Why I Like Homemade Cleaners

If you have spent any time at all here at Household Cents, you know that I have a thing for homemade cleaners.  Why do I like them?  Oh, let me count the ways:

1. I enjoy trying them and seeing them actually work.  There is just something about making something from scratch and having it work even better than its store-bought counterpart that makes me feel empowered.  Self-sustainability is like a drug, I tell ya.
2. I enjoy all the money that I save.  Some of those cleaning products in the store are outrageously expensive!  I have much better things to spend my hard-earned money on, thank.you.very.much.
3. The convenience.  I love being able to whip up another batch of my favorite cleaner out of the products that I keep on hand.  No need to get all fancied up and run down to the store for more.
4. Homemade cleaners are generally better on our environment.
5. Homemade cleaners are also generally better on our health.  The chemicals being used in the homemade cleaners aren't nearly as harsh as some of the junk that companies put into commercial cleaners.

I am continually asked by friends, family and blog readers about the cleaners I make.  One of the most commonly asked questions is, "What do you keep on hand at all times?"

Vinegar, baking soda, borax, washing soda and rubbing alcohol (along with the occasional essential oil) are the basics that I have in my cleaning closet at all times.  In the laundry room, you'll also find a nice stash of Zote soap bars (for making laundry detergent).  These are all I need to make the majority of the cleaning products that I use on a regular basis.

I recently found a web page at the Reader's Digest - Canada website which lists some great recipes for homemade cleaning products.  A couple of them were even new to me, and I am one of those people who is forever researching ways to make everyday things at home.  My mother-in-law will be very excited when I tell her about the Moth Repellent recipe they have listed.  Their Fabric Softener recipe is very simple and yet gets wonderful results.  Their Basic Kitchen Cleaner recipe looks like it might just become one of my favorites!

Homemade Laundry Detergent - Revisited

Over a year ago, I posted a recipe for homemade laundry detergent.  It's the recipe that I have been using on a regular basis for years.  It's extremely frugal, works great and is quick and easy to make. 

A good friend of mine, Kat, has taken this laundry detergent one step further.  Her and her daughter did a science experiment which compared the homemade stuff to Tide.  What a fun experiment!  I just wanted to share the results with all of you because I thought it was interesting.  So, head on over to Kat's blog and see the experiment.   :)

Quick Tip

I just read a great post about laundering clothes over at Penniless Parenting.  Since I posted about something similar not too long ago, I just had to share her post with all of you.  Mine was just a quick tip, but her post is more detailed and concise.  Love it!

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Sample

Have you gotten your free sample of Purex Complete 3 in 1?  I just received mine in the mail last week and I must say, I was impressed.  Even though I make my own laundry detergent, I still enjoy trying free samples once in awhile.  It's free, right?  :)

This sample had two sheets in it - good for two loads of laundry according to the package.  Well, being the frugal-minded chick that I am, I cut them in half so that I could get four loads instead of two.  Ha!  And I liked them well enough to come and blog about them.  I won't be abandoning my homemade laundry detergent anytime soon, but I just might have to add a package of these to my next Alice.com order......

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I have been making my own laundry detergent for three years. Here is the recipe:

1/3 of a bar of Fels Naptha soap or Zote soap
1/2 cup of Washing Soda
1/2 Cup of Borax
A big bucket (a 2 gallon size works nice)




Grate the soap and mix it with 6 cups of water in a sauce pan. Heat to boiling until the soap melts completely. Add the Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until it has dissolved. Remove from heat. Now pour 4 cups of HOT water into the clean bucket. Add the soap mixture to the bucket. Give it a good stir. Now add 22 cups of HOT water into the bucket and stir.

Let the mixture sit for about a day and it will turn into a funky gel-like substance. It's now ready to use, I use about 1/2 cup per load.

This stuff cleans our clothes just as good as anything I have bought in the store. I've also used it to pre-treat stains and it works great. The thing I like best about it is that it doesn't leave that nasty chemical/fragrance smell on clothes like so many store-bought brands do.

Cost Break-down:

Borax - $3.50 for a 76 oz box at Alice.com
Washing Soda - $2.76 for a 55 oz box at Alice.com
Fels Naptha - $1.09 at my local grocery store

One batch lasts my family of 6 a little over a month (and we have TONS of laundry because of a baby and cloth diapers). One batch used to last 2-3 months before baby #4 came along. I can get about 18 batches from the box of Borax and about 14 batches from the box of Washing Soda. That's a huge savings!

Replacing Fabric Softener

I have never been a big fabric softener user, but when we started to go more chemical-free, then I really didn't want to use it. I still wanted soft clothes, but didn't want to spend extra money on chemicals. Here are a few solutions I found that have worked for us:

• Dryer balls are a great little invention. They work well to reduce dryer time and soften clothes without any of the nasty chemicals that are found in liquid fabric softener. You can find them in just about any store that carries laundry products. I bought a pair and they lasted about one year before falling apart.

• Use dryer sheets. They really do help to soften clothes and get rid of static cling. Here are a few more tips about saving money with dryer sheets.

• Vinegar. Use this just as you would fabric softener. It helps to soften the clothes and helps to rid them of any leftover odors that the detergent may leave behind. And I never smell vinegar on the clothes after they are dry.

Do you have any tips you would like to share?

Dryer Sheets

If you are a dryer sheet user, like me, here are some ideas to stretch those pennies:

• Tear the sheet in half and use it in more than one load (I usually just use it twice). This will quadruple the amount in the box.

• I also put the used ones in drawers and closets to help mask any odors that might be there.

• My mom takes the used ones and wipes off her tv screen with them. She claims it temporarily repels the dust that would normally accumulate. I don't see why this wouldn't also work for computer screens.

How about you? Have any more suggestions?