My Thrifty Cleaning Products

I'm mentioned it here before...

I'm cheap. Like…really cheap.

James and I live on one income (a teacher's salary at that).

So consequently, I am always looking for ways to cut down on our bills.

Cleaning products may be inexpensive, but making my own is a really easy way to save a few bucks.

I purchased these bottles for $.98 each at Wal-Mart.
I purchased this curtain rod at Wal-Mart for $.98 also.
I keep them hung above my laundry room sink.


So here's what I keep in the bottles.

Febreze:


1/8 cup fabric softener
2 Tbs baking soda
Hot Water

Pour fabric softener into bottle. Add baking soda and fill to top with hot water. Give it a shake.
Sweet smelling sheets for cheap…I'm in!

Disinfectant Spray:

1 1/2 cups *vinegar

1 1/2 cup water

Easy right? I use this just like a lysol spray. Kids smear poop  (not my kids) sneeze on a toy…out comes this stuff. 

But here's a trick. I put orange peels in my vinegar to sweeten the smell. All you need to do is collect some orange peels, add them to some white vinegar and let them sit for a week or so.

Voila!

No nasty smelling vinegar!

*Please note that using vinegar on countertops such as marble and granite can dull the stone. So I use just hot water and dish soap to clean my granite.*

All Purpose Spray:

2 Tbs ammonia
2 cups rubbing alcohol
5-8 drops dish detergent
Hot Water to fill rest of the bottle

Mix them all together in the bottle. I use this to clean the bathrooms with.

Window Cleaner:

2 cups of warm water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1 Tbs corn starch

Put all ingredients together and shake well. You'll have to shake before each time you use it as well. The cornstarch settles to the bottom.

This works. Really well.
I use it on my smutchy (this is my blog….I can say what I want) glass table top. It is pretty streak free and gets off dried oatmeal.

Fruit and Vegetable Wash:

2-3 drops dish detergent
Warm water

Mix together in a spray bottle. Spray produce and rinse when ready to eat.





Floor Cleaner.

1/2 cup vinegar (use the orange vinegar)
1 gallon water

I use a Bona spray mop for my floors. I just refill the cartridge with this mixture.

Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Warm Water
Few Drops Dish Detergent

Pour water and dish detergent into bottle and shake.

I use this to clean off all of my fruits and veggies before we eat them. The produce washes can be so expensive! But I'm all up for an easy and effective way to clean my produce!


But there is one thing I will never skimp on.
Carpet Stain Remover

Blue Magic
This is the best carpet cleaner ever.

Have you ever cleaned a stain from your carpet and noticed it makes the strands in your carpet clamp together? This stuff will actually fluff your carpet. It's gotten blood, wine, vomit, and even paint (yes paint) out of my carpet.

It's about $3.50 a can at Wal-Mart (wow…noticing I shop there a bit too much)


Another great thing about these bottles (minus the carpet stain remover) is that they are toxic free. They aren't harmful for my family.

So…get out there and save some cash, clean your home, and keep it safe!