Frugal Household Recipes

Homemade Laundry Detergent
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 bar Fels Naptha or 1/2 bar Zote soap

Add grated soap to 8 cups water and heat until dissolved.
Add washing soda and Borax and continue to heat until dissolved.
Pour 8 cups hot water into a bucket.
Add soap mixture to the bucket of water and stir.
Add 1 gallon plus 8 cups hot water to bucket and stir.
Cover and let stand for 24 hours.

The mixture will be a gel-like consistency.  Pour into containers.  If it is too solid to pour, mix until becomes pourable.  I use old detergent bottles or milk jugs.

Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load.


Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup super washing soda
1 cup Borax
1/2 kosher salt
10 drops lemongrass essential oil

Mix washing soda, borax and kosher salt together.  Add lemongrass essential oil and whisk to blend. Use 1-2 Tbsp per load.  For best results, use apple cider vinegar as a rinse agent.

Homemade Dishwashing Liquid
1-2 Tablespoons vegetable glycerin
2 Tablespoons white distilled vinegar
1 cup grated castile soap or any other all-natural soap
1 1/2 quarts water
5-10 drops lemon essential oils (optional)

Grate the bar of soap to get enough to fill 1 cup. (about 1/2 bar)
Pour 1 1/2 quarts water in pot and add grated soap, glycerin and vinegar.
Heat until soap is dissolved, stirring occassionally.
Let cool until mixture reaches room temperature.
Add essential oils if desired.
Mix with stick blender.
Pour into containers and get ready to wash some dishes!

This homemade soap will not produce the suds like the store-bought detergents. Just remember, it's not the bubbles that do the cleaning!


Glass Cleaner
1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
1 gallon water
drop of Dawn dish soap (optional)

Mix and pour into spray bottles. Use newspapers to clean windows. The ink has an acidic value that prevents streaking.

All Purpose Cleaner
1 cup ammonia
1 cup washing soda
14 cups warm water

Mix and pour into containers.

Laundry Pre-Treat Spray
1/2 cup ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. liquid soap
2 quarts water

Mix ingredients together and pour into containers.  The baking soda will bubble and fizz when added to the vinegar, remember to add it very slowly allowing the "fizz" to settle. 

Spot Remover
3 Tbsp. peroxide
1 Tbsp. ammonia

Mix together and dab on stain. Leave set for 1 hour, then rinse.  This can not be stored. Make up as needed.  This mixture will produce a heated reaction and cannot be stored in a container.

Soft Soap
1 cup soap slivers
1 cup boiling water

Grind soap slivers to make 2 cups of "flakes". Pour boiling water over soap flakes until dissolved. Let cool. Add scented oil if desired.  Store in "pump" containers.

Septic Tank Treatment
2 cups brown sugar
1 Tbsp. baker's yeast
5 cups warm water

Stir sugar and yeast into warm water until dissolved.  Pour into toilet and flush.  Wait 30 minutes before flushing again.  Use immediately after making.

Homemade Natural Deodorant
5-6 Tbsp. coconut oil
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch

Combine baking soda and cornstarch.  Slowly add coconut oil.  Mix until desired consistency is obtained. This recipe makes enough to last about 6 months.