off those black/brown burnt-on, left-over food particals. I have used them on cookie sheets. Removes soap scum inside the tub/shower walls. Great for leather shoes….
On any polished surface, you can use a dry-erase marker. Just go over the mark and wipe with a dry cloth, its like wiping off a white board.
Love, love, love my homemade furniture polish! (Similar to Pledge Dusting Spray)
How do u make the furniture polish?
The washing detergent does it work in the HE washing machines?
It works wonderful in HE machines. I made two batches this weekend and am sharing it with family and friends. Clothes are very soft and the scent is wonderful.
I really like the Home-made Laundry Detergent, it cleans and it smells so refreshing, but I don’t get any suds at all, I realize it’s a low-sudsing mixture, but nine
I started making homemade laundry soap about 6-7 months ago and I LOVE it! With 8 kids and 3 grandkids laundry is an every day chore. The money I have saved on laundry soap has been amazing. I have told a number of friends about it and several have tried it and liked it.
Gorgeously Green All Purpose Spray-I make up a spray bottle for the Kitchen & Bathroom. Cuts Grease, germs & grime and it smells good. You can use it on just about everything:Fridge, counter tops, walls, doorknobs, toilet seats, sinks & so on.
32 oz plastic spray bottle
2 cups water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon pure castile soap
3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops of lavender or lemongrass essential oil
Fill plastic bottle w/ water, add vinegar, castile soap, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, and lavender or lemongrass essential oil. In Hot Summer Months, add about 10 drops of citronella essential oil to spray bottles, as it is an excellent insect repellent.
This spray is suitable for acrylic, ceramic tile, wood, marble & granite. For other Great Money Saving & Green Products you might want to get this book…Gorgeously Green 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life. Love, Love, Love this book. Lots and lots of Information and some really Good Green Recipes for use indoors, outdoors and some cooking recipes. Enjoy!!
Sheri,
The washing detergent works great in my front load HE machine. I’ve been using it since October.
Be Careful! I have read numerous places not to mix vinegar and peroxide. Here is one explanation:When cleaning with vinegar, make sure that it does not come in contact with hydrogen peroxide. Mixing the two will create Peracetic Acid (C2H4O3).
The toxicity of Peracetic Acid is low. However, peracids are extremely irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It has a strong oxidizing potential, is highly corrosive, and can explode at temperatures exceeding 110ºC.
Thank you for this! I will definitely be making several of these!!
Help! Can anyone tell me how to get finger nail polish out of carpet? Thanks
does anyone have a recipe for homemade wipes that uses bleach?
Instead of scrubbing a pot, pan, or dish that has baked-on crud on it, fill it with hot water and put a dryer sheet in the water. Let it sit for an hour and all the food will slide right of the edges. Even used dryer sheets work. When I get done with a load of laundry, I just put the used sheets under my kitchen sink. I know this sounds weird, but it works amazingly! This trick also works for cleaning paintbrushes.
this really does work. I actually tried it last night on some baked on chicken i had in the dish i baked it in. I just added a little hot water, put the fabric softener in and let it soak while I was finishing up cooking the last bit of dinner. About 10 minutes or so later dumped the water out, threw away the fabric softner and the pan wiped out clean.
Instead of buying dryer sheets, I use a washcloth and fabric softener. I put some into a spray bottle (undiluted) and put about six or seven squirts onto each side of the washcloth and throw it into the dryer. Works just as good as a dryer sheet and is great for the environment. I always do my towels last so I then throw the washcloth in that load and wash and dry as normal.
Vinegar should NOT be used on tile floors. I tried it and to this day my tiles are dull and dingy. The vinegar ruined the tile finish.
Try cleaning them with Finish dishwashing powder. All you do is mix it with water like you do when you mop the floor normally. It takes everything up and makes white tile white again gets rid of every little dirt spot I cinderella clean (on my hands and knees) and it works great! I use it in my jacuzzi tub also! I learned all this from working at a resort!
I also use Finish Dishwashing tabs in my jacuzzi tub! Works like a champ, and I dont have to crawl in there and scrub it!
My husband accidentally hit a candle that was lit and the wax spilled onto a sweater that was near it. The sweater is not a thick weave but a looser knit weave. I went to the fabric store and they didn’t know of anything that I could use to remove the wax. I read somewhere about using towels, and iron, and a lot of blotting but would like to use something easier if I could. Thanks for the help.
