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    Save Money with Homemade Cleaning Products

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Feb 12, 2015 · Modified: Mar 25, 2021 by Dee

    Hi Friends! I know it's been a long winter in some parts of the country, but the weather in AZ has been very warm for this time of year. We even turned the air conditioning on the other afternoon -- yikes! since it feels like spring, I've been getting a head start on my spring cleaning.  And since I've been in a cleaning and purging mode lately, I thought I would share some of the homemade cleaning products I use, which not only do a great job of cleaning your home but can also help you save money on cleaning supplies.

    clean with vinegar lemon baking soda salt hydrogen peroxide and dawn


    When I was growing up, my mom was a total clean freak, and I mean that in a good way! But, she used brand name cleaning products that did the job but made the house smell horrible. I tend to be sensitive to strong scents anyway, and I think this is why I used to hate cleaning my own home. 

    So a few years ago, I switched to making my own cleaning products, using things that we already had at home. My husband was so skeptical at first --  with five kids, we used Lysol wipes like crazy! But after seeing the great results and the money we were saving, he was totally on board with my little experiment. And yes, he does help clean!

    A lot of people make their own household cleaners, and you may already know this, but I thought I would share the tips anyway. We use mainly vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, Dawn dish soap, salt, baking soda and lemon -- love lemon!

    diy cleaning products used to clean house

    Vinegar

    I use vinegar to clean out the icky tracks on windows and our sliding glass door. I just put some on cotton swab and dug in. You won't believe the grime that comes off --yuck! I also use it to clean, windows, faucets and the inside of coffee and tea cups. I use it for the coffee maker too, but you should follow the manufacturer's instructions for your own coffee maker.
    Baking Soda and Lemon


    I use a paste of baking soda and lemon juice to gently scrub the sinks, showers and bath tubs. You can even add some vinegar to clean out your drains.  I like to drink lemon water during the day, and I just throw the used lemon slice into the kitchen sink and turn on the the garbage disposal. It makes the area smell fresh and gets rid of those stale odors!


    clean with lemons
    Salt

    I don't use salt a lot, but it's great for getting out baked-on stains from glass baking pans. Just sprinkle some salt in the pan, and it should help clean the pan without a lot of scrubbing. Sometimes, I even let the salt sit in the pan for a little bit before I wipe it off. You can also use it on cast iron pans.

    clean with hydrogen peroxide and dawn dish soap


    Hydrogen Peroxide

    I use hydrogen peroxide to clean and disinfect just about everything. In fact, this is what made us toss the Lysol wipes! I just spray some on the surface, like counter tops, and wipe it off with a damp paper towel. It also works to clean the toilets, faucets and sinks. Plus, it also removes laundry stains. And a 32-ounce bottle costs less than a dollar -- can't beat that! 

    You do have to make sure it isn't exposed to light for long periods of time, or it may not be as effective. That's why I usually leave it in the original container, which is dark. 

    Dawn

    I use the regular Dawn dish soap for washing dishes and for wiping off kitchen surfaces. But, it works great on removing stains on clothes. Since I began using Dawn to pretreat the clothes,  I haven't used commercial laundry stain remover for a long time. Like I mentioned earlier, hydrogen peroxide works too. 

    Wow -- that was a long list! Anyway, this is what works for me. Not only is this a great way to save money on household cleaning products, but I feel good about using these things to clean my home. You should still use caution with any type of cleaners, and you may want to research these products on your own to understand how they work. 

    Do you have any cleaning tips to share? What products do you use to clean your home?

    Thanks a bunch for visiting me -- Enjoy your day!

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    1. Dee M says

      February 26, 2015 at 3:30 pm

      I agree! DIY products not only cost less, but they also take up less shelf space! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Life Breath Present says

      February 25, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      My main cleaning products are a vinegar/water/alcohol mix I use on the floors and windows, mirrors, and shower door. I also have a hydrogen peroxide/water mix I use for the bathrooms and kitchen counters if they seem to need it. We hand wash our dishes and use a natural product that I typically use on the kitchen/stove/table tops as well.

      It's so neat the things we can do with just a few simple ingredients, eh? 🙂

      Reply
    3. Dee M says

      February 18, 2015 at 6:41 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Let me know how it works for you. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Dee M says

      February 18, 2015 at 6:41 am

      Thanks for letting me know about the party, Sharon! 🙂

      Reply
    5. tara says

      February 18, 2015 at 6:37 am

      Thanks for sharing these great ways of cleaning! I can't wait to try the lemon and baking soda recipe! Pinning! Thanks..... http://www.littlemissdexterous.com

      Reply
    6. Sharon Erickson says

      February 16, 2015 at 4:23 am

      This is great! I love how you broke down what they do. I have always used vinegar and blue dawn but salt?! No idea! Pinning and sharing. I would love if you linked this up to Totally Terrific Tuesday that will go live tomorrow at 9pm cst. I am so excited to see what else you have to share.

      Reply
    7. Dee M says

      February 13, 2015 at 11:37 pm

      It's nice to know others feel the same way -- so much cheaper too! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Gail Akeman Frugal and Coupon Crazy says

      February 13, 2015 at 11:31 pm

      I believe in making homemade cleaning solutions too.

      Reply
    9. Dee M says

      February 13, 2015 at 2:28 pm

      That sounds like something I need to try -- Thanks for sharing that! 🙂

      Reply
    10. Carol says

      February 13, 2015 at 2:24 pm

      I always enjoy seeing more uses for these simple products. Do you know about the tile floor cleaner -- http://www.365ishpins.com/day-319-heavy-duty-floor-cleaner-diy/ -- I'm not sure this is going to show up as a direct link, but you can copy and paste. I'm going to try this very soon.

      Reply
    11. Dee M says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:35 pm

      Thanks, Fabby! I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at your beautiful table! 🙂

      Reply
    12. Dee M says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:34 pm

      Thanks, Lori! Yes, I just pour it directly in and clean the bowl with a brush. Isn't lemon water wonderful? 🙂

      Reply
    13. FABBY'S LIVING says

      February 12, 2015 at 11:32 pm

      Hello dear Dee!
      Great tips indeed, I'm gonna put some to practice, I can see I need to! I like the peroxide idea, I bet it'll leave toilets very clean and shiny too!
      Happy Valentine's weekend ahead.
      FABBY

      Reply
    14. LL Farm says

      February 12, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Great tips Dee! I use some that you mentioned, and LOVE lemon water to drink also! I use vinegar and baking soda to clean my farm sink. Do you pour peroxide directly in toilet to clean with a brush?
      Lori

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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