Make your own cleaning products and save!

We all need to look at innovative ways of saving money.
Making your own cleaning products with items that you might well have in your pantry or store cupboard is fun, can work well, smell great and in addition, save you money. And no more toxic chemicals!

Basic ingredients for DIY cleaning products

Bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, apple cider vinegar, borax, citric acid, lemon juice or essential oil, liquid soap, water

Here are five common DIY cleaning products

Oven Cleaner

Ingredients: Bicarbonate of soda and water
Mix a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Coat the oven surfaces with this paste. Avoid the heating elements and bare metal. Let the mixture stand overnight. Next day, wipe it up.

Drain cleaner

Ingredients: Bicarbonate of soda, Vinegar or apple cider vinegar, water
This drain cleaner will clean and unclog a drain. Sprinkle ½ cup bicarbonate of soda down the drain and then add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Let it bubble for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse with hot water.

Dishwashing liquid

Ingredients: Borax, Bicarbonate of soda, Citric acid, Salt
Mix 1 cup borax, 1 cup bicarbonate of soda, and ¼ cup citric acid. Combine all of these ingredients in an airtight container. Use 1 tablespoon of mixture for each washing-up load. Use vinegar as a rinse agent.

General Cleaner

Ingredients: White vinegar, water, lemon juice
The vinegar and water need to be mixed in a 1:1 ratio. Add a few drops of lemon juice to counteract the smell of the vinegar. Mix in a spray bottle.
Caution: Do not use vinegar on marble, granite, or other stone countertops.

Shower cleaner

Ingredients: Bicarbonate of soda (1 cup), borax (1/3 cup), liquid soap (1/2 cup), 2 Tbsp vinegar, 1 cup warm water, 4 drops essential oil or lemon juice
Mix all ingredients together in a spray bottle. Combine well. Spray on to shower surface evenly. Leave for a few minutes. Wipe off and rinse.

Disclaimer

Please use the above ingredients with caution, use gloves and keep out of reach of children and grandchildren.  

Please keep ingredients and cleaning products well-labelled.

These cleaning solutions can minimize the use of toxic substances, reduce environmental harm and save a few rands.

However, results can vary and are not guaranteed. It is recommended that you test a small area before applying the cleaning solution to the full area.