Ready to save money? Big money? My homemade cleaning products will do just that. That’s the least I can do for you, my dear readers.
Cleaning is not my favorite activity, but here’s the bright side; you can save money for something that you love to do later.
When you are cooking your little heart out for those you love, use cleaning items that you can make yourself – and they work. Enjoy…
This “Just Like Tide” copycat recipe creates a powder that will whiten your whites like Tide with Color Safe Bleach and will brighten colors too.
The SUN laundry products below can be found at Dollar Tree, Dollar Store, etc.
HOMEMADE ‘JUST LIKE TIDE POWDER LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Copycat “Just Like Tide” Powder Laundry Soap Recipe
1 cup SUN Alternate Bleach Alternative
1 cup SUN oxygen cleaner
1 cup each of Mule Team Borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Mix all ingredients together in a clean ice cream bucket. Start out using 2 tablespoons of detergent and experiment until clothes are clean.
If you want to learn more about any of these ingredients, please click on the images below.
The following recipes for homemade cleaning products are focusing on Fels-Naptha bar soap. This soap is economical: use one tablespoon (or two, depending how dirty the clothes are) for a load of laundry. Of course, you may use more or less if you wish.
No Name Laundry Detergent Recipe
NO NAME LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
1 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Bar, grated
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 cup Borax Laundry Booster
To make the detergent, gradually mix the grated Fels bar with some of the washing soda in an old blender, to render it into a fine powder.
If you don’t put washing soda in the blender, the grated Fels bar will stick to the blades. The soda powder prevents that from happening.
Once the Fels Naptha bar is entirely powdered, it is thoroughly mixed with 1 CUP of Washing Soda and 1 CUP of Borateem. Store the mixture in 2 glass sealer jars.
Do NOT try to blend the entire bar of Fels all at once; but do it a bit at a time, to prevent the blender from being overworked.
The laundry detergent recipe below is basically the same, but you will be making liquid laundry detergent.
HOMEMADE “JUST LIKE TIDE” LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Copycat “Just Like Tide” Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe
1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
8 cups water
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda
1/2 cup 20 Borax Mule Team (or Borateem)
Grate Fels-Naptha soap bar and add to a large pot with 8 cups water. Stir continually over medium heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a five gallon bucket half full of hot tap water, and add the melted soap mixture, washing soda and Borax. Stir until all is dissolved.
Fill bucket to within 2 inches of the top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to cool and thicken (soap will gel). Stir cooled soap.
Fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap. Then fill last half with water. Shake before each use.
Optional: Add 30 drops of essential oils once soap has cooled.
Discover and/or create your own scent. NO more buying Febreze Unstopables, Scentsy, Tyler, etc.
Top Load Machines – 1/4 cup per small load to 1 cup per extra large loads
Front Load Machines – 1/4 cup per load (or according to machine instructions)
NOTE: The only type of detergent recommended for HE washing machines is HE specific laundry detergent, check with washing machine manufacturer to see if you can use homemade laundry detergent.
More of my wonderful homemade cleaning products below.
Before using any of these recipes, always test them first in an inconspicuous spot.
Copycat “Just Like Febreze” Air Freshener Recipe
2 cups fabric softener
2 cups baking soda
4 cups warm water
1 cup vodka
Combine ingredients.
Vodka breaks down odors and because of the alcohol, it evaporates quickly so everything dries faster. I will have more homemade cleaning products in the future.
Homemade Cleaning Products
HOMEMADE DISH LIQUID RECIPE
2 bars Zote soap
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
1/4 cup lemon juice
Shred the soap into about 5 quarts of water and heat until it melts. Then add the other ingredients and pour it into a sealed container. It doesn’t create a lot of suds, but it works well…
HOMEMADE DISHWASHER SOAP
1 cup natural borax
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup table salt
2 packets unsweetened Lemon Kool-Aid
Mix together and fill cup in dishwasher. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Quick List of Homemade Cleaning Products
Use baking soda as a safe, non-scratch scrub for metals and porcelain.
Cleaning the Oven with my Homemade Cleaning Products
To clean your oven, sprinkle a cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Let the mixture set overnight.
The next morning the grease will be easy to wipe up because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven.
Remove Carpet Stains
1 TBS vinegar
1 TBS cornstarch
Work it into the spot with a soft cloth and leave it on for two days, then vacuum. It works like magic.
Homemade Carpet Freshener
Deodorize dry carpets by sprinkling liberally with baking soda. Wait at least 15 minutes, then vacuum.
or
You can also mix baking soda with ground cinnamon or cloves. Sprinkle the mixture into the carpet and let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum. The room will be filled with a comforting and cozy aroma. Note: First test a small hidden area of the carpet for color fastness before you apply the mixture to the entire area. Now on to many more homemade cleaning products…
Sparkling Clean Mirrors
Your bathroom mirror won’t fog up if you clean it with canned shaving cream…and it will be streak-free.
