Play Kitchen Chemist—Save $200
Replace your standard household cleaning products with home remedies—just like the ones your grandma used. You could save up to $200 per year on commercial cleaning products and avoid exposing your family—and our groundwater—to tons of toxic substances.

Use these recipes:

All-Purpose Cleaner
8 cups of water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 baking soda
Mix in a spray bottle. Good for hard water stains. Can be stored for later use.

Disinfectant All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups water
3 drops Castile soap
30 drops lavender essential oil
Mix in spray bottle. Use on any surface (countertop, toilet, tile, kid's room).

Glass Cleaner
1 1/2 to 2 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent)
1 to 2 drops essential oil
Mix in spray bottle. Use to clean all glass surfaces or mirrors. Use newspaper instead of paper towels if possible.

Oven/Stove Cleaner
1 Tbsp. water
2 Tbsp. baking soda
Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Apply paste to spill spots. Let sit for two hours. Wipe up with sponge or scrub with old toothbrush.

Toilet Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
Mix ingredients in bowl or jar. Pour into toilet. After three minutes, scrub with brush and flush.

Bathroom Cleaner
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
Mix in spray bottle. Spray on areas with mold and leave on for at least an hour before rinsing.

Soap Scum
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup baking soda
Mix ingredients to make paste. Use to scour away soap scum with clean sponge, cloth or bristle brush.

Drain Cleaner
8 cups water
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup baking soda
Pour baking soda down the drain followed by the vinegar. Let sit for five minutes. Flush down with near-boiling water.

Carpet Stain Remover
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 borax
1/4 cup salt
Mix in bowl or jar. Rub paste into carpet and let dry. Then vacuum.

Carpet Deodorizers
1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup dried herbs (lavender, basil or rosemary)
Mix ingredients in flour sifter and sprinkle around room. Vacuum after 30 minutes.

Wood Furniture Polish
2 tbsp. borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
Mix and apply to clean cotton cloth. Use wide strokes to polish wood surface.

Fabric Softener
1/2 cup white vinegar
Add to rinse cycle in place of liquid fabric softener.