Between making my own household cleaners, detergent and trying to make more frugal decisions on meals, seems to take some time on a couple of members in the household. I think the toughest is trying to make more meals, but cutting down on the cost. Not everyone likes the same things when it comes to meals and I have one adult child (20 years old), who we took into our home about 3 months ago, who is used to eating totally different types of food, hence: trying to accommodate that as well.
I figured, the least I could do, was make my own household cleaners, as well as laundry detergent to cut down on some of the increased costs. Even my Walmart is making it hard to use what coupons I do find and use, but either discontinuing the product or not keeping it in stock. It seems like everytime I get a coupon, that will give me overage or cost little to nothing to purchase the item, Walmart miraculously, no longer has the item. What's up with that?!
So...here are a couple of DIY recipes for household items you can make yourself, that will not only cut down on the cost, but last you longer than that one single item you may be used to purchasing from the store.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT (dry)
1 Cup Team Mule Borax
1 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda!)
1 Bar Fels-Naptha soap
All of these can be found in the laundry aisle at Walmart.
First, grate the Fels-Naptha soap on a grater, using the smallest grate. Combine the grated soap with your 1 Cup Borax and 1 Cup Super Washing Soda. Mix well to incorporate everything.
That's it! There are other DIY laundry detergent recipes if you are looking for the liquid type and they can all be found on Budget 101
The cost of all ingredients cost me around $8.00...BUT this recipe only calls for 1 TBS of laundry detergent, per load. The reason for the 1 TBS only, is that this is more of a stronger version of laundry detergent AND the box of Borax and Super Washing Soda will make TONS AND TONS more of laundry detergent, enough to last about a year, depending on your wash loads. You will, of course, have to purchase more of the Fels-Naptha soap, for each batch, but that is only $0.97 at Walmart.
*The Oxi Clean shown in photo is optional. I did not use this.
SCUM REMOVAL CLEANER
1/2 Cup Vinegar
1/2 Cup Dawn Dish washing liquid (just the plain version)
1 Spray Bottle
Heat the 1 Cup of Vinegar in the microwave until it's hot. Add your Dawn dish washing liquid and mix well with a spoon or you can add to bottle and shake it gently. Don't shake too hard or you will have soap bubbles near the top. I find that mixing it with a spoon, in the measuring cup, does just fine and will prevent all the bubbles.
This doesn't make even half a bottle, but you can make more, as needed. You can, however, make a batch at a time and add it to the spray bottle, but the vinegar has to be hot each time. I personally used this recipe the other day and was very pleased with the results.
Just spray on your shower door or bath tub, let set for at least 25 minutes and then go back and wipe.
*This recipe is courtesy by Liss of Budget101.com
GLASS CLEANER
1 Cup Vinegar
1 Cup Warm Water
1 Spray Bottle
Either warm the water in the microwave or use the hot water from your faucet. Add the cup of Vinegar and mix well, gently rotating the bottle back and forth to incorporate the vinegar and water. The Vinegar provides a streak free finish, but it's best if you use newspapers to clean your glass instead of paper towels, which can leave behind fuzz or a cloth. I found that newspapers are WONDERFUL in getting that streak free look.
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