the cleaning post

A couple of months ago when I took a good look at our family budget and expenses, I almost peed my pants when I realized how much money I was spending on ‘products’ (cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc.). And while I’ve not figured out how to make my own toothpaste or deodorant (not that I would want to, either), I did take some time and experiment with different DIY cleaning solutions.

I started researching the internet and found several different recipes for cleaning supplies. I tried some and I tweaked others. I really like some of the solutions I made, and I found that others didn’t work so well for me. I’ve been using my DIY solutions for about 3 months now. I don’t use DIY solutions exclusively, but I do use it for most of my cleaning. The only store bought cleaner I use now is window cleaner, Lysol wipes (for big jobs), and laundry/dish detergent. I would eventually like to make my own mixes of these cleaners, but my name is not June Cleaver.

I get everything I need to make my mixes at Dollar General. It’s simple stuff and easy to find. Now that I make my own cleaners, I’ll never go back to the store bought stuff. I save SO much money making it myself, and, I feel about 183717 times better about using it in my house around PB.

Here’s the rundown of what I use/do:

‘All-purpose’ cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup lemon juice

Mix together and store in a spray bottle.

Tub cleaner


all-purpose cleaner (see above)
baking soda

I spray my all-purpose cleaner in my tub, and I sprinkle baking soda (you can get 2 for $1 at DG) around the tub. Let it sit for a few minutes and scrub. When the baking soda and the all-purpose cleaner meet, it makes a fizzling noise and good things happen. The nerd in me really gets a kick out of this. (Use vinegar sparingly in a tile tub, as it can irritate grout).

Toilet cleaner


all-purpose cleaner (see above)
baking soda

Spray the sides of the toilet and the toilet bowl with all-purpose cleaner. Then sprinkle baking soda in the  toilet. Okay, can I just call it a commode? Because that’s what I call it. So anyway, sprinkle baking soda in the commode and let it sit for a couple of minutes, then scrub with a commode brush.

All-purpose kitchen cleaner


1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tsp. castille soap or dishwashing soap (I just use my regular Dawn dish detergent)

Mix and store in a spray bottle.

Wood cleaner


1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar

Mix and store in a spray bottle. Wipe wood with a microfiber cloth.

For my Swiffer


I use my all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth, cut in half. I got my microfiber cloth at DG, too. Wet your microfiber cloth with warm water, and then liberally spray the microfiber cloth with all-purpose cleaner. Remoisten as necessary. Toss the microfiber cloth in the wash and reuse!

Dryer Sheets


When I get a new box of dryer sheets, I cut them in half and double the use!

Carpet Odor


Wash the area with warm soapy water and a rag. Then lightly sprinkle with baking soda and let it sit for a minute or two. Then wipe the area again. PB has a target when he pukes, and that target is any rug in the house. I’ve tried a blue million cleaning supplies, but every one still leaves a little lingering puke smell. So far, this combination is the only thing that completely takes the smell out!

**As with any new cleaning product, you should always test a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t cause any reaction or issues.

For more cleaning supplies, check out Aryn’s guest post here. 

What about y’all? Do you have any good DIY cleaners? And good cleaning tricks?

Have a blessed Tuesday 🙂