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Like
Saving Money...and keeping
your house safe for both your kids and your pets?
Mormonchic.com staff writer Lisa James shows us how
we can easily make our own household cleaners that
will do just that.
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Homemade
Cleaners
By Lisa James, staff writer
How
much do you spend... each
month on household cleaners? In a year it can really add
up. How safe are the cleaners you use? Are they safe for
your children? Your pets? The environment?
With
a few basic ingredients... from
your kitchen and a few from the local health food store
you can make your own household cleaners for pennies.
I
started making... my
own cleaners 4 years ago and have loved the way I can
save money, protect my family and control the amount of
chemicals that are used in my home. I can also pick
the scents and control their intensity in my own cleaners.
Below are a few
simple recipes that can help you save and clean your home.
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Tub and Sink Cleanser
| HOW
TO |
Fill a clean
plastic parmesan cheese container or a powdered sugar
shaker with baking soda. For an extra kick add 10-15
drops of your favorite essential oil from the local
health food store and you are ready to clean. |
| THE
STORE BRAND |
Comet 21oz
=.99 cents |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
baking soda
16 oz = .69 cents |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
This cleaner
does not show a huge savings, but it is safer and
more environmentally friendly. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Window Cleaner
| HOW
TO |
Fill a clean
empty trigger spray bottle with Club Soda that you
find at the grocery store. Spray on and wipe off with
a crumpled newspaper for a lint free shine. This can
be used bubbly or flat. Store the unused portion of
Club Soda to refill your bottle with later.
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| THE
STORE BRAND |
Windex Glass
and Surface 26 oz = $3.49 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
.89 cents
for 67.6 oz |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save
about $3.14 every time you refill your bottle. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Toilet Bowl Cleaner
| HOW
TO |
Make a thin
paste of Borax and lemon juice. Flush the toilet to
wet the bowl and rub the paste unto the toilet bowl
ring. Let this sit for two hours. Scrub and then flush
to rinse. Make sure the paste is thin but not too
runny. |
| THE
STORE BRAND |
Lysol Cling
Toilet Bowl Cleaner 22 oz = $2.99 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
.05 cents |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save
.30 cents every time you use it. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Spot-free Dishes
| HOW
TO |
Just
add vinegar to the rinse compartment of the dishwasher.
Be careful not to overfill. Wash as usual. This will
give your dishes a great shine. |
| THE
STORE BRAND |
Sunlight Dishwashing
Rinse Aid 5 oz = $3.19 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
1 gallon of
vinegar $1.39. |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save $79.51.
WOW! 1 gallon of vinegar will give you the same amount
as 25.6 bottles of rinse aid. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Floor Cleaner
| HOW
TO |
Add 1/2 cup
vinegar to a gallon of water. Add essential oil for
scent. Scrub or mop floor with mixture. |
| THE
STORE BRAND |
Mop &
Glo 16 oz = $3.79 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
About .08
cents per use. |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save
$3.37 in four uses of the homemade floor cleaner. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Furniture
Polish
| HOW
TO |
Mix 1/4 cup
olive oil or mineral oil with 4 Tbls. white distilled
vinegar and 2tsp lemon juice. Pour into a squirt or
spray bottle and shake well before using. The olive
oil will add needed moisture to your wood while the
vinegar will clean it. Any unused portion should be
stored in the refrigerator as the lemon juice can sour
after awhile. In place of the lemon juice you can use
20-30 drops of lemon essential oil without the need
to refrigerate.
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| THE
STORE BRAND |
Pledge Extra
Moisturizing Lemon Wood Polish 12.5 oz = $3.99 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
.50 cents |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save about
$2.00 by making your own. |
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| My
two favorite cleaners... that
I use throughout my home take a little more effort, but the results
are worth it. Both of these recipes are found in Karen Logan’s book
Clean House, Clean Planet. They do require a trip to the health
food store once in awhile. The supplies you buy will last for quite
a few refills though. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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All Purpose Household Cleaner
| HOW
TO |
This works
wonderfully everywhere. Clean your fridge, your table,
the walls and the garbage can. You
will need a clean 16 oz trigger spray bottle.
From the
health food store you need- Castile soap, this is
an all natural soap made from vegetable oils. If
you cannot find a Castile soap, a mild dishwashing
liquid such as Ivory or Palmolive may be substituted.
In areas
with hard water you will need to buy distilled or
purified water from the grocery store. The minerals
in the hard water will inhibit the soap’s ability
to work. Borax, vinegar and an essential oil, if
you wish will, round out your shopping list.
In a two
cup glass measuring cup mix 2 Tbls of white distilled
vinegar and 1 tsp of borax. Add 1 cup of hot water
and stir until the borax is dissolved. Let this
mixture cool a few minutes and then pour into the
spray bottle. Add more water to the bottle leaving
enough room
to add 1/4 cup of castile soap OR 1/8 cup of liquid
dishwashing detergent. To scent, add 15-20 drops
of your favorite essential oil. The scent will not
be as pure when mixed with an already scented dishwashing
detergent.
Because
this cleaner does contain a small amount of borax
it is slightly toxic. Be sure to label it accordingly.
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| THE
STORE BRAND |
Fantastik
All Purpose Cleaner 32 oz = $3.19 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
.31 cents |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You save
$2.88 each time you refill. |
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HOMEMADE
CLEANERS |
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Disinfectant
| HOW
TO |
My other
favorite cleaner is a disinfectant that uses the antiseptic
power of tea tree oil. This can be found at the health
food stores with the essential oils. This
wonderful cleaner is great on hands, toys, toilets,
and even in the laundry. Great on doorknobs and
sink handles when the flu hits your home. I keep
some in each of my bathrooms.
To make,
fill a 16 oz trigger spray bottle almost to the
top with water. Again use purified or distilled
water for the best results. Add 3 Tbls of castile
soap and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil to the water.
Shake to mix.
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| THE
STORE BRAND |
Lysol Antibacterial
Kitchen Cleaner 22 oz = $2.99 |
| HOMEMADE
VERSION |
.95 cents |
| YOUR
SAVINGS |
You will
save $2.04 each time you refill. |
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