10 Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes

Americans in general are addicted to cleaning products. We think we need a specific one for each surface in our homes and different ones for outside! But there's no reason to spend money on chemical-laden cleaning products - you can easily make your own and save money doing it.

You probably already have most of the ingredients needed to make your own cleaning products, and a quick trip to the grocery store will complete your list.

For safety's sake, be sure to label your homemade cleaning products and keep them out of reach of children.

1. All-Purpose Cleaner #1 - Mix one part white vinegar with one part water. Use on windows, walls, counters, floors, in the bathroom, everywhere!


2. All-Purpose Cleaner #2 - Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup Borax into 2 liters of water. Removes water deposits in showers, chrome fixtures, windows, mirrors, etc.


3. Citrus Scented All-Purpose Cleaner - For a citrus-scented cleaner, steep orange, lemon and/or lime peels in vinegar for 2 weeks. Remove peels and mix 1 part vinegar solution with 1 part water. Use like All-Purpose Cleaner #1.


4. Drain Cleaner - Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down drain. Follow with 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar. Allow to work for 15 minutes, then flush with boiling water. Caution: DO NOT use this method after trying commercial drain cleaner as toxic fumes may result, and ONLY use with metal pipes as boiling water may melt plastic pipes!


5. Gentle Scrub - Mix a little water into baking soda to make a paste. Gently scrub to remove crayon, pencil, etc from surfaces. Be gentle as harsh scrubbing may damage the finish.


6. Mint Scented Gentle Scrub - Use a non-gel toothpaste instead of baking soda and water. The caution about scrubbing gently still applies.


7. Furniture Polish - Mix 1 part olive oil with 2 parts vinegar. Use to polish finished wood only.


8. Lemon-Scented Furniture Polish - Mix 1 part olive oil, several drops lemon oil, and 2 parts vinegar. You can substitute 1 part lemon juice for 1 part vinegar, but be careful as lemon juice may take the color out of wood.



9. Room Deodorizer Spray - Spritz the air with All-Purpose Cleaner #1 or Citrus-Scented All-Purpose Cleaner. Mix 10-15 drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spray around the room.


10. Safer Disinfectant - Place 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and full-strength vinegar in another spray bottle. Spray surface with both, then rinse with water. (Source: www.preservion.com)

For more homemade cleaning product recipes, check out:

• DIY Network's Homemade Cleaning Products
• Stain Removal 101 - Homemade Cleaning Products

What's YOUR favorite homemade cleaning product?

~ the Etsy Cloth Diaper Team

Photo Credits: Vinegar: www.lalagirl.org, Lemons: comingstobrazil on Flickr, Baking Soda: www.armandhammer.com