Is it cheaper to make your own cleaners or to buy them at the dollar store? Bought cleaners last a long time, but if you buy Borox & washing soda, they go a long way but cost enough to get. I want to know what all you think about this? Some times I think I'm just not getting enough for my money.:paw:

I make widow/all purpose cleaner by mixing water and vinegar one to one. A gallon of white vinegar is about $1.50 and water is even cheaper. Compare this to Windex! This also has more uses since there's no coloring in it to stain carpets, etc.

I actually buy name brand products, stocking up with double and triple coupons and sales for less than .50 each, so it is not worth it for me to make own or even do dollar store.

We don't have any stores here that offer double or triple coupons so it's much cheaper for me to make my own cleaners (I'm a big fan of the book Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan). I also feel more comfortable using homemade cleaners around my son and pets (some really eye-opening info in the book I mentioned).

I agree that in most cases it's cheaper (by far) to make your own. AND you don't have to waste so much space storing all those different bottles of stuff.

I'm beginning to use up the store bought cleaners and start making my own. It's better for the environment and our own health.

I use coupons too so I buy name brands for cheaper then dollar store and stock up.

I make my own cleaners. I use half and half vinegar/water for windows and carpets, bleach/water for most everything else. I like to use baking soda to clean the tub.

I think in the long run, it is much cheaper to make your own. I do buy just a couple of products for cleaning, Spic and Span because I like the smell, and Comet cleanser (although I should look for the recipe for this one!). My Mom gave me a recipe for window cleaner, we even put some drops of blue food coloring in to make it look like Windex!

I laugh at all of the products being marketed nowadays for cleaning. People will buy anything! I mean, how about all the 'wipes', like Pledge & Windex! What is so hard about spritzing a bottle and using a rag?

the Ecover brand cleaning products. They are awsome! I have to order them, but they last forever. They are ecological cleaning products and they are not hard on my hands or lungs with fumes. I don't even own a bottle of any kind of bleach. The cream scrub is awsome for cleaning my cooker top and the spray is great for glass, counters, the sink, mirrors, etc... I am sure I could make some cleaners perhaps cheaper, but I can't seem to make them do what I want everytime!

Think Green - Give Used for Christmas!

Dianne

I used to make my own, until my DD#1 moved out and left me a cupboard full of storebought. And then Mom died and I inherited another cupboard full. I have enough storebought cleaners to last me at least 10 years. I just don't use them that often. No need to. A little water, let soak and elbow grease usually does the cleaning around here.

Still, when i come across a really bad cleaning job, I pull out the heavy duty storebought stuff...and feel a good round of guilt about what I might be doing to the environment in the process.

Personally I find homemade cleaners more environmentally friendly, and I'd use them for that reason alone. But they do tend to be cheap. Borax and baking soda mixed is a good abrasive cleaner. Yes, the borax is expensive, but I find I don't have to use as much as I would a storebought abrasive cleaner.

I can get the name brand stuff free or nearly free at walgreens or other "free after rebate" deals.....HOWEVER, I have tons and tons.....I have had to tell myself that I have way too many - I am committed to using up what I have and then making my one, cause they are so much better for the environment.

I make my own for the most part. I find they work very well, especially the vinegar/water/detergent window cleaner. For scrubbing, baking soda is great, although I occasionally break down and buy a more caustic shower cleaner for really tough bathroom jobs. I also keep a gallon of bleach for mildew, laundry, toilets, and clearing drains.

For a nice scent, I add a couple of drops of lavender or orange oil to my homemade cleaners.

the Ecover brand cleaning products. They are awsome! I have to order them, but they last forever. They are ecological cleaning products and they are not hard on my hands or lungs with fumes. I don't even own a bottle of any kind of bleach. The cream scrub is awsome for cleaning my cooker top and the spray is great for glass, counters, the sink, mirrors, etc... I am sure I could make some cleaners perhaps cheaper, but I can't seem to make them do what I want everytime!

Think Green - Give Used for Christmas!

Dianne

I've seen this brand, but I haven't tried it yet - I make my own, but I think I'll try the Ecover brand dish det. when I need to refill.

I do think it's less expensive to make my own - I buy vinegar by the gallon, and baking soda by the large bag at Sam's :D

Better for the wallet, the environment, and your health!! :relieved:

I love my bleach cleaners. So I buy a jug of Bleach (got 3 for $5) and one lasts me months. Water it down with water and off to cleaning.

we mainly use vinegar/water, microfiber cloths eliminate alot of the multipurpose cleaner use but i do buy a gallon of concentrated simple green about once a year and dilute it in different concentrations. also we use baking soda or bon ami for an abrasive. we spend very little on cleaning products.

the Ecover brand cleaning products. They are awsome! I have to order them, but they last forever. They are ecological cleaning products and they are not hard on my hands or lungs with fumes. I don't even own a bottle of any kind of bleach. The cream scrub is awsome for cleaning my cooker top and the spray is great for glass, counters, the sink, mirrors, etc... I am sure I could make some cleaners perhaps cheaper, but I can't seem to make them do what I want everytime!

Think Green - Give Used for Christmas!

Dianne

I LOVE Ecover products! I keep one of their glass & surface cleaner bottles in the bathroom, I love the "smell" so much I clean the bathroom every day now. :D Can't wait to try their other products, the natural food store in town sells the brand but I bet it is cheaper to order them.

it's cheaper forme to make my laundry detergent, but not the other cleaners.

I find excellant deals on windex, 409, comet, etc that it is far cheaper than vingear and baking soda, etc. I do however have to get over the fact that I am using toxic chemicals to clean my house instead of safe nuetral items like vinegar, etc.

I do make my own laundry detergent, that is way cheaper than store bought stuff, but when I can get a good deal on store bought, I do buy it then.

Denvergirlie, I'd love to hear your recipe for laundry detergent! I've never done this, but would like to try. I do a ton of laundry :doh2:

Denvergirlie, I'd love to hear your recipe for laundry detergent! I've never done this, but would like to try. I do a ton of laundry :doh2:



Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax

For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.


I find all of these items in the laundry asile of my local Kroger grocery store.

I use my food processor to first grate the bar soap, then switch blades and blend the rest of ingrediants until it's all crumbly. I also usually add 1/2 cup of OxyClean to the mix as well.

I make it all up every few months and keep in a larger tupperware type container.
Works for us.

Good luck

I mostly make my own, though I do buy a few cleaners. I make my own because it is cheaper and because I think the store bought full of chemical cleaners aren't particularly good to use in a household full of children.

The cleaners that I do buy are either Method, 7th Generation or Mrs. Meyers. I make my own cleaners out of vinegar, tea tree oil, water, baking soda, etc.

I do the flylady thing of swish and wipe your sink and toilet when in bathroom in the morning. For the sink I use a squirt of (expensive!!!) shampoo which had ended up giving me an itchy scalp and was no use. I also use it to clean the tiles around the shower and the bath. Sometimes I'll put a squirt of it down the toilet and scrub but often put bleach down there. Sometimes I think it is about using something that you might not have thought about. Another thing I've done is use olive oil from the pantry on my face if i run out of cleanser or for a quick slap of moisturiser
W