How to Economically Clean Anything

Cleaning products often contain the same ingredients.

Grocery stores carry aisles full of cleaning products; most of those products specialize in one surface, such as windows, floors or bathroom fixtures. If you happen to flip over one of the products and read the content label, however, you will notice that many of them contain similar ingredients. Though some of these ingredients are commercially produced, some are common; you can use them to create your own universal cleaning solutions at home and save on the cost of cleaning products altogether.

Things You'll Need

• Dishwashing liquid
• Clean rag
• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Spray bottle
• Sponge
• Gloves

Instructions

1. Create all-purpose cleaners using liquid dishwashing soap. Mix 1 cup water and 1 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Shake to combine. Spray this all-purpose cleaner on countertops and other hard surfaces around the home and wipe up with a wet sponge. Use the solution to clean freshly made carpet stains by saturating the stain and blotting with a clean rag. In a spray bottle, combine 2 cups water, 3 tbsp. dishwashing liquid and 20 drops of tea tree oil to create a disinfectant spray that is safe for most surfaces.

2. Use baking soda as a versatile cleanser. Mix three parts water with one part baking soda to create a scrubbing paste. Use this paste to scrub out stains on your carpet or grime from countertops. For difficult soap scum, sprinkle baking soda directly onto the surface and scrub using a sponge or brush dipped in warm water. Tackle clogged drains by pouring 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and flushing it with 2 cups of boiling water. If the clog remains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar. Cover the drain to prevent the foam from escaping. Flush the drain with a gallon of boiling hot water after it sits for at least 15 minutes.

3. Add distilled white vinegar into common household-cleaning projects. Use equal parts warm water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle to deodorize bathrooms, clean windows or spray on soap scum in the bathroom. Put solution in a bucket and clean hardwood floors using a soft mop and wipe up with a clean white rag. Spray grease stains with undiluted, distilled white vinegar and allow it to sit for a minute before wiping it up to deodorize the grease smell and remove the stain in one step.

References

• The Daily Green: The Easiest Green Cleaning Recipes You Can Make at Home; Brian Clark Howard
• Goodcleaners: Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Tips