15 Cleaning Products That Aren't Worth the Money main image
Scroll Down To Continue

15 Cleaning Products That Aren't Worth the Money

Glass Cleaner

Glass Cleaner

Instead of buying Windex, make your own glass cleaner by combining 2 cups of water, ½ cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol (70% concentration), and 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil for fragrance.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Store in a spray bottle for convenient use. Now, Windex is not a really a product that will break the bank, but think about how many bottles you use per year—those small purchases can seriously add up! 

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Heavy-Duty Scrubs

Heavy-Duty Scrubs

Skip the noxious smelling Scrubbing Bubbles and make your own heavy-duty cleaner by dipping half a lemon into borax.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Scrub your bathtub, sink, and similar surfaces with it. Just be careful to not use this product on granite or marble. 

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Grease Cleaner

Grease Cleaner

Grease can be difficult to remove from your oven hood or grill, so instead of turning to expensive products, make your own.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Mix ½ cup of sudsy ammonia into one gallon of water. Dip a sponge into the solution and scrub away! Rinse clean with water. 

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

All-Purpose Cleaners

All-Purpose Cleaners

Lysol or 409 are great, but they are a little overpriced. If you want to save some money, make your own all-purpose cleaner by adding 4 tablespoons of baking soda to one quart of warm water.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Pour the solution onto a clean sponge and wipe away! Works like a charm.

Alf van Beem, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Stain Remover

Stain Remover

If you don’t want to purchase pricey OxyClean to get that wine stain out of your shirt, make your own. Simply add 1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent and 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of hot water.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Soak the garment in the solution for 20 minutes, then wash as usual. The stain will be removed!

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

White Ring Remover

White Ring Remover

If you get a white ring on your cherry coffee table, you don’t have to turn to harsh chemicals to get it out. Mix one part white, non-gel toothpaste to one part baking soda.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dampen a cloth with water, add the toothpaste mixture, and scrub.

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dishwasher Cleaner

Dishwasher Cleaner

Removing stains from your dishwasher is easier and cheaper than you think! Simply pour ¼ cup of lemon or orange drink powder into the detergent cup and run a regular cycle. Repeat if necessary. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Brass Cleaner

Brass Cleaner

To clean your drawer pulls and bathroom fixtures, you can skip the Brasso and make your own. Dip a cloth in white vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle table salt on the cloth and gently rub the brass surface. Dry with a clean cloth. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Marble Cleaner

Marble Cleaner

You need something gentle enough to not damage your countertops, but the store-bought stuff doesn’t come cheap. To save some money, add a drop or two of mild dishwashing liquid to two cups of warm water.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Sponge over the marble and dry with a cloth immediately. Your marble has never looked better!

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Tile Cleaner

Tile Cleaner

Ditch the Comet for a cheaper, healthier, DIY tile cleaner. Combine ½ cup of baking soda with liquid soap until the mixture resembles the consistency of frosting. For fragrance, add 5 to 10 drops of an essential oil.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dip a sponge into the mixture, scrub, and rinse. Your tile will look clean, and the room will smell nice!

(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Oven Cleaner

Oven Cleaner

Avoid introducing dangerous chemicals to your oven and save a little cash by adding 1 tablespoon of dish liquid and 1 teaspoon of borax to 2 cups of hot water. Pour ingredients into a spray bottle, spray the surface, and wipe with a cloth. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dust Cleaner

Dust Cleaner

Why buy a pricey, chemical-laden dust cleaner when you can make your own for a fraction of the cost? Combine 10 drops of lemon oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and a few drops of olive oil. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture and wipe any dusty surfaces. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Laundry Detergent

Laundry Detergent

The fragrances in many laundry detergents can cause allergies and migraines. Why pay for something that makes you sick? Instead, combine ½ cup of soap flakes, ½ cup of borax, and ½ cup of washing soda. Use ½ to 1 tablespoon of the mixture per load. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Bleach

Bleach

Adding bleach to your laundry cycle can end in a disaster. Luckily, there is a gentler, cheaper alternative: lemon juice. Simply add 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. Your whites will be whiter than ever!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Adina Firestone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dish Soap

Dish Soap

Instead of buying Dawn or Ajax, you can easily make your own dish soap for hand washing. Combine 1 cup of liquid castile soap, 3 tablespoons of water, and a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil. Use as normal. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
(Image via Adobe)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT