DIY Household Cleaners

Let's talk DIY. It saves you money; you can tailor whatever you are making to your own liking and at the end of the day there is a certain satisfaction out of completing your own project rather than buying the product at the store. DIYers have been at it for years; however, recently it seems as if there has been resurgence as people try cutting not only costs but potentially harmful ingredients in store-bought products. Check out these four fantastic "do it yourself" cleaning projects and give yourself a pat on the back when you're finished making them!

Laundry Detergent

Raise your hand if you run multiple loads of laundry a week. Okay now raise your hand if you dislike doing multiple loads of laundry a week…better yet raise your hand if you dislike doing even one load of laundry per week. Yep, that's what we thought. It's pretty much the worst. Try this DIY laundry detergent project though. No, it doesn't smell like "Fresh Spring Fields" or "Tropical Rainforest" but it will save you money. You'll also have a big smile on your face knowing that you made your own detergent while you're tossing your clothes in the washing machine.

What You'll Need:

• Cheese Grater
• Borax
• Fels Naptha soap
• Baking Soda
• Container
• Mason Jar

1. Grate an entire bar of Fels Naptha with a cheese grater into a container.

2. Add 1 cup of Borax, followed by 1 cup of baking soda

3. Mix it up and pour into a mason jar or other container with a tight seal.

Laavender Fabric Spray

Pillows, couch cushions and blankets, so comfy and cozy, could anything make them more comfortable? The answer is yes. Imagine laying your head down on your couch at the end of a long day and next thing you know you're transported to a field of lavender. How nice would that be? Lavender is known for its stress relieving qualities, but it's also has a handful of other fantastic uses. Let's not forget that it smells amazing! So  if you'd like to sanitize your living space and have it smell like beautiful lavender in the process, read up on this DIY Lavender Fabric Spray…you'll be glad you did.

What You'll Need:

• 2 Cups Measuring cup of distilled water
• 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol or vodka
• 15-20 drops lavender essential oil

1. Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle

2. Shake well and use

All Purpose Cleaner

Keeping a clean living space is essential. Not just for sanitary reasons but also for sanity reasons. Call it peace-of-mind, call it worry-free, call it whatever you would like but when you walk in to your kitchen, bathroom or living room and it's spot free and organized, you're going to feel really great about yourself and where you live. That all starts with what you're using to clean your space. Here's another really simple hack to give you an all-natural, All Purpose Cleaner that sanitizes and deodorizes. Give yourself another pat on the back, you deserve it!

What You'll Need:

• ½ cup Food Lion white vinegar (distilled)
• ½ cup water
• 12 to 24 drops of essential oil (lemon and rosemary, but feel free to experiment with others!)
• Spray bottle
• Measuring cup
• Funnel

1. With a measuring cup and funnel, add the vinegar and water in the desired ratio

2. Add the essential oils directly to your spray bottle

3. Shake the bottle to incorporate the essential oils

4. Label the bottle

Stain Remover

Muddy shoes, pets, and spills are just a few things that can contribute to dirty carpets and rugs. You can spend all the money in the world on carpet cleaning and one minute later a glass of grape juice hits the carpet and boom! Another stain. This next DIY cleaner is something you can always have on hand…as a matter of fact; you probably already have the ingredients!

What You'll Need:

• Food Lion white vinegar
• Food Lion baking soda

1. Mix white vinegar and baking soda together to form a paste

How to use:

1. Work the paste into any carpet and upholstery stains with a brush or something similar.

2. Allow the paste to dry.

3. Vacuum up the paste and the stains should be gone. Repeat as necessary.