Homemade Household Products

I have found making my own household products to be not only rewarding but also a big money-saver. I hope you find the list that I compiled useful. I hope to add to it as I increase my repertoire.

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda (found in laundry detergent aisle, not baking soda)

1 bar either Fels Naptha soap (found in laundry detergent aisle about $1.26 a bar) or castille soap like Dr. Bronner’s (this is more expensive at $3.99 a bar, but there are many scent options)

Grate bar of soap (I use the food processor), you can also cut it and put it in your blender. Once grated add the washing soda and borax to either your food processor or blender and mix. Use one or two tablespoons per load. I put it in before I add the laundry and I usually use two tablespoons unless its a really small load. It works great!

Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Detergent Recipe 

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1/4 cup liquid dish soap

2 tablespoons pure lemon juice 

2 tablespoons salt

1 tablespoon washing soda

Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Mix until everything has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into glass container. Shake before using. Fill dishwasher compartment and pour white vinegar into rinse compartment. 

Homemade Counter Spray/Cleaner

1 cup water

1 cup vinegar

a few drops of your favorite essential oil

Just mix the ingredients and put in an old spray bottle. The vinegar smell with quickly disappear and the essential oil fragrance will linger.

Homemade Cleaner

Baking soda

Re-use a grated parmesan cheese plastic canister or punch holes in the top of a mason jar. Use as you would any powdered bleach cleaner.

Homemade Glass Cleaner

1 cup rubbing alcohol

1 cup water

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Remember to save newspaper to use instead of paper towels.

Homemade Floor Cleaner

1 Cup Vinegar

1 gallon of water

a few drops of essential oil

Mix in a bucket and mop.

Homemade Liquid Hand Soap

1 gallon distilled or purified water

1 8 oz bar of soap or two 4 oz bars of soap (I use a vegetable based soap from Trader Joe’s, Oatmeal and Honey, it costs less than $2.00 for two 4 oz. bars)

Bring water to a boil. Grate soap in food processor, or cut into chunks and put into blender. Add grated soap to boiling water, reduce to medium heat. Stir occasionally until melted. Put lid on and let sit overnight. The soap will get think, add it in portions into the blender and blend to reduce thickness. Store in tight fitting containers.

Homemade Liquid Eye Make-up Remover

1 cup water 

1½ tablespoon baby shampoo (tear free) 

⅛ teaspoon baby oil (coconut oil or olive oil)

Mix ingredients, I use an old face wash bottle with a pump.

Homemade Face Wash

Equal parts olive oil and castor oil for normal skin

One part olive oil to two parts castor oil for oily skin

One part castor oil to two parts olive oil for dry skin

Combine oils and apply a small amount to dry skin daily. Remove with a warm damp washcloth.

Homemade Lip Balm

1/3 cup beeswax

1/3 cup coconut oil

4 tablespoons raw honey

In a pot over medium heat fitted with a double boiler, melt the beeswax. Then add the coconut oil and honey. Stir using a plastic utensil or a spoon you'll only want to use for stuff with beeswax. Pour into small containers. Glass baby food jars work or little plastic containers work as well.