The Libman mop is my favorite mop. To clean, just throw the mop head in the washing machine.
One of the ways I save money is by not buying too many cleaning products. It’s not only less expensive, but often it’s better for the environment to avoid harsh chemicals. And with the right mix of ingredients, homemade cleaning solutions often work just as well, and sometimes better, than their store bought counterparts.
The three ingredients I always have on hand for cleaning are baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn dishwashing detergent. You can clean almost anything with these three items.
To clean windows, mix 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of Dawn in a spray bottle. It cleans windows beautifully!
For floors, add 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water and mop away!
My favorite bathroom cleaner is a spray bottle filled with 1/2 cup Dawn and as much vinegar as the bottle holds. It works better than any commercial tub cleaner I’ve ever tried!
For cleaning toilets, mix 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup Dawn, and 1/4 cup water. Let sit on the toilet bowl for a couple of hours, swish with a toilet brush, and flush.
Plain baking soda works just like scouring powder. It’s also great for deodorizing carpet. Just sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for a while, and vacuum up!
Have you ever tried homemade cleaners? What is your experience? Do you have any great recipes? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Photo by jspatchwork.
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January 29th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I once tried homemade washing gloop, but gave up, too messy. I now use one tablet per wash with some white vinegar instead of softener.
I haven’t bought cleaning products for ages, just vinegar, baking soda and an enviromentally friendly product called ‘Stardrops’. I’m not sure if its available outside the UK though
January 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
For tough greasy stains you can try the gel type hand cleaner that mechanics use. You can get a big ole tub for a few bucks and it will last a looooong time. It really works, too.
January 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I need a mop! I scrub floors because most of our apt is carpet and our kitchen and bathroom are so little…but I should really get a mop at some point.
I definitely use making soda and the like. The grittyness really helps with my sink and bathtub, for instance. And for blocked bathtubs–baking soda followed by vinegar!
January 29th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
On your mix for floors what about hardwood?? Do you use the vinegar mix on vinyl flooring? I just use AJAX (or equivalent brand) on toilets etc and it’s quite inexpensive…not sure about environemntally friendly since it has bleach though.
January 29th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I am going to try your bathroom cleaner recipe…
Thanks!
January 29th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I use baking soda for A LOT of things, it is great for deodorizing and can work wonders in a tub!
I always use Dawn for homemade bubble solution (dawn and glycerin =really cheap to make, fun to use bubble solution!)
Thanks for the recipes, I will have to try them out!
Take Care
LJ
January 29th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
great ideas….I need to get away from the cleaning by gadgetry syndrome!
January 29th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
and it is good for our environment too, cause vinegar is just a natural product. thanks for posting that.
take care,
Léonie.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I am wondering about the vinegar smell… is it strong, especially when mopping? I am trying to get away from ’store bought’ cleaners and have laminate wood flooring through out most of my home.
Thanks,
Jay
January 30th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I use the vinegar to clean bathrooms and the smell can be overpowering. But I would rather use it than all the chemical cleansers.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
The Dawn on Windows thing is an interesting idea. We have fairly hard water where we are and have a tough time with our shower glass.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I’m really glad I found this site. I’m 4 months pregnant and a clean freak. When the doctor told me no more cleaning with the current products I’ve been using (clorox, comet, and etc) I didn’t know what to do!
Thanks so much for posting these. I’m going to give away all my cleaning products and just use your solutions!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:28 am
I started using vinegar and water with a couple of drops of dawn in my swiffer wet jet. I poked a hole in the part of the container that would be towards the top when inserted into the mop. It’s a hole smaller than around my pinkie and I pour carefully. Then I put a bandaid over the top to avoid splashing if I drop the handle or it tips over when not in use, though its probably not necessary. The vinegar scent is strong at first, but it disappears as it dries. CVS also sells store brand pads for the bottom of the wetjet for a much better price.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Thanks for this! I already tried the toilet bowl cleaner and I think I’m converted!
February 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Followed your post from MIFS carnival today. I love your blog site and hope to visit again. Frugal stuff rocks!
February 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I make my own laundry soap! Here’s the recipe:
1 bar bath soap
1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
Grind together in your food processor. Use 2 Tablespoons for a full load. I also use it for general housekeeping. It costs 2 or 3 cents per use.
I also use Dawn to fight laundry stains, and white vinegar as a fabric softener. (The smell disappears when the clothes dry.)
White vinegar is so versatile! I love using it as a rinse aid in my dishwasher, as well as for keeping ants off my counters. (Bugs can’t stand the taste of acid.)
