Everyone these days is trying to find ways to trim money in the budget. A little here and a little there can really add up to a lot of savings! Who doesn't like that idea? When it comes to cleaning supplies, the cost can add up very quickly. This got me to thinking about ways to cut costs when it came to using cleaning products in my home. I had heard rumors that making your own homemade cleaning products could save lots of money. Therefore, I started experimenting with homemade cleaning products and so far its a success! I most recently tried this homemade recipe for glass cleaner from instructables and was pleasantly surprised! It didn't streak as I thought it would and it took the fingerprints out of my patio doors instantly. I was also quite surprised at how well it worked on my glass shower doors. I showed it off to my husband and he seemed pleasantly surprised!
The recipe is listed below. I'm not going to lie, I made the recipe much stronger than suggested. I only used one 32 oz. spray bottle with the same recipe, which means I used a lot less water. I will admit this was COMPLETELY by mistake (perhaps I need to follow directions more carefully), but I liked the results A LOT so I think I'm going to stick with it.
What You Will Need
2 32oz Spray Bottles (or 1 if you are crazy like me)
1/2 C. Rubbing Alcohol
1/2 C. Vinegar
1/2 Liter Water
1 T. Lemon Juice
3-4 T. Dish Detergent
Mix
Mix together alcohol and vinegar in a container.
Divide
Divide the water into the 2 water bottles.
Divide and Add
Divide the alcohol and vinegar mixture and pour into each bottle.
Add
Add the lemon juice and detergent. Shake the bottles.
Here is the break down as far as cost is concerned (when I say store brand I am referring to generic):
1. Store Brand White Vinegar - $1.08
2. Store Brand Rubbing Alcohol - $0.99
3. Store Brand Dish Detergent - $0.99
4. Store Brand Lemon Juice - $1.69
Total - $4.89 with tax
The white vinegar and rubbing alcohol will make at LEAST 3 batches of glass cleaner and the dish detergent and lemon juice will last a very long time. Therefore, you can make 1 container of glass cleaner for approximately $1.00! The cheapest glass cleaner I found in the nearest Kroger was $1.99 for 1 32 oz. container and the name brand Windex was $3.79 for 1 26 oz. container. I also love the fact that the recipe took less than 10 minutes to make!
If there is one thing I do not like about the homemade glass cleaner its the smell. As I continue to make batches (yes I like it that much) I will work on getting a more pleasant smell from the product. The good news is that the vinegar smell goes away fairly quickly and does not linger.
If you give it a try let us know what you think! I hope you have as good of results as I did.
Posted by Tami on Jul 19 10 | Comments (0)
Categories: Products,
Recently we were asked the question, "Is Borax Safe?" We used Borax in our homemade laundry detergent and it worked well. We had no problems with skin irritation or a strange smell. However, we definitely took some extra time digging to check on the safety of the product. Hope the following information helps!
Borax Decahydrate is manufactured by U.S. Borax, Inc. It is made from mining natural Borate deposits in the earth and has been used since the 1800s. It can usually be found in your local grocery store in the cleaning aisle along with the powder detergents. There are definitely mixed messages about the safety of Borax. There are those that say that it is extremely dangerous and others claim that is a "natural" product and "safe." Here is a quote directly from the U.S. Borax, Inc.,
"Borates have an excellent record for safety when used as directed. Boron compounds have low acute toxicity - meaning ingesting small amounts is not likely to cause health problems. Laboratory studies show large doses of boron compounds can cause reproductive and developmental effects in animals. However, similar effects have not been observed in humans. In short, there are no uses of borates - including mining and refining them that pose any risk to human health. When ingested, boron is readily absorbed into the blood stream by both humans and animals. However, 90 to 100 percent is excreted rapidly through urination. Boron is not metabolized by animals nor by humans. Boron compounds are poorly absorbed through intact skin in both humans and animals, although they can be absorbed through damaged skin. Boric acid and other boron compounds are approved for use in low concentrations in cosmetics and talc in the United States and Europe. Data also indicate that inhaling boron compounds does not pose a significant risk to animals or humans."