PUT IT IN THE FREEZER FOR A HALF HOUR AND WHEN U TAKE IT OUT IT SHOULD CRUMBLE OUT WHEN U RUMPLE IT
a hair dryer on the low setting and paper towels work great and it really doesnt take long. One of our tenants got candle wax on the carpet in a bedroom and I had it cleaned up within a couple minutes.
Set a wet towel on top and iron, it transfers to the wet towel, this also works on carpet. We spilled a RED candle on lt beige carpet, came out! Learned it from a friend in the carpet cleaning business!
I would love to have a recipe for homemade liquid dishwasher detergent that didn’t contain borax.
i do have a spray bottle with vinegar, water, baking soda in my countertop! all around cleaning supply
have granite counter tops??? or basic countertops in kitchen and or bathroom? I have a Bissell steam mop and let me tell you what an awesome job it does on granite countertops without any chemicals. The countertops sparkle, smudges and muck comes off with ease (the steam mop comes with 2 cloth head covers so prior to doing the floors we hit the counters!!) and love the fact that the counters are sterilized pretty much without any chemicals.
I love my bissell Steam mop!
I just wanted to say “Thank you” for all the wonderful tips for saving money. I started making my own 409, fabric softener and washing detergent this week and I could not believe the difference in my laundry. Thanks again Frugal Girls.
I love this cleaner. I also have it in spray bottles in the essential rooms…..for me this also works great on carpets, I have kitties and no smell, no stains, and no toxins. Love this site, thank you for the wonderful ideas.
Has anyone ever used Hydrogen Peroxide instead of bleach? Just wondering!
Yes, I have used both. When I use bleach, I do the 1-10 mix. Being a nurse, this is what we used to clean up spills…would even kill HIV germs if such were in a blood spill! If you have never read about the peroxide, do a search…it is awesome and cost effective!
Can anyone tell me where to buy these essential oils????
Thanks!!
Essential oils can be bought online, just google “essential oils”.
Does anyone have any ideas to remove fleas from carpet? without having to bomb the whole house?
Use equal parts of water and Pine Sol in a spray bottle, spray everything from carpets to baseboards!!
You can also use just plain old table salt. sprinkle it thru your carpet and on your fabric furniture it will get rid of the fleas. Let it set for about 3-4 hours the runt he vac. you get up the salt and the dead fleas.
For fleas,sprinkle borax all over floors, work into carpets with a broom. Leave overnight or all day while away. Come home and vacuum it alll up. Works great without harsh chemicala, and leaves the house with a clean, fresh scent
Will the Borax harm the Animals? I have 3 Maltese Pups.
I had a huge flea problem last year and tried everything including the borax method with no luck. We were ready to rip up all of the carpet. I own a Eureka Enviro Steamer and decided as a last resort to use it in every room. It worked so good! I think maybe after that I saw just a couple of fleas. I have also heard that the steamers work to kill bed bugs.
Would any of us frugal girls know a receipe for dishwasher soap to share with us?
Hello, I used to have a recipe for a spray bottle to clean my kitchen counter tops, but lost it. It was water/bleach/and my favorite smell of Pine-Sol, or you could even use Mr.Clean. Can you, or rather, shall I ask, do you know the ratio to make this spray? It makes the whole house smell SO good!! If I shall change my mind on using bleach, what could I use instead, ammonia? Sometimes I worry about getting bleach on my clothes.
Thank you!
Kathy
I have been using the homemade laundry detergent recipe for the last 3 years. I LOVE IT!!! I make it,put it in mason jars and give it as gifts. It’s so easy to make and affordable and works great on clothes. I made a believer out of my husband with it. We have five kids between us and laundry NEVER stops,so this is one more way for us to save money without losing quality. I also make it for my mother to use on my dad and sister’s clothing. They are both very physically ill people and have sensitive skin. They never have skin problems using the homemade detergent.
I would love to have a homemade cleaner for a carpet cleaner. We have a small Bissel and I would love to do my own cleaner.
