The aisle at your local grocery retailer where household cleaning items can be found can sometimes become quite a dizzying place, thanks to the overwhelming number of cleaning options made available to the public. Their cost is can be very hefty too! However, instead of spending a big chunk of your money on procuring everyday cleaning products, why not consider making your own by making use of common items that you may already have lying around in your home.
There are recurring ingredients in different cleaning solutions. Below are some of those versatile items and how much you are expected to shell out for them:
- Baking soda. This is considered an all-around cleaning product and is inexpensive to boot. It costs roughly a dollar per pound.
- Hydrogen peroxide. This is an antiseptic most people store in their medicine cabinets. A bottle (about 16 oz.) will set you back about $1.50.
- Distilled white vinegar. Much like baking soda, this product is relatively cheap and also comes with a lot of uses. It can be used as a disinfecting agent and a gallon is being sold at something over $3.
- Liquid dish soap.
- Cotton balls.
- Salt
- Lemon
- Rubbing alcohol
- Corn Starch
- Tea tree oil. Its antimicrobial properties render its effectivity as a cleaning agent.
Some Basic Cleaning Supplies
- Spray bottles
- Spray mop
- Pumice stone
- Nylon scrub brush
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
Creating Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Common Household Dilemmas
Removing carpet stains
You’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Nylon scrub brush
- Vacuum cleaner
Instructions:
- Douse the entire carpet stain with baking soda.
- In a spray bottle, mix half parts of water plus half parts of white vinegar.
- While leaving the baking soda on the carpet stain itself, spray the area with your vinegar and water solution.
- Let your mixture sit for about three hours.
- Once done, use your nylon brush and start scrubbing the area. Be careful not to scrub too hard as you might run the risk of ruining the fibers of your carpet.
- Leave the carpet to dry overnight the vacuum it off.
Removing yellow underarm stains on white shirts
You’ll need:
- Water
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Towel
- Bucket
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Salt
- Spoon
- Small container/bowl
Instructions:
- Mix a cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water in a bucket. Place the shirt inside and soak it for about 30 minutes.
- In a smaller bowl, mix half a cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide until your solution forms a paste.
- Place the shirt on top of your towel making sure that the stains are exposed. Coat the stain with the paste and let it stand for another half an hour or so.
- Wash your shirt as you normally would. Before you chuck it in the dryer, check if the stains are gone. If not, do not place it in the dryer as doing so will further set the stain. Instead, repeat the entire process before washing the shirt again.
Cleaning Wood and Tile and Floors
You’ll need:
- Water
- White vinegar
- Bucket and cloth
Instructions:
- Mix a cup of vinegar plus a gallon of water. If you’re working on a small area only any leftover solution can be stored for later use.
- Spray on your floor then wipe off.
Cleaning the Sink Drain or Garbage Disposal
You’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Salt
- Ice
- Baking soda
- Lemon
Instructions:
- Remove the drain catch and start pouring your solution (1/2 cup baking soda plus 1 cup white vinegar) down the drain.
- Boil some water. Once boiling, carefully pour it down the drain a few minutes after your baking soda and vinegar solution.
- Place ice on the drain and put salt on the top. Run the faucet with cold water and run the sink/ garbage disposal until all the ice and salt are removed.
- Cut your lemon in two and add them, one slice at a time, to the garbage disposal (while the garbage disposal is still running).
