Laundry Detergent Ingredients: 1 Box of Super Washing Soda 3 lb. size 1 Box of Pure Baking Soda 4 lb. or Ivory soap 1 container of Oxy-Clean 1. or Downy Unstoppables, for scent Instructions: Grate your Fels-Naptha Bar by hand or toss it in the food processor.

You want it to be grated as finely as possible. For Ivory soap, microwave it until foamy, then crush into a fine grade. In a large bowl or bucket, mix together the grated soap and all other ingredients. Pour into your container of choice. Take note that this recipe makes 18 pounds worth of detergent, so you'll need to have a rather large container.

To use, scoop Tablespoons of detergent into the wash load. This can be used in high efficiency washers. Fabric Softener Ingredients: 2 cups hair conditioner Suave is a popular, inexpensive choice 3 cups white vinegar 6 cups hot water A container to mix it in a pitcher is ideal, as it's easy to pour the mixture later Optional: Essential oil, for scent Instructions: Mix the water, vinegar, and conditioner together.

Stir for several minutes, until clumps disappear and mixture is smooth. Pour into a final storage container an old fabric softener jug or milk jug are perfect. Safe for high energy washers. Dryer Sheets To save costs on dryer sheets, try using a kitchen staple.

Add 2 cups of warm, distilled or boiled water to the mix. Shake well. Can be used as kitchen, bathroom, and countertop cleaner - it does disinfect! Wood Polish Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. lemon oil or fresh lemon juice Instructions: Using a funnel, pour olive oil, vinegar and lemon oil into a spray bottle.

To use, spray polish onto microfiber cloth and rub onto finished-wood furniture. Remove excess polish with a clean cloth. Add drops of essential oil of your choice. Shake the mixture before spraying. Not only does it do a great job cleaning but the orange essential oil gives it a pleasant natural citrus scent and the rubbing alcohol helps it evaporate quickly to minimize spots and streaks.

Hint: Avoid cleaning windows on a hot, sunny day or in direct sunlight, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks. For mirrors, spray the solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first before wiping.

To clean non-lacquered tarnished brass cabinet pulls, decorative ware, fixtures and more, dampen a sponge with vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle on salt. Lightly rub over the surface. Rinse thoroughly with water or a clean damp cloth, then immediately dry with a clean soft cloth.

Rust stains on porcelain or enamel sinks and tubs are no match for this heavy-duty homemade cleaner. Dip the lemon into the borax and scrub the surface, then rinse. This is not safe for marble or granite. Tip: You can find borax, a laundry booster, in the detergent aisle or order it on Amazon.

Get rid of grease with this homemade kitchen and oven cleaner. Sudsy ammonia contains detergent that helps remove tough grime on metal surfaces. Then clean your oven racks, stove hood, and grill by dipping a sponge into the solution and wiping over the surface before rinsing with clear water.

You can also soak oven racks and grill grates in the mixture directly, with a little extra ammonia if they're particularly dirty. Caution: Avoid using ammonia on aluminum.

It can darken it and cause pitting. Soak garment for minutes. If stain is still there, let it soak a bit longer, then wash the item as usual. This sudsy homemade cleaner can be used to clean marble.

To make this cleaner, simply mix 2 drops of dish soap , like Dawn , and water the next time you want to clean natural stone countertops.

Sponge over marble and rinse completely to remove any soap residue. Buff with a soft cloth; do not let the marble air-dry. Caution: Never use vinegar, lemon, or any other acidic cleaner on marble or granite surfaces; it will etch the stone. For many jobs , homemade cleaners can be just as effective as cleaners that you find in the store.

However, depending on how dirty the surface is that you are cleaning, sometimes you may have to scrub a bit more or do a second application. And make sure you label any bottle or container of homemade cleaner with what it is and the ingredients it contains. If you find that your homemade cleaner is not doing a good job cleaning, it may be time to switch to a commercial cleaner.

Always keep all cleaners away from children and pets. Carolyn Forte is the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, where she has worked for 40 years. Previously, she was a textiles analyst for Montgomery Ward and she has a B.

Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay. com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping. com and HouseBeautiful.

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