We tend to spend hundreds of dollars each year on different types of cleaners that we use in our home. Whether for laundry, clothing, jewelry, Shabbos silver; the list is endless. I have learned that you can easily make these cleaners yourself for very little money and certainly with less chemicals. Here are some of my favorites:

Homemade Prespot:

1 part Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

2 parts hydrogen peroxide

Mix together and pour on stain

(You can use a toothbrush to apply)

Home Made Silver Cleaner

1 cup boiling water

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon white salt

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 sheet of tinfoil shiny side up

A bowl or bucket or sink depending on how much silver you are doing

Polishing cloth

Boil the water. While it is simmering, line the bottom of the bowl with the foil, shiny side up. Then add the salt and baking soda to the bottom of the bowl. Add the vinegar slowly (prepare for the fizz) and mix all together to dissolve the salt and baking soda. Add the boiling water to your bowl and then drop each piece of silver in the bowl. You can turn the pieces with salad tongs if you want to ensure that both sides get exposure to the tinfoil. Let sit a few minutes. Take each piece out and gently buff with polishing cloth.

If you are doing large quantities of silver, you can line your sink with lots of foil. Continue in the same manner but triple the amount of ingredients. I do my Kiddush cups and other silver pieces like this!!!

Home Made All Purpose Cleaner

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 Teaspoon Dawn Dishwashing Soap

4 Teaspoons white vinegar

1 1/2 cups plus a tad more warm water

Stir, Shake put in spray bottle.

Home Made Dusting Solution

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

¼ cup white vinegar

1 cup warm water

Stir and Shake up in spray bottle

Toilet Cleaner

¼ cup baking soda

¼ cup borax (you can buy this at Fairway)

1 cup white vinegar

Put this solution directly into toilet

Mix with brush; let stand 30 minutes then scrub

Granite Cleaner

½ cup rubbing alcohol

8 drops Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

2 cups warm water

Put in spray bottle

Glass Cleaner

¼ cup rubbing alcohol

¼ cup vinegar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 cups warm water

Mix and shake well

Put in spray bottle

(Shake well before using)

Grout Cleaner

½ cup baking soda

¼ cup vinegar

Mix in small container

Using toothbrush apply to dirty grout

Wait five minutes, rinse.

Showerhead Cleaning:

1/3 cup baking soda

1 cup white vinegar

1 plastic bag and twisty tie

Put all in a bag twist over your showerhead and leave overnight.

How to Clean Your Dirty Burners Easily

Take 1/4 cup of ammonia and seal it up with one of the burners in a large zipper type plastic bag. You are not supposed to soak the burner, but you just want the fumes to attack the grime. Leave outside on a cookie sheet. In the morning, the ammonia’s fumes should loosen up all the dirt and you can usually wipe clean with a sponge.

I’d love to hear from you. If you have any great homemade cleaning tips/recipes, please send to heimishhousehold_gmail.com

By Gail Hochmann