How to Save Money by Using Inexpensive, Natural Household Cleaning Products

Natural products clean just as well as commercial products, but come with the huge advantages of costing less and being safer. If shopping for consumer household cleaning products is putting a dent in your pocketbook, there are a number of natural alternatives that will do the job just as well. Using natural household cleaners rather than chemical cleaning products is safer for your family and the environment. Most are simple to make and the ingredients are inexpensive to buy.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda Cornstarch White vinegar Olive oil Lemon juice Isopropyl alcohol Toothpaste

Instructions

1. Mix about 1/2 cup of baking soda with enough water or liquid detergent to make your own soft scrub. Apply with a medium bristle toothbrush or damp sponge for a gentle abrasive cleaner to polish sinks and bathtubs. For those tougher cleaning jobs, use baking soda straight out of the box as a scouring powder.

2. Throw a cup of baking soda into the washing machine during the rinse cycle to eliminate odors. Brighten whites by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of bleach to the laundry instead of a full cup of bleach. It won't be as harsh on fabrics and will eliminate the smell of chlorine. You can also use baking soda to make your own all-purpose cleaner by adding a few tablespoons to a spray bottle filled with water.

3. Pour 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of vinegar down a slow or clogged drain. If the drain is really clogged, you might want to heat the vinegar first. Wait about 5 minutes and then flush the drain with several quarts of boiling water. Repeat if necessary.

4. Use vinegar in the dishwasher for sparkling clean dishes. Fill the well of the rinse dispenser with white vinegar and say goodbye to water spots on glasses. Your dishwasher will be cleaner, too. Pour equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle to clean windows, mirrors and other glass or chrome surfaces to a streak-free shine. Spray on glass and wipe clean with a newspaper.

5. Remove mineral and lime deposits from bathroom and kitchen faucets. Soak a paper towel or soft cloth in white vinegar. Wrap around the faucet for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove cloth and rinse thoroughly.

6. Absorb oil and grease stains on clothing by sprinkling cornstarch directly onto the fabric where it is stained. Let it stand overnight, then brush off and launder as usual.

7. Combine olive oil with a drop of lemon juice to use as a furniture polish. Rub it into wood to give it a warm shine and wipe off any excess. Lemon juice can also be used as a bleach alternative to brighten whites. Just add a cup to the wash cycle when doing laundry. It's chlorine free and gentle on clothes.

8. Fill a spray bottle with hot water and add equal parts of lemon juice and baking soda (about 1/2 tsp. each) for a safe and inexpensive air freshener. Another homemade and fragrant air freshener is to simmer a pan of water with a tablespoon of cinnamon and some cloves mixed in. This recipe does double duty, as it adds humidity to dry air in the home in the winter.

9. Use toothpaste as a mild abrasive cleanser, especially to shine silver or bathroom faucets and fixtures. Put a dab on an old, soft toothbrush and start cleaning away.

10. Clean toilet bowels with undiluted vinegar. It's a natural deodorizer and disinfectant. To clean stains from carpet, mix 1 tsp. of white vinegar and 1 tsp. liquid detergent with cool water, or dampen a clean cloth with vinegar and gently rub the spill until the carpet comes clean.

11. Use a sponge or cloth to clean and disinfect household surfaces with isopropyl alcohol. While it works great for disinfecting doorknobs, lightswitch covers, telephones, and computer keyboards, be sure to wear gloves and use in a well-ventilated area.

Tips & Warnings

• Recent reports show that the average American family spends more than $600 each year buying household cleaning supplies. Buy the ingredients you need in bulk to save even more dollars. Distilled white vinegar works best for cleaning purposes.

Resources

• Non-toxic cleaning
• How to make natural cleaning products