Remove Hard Water Buildup
Pour some white distilled vinegar in a plastic bag and place the bag around the shower head so the head is completely submerged. Tie the bag around the pipe and let the shower head soak overnight. Come morning, the shower head will spray like new again.
Tough Furniture Polish
1/2 cup olive oil
3 TBS vinegar
Mix well in a bottle. Spray on cloth (not on wood), then wipe down wooden furniture.
Furniture Polish – Mild Version
1/2 cup olive oil
3 TBS lemon juice
Mix well in a bottle. Spray on cloth (not on wood), then wipe down wooden furniture. Great for wooden salad bowls.
Scouring Powder
1/4 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
All-Purpose Cleaner
(Not for sealed stone, granite, marble)
2 tsp tea tree or lavender oil
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
All-Purpose Cleaner
(Safe for granite, sealed surface counter-tops)
2 drops of Castile liquid soap
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
2 cups water
Cleaner for Unfinished or Linoleum Floors
1/4 cup vinegar
1 gallon water
Wood floors
1 TBS Castile liquid soap
2 cups water
Black Lacquer Cleaner
Make a pot of strong tea, and allow it to cool to room temperature. Dip a cloth into the tea and rub the lacquered surface well. Dry well and buff with a soft, clean cloth.
Painted Cabinets Cleaner
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon very warm water
Wash cabinets with this solution and a sponge. Rinse off with a clean sponge and water. Wipe the cabinets until they are completely dry.
For stubborn areas, press a hot, damp cloth against the grease deposits until they soften, and then proceed as directed above. Now on to more homemade cleaning products.
All-Purpose Spray Cleaner
2 cups rubbing alcohol
1 TBS liquid dish soap
1 TBS non-sudsing household ammonia
1 TBS white vinegar
Mix together in a gallon jug and fill with warm water. Shake well and put in a spray bottle. Excellent for cleaning windows, chrome and bathroom fixtures. The next one of my homemade cleaning products is great for window cleaning outdoors.
Heavy Duty Window Cleaner
1/2 cup ammonia
2 cups rubbing alcohol
1 tsp liquid dish soap
Mix ammonia, alcohol and dish soap in a gallon jug. Fill up to the top with water and shake well before each use. This is great for cleaning really dirty windows, and taking tape marks off windows. It works wonderfully removing soap film from the shower doors. More homemade cleaning products below.
All Purpose Window Cleaner
Make a great all-purpose window cleaner by combining 1/3 cup vinegar, 1 teaspoon liquid soap (example: Joy) or detergent, and 3 cups of water in a spray bottle. Combine in a spray bottle. Shake to mix well. Now you have a great streak-free window cleaner that cost pennies to make.
Here’s the other Winder Cleaner:
To clean windows inexpensively, add a small handful of cornstarch to 3 or 4 quarts of water. Wash the windows with this solution and dry with paper towels. It cleans and dried them faster than the store-bought cleaning solutions.
Antibacterial Spray
1 quart cool water
1 tsp liquid bleach
Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle. Use to disinfect surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. Make in small batches and use immediately. As bleach evaporates, it loses its germ killing properties. The next one of my homemade cleaning products work wonders on that molding and stained siding.
Vinyl Siding Cleaner
2/3 cup Spic n’ Span
1/2 cup Tide laundry powder
1 quart liquid bleach
3 quarts hot water
Mix ingredients in a 2 gallon bucket and allow to stand for 4 to 5 hours. Pour into an ordinary garden sprayer and apply to vinyl on house or camper.
This is another one of those homemade cleaning products that is wonderful when you need it…
Skunk Scent Remover Shampoo
32 oz hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp liquid dish soap
Mix ingredients together in a large bottle that has a cap. Use as shampoo on pets, children and adults. Rinse well. The next homemade cleaning product makes smelly shoes and dog beds smell wonderful and fresh. Now on to more homemade cleaning products.
Clean Stainless Steel Flatware
If your stainless steel has lost it luster, do the following. Place your flatware in a pan and cover it with carbonated water, soda water, seltzer or club soda. Let set; after a few minutes, it will shine like new.
Clean Silver
To clean your silver, boil 2-3 inches of water in a shallow pan with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and a sheet of aluminum foil. Totally submerge silver and boil for 2-3 minutes more. Remove silver from the pan and wipe away the tarnish with a clean cotton cloth.
Clean Blinds
To clean mini blinds, use a clean paint brush. It’s a lot cheaper then buying expensive blind-cleaning tools and works just as well.
