Save money: Make your own cleaners with everyday stuff

Published 9:06 pm Monday, March 9, 2009

The ingredients are probably all there in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets — baking soda, ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol.

Know what to mix with what and you could make your own household cleaners and save money.

One caution: Never mix ammonia and bleach, which can create a harmful, potentially lethal gas.

The Web site www. creativehomemaking.com is full of frugal cleaning tips. Many of the ideas not only will save you money but will help eliminate having to store toxic chemicals in your home.

For a general-purpose floor cleaner, the Web site says to mix 1/3 cup of Borax with one gallon of warm water, then add 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of ammonia.

For a wood floor cleaner, it says, mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1/2 cup of vegetable oil.

For shower cleaner, mix 1/4 cup of Lysol or another concentrated cleaner with 1/2 cup of isopropyl alcohol and water.

Clean glass with plain white vinegar.

Other tips are available at www.thriftyfun.com.

The Baltimore Sun