Homemade Cleaning Products

When I started staying at home, needless to say there was a big lifestyle change financially.  So I began to make a lot more things at home.  You already know that I bake and freeze A.L.O.T.  I also began to make homemade cleaning products to save money.  I love that I can give them to the boys to clean something and know that they will be fine using them.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Surface Spray (this is pretty much my favorite cleaner of all time; I use lavender Castile soap so it smells really good too!)

• 16 oz spray bottle
• 2 tsp. borax
• ¼ tsp. liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s)
• hot water    

Oven Cleaner

• Dampen with water
• Sprinkle liberally with baking sodaLeave 20 minutes, then scrub until clean.  
  
  Microwave Cleaner

• • ½ c. vinegar
  • 2 c. water
  Combine in microwave safe bowl, heat on high for 3-4 minutes, remove bowl and wipe down inside of microwave.
  
  
  

  Tub And Tile Cleaner:

  
  

  • Apply vinegar full-strength to a sponge and wipe
  • Scour with baking soda  

Wood Floor Cleaner: 

• ¼ c. vinegar
• 1 gallon warm water
  Mop or rag should be slightly damp for cleaning. 
  
  
  Furniture Polish:

• ½ tsp. olive oil 
• ¼ c. vinegar or lemon juice
  Mix in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces.
   
  Basic Wood Cleaning Formula
  ¼ cup white distilled vinegar
  ¼ cup water
  ½ tsp liquid saop or detergent
  Few drops of jojoba or olive oil
  3-5 drops fragrant essential oil (optional)
  
  

  Combine in 16 oz spray bottle.
  
  
  
  
  **Note about vinegar:Vinegar, throughout history, has been reputed to have strong antibacterial properties. One test by Good Housekeeping's microbiologist found that 5% vinegar is 90% effective against mold and 99.9% effective against bacteria.
  

  --From Wikipedia

Boston loves to help me clean so I usually make him a little solution of vinegar and water to clean things with.
These are my most used ones around the house!  I wish I had all the places I have gathered them from, they are not original ideas.  They have come from different blogs or books from the library.  Just thought I would share them with you!  Happy Cleaning!