In these turbulent times, many of us are seeking ways to conserve our resources, especially money. However, this must be done efficiently, without spending excessive time and exerting unnecessary efforts. A recent discovery has been the significant savings achievable by producing our own cleaning products. This not only reduces our expenses but also requires minimal effort on our part.
MULTISURFACE CLEANER
Our venture began with crafting a homemade multisurface cleaner, driven by the desire to avoid paying hefty amounts for products composed primarily of vinegar. Moreover, we sought to eliminate the need for a separate glass cleaner by creating a universal solution that was effective on both hard surfaces and glass items. This led to the making of an easy-to-create formula.
If you have empty cleaning bottles at hand, consider reusing them to prevent any additional costs. It’s essential, though, to thoroughly sanitise these containers before refilling them. Once cleansed, they provide a ready vessel for our new cleaning solution, which comes at no extra charge.
In case you lack reusable spray bottles, you can find affordable alternatives at Dollar Tree for a mere dollar each. As these bottles are reusable, each time you prepare the solution, the cost efficiency further counterbalances the initial investment of one dollar.
We usually use a 28 oz spray bottle, which is readily available, but if you have a different size, simply scale the recipe to match. Now, with your cleaned spray bottle at the ready, you’ll need:
– 1 cup of White Vinegar (also available at Dollar Tree)
– Assorted essential oils (Cinnamon Bark, Thyme, Peppermint, Lavender, Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Black Pepper, Oregano, Clove, Orange, Coriander, and Copaiba)
– Water
For each bottle, we insert about 35 to 40 drops of essential oils, each possessing their unique antimicrobial properties. These specific oils have been chosen for their ability to combat certain harmful elements. We typically employ a mixture of 5 to 7 oils to ensure a comprehensive targeting of various microorganisms.
To prepare the solution, start by selecting the essential oils and deciding the quantity for each. Add them to the vinegar in the spray bottle and swill it around to ensure a good mix. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water, secure the top and give it a gentle shake to blend everything together.
This homemade cleaner has served us well for a long time, proving to be impressively practical and profoundly cheaper than any available commercial product – all without unnecessary additives. It’s straightforward and efficient.
FOAMING HAND SOAP
The decision to create our Foaming Hand Soap stemmed from the associated high costs and wastage. Using high-end hand soap bottles and only refilling the soap led to frequent spillage, much to our annoyance, and complaints from the kids on its inadequate bubbliness.
Thus, we sought out a solution. We bought inexpensive foaming hand soap from Dollar Tree (do you notice a pattern here?) and placed one in each bathroom. Once the soap ran out, we got innovative.
We bought a refill bag of hand soap for $3, designed to refill three dispensers. Instead, we rinsed out the foaming soap dispensers and added a small portion of the refill soap (around 1 tbsp, but this might vary depending on your dispenser size). We then filled the dispenser with water at a low speed, placed the top back, and swirled it around for a good mix.
Keep in mind, overfilling soap can result in reduced foam and harder dispensing, so some trial and error might be required. However, the financial saving has been massive. That single $3 refill bag has managed to last us almost for the whole year.
DISH SOAP
After our successful ventures with hand soap, we turned our attention to dish soap next. With seven members in the house, we frequently had a pile of dishes to clean! A regular bottle of dish soap costs between $4 – $5, and we used one every 3-4 weeks. We figured that we could use the same trick as with the hand soap.
We bought a regular bottle of dish soap and a foaming soap dispenser for a dollar. We poured about a tbsp of the dish soap into the dispenser and filled the rest with water. Using a foaming dispenser resulted in less concentrated, yet still effective soap.
This simple change has allowed us to replace the full bottle of dish soap every 3-4 months instead of weeks, accruing significant savings!
In conclusion, creating your own cleaning supplies can be a substantial money-saving strategy. It’s easy, cost-effective and these supplies are used regularly. Starting with a Multisurface Cleaner, Foaming Hand Soap and Dish Soap can provide a solid foundation, helping to create customized cleaning products while saving loads of money. What are some products you make yourself that save you money?
