Don't Buy It, Make It

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Inexpensive products for use around the house.

Do you want to save some money on household cleaning products? Try these recipes. Most work as well as, or better than, the store-bought brands, but are cheaper (sometimes a lot). As a bonus, most are also much more environmentally friendly than their mass-market counterparts.

GLASS CLEANER AND CHROME SHINER

1/2 cup cornstarch
2 quarts warm water
clean, soft rags

Dissolve cornstarch in the warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth or sponge. Use another soft cloth to dry and buff. Don't use this cleaner in direct sunlight or on a hot appliance or the cornstarch will leave streaks.

This product will do a good job for everyday cleaning of other appliances, too.

GENERAL HOUSEHOLD CLEANER AND DISINFECTANT (not for glass)

4 cups warm water
4 teaspoons washing soda*
1/4 teaspoon ammonia
clean, soft rags

Stir the ingredients together in a non-aluminum container until the washing soda is dissolved.

Wipe on with a soft cloth then dry with another. This product is good for times when the cleaner and shiner doesn't quite give the results you want. It has worked well for me on walls, too, but you should try it on some out-of-the-way spot first, just to be sure it won't harm your paint.

Since the soda tends to settle out, it's a good idea to mix up a fresh batch every time you need it.

*washing soda (Hydrated Sodium Carbonate) is not the same as baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). You can find it at most grocery stores near the Borax.

SCOURING POWDER

Sprinkle borax, baking powder, or dry table salt on a damp rag; scour and rinse. Salt is more abrasive than the other two, so use it accordingly.