Therefore, after reading the product data sheet for Borax we believe that Borax can be hazardous if used or inhaled in VERY LARGE amounts or if it were to be swallowed in large amounts. Basically too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. You should definitely keep it out of the reach of children and pets as you would any other cleaning materials. As with most cleaning products that we frequently use in our homes, if used correctly you can use Borax for a variety of things without hazardous effects to you or your family.
There are actually many different ways that Borax can be used to clean in your home if used properly. You can download a complete PDF of ways to use Borax from 20 Mule Team Borax. Listed below are just a few:
- We previously posted about using Borax in homemade laundry detergent. Borax is not easily absorbed into the skin so therefore should not cause any skin irritations to you are your children if used in your laundry detergent.
- Cloth Baby Diapers -Once you flush out the diaper, soak it in a bucket of hot water and 1 cup of Borax for 30 minutes before washing.
- Toilet Bowl - put 1/4 cup in brush the bowl and let stand for at least 30 minutes.
- Dishwasher - pour 1/4 into the bottom of your dishwasher along with your normal dishwasher detergent.
- Window Cleaner - pour 2-3 tablespoons and dissolve in warm water.
- Tiles and Grout - Pour on a little borax as you go along and add a bit of water! For tough stains use a toothbrush.
- Pots and Pans - sprinkle borax on tough stains and scrub with a damp cloth.
Posted by Tami on Jun 14 10 | Comments (2)
Categories: Laundry, Products,
I simply couldn't go without letting you all know about this GREAT giveaway from Domestic Debacle! Check out this Oreck XL Platinum Pilot Cleaning system! Just reading about it makes me want to vacuum my floors pronto. This lightweight 10 lb. vacuum has it all. Just a FEW perks are its direct suction, awesome attachments, 30 foot cord, dual speed, and TOTAL cleaning system. It really is amazing so check out the Oreck and this awesome giveaway!!
Posted by Tami on Jun 3 10 | Comments (0)
Categories: Products,
We received this tip about freshening your home from our reader, Natalie, and thought it was a great tip!
I worry about using those carpet fresheners (powders and sprays) with a baby being on the ground, so i found a new way to accomplish the same thing without putting anything on the floor. If you have a bagless vacuum you can put air fresheners in the filter part. I put a handful of Renuzit crystals in the filter holder of mine and now it smells great every time I vacuum, which is a lot! Also, every once in a while, i will febreeze the furnace filter, so whenever the air/heat kicks on, it smells good! This could be done in a house where allergies are a problem as well.
Posted by Tami on May 27 10 | Comments (2)
Categories: Bedroom, Living Room, Products,
There is one bar of soap that I do not want to live without. I call it my miracle soap. With a toddler in the house there are constantly stains all over her clothes and this little soap is my life saver. Fels-Naptha soap has been around since the mid 1800s and has been a staple in many American homes for a long time. It comes wrapped in paper with its original logo and is slightly longer than a normal bar of soap at 5.5 oz. It is now owned by the Dial. You can watch a short video on Fels-Naptha HERE.
Personally, I keep the bar in a small Ziploc bag with a toothbrush inside. Any time I have a tough stain I put some water on the toothbrush, rub it on the soap, and brush the stain with the toothbrush. You can also scrub the bar directly on the stain or use a cheese grater and grate it right into your washer! It always makes my stains disappear! You can also use the soap in your homemade laundry detergent, which we are currently experimenting with, and even on your tile showers. The bar of Fels-Naptha lasts for quite a long time. The soap can be hard to find at times although I have found it at places such as Meijer or Walmart. This SITE sells it for $1.75 a bar with low shipping rates. I would tend to pay a little more for shipping seeing as how the soap lasts quite some time. I definitely encourage you to buy a bar of this and try it out! You maybe never want to live without it!
Shirt With Stain
Shirt without Stain
Posted by Tami on May 16 10 | Comments (6)
Categories: Laundry, Products,
