# Save Big Money! 1,001 Secret Household Formulas!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 5, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610 "2013-12-05T22:52:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/1 "2013-12-05T22:52:44Z")

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When I was younger I remember coming across books promoting this in the library–but when I looked at the formulas I didn’t have a clue as to where to buy the vast majority of the ingredients.

But now in the age of the internet one should be able to find these ingredients!

So perhaps some Dopers could share their experiences as to what household products they save big money on by buying the ingredients and making themselves?

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**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/2 "2013-12-05T23:43:21Z")

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It’s probably cheaper to go to the dollar store now.

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**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/3 "2013-12-05T23:58:22Z")

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> [@Marion\_Wormer](#):
>
> It’s probably cheaper to go to the dollar store now.

Yeah, because the Chinese counterfeiters have no problems finding “ingredients.”

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**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/4 "2013-12-06T02:10:35Z")

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> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#):
>
> Yeah, because the Chinese counterfeiters have no problems finding “ingredients.”

While that concerns me for medication, toothpaste, food, and other things, it doesn’t concern me for cleaning products. BTW, don’t get your toilet bowl cleaner at the dollar store as it pretty much doesn’t work. The Comet, windex substitute, dishsoap etc have been okay for me.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/5 "2013-12-06T02:41:13Z")

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It seems to me that EVERY secret household formula is water plus one or more of the following: vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, dish soap, cream of tartar or ashes from your fireplace.

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**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-big-money-1-001-secret-household-formulas/675610/6 "2013-12-06T03:24:55Z")

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> [@kunilou](#):
>
> It seems to me that EVERY secret household formula is water plus one or more of the following: vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, dish soap, cream of tartar or ashes from your fireplace.

And elbow grease. 🙂