Homemade Household Cleaners

Save a lot of money making your own homemade versions of expensive commercial household cleaners.  With basic household items such as vinegar, rubbing alcohol and olive oil, you can whip up many kinds of cleaners and mopping solutions that could work with almost any kind of surface.

Homemade Furniture Polish

What you need:

• 1 cup of olive oil
• ½ cup of lemon oil
• clean and preferably new spray bottle
 

Mix together in the clean spray bottle 1 cup of olive oil and ½ cup of lemon oil.  Shake to mix thoroughly and spray a small amount on a clean cloth.  Apply evenly on the furniture until polished.  Don’t forget to shake the bottle before each application. 

Homemade Glass Cleaner

What you need:

• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup vinegar
• clean spray bottle
 

Mix together in a clean spray bottle a cup each of rubbing alcohol, water and vinegar.  This mix of alcohol and vinegar makes for a rapidly-evaporating glass cleaner which does not leave behind residues or streaks.  This can well compete with store brands of glass cleaners.  Incidentally, this cleaner also works well with chrome surfaces and tiles.

Homemade All-purpose Mopping Solution

What you need:

• ½ cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 gallon of warm water
• several drops of scented oils (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of mild dish soap (in place of scented oils)
 

Mix together the ingredients in a bucket of water and use as mopping solution.  Vinegar is a natural and safe disinfectant which does not leave any residues on the floor.  Scented oils and dish soap only serve as perfumes.

Homemade Vinyl and Tile Floor Mopping Solution

What you need:

• 1 part window cleaner
• 1 part warm water
 

Mix equal parts of window cleaner and warm water and use as mopping solution for vinyl and tile floors.

Homemade Laminate Floor Mopping Solution

What you need:

• 1 part vinegar
• 1 part alcohol
• 1 part warm water
 

Mix together equal parts of vinegar, alcohol and warm water in a bucket and use as mopping solution for laminate flooring.

Homemade Car Wash Solution

What you need:

• a bucket of water
• a few drops of liquid castile soap
 

Add a few drops of liquid castile soap into a bucket of water and use as car wash.  This gives a streak-free sparkle to the exteriors of your car.

Homemade Tire Cleaner

What you need:

• water
• baking soda
• scrub brush

Mix together baking soda and water to form a paste and work into the tires using a scrub brush.  Let the paste sit for some minutes and rinse off.  Baking soda is an abrasive and removes stains, grease and dirt.