Most household items, especially cleaning products, are 90% packaging and advertising. In other words, most of the time you can use common things you have around the house to get the same effect as products you buy at the store! Usually, the home brewed stuff can also be more environmentally friendlier and save you some extra dollars. Here are 7 items and their substitutes you can try making yourself:

1. All Purpose Cleaner
Recipe:
4 tablespoons baking soda
1 quart warm water

Dissolve baking soda in warm water. Apply with a sponge. Rinse with clear water.

2. Drain Cleaner
Recipe:
Drain Cleaner
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
Boiling water

Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and cover the drain, if possible. Let set for 5 minutes. Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. (The vinegar and baking soda break down fatty acids into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain.) Do not use this method if you have used a commercial drain opener and it may still be present in the drain.

3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Recipe:
Baking soda
Vinegar
Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with a toilet brush.

4. Glass Cleaner
Recipe:
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap (vegetable-oil based soap recommended)
3 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice
2 cups of water
spray bottle

Mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle.

5. Fabric softener
Recipe:
1/4C distilled white vinegar

Pour vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser or add manually during the rinse cycle.

6. Furniture Polish
Recipe:
1/4C olive oil
4Tbsp distilled white vinegar
20-30 drops of lemon essential oil

Mix ingredients together and pour into a spray bottle. Shake before using.

7. Carpet deodorizer
Recipe:
Baking soda

Sprinkle baking soda on carpet, using more in heavily trafficked areas or where pets stay. Vacuum after 20-30 minutes.