Wine and Fruit Stains
Salt is great for removing stubborn fruit and wine stains from your tablecloth, towels or napkins. Cover the stain immediately with salt. Let it stand a short time and wash in cool water.
Remove Floor Marks
Remove black heel marks on hardwood floors by applying a little toothpaste to an old toothbrush, scrubbing the area and wiping it with a damp cloth. The heel marks will disappear and the floor will have a nice shine.
The next one of my homemade cleaning products really works well.
Cleaning Shower Curtains
To remove the soap and hard water film that accumulates on plastic shower curtains and curtain liners, try this handy hint. Take down the curtain and place it on a flat surface. Wash it with a solution of 1/2 cup ammonia to 1 quart warm water. The film will vanish.
Cleaning Shower Doors
Keep shower door shiny and clear by using a soft cloth moistened with baby oil. The baby oil prevents buildup from dirt and soap, and keeps hard water spots from forming for several months.
Homemade Drano Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
Place the baking soda in the drain that is clogged. Then pour in the vinegar. Cover with a wash cloth for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Remove wash cloth and pour boiling water down drain. Repeat if necessary.
If you would like more information about cleaning your home naturally, please click here.
Here’s a list of what these ingredients do in these homemade cleaning products.
BAKING SODA
Eliminates odors and helps with stains, and also works as a natural method of pest control – ants hate it.
BORAX
This mineral salt beats bleach as a toilet cleaner and is also useful for scrubbing walls. And as you see in the recipes above, works with laundry, too.
FELS-NAPTHA SOAP
This one’s actually made by one of those big cleaning companies: Dial. They recommend it for “pre-treating” stains. In other words, “use this in addition to a bunch of our other expensive products, like Purex!” But you can turn the tables by using it as part of a recipe for your own homemade laundry detergent, and they can keep the Purex.
RUBBING ALCOHOL
Works as a disinfectant and is also a great glass cleaner. It also gets grime off plastic and metal surfaces like patio furniture or bathroom fixtures.
LEMON JUICE
This cuts through dish grease and is an ingredient for homemade furniture polish – but it’s not the easiest thing to preserve long-term.
This is more homemade cleaning products that goes back to the 50’s, and still gets the job done.
HOW TO MAKE SOAP
5 lb fat
1 quart water
1 can lye
2 TBS Borax
1/3 cup ammonia
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
1/4 cup boiling water
Melt the fat. Mix lye and water together, and add ammonia, borax,and dissolved soda to the lye and water mixture. When the fat has cooled, add slowly to the lye mixture, stirring until it thickens. Pour into a pan and let sit overnight. Cut into bars while still pliable.
Old Fashioned Lye Soap Recipe
So, you’re finally ready to start your soap making journey and might be wondering how to make lye soap the old fashioned way. First off, you have to get all the necessary soap making supplies ready which include a couple of gallons of water, around 10 ounces of lye and 5 lbs of beef fat. Note that the amount of lye depends on the kind of fat you use.
The three ingredients mentioned above are used in making all kinds of lye soap. The only difference is in the kind of fat and quantity of water used in making it.
To start with, you have to cut the fat into a cubical shape with around one-inch dimensions. If you’re using fat from meat you’re cooking yourself, simply trim away the fat and let it continue to cook after the meat is done.
After the fat is thoroughly cooked and all the grease is eliminated from it, you have to twist the solid part that’s left. It’s really important to be careful while cooking fat, as burning it will reduce the quality of your soap. The use of cheesecloth during this process can help a lot.
Once the fat cubes are ready, measure 5 pounds of solid fat using a scale and put it in an iron melting pot. Then, pour the water gradually into the pot along with the fat and cook until the mixture looks blended.
Once completely blended, add the lye carefully, keeping in mind that it’s an alkali and can easily burn the skin and eyes if you’re not careful.
Be sure to follow all safety precautions such as wearing goggles and gloves, too. From this point on, avoid using any aluminum tools or utensils because the lye will have an acidic effect and might cause damage to your skin.
Your mixture of fat and water should look like a single solution without any separation of oil. When it does, add 10 ounces of lye and stir in slowly using a wooden tool.
You should notice small bubbles rising above the surface of the mixture. At this point, boil the mixture for a minimum of 30 minutes up to an hour. It’s essential to boil slowly and remember to stir the mixture from time to time.
Finally, you should have a thick and creamy soap mixture ready to be poured into your chosen molds. Using a wooden paddle, pour the thick cream into your molds and allow them to set for a couple of days before cutting into bars.
Best of all, once you understand the basics of how to make lye soap, you’ll want to start experimenting with different types of oils, coloring and fragrances too. Great homemade cleaning products. If you have one you would like to share, please contact me.
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Homemade Pest Products