Homemade Cleaners – Budget Friendly But do they Work?
It seems more and more people are either looking for a way to save money in their household budget or are looking for a way to go green in their home. Using homemade cleaning products seem to solve both of those issues, however there is always that fear the cleaner won’t actually work. Green or not, if it doesn’t work it’s a waste of money.
Homemade cleaners are usually made with very few ingredients and ones you can readily find if you don’t already have them in your home. There are many different websites and blogs with recipes, most of them are similar in their ingredients and directions. I decided to put Window Cleaner and a General Purpose cleaner to the test. My goal is to see if basics that cost very little can actually clean like the name brands.
Window Cleaner Recipe
- 1 cup of rubbing (Isopropyl) alcohol
- 1 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar
The Test:I first tried the spray on the front the microwave and oven. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. It cleaned the fingerprints and dirt and didn’t leave any streaks. I then tried it on the bathroom mirrors and received the same results.
My Opinion:Making your own homemade window cleaner is inexpensive, easy and effective. I found it to work much better than the bargain brand cleaner. There were no streaks and I didn’t have to go back over it several times for it to dry cleanly.
General Purpose Cleaner Recipe
- 1 cup of vinegar
- 1 cup of water
The Test: I first tested the cleaner in the bathroom, scrubbing both the shower and the sink. The spray, while a strong smell at first, dissipated quickly and cleaned off soap scum easily. The next test was on the kitchen range top. The cleaner broke through the grease with ease.
My Opinion: Having a cleaner that cuts through grease without having to go back over it a few times is winner in my book. The smell is a bit strong, but no more than the chemical ones you buy at the store.
Overall, I am pleasantly surprised at how easy these two recipes were to make and even more happy to see them in action. They work beautifully and cost pennies compared to the name brands. If you are looking for quality performers while saving money in your household budget, give the homemade window cleaner and general purpose cleaner a try.