So far I’ve written on how to make your own laundry detergent and dish soap and dishwasher detergent . Today I’m going to tell you what other cleaning products you can make yourself using a few common household items. I’ve always got these on hand, not only because making my own cleaning products saves me money, but I also feel better about using these around my family. Next time you are at the store pick up some of these:

Glass Cleaner recipe:
2 cups ammonia
1/2 cup vinegar
1 gallon of water

This is such a simple recipe and my mother has used it for years!

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:

1 tablespoon borax

1/2 cup liquid soap

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 gallon hot water

20 drops of essential oil (optional)

Combine and pour in spray bottle

This is great for cleaning any surface, whether it be kitchen, bathroom, our outdoors. Works great!

Scouring Powder

1 cup baking soda

¼ cup washing soda

Mix together and use as you regularly would

These are my favorite, besides the laundry detergent.

If you decide to make these, please drop me a line to tell me how they work for you!

Posted under How To

So I decided last month to make my own laundry detergent. That is working so well I decided to try and make my own dish soap and dishwasher detergent.  Here is the recipe I made up: 1/2 bar of soap (I used the trusty Ivory) and melt that in 32 ounces of water.  I shaved it up using a grater, got the water hot, stirred it, and then let it sit.  It turned out well, but when I washed dishes with it, it just didn’t suds up.  I am really disappointed.  I’m going to keep using the regular cheap dish soap from the store until I can find a good recipe for homemade dish soap.  I’m just going to use this as liquid hand soap for the time being so it doesn’t get wasted.

I did, however, make a successful homemade dishwasher detergent recipe, and that is as follows:

1 part borax to 1 part baking soda.  I started out with one cup borax, one cup baking soda.

I used two tablespoons per load and it works really well.  Sometimes I use vinegar in the rinse cycle.  Vinegar is amazing.  It is one of my cleaning staples!  I also use vinegar for cleaning my carpets.  The smell is a little overwhelming at first, but once it dries it is not noticeable and it does a great job cleaning carpets!  It leaves the carpet so soft and fluffy, and it not a nasty chemical like the commercial cleaners.  Try it some time!

What are some homemade cleaning products that you make and use? 

Posted under How To

The last time I updated this, I owed $9950.00 on my student loan balance.  I am happy to say that I’ve paid $450 off and I only owe $9500!!  That feels like such a good number.  I am so proud of myself. 

I’ve been earning a little extra cash still, but not as much as I’d like. I’m hoping that with my recent decision to look for another job, that I may earn more money that I can save and throw towards debt.  I’ve got this loan at 0% interest right now, so honestly the only reason I am trying to pay it off quickly is for peace of mind.  I can’t wait to get it paid off!

Posted under Pay Off Debt, Student Loans