I used to have a bissel…instead of putting the cleaner in the soltion part i would add vinegar…the house did have a strong vinegar scent but my carpets always looked better and they weren’t “stiff” like they were when i used the commerical cleaner…
Im looking for a alternative to clorax colorsafe bleach- my daughter has a feeding tube that leaks blood and other stomach fluids on her clothes and sheets. I use homemade laundry soap – borax,washing soda and fels napa. I need a good stain remover but hate paying for clorox its expensive. Any ideas? I have tried oxy clean.
Often times, just using a bit of soap on the stain and scrubbing it out will get it out completely. I’ve also used hydrogen peroxide to get out dried in blood stains. or, if you have borax, dampen the stain with water, sprinkle some borax over it, and leave it alone for a half hour. Come back to it and in a bucket, agitate it with your hands (a sort of kneading motion, like making bread) and a bit of scrubbing if the agitating motion isn’t getting it out will do the job. I’ve also read that some rubbing alcohol will revitalize old stains and thus will make it easier to get out.
We are startingto make our own cleaners and have found just about everything thing I need except for one for the dishwasher soap preferably a powder but liquid will do to ?? Anyone have a recipe for that please share need soon so don’t have to go by some lol. THX
Dishwasher Detergent
I have been using this for a few years and works great.
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/4 cup kosher salt
1/4 cup citric acid….(we use this in water for new batches of weaned pigs when they come in…we purchase it from the Feed Mill at our local elevator in 50 lb bags…dont know where to tell you to buy it otherwise as we always have it on hand but it has to be around…do a google search.
Put in a container and shake it up…It will clump up on sometimes which isnt a big deal as they will dissolve in wash cycle…I have noticed if I shake it often…like every day…it stays fine. Use 1 tbsp. /scoop for each trap..
I also use straight vinegar as my rinse agent…my glasses always look spotless.
Was very impressed the first load of dishes I did using this recipe…it was amazing the difference in appearance in everything…so bright and clean.
Good Luck…hope you like it
I use the same recipe and LOVE it! Works like a charm and is so much cheaper. For the citric acid, I use LemiShine. I found mine at Walmart by the Borax.
Probably a dumb question, but what is washing soda?
Washing Soda is found in the laundry aisle. It is made my Arm & Hammer.
I love this site!!! It has so many great ideas. I am looking for a way to make homemade disinfecting wipes like the Lysol ones you buy. They are so expensive but I love the convenience and the quick disinfecting and throw away option. Does anyone have anyideas or recipes? thank you in advance for your help and ideas
I have been searching for more ways to save my family of 5 money. With the economy the way it is and the price of all products including food has risen. Therefore I have become a couponing momma so to speak and penny pinching diligently=-] I soooo soooo love this site and all the homemade recipes which save on the moola. Added to the cost effective items is the healthy additive to it. Thank you so much for all these recipes and added ways to save money.
Much Love,
Christina
Pinterest.com has tons of diy cleaners, beauty products ect. and it’s WAY fun.
Iam looking for a recipe for a spray on carpet cleaner or spot cleaner like you can buy that doesnt leave a sticky film to grab dirt. thanks
HI-WE OWNED SEVERAL CARPET CLEANING FRANCHISES FOR 20 YRS-OUR SON NOW OWNS IT. JUST USE BAKING SODA AND WATER TO CLEAN UP THE STICKY RESIDUE FROM THE CARPET CLEANERS. This may take several times to get it all out-depending on how sticky your carpet is. Let dry between spotting-also don’t overrub the carpet(this causes wear) just blot.
To clean granite: pour equal parts rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Cleans and disinfects too! I’ve been using it on my granite counter for 9 years.
I use pledge spray on my granite to make them shine! Just spray and buff away.
i have been using the Laundry soap recipe for over a year now… i think it’s good.. but our Tshirts and sometimes denim stinks.. like has an old ,sour smell.. what causes this ? Also, how do clean out an HE washer ? It has an old, yucky smell too ??? HELP !!
Hi Betsy ~ for my HE Washer, I use Clorox Washing Machine Cleaner {or just bleach} and run it through with nothing else in the washer on the hot sanitizing mode about once a month or so. I also always leave the door to the washer open when not in use, and dry out with a cloth between the rubber seals after every use. {that tip comes from my sister-in-law, and has helped a bunch!} Hope that helps!
~ Heidi