I make my own carpet refresher and deodorizer. I put a few drops of essential oil in some Baking soda and sprinkle it over my carpets.
I use vinegar for many 
things. I put about a cup of white vinegar in to a sink full of hot water and some essential oils and that is what I use to clean my bathrooms and kitchen with and mop my floors. I got a big squirt bottle and filled it about half way with vinegar and the rest of the way with water and some drops of essential oil and that is what the kids use to clean the bathrooms with. They just spray the counter tops and toilet and wipe it off. No harsh chemicals, no fake fragrances or dyes, and if the baby get the bottle and decides to sample it…no worries!
I do this for hand soap.
The next few things I am going to be working on is: laundry soap, dish soap and glass cleaner. I finally ran out of glass cleaner this week, so when I do my shopping I will be picking up some rubbing alcohol so I can make this recipe.
I have been experimenting with dish soap. So far this is what I do: Sprinkle some borax and washing soda in a sink full of hot water, then add some flakes of my bar soap. (Yes I make my own soap…that is another post). I use that for the dishes that don’t go in the dishwasher, and to wipe off the 
counter tops after dinner. So far I have been loving the results. I am going to try melting down the soap and adding the borax and washing soda to the hot soap, then I am going to put it in an old dish soap bottle and use it that way….we will see….like I said I am still experimenting.
Laundry soap, haven’t tried that yet but I will be soon. I have read a lot of recipes and mostly they seem to be a mixture of borax, washing soda and soap. My friend Mrs Mordecai, has a good recipe here.
Soap for my dishwasher….I have been trying a few things and I am not happy with anything. I have this obsession with sparkling glass and I have been very unsatisfied with everything I have tried.
When I buy cleaning supplies I purchase only a few things: Borax, Washing Soda, Vinegar, Rubbing Alcohol and bleach. I don’t have 50 different bottles for 50 different things. There are no harsh dangerous chemicals (excepting the bleach, and it is used sparingly) I don’t have to worry about the kids helping me clean and everything is so cheap!
Please, if any of you have any other idea share them with us!
My mom cleaned houses for years and she discovered the best window/glass cleaner is water. Nothing in it, just water. You use a rag to clean and a dry paper towel to dry and it comes out cleaner and more streak-free than any products.
Plus then you don’t have to worry about kids getting it anywhere when they go crazy with the squirt bottle.
You rock! Where do you buy your Borax and Washing soda? I found it in Springville, but not going to drive there!!! Also, I don’t use paper towels hardly at all anymore! I’ve found awesome lint free clothes from Wal-mart that work amazing! I am going to finish off all my comet and windex and start with you on this adventure! THANKS BABE!
Hey, thanks for visiting my blog. That idea for the egg carton just popped into my head, as most of my ideas do, LOL!
I want to try to make homemade laundry soap, but I can’t find washing soda anywhere!
Washing soda and borax can be found in the laundry section of your grocery store. I have bought it at Target and at Macey’s (a local store). I am sure Wally World would carry it too.
I have tried dishwasher soap and it hasn’t worked for me either. It’s the giant cheap buckets for me until I can figure it out, if I ever do!
I find borax and washing soda at my grocery store in the laundry aisle. I know that Target has borax. If you can’t find washing soda, baking soda is an acceptable substitute.
Wow, every one sounds so ambitious. I’m still working on making my own bread. Cleaning products aren’t even on my radar yet.
I’ve been experimenting a tad with cleaning w/vinegar. I never thought to add essential oils to it.. what kinds do you use?
I use Young Living essentail oils. For cleaning I use their Theives blend, it is anti-viral and ant-bacterial.
I am a distributor for Young Living, if anyone would like me to order them some, e-mail me and I would be happy to.
You inspire me. I love your desire to be self sufficient and to follow our prophets counsel.
I made all my cleaning products for years but then for some reason I stopped. I need to start again.
Have you ever made your own cleaning wipes like the commercial ones? The commercial ones are so expensive but I love having some around for quick wipe ups so I made my own.