Cream of Tartar
This powder might just look like an unassuming white powder normally reserved for meringue. Mixed with vinegar, it can shine aluminum, lift rust, and clean burned pans with vinegar like it’s auditioning for a reboot of “Extreme Makeover: Kitchen Edition.” It’s gentle but effective, like your nicest friend who still manages to roast you with love.
Dish Soap and Vinegar
Individually, dish soap and vinegar are certainly great cleaners, but combined, the two are a power couple that tackles soap scum with great flair. Dish soap cuts grease, vinegar breaks down grime—combine them for a tub and tile cleaner that laughs in the face of soap scum. Equal parts sass and sparkle in a spray bottle.
Before shelves were stacked with a million sprays, foams, and wipes promising miracles, folks just mixed up magic at home. A pinch of this, a splash of that, and voilà: clean counters, shiny floors, and money still in the wallet. Let’s dive in!
Vinegar and Water
Mirror, mirror on the wall—who’s the cheapest of them all? A simple vinegar and water combo gives store-bought glass cleaners a run for their money. And it'll leave your windows streak-free and shiny. No blue liquid needed here! Just the old-fashioned brilliance in a spray bottle.
Baking Soda
Do you have a dirty sink? Don't grab a chemical cocktail. Baking soda is here to save the day. Simply sprinkle, scrub, rinse, and you'll be smiling at your sparkling sink. It's abrasive enough to scrub but gentle on surfaces as well as your bank account. Martha Stewart, who?
Lemon Juice
Does your microwave smell like you left a burrito in there 4 years ago? Grab a bowl and mix lemon juice with water, put it in the microwave, and let the lovely citrus steam do the work for you. You’ll wipe away the gunk with ease, and your microwave will smell like a spa, not a sad snack graveyard.
Olive Oil
Forget pricey wood polish. Use olive oil and lemon juice instead. This duo buffs your wood furniture like a dream. Your dining table will glow like it just got back from a luxury retreat—without the sticker shock. Just don’t confuse it for salad dressing.
Cornstarch
Vacuuming tired rugs? Give them a little love with cornstarch. Sprinkle it on, wait 30 minutes, then vacuum like a domestic god/dess. It soaks up oils and odors like a pro—and won’t leave your living room smelling like "industrial lavender breeze surprise."
Rubbing Alcohol
Forget overpriced electronic wipes. A dab of rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth cleans screens and keyboards like a charm. It dries fast, kills germs, and costs less than your coffee habit. Just don’t go overboard—your phone wants to be clean, not embalmed.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Need a bathroom brightener that doesn’t reek of bleach? Hydrogen peroxide is your bubbly little miracle. It disinfects grout, freshens up toilets, and whitens sinks—all without the “hospital hallway” vibe. Just pour, let fizz, and wipe. It’s like science class but with cleaner tiles.
Salt
That’s right—salt isn’t just for popcorn and margarita rims. This humble mineral scrubs cast iron, removes red wine from carpets, and deodorizes cutting boards like a champion. Combine it with lemon juice for a scrub that’ll make your sink sparkle like it’s auditioning for a commercial. Pro tip: coarse salt works better—and makes you feel extra fancy.
Club Soda
Got club soda? You’ve got a stain-fighting, chrome-polishing, upholstery-refreshing superstar. It can fizz up spills, zap carpet catastrophes, and polish stainless steel like it was fresh out of the box. No chemicals, no drama—just bubbles doing the dirty work. It also costs less than your fancy flavored seltzer and won’t make your fridge look judgy.
Borax
Borax is the old-school, no-nonsense cleaner your great-grandma probably hoarded—and for good reason. It boosts laundry detergent, scrubs toilets, kills mildew, and even deters bugs. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of powders. Just don’t eat it (seriously).
Coffee Grounds
Used coffee grounds don’t belong in the trash—they belong in your cleaning routine. They scrub pots, deodorize drains, and even exfoliate your hands after a garlic-chopping session. They also give you a legit reason to drink more coffee. Cleaning and caffeine? That’s what we call multitasking.
Essential Oils
Essential oils like lavender, lemon, and tea tree aren’t just for your diffuser and “good vibes only” moments. Add a few drops to vinegar or baking soda, and suddenly, you’ve got a cleaner that smells like a spa instead of a science lab. They fight bacteria and boost your mood. Clean with aromatherapy flair because your nose deserves a treat too.
Rice
If you have gunk stuck inside a narrow vase, bottle, or blender, don’t panic. Just pour in a handful of rice with warm water and soap, then swirl like you're mixing a martini. Voilà—no more grime. It’s basically nature’s tiny sponge, minus the packaging and price tag. Who knew sushi ingredients doubled as sink-side saviors?
Toothpaste
Got scuffed sneakers, cloudy headlight covers, or crayon-covered walls? Toothpaste isn’t just for your pearly whites—it moonlights as a mighty little scrub. Dab it on your silverware, sneakers, or fogged-up bathroom mirror, rub it, and rinse it. And that’s it. Just go with the plain white paste, not the glitter gel kind. Unless you’re cleaning a unicorn. Then, by all means, sparkle on.
Castille Soap
This classic soap is a multitasking machine. Just a few drops with water will clean floors, dishes, counters—you name it. It’s made from plant oils, which means it's gentle, good for the environment, and it seems to look down upon bottles of store-bought cleaners. It’s also a major plus that it makes your home smell like it’s about to be featured in a spa catalog.
Dryer Sheets (Used Ones! )
Before you toss the dryer sheet, hear us out. These sheets still have some fight left in them. They freshen up a pair of shoes, dust a set of blinds, and even scrub soap scum off the shower door. It’s the little rag that could. Eco-friendly, budget-friendly, and full of second-chance sass.
Vodka
No, not for stress-cleaning with a cocktail—though we won’t judge. Vodka actually makes a fantastic glass and surface cleaner. Spray it on mirrors or faucets for a streak-free shine. It evaporates fast and kills odors, too. So next time you spot the cheap stuff at the store, remember: it might clean your bathroom better than your roommates.
Coconut Oil
Sticky labels and gunky hinges don’t stand a chance against coconut oil. It removes residue, shines surfaces, and moisturizes your hands while you work. It’s a multitasking marvel—and if it makes your kitchen smell like a beach vacation, we’re not complaining.
Baking Powder
Yes, it's different from baking soda. Mix baking powder with vinegar for a foaming cleaner that makes your sink sparkle like it just got a promotion. It’s a little less gritty but just as eager to scrub its way into your heart.
Lemon Peels
Before discarding those lemon peels, think again! They’re Mother Nature’s refreshing little scrubbers. Soak them in vinegar for a week, and you suddenly have your own citrus cleaner. The natural oils cut through grease, the vinegar disinfects, and your kitchen smells like a summer orchard. Martha Stewart would be proud (and maybe jealous).
Baby Shampoo
Gentle for babies, but fierce on stains. Use baby shampoo to clean all of your delicate fabrics, your makeup brushes, and to wipe dust off your blinds. It’s basically your home’s soft-spoken overachiever—quiet, effective, and never leaves streaks.
Chalk
Got a grease stain? Rub it with white chalk before washing. It absorbs oils like a charm. Plus, you’ll feel oddly powerful drawing on clothes and calling it cleaning. Just make sure it's plain old chalk—not your kid’s glittery sidewalk collection.
Banana Peel
Before you dispose of that peel, just know this: It buffs leather shoes and the leaves of houseplants to a nice shine. Who knew snack time could lead to a glow-up? Just don’t forget which side’s the mushy one, or your shoes might end up more slippery than stylish.
