Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Recipes

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Items you will need:

• 1 Cup Borax (estimated cost is 25 cents)
• 1 Cup Baking Soda (estimated cost 33 cents)
• Large Mixing Bowl

Directions:

Mix equal parts Borax and Baking Soda in a large mixing bowl.  Mix until well combined.
This recipe will yield 14 uses.

**Use TWO tablespoons per load.
The cost to make this product is approximately 58 cents. Divide that by the number of uses (14) to get the cost per load/use -- 4 cents per load.

Homemade Scrubbing Powder

For this project you will need these items:

• 1 Cup 20 Mule Team Borax -- $2.99 per box (cost is 25 cents to use 1 cup out of the box)
• 1 Cup Baking Soda -- 66 cents per box (cost is 33 cents to use 1 cup out of box)
• 1 Cup Salt -- estimated the cost of 1 cup of salt to be around 19 cents
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring Cup

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl combine equal parts Borax, Baking Soda and Salt.  Mix together well.  Place contents in an air tight container when not using.
Total cost to make is 77 cents. 

How to make Homemade Laundry Detergent:

This recipe will make you 94 (one tablespoon) loads.  If you plan on using two tablespoons per load, then you will get 47 loads from this recipe.

For this project you will need these items:

• 1 Large Bar Laundry Soap -- 79 cents (found in the laundry detergent aisle)
• 1 Box 20 Mule Team Borax -- $2.99 per box (cost is 75 cents to use 1/4 of the box)
• 1 Box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda -- $2.29 per box (cost is 57 cents to use 1/4 of the box)
• Food Processor OR Cheese Grater
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring Cup

Directions: 

In the large mixing bowl, measure 3 cups of Super Washing Soda and 3 cups of Borax. Grate the whole bar of soap into small pieces.  This sounds hard, but the soap is very soft and easily grated. Place into the mixing bowl and mix all ingredients well.

Cost Breakdown:

Soap -- 79 cents

Borax -- used 75 cents worth

Super Washing Soda -- used 57 cents worth

Total cost to make is $2.11 to make 94 loads (one tablespoon) worth of Laundry Detergent.