How to Determine the Stock Up Price on Cleaning Supplies

Do you buy commercial cleaners or do you alternate between buying and making your own? 

Chances are you do a little of both – I love making my own, but when a great sale comes along, there are times I feel the urge to buy. However…. I have to be careful because I sneeze (and sneeze, and sneeze) with commercial cleaners.. they give me really bad headaches so I have to stay away.  

Pine Sol is a great example.. as soon as I open that bottle it triggers something that makes my head HURT all day.

What I usually do.. is buy them IF they are free, (and only if they are free which is rare) – and give them to my mother in law.

Sounds crazy but it’s true.  I reap the excitement of getting the deal but it benefits them.  There are some things that my Mother in Law won’t part from.. and one of them is bottled cleaners… she is the world’s biggest fan of Pine Sol and Fabuloso.  I have shown her how to make her own but there is something about the commercial bottle that makes her feel better.  

You need to know the stock up price on cleaning supplies if you are split between making your own and buying. Making your buying decision based on stock up price is the best way to determine what route is best. That way you always know the best deal either way. 

Vinegar is an all around easy and economical way to clean – you can see our last post for all the fun uses for Vinegar – from Laundry Softener to All Purpose Cleaner…. and if you have a Costco Membership, it’s 1 penny per ounce – that’s a stock up price!

I usually pick up 2 boxes at $3.79 each at one time, and they last me a very, very long time.

• Commercial:  2 cents per ounce or less
• Homemade:  1 cent per oz – using Vinegar ($1.79 per 128 oz at Costco = 1.3 cents per oz) 

Most of our household cleaners use Vinegar, Essential Oil (I use Young Living), and Dawn Dish Soap. The Dawn works great for us for Weeds in the Yard and Cleaning our Shower… and Vinegar is the cheapest form of Fabric Softener, not to mention if you have sensitive skin – you aren’t putting the chemical trail on your body.

So next time you see a sale, and you are torn between “Do I buy…” or “Do I make”… make it easy on yourself by comparing the price per ounce of the item you are looking at picking up.  

Is the gas, time to clip, and trip worth picking up that Lysol for $1? Or is it better to just pocket that $1 and put it towards the all around All Purpose Cleaner (Vinegar) that is already so cheap at Costco.

Unless you’re really really Brand Loyal to those commercial cleaners, Vinegar is just as effective if not better to use – save yourself the trip!

You can see these helpful posts for many household ways to use Vinegar, Peroxide & more:

• De-Funk your Towels with Baking Soda & Vinegar
• How To Make your Own Weed Killer
• 14 Uses for 20 Mule Team Borax {+ a Coupon}
• Easy 2-Ingredient Shower Cleaner {Dawn + Vinegar}
• Hydrogen Peroxide | 20 Popular Household Uses {with Printable}
• Baking Soda | 20 Popular Household Uses {+ Printable Reference}
• 20 Household Uses for Vinegar | From Laundry, to Cleaner & More