Your blog is awesome, Lynnae–keep up the good work!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Nowadays with Dawn liquid so concentrated, do you really need 1/4 cup? It seems like about half of that would do the trick. Plus be easier to rinse.
Thanks for the tip. I love the idea of being frugal AND environmentally safe.
March 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Hey,
In a clean plastic spray bottle (nothing that has contained harsh chemicals) pour about 1/4 cup or so of white vinegar. Fill the rest of the way with cold tap water, and for good measure - a small squirt of natural liquid dishwashing soap. Gently shake the bottle to combine. Voila - instant cleaner that is good for literally every surface.
I have a free listing of homemade cleaning recipes for all of you at http://www.happyslob.com/cleaningrecipes.html . Hope you save money by using these instead of harsh (and pricey!) chemicals.
Take care,
Christina
March 18th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
What’s the product equivalent to Dawn in the uk?
Can i buy it in the uk?
March 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
@roadkill - It looks like Dawn is only available in the U.S. and Canada. It’s a dishwashing detergent that’s known for it’s ability to cut through grease. Here’s the product link, so you know what to look for in the UK. I’d just experiment with a good dish detergent.
http://www.dawn-dish.com/en_US/ultradawn.do
March 26th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’m out of toilet cleaner, so I’ll try your recipe. Does it have to be Dawn? Or can I use any dish detergent?
March 30th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I’ve taken to adding about a cup of vinegar to the dishwasher. We also have hard water–the vinegar eliminates that haze on glassware and makes everything come out sparkling clean, especially if you use an enzymatic dishwasher detergent.
I’m also curious: Does it have to be Dawn? How about clear Ivory? Or a bit of laundry detergent?
For hard floors (but not real wood and prob’ly not laminate), spring for the cost of an inexpensive steam cleaner. I call it “a steam iron on a stick.” Cleans floors magnificently with nothing but water! No mopping, no dirty mopwater smell, and no hassle. Soooo worth the cost!
March 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I found these to be great ideas but can’t use dawn. I am allergic to dyes and fragrance. We clean with diluted tea tree oil. It kills everything that bleach does but is much easier on the skin and the environment. We also use vinegar for the bathroom and kitchen fixtures. When scrubbing the tub we make a paste with baking soda, laundry soap (All Free and Clear), and a few drops of tea tree oil or peppermint oil to kill bacteria.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I keep a spray bottle handy in my kitchen with 1/4 vinegar, the rest water. I spray my stove top, counters, everything with it. I LOVE it. Someone was asking about the vinegar smell. It dissipates quickly, and freshens the air. A trick to get a burnt-toast smell or actual smoke out of a room quickly is to wave a rag that’s saturated with vinegar! Also, you can leave out an open bowl of it for awhile or overnight. It’s awesome at air-freshening. Vinegar is an acid. So don’t spray it and leave it set on porous surfaces such as marble. In addition it can scratch and dull plastic over time (like the outside of your coffee maker.) Great post. I’m always happy to meet frugal people. I am linking you from my site http://beingbooga.com. Happy Blogging!
April 16th, 2008 at 6:22 am
My favorite cleaner is the following:
1/2 cup vinegar
1/3-1/2 cup scented rubbing alcohol
fill the rest of the spray bottle up with water.
The scented alcohol covers the vinegar smell (I hate that smell) and speeds up drying time!
April 16th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I forgot to mention in my comment above:
I have found both wintergreen scented rubbing alcohol and citrus scented. It is located in the pharmacy section of your favorite store. I have been able to get mine a the dollar store!
April 19th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I keep these things on hand at all times:
Calgon water softener
vinegar
baking soda
murphy’s oil soap
wintergreen rubbing alcohol
regular (not ultra) Dawn
20 Mule Team Borax (cold water & borax gets stains out of clothes, even most old stains)
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Now that we are on a fixed income this will help.
June 4th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I have a web page where I have been posting homemade cleaning supplies recipes when I find them. It has been pretty popular! http://www.squidoo.com/cleaningsupplies
June 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
One reply to a question posted above about the lingering ODOR of vinegar. Yes, it does smell a wee bit like a pickle jar. But, it goes away really quickly. And you can mask it a tiny bit by adding a fresh squirt of lemon juice.
I’ve sort of gotten used to the smell of vinegar nad now equate it with = clean!
Take care,
Christina
June 15th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Wow, and I’ve been spending stupid money on cleaning supplies. No longer!
