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View Full Version : Frugal cleaning products to make at home



razz
12-17-16, 2:43pm
This one is new to me. I have read about homemade laundry detergent, but an alternative to Oxyclean is worth exploring. People have been avoiding chlorine bleach but the alternative is pricey.

I finally had the time and thought to check out the ingredients in the Totally Awesome oxygen cleaner (C$1.25 for a large container of crystals) vs a quart of liquid Oxyclean (C$9.99).
Totally Awesome products are available at the Dollar Tree chain.

Oxyclean is a mixture of liquid hydrogen peroxide and washing soda according to a Google search. They have obviously found a way to stabilize the mixture as the peroxide mixture will normally lose effectiveness after 6 hours.
Totally Awesome Oxygen Cleaner is a mixture of a dry form of hydrogen peroxide and washing soda.
I didn't know that there was a dry form of peroxide so that was interesting. Making a solution of the Totally Awesome with hot water and spraying it on stains works well I have used the Awesome crystals with hot water to soak and then clean my hand towels that were getting very brownish stains and they are cleaning up very well.

Apparently if one wants an instant stain remover, mix water, liquid peroxide with the washing soda then it is immediately effective but the crystals need a little more time to first dissolve.
Apparently the peroxide/washing soda mixture is very good for general cleaning of stains as well - use rubber gloves when handling peroxide/oxyclean mixtures.


I have added the recipe below to give an idea of the strength of the mixture which can be mixed anytime it is needed.
Homemade recipe
Ingredients

2 parts water
1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide
1 part washing soda
Instructions

Combine all ingredients as needed to use them. I don’t recomend storing this mixture as it loses effectiveness.
Use as a pre-treat spray on stains or add the entire mixture to a load of laundry, add water and let soak for 30 minutes before washing.

frugal-one
12-17-16, 2:49pm
There are MANY books on the subject. I checked a few out of the library and use quite a few of the recipes.

Tybee
12-17-16, 3:18pm
Just want to add that we have been using the Duggars recipe for laundry detergent for about 7 years now, and heaven only knows how much money we have saved. It also does not aggravate my allergies. Recipe here:

http://www.duggarfamilyblog.com/2011/03/duggar-recipe-liquid-laundry-soap.html

19Sandy
12-17-16, 3:27pm
I buy some cheap laundry detergent at the dollar store here but don't use a lot of it. I am sensitive to a lot of products too. Of course, I only have to wash clothes and such for me so that makes a difference. Most people don't have clothes that get that dirty or smelly anyway.