DIY: Homemade Cleaners

(Information received from AllYou Magazine. Purchase your own copy of AllYou Magazine for a $1 an issue!)

With a few basic ingredients you can quickly whip up your very own household cleaners!

• Essential Oils

Amazon
Vitacost (earn a $10 free credit)

• Borax

Meijer  $3.49

• Washing Soda

Meijer $3.39

• Castile Soap

Amazon
Vitacost (earn a $10 free credit)
Meijer

• Baking Soda

Meijer Brand 4lb $2.39

• Vinegar

Meijer Brand 128oz $2.79

• Rubbing Alcohol

Meijer

Liquid Dishwashing Soap (yields 16.5oz: costs $2.48)

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup liquid castile soap
• 3 tsp. vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops tea-tree essential oil
• 20 drops lemon essential oil
• 1 1/3 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS

Using funnel, pour soap, glycerin, tea-tree oil, lemon oil and water into bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Place soap beside sink and use on dishes and hands. This fragrant formula also will clean your kitchen countertops beautifully.

Dishwasher Detergent (yields 32 loads: costs $2.45)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups washing soda
• 2 cups borax
• 25 drops grapefruit essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Put on gloves. Add washing soda, borax and oil to bowl, stirring with your hands to mix and eliminate clumps. Transfer powder to plastic container. Use 2 Tbsp. detergent per wash. You also can add 1 tsp. vinegar, if desired, to the rinse cycle to prevent spots on silverware and glasses

Toilet Cleaner (yields 1 cup= 1use: costs $0.15)

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup baking soda
• 10 drops tea-tree essential oil½ cup
• distilled white vinegar

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour baking soda directly into the toilet bowl, add oil, then vinegar—in that order. Let water effervesce for several minutes, then scrub bowl with brush. Flush.

Shower Cleaner (yields 28oz: costs $0.15)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp. borax
• ½ tsp. liquid castile soap
• ½ cup distilled white vinegar
• 3 cups hot water

INSTRUCTIONS

Using funnel, pour borax, soap, vinegar and water into spray bottle. Shake well to mix. Put on rubber gloves and spray surfaces, scrubbing with sponge as you work. Rinse with water.

Antibacterial Spray (yields 18oz- 2-3month supply: costs $11.57)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups water
• 2 Tbsp. liquid castile soap
• 1 Tbsp. white thyme essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Using funnel, pour water, soap and oils into bottle. Shake. Spray and let sit for 20 minutes. Wipe down surfaces with damp cloth.

Floor Cleaner (yields 2 gallons: costs $0.25)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup distilled white vinegar
• ½ capful liquid castile soap
• 2 gallons warm water

INSTRUCTIONS

Add vinegar and soap to bucket, then add water (stopping about 7 inches from the top). Swish with mop to mix. Wring out mop and wash floors, but don’t get them too wet. Let air-dry—no rinsing necessary.

Furniture Polish (yields 2 1/2 oz: costs $0.34)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• ¼ tsp. lemon oil (or fresh lemon juice)

INSTRUCTIONS

Using funnel, pour olive oil, vinegar and lemon oil into bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Squirt polish onto microfiber cloth and rub onto finished-wood furniture. Always go with the grain and evenly distribute polish. Remove any excess polish with a clean cloth.

Glass Cleaner (yields 27oz: costs $0.29)

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups water
• 2 Tbsp. rubbing alcohol
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional, for scent)
• ½ Tbsp. liquid castile soap

INSTRUCTIONS

In a well-ventilated area, use funnel to pour water, alcohol, vinegar and oil, if desired, into bottle. Shake. Add soap. Shake well. Spray windows; wipe.

All Purpose Cleaner (yields 23.5oz: costs $1.74)

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tsp. washing soda
• 2 tsp. borax
• 2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar
• 2½ cups hot water
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 7 drops lemon essential oil
• ¼ cup liquid castile soap

INSTRUCTIONS

Put on gloves. Using funnel, pour washing soda, borax, vinegar, water and oils into bottle. Shake well, add soap and shake again. Spray on walls, countertops and other surfaces. Wipe with damp sponge.

Wall Cleaner (yields 29oz: costs $0.83)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp. borax
• 3 cups warm water
• ½ cup distilled white vinegar
• 6 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 1 tsp. liquid castile soap

INSTRUCTIONS

Using funnel, add borax, water, vinegar and oil to bottle. Shake well to emulsify. Add soap. Shake well. Put on gloves. Lightly spray on walls and wipe with a damp sponge, rinsing sponge as needed. (Work from the bottom up so streaks don’t form.)