Thanks and great website!
Ron Ripple
June 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Do any other dish soaps work as well as Dawn?
June 19th, 2008 at 3:20 am
I would like to know about Dawn.U are using this in toilet cleaning formula.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:14 am
I’m so excited to have found this site! I plan to try all these wonderful formulas. Thank you! Everyone calls me cheap and a tree hugger… I call it monetarily and environmentally conscious.
June 27th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Another homemade cleaner is lemon juice. I use lemon juice in my garbage disposal for the scent or you can add a little of it anywhere you want a nice lemon scent. ALSO, lemon juice works wonders on RUST STAINS. I use a small amt of lemon juice on my clothes that are stained with rust (and may work on other stains too) and let the garment set out in the sun. Wash / Launder as usual and rust is gone. I even used lemon juice on my patio furniture this spring to remove rust circles from cans, etc.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Just found out how to get oil/grease spots out of my shirts from cooking. A little dab of Dawn dish detergent, rub in and wash. Spot GONE! I couldn’t believe it! The oil/grease spots wouldn’t come out with Shout or other spot removers typically available at the grocery store. Dawn works like a charm every time and saves me money too!
July 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Many tasks are fine with just vinegar alone…. but obviously baking soda is another thing that is just as versatile….
I like using vinegar to clean glass… the smell makes me wanna clean glass all day (weird I know!!)
August 5th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I am curios. Do you really have to leave the cleaner on the toilet for two hours? Is this only for staining or does it take that long to disinfect? Is there a faster way, I have a four year old with a teeny tiny bladder and there is no way our only toilet could be unusable for two hours not even at night! Thanks in advance.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Olive oil and lemon juice work well as an alternative to Pledge or other dusting sprays for wood.
Rubbing alcohol and water is great for getting spots out of carpet. It works faster and better than Resolve, and it dries quickly too.
September 26th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Been using some of your “recipes” since August and I love em. Thanks for the info!!
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
hey here in Australia we get Dawn if that helps..
October 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Peroxide works great on fresh blood stains. Pour and scrub, then wash as normal.
October 27th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I myself have grown very interested in green products. i like the smell of them and i feel like a good person using it.
November 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 am
Nothing is wrong with making your own products. All you need is two basic ingredients as you said: vinegar and baking soda. They can handle almost any household cleaning task you can think of.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I’m so glad I found this post! I made the bathroom cleaner last night and cleaned my tub with it…it worked great! I’m going to try some of the other ideas from the comments, too! Thanks so much!
November 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Rust Stain Removal: i have a pool with a deck that had some rust stains on it from patio furniture and other stuff….i found that rubbing a vitamin ‘C’ tablet on the rust stain works great! had to look a bit to find the ‘larger’ tablets as the small ones are hard to rub in as they crumble immediately….i wore gloves after scraping my finger tips a few times…..
also works on rust stains in your pool, just rub it in the best you can and while pretty tricky, try and lay one on the spot (this can usually only be done on your steps or hot tub as the motion of the water will move it very eaily
December 19th, 2008 at 2:44 am
I paid a company to come out and clean my windows. I found that when they got there, they had an oblong sponge on a stick plus a squeegee. I asked the man what solution he used. He has been doing this many, many years and this is his only business. His answer surprised me. He said he puts a few drops of DAWN dishwashing liquid into water, applies it with the oblong spong on the stick, then squeegees the window. That’s all he uses!
He made my windows crystal clear.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Great site. I enjoy being told how to save money.
I live in the southern California desert and the concrete deck surrounding my swimming pool is stained with a white chalky substance.
Any suggestions to clean that stuff?
Thanks,
John
December 30th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
You reminded what a great product Dawn is (I’m a waitress and grease stains come right out of my uniforms) It also reminded that newspapers work great on windows instead of paper towels and peroxide is a great pretreater for clothes (it can yellow whites if it sits too long). Rubbing alcohol can also remove ink stains.
January 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I had to clean my apt kitchen today and what better way to clean than to use Vinegar and baking soda. I liked the way it cleaned. I thought I was the only one but has anyone ever thought of making it into one product and adding some scented oils to it or even lemon juice. All three would clean, deodorize and sanitize!
January 15th, 2009 at 2:46 am
Leslie said:
“has anyone ever thought of making it into one product and adding some scented oils to it or even lemon juice. All three would clean, deodorize and sanitize!”
What quantities of each would you use?
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Now, is this Dawn you use the ultra formula or the “original” original?
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