Module 02
Homemade Supplies
Walk through any cleaning products aisle and you'll find a different product for every single surface in your home. One for the toilet. One for the tub. One for glass. One for granite. One for stainless steel. Each one in a plastic bottle you throw away when it's empty, each one with a list of ingredients that reads like a chemistry exam. And you're paying a premium for all of it.
Here's the reality: most of those products are doing the same basic job with the same basic chemistry, just packaged and marketed differently. Once you understand what actually does the cleaning — the acids, the surfactants, the abrasives — you can make versions of most of them yourself for pennies on the dollar.
This section covers cleaning, garden and pest control, personal care, and two kits that every household should have but most don't think to build intentionally. All of the full recipes also live in the DIY Recipes section of Resources if you want a quick-reference version without all the explanation.
Cleaning
What You're Really Paying For at the Store
When you buy a name-brand cleaner, you're paying for the formula, the marketing, the bottle, and the shelf space. The actual cleaning agents in most of them are inexpensive commodity chemicals. Vinegar is acetic acid. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Castile soap is a plant-based surfactant. That's it. That's most of what's in there.
The six recipes below cover the vast majority of what a household actually needs. I've included cost-per-ounce comparisons so you can see exactly what you're saving.
All-Purpose Kitchen Spray
Yield: ~16 fl oz
Ingredients
- · 1 cup distilled water
- · ¼ cup white vinegar (standard 5%)
- · ¼ cup rubbing alcohol (70%)
- · 15 drops tea tree essential oil
- · 10 drops lemon or orange essential oil
Instructions
- 1.Combine all ingredients in a 16oz spray bottle.
- 2.Shake gently to combine. Label the bottle.
- 3.Spray surfaces and wipe clean. No rinsing needed.
Note: Uses standard 5% white vinegar — not the 45% horticultural vinegar, which is for the weed killer recipe. The alcohol is what gives this real disinfecting power.
Glass & Mirror Cleaner
Yield: ~16 fl oz
Ingredients
- · 1 cup distilled water
- · ¼ cup white vinegar (5%)
- · ¼ cup rubbing alcohol (70%)
Instructions
- 1.Combine all three ingredients in a spray bottle.
- 2.Shake to mix. Spray on glass or mirrors.
- 3.Wipe with a microfiber cloth or crumpled newspaper for streak-free results.
Note: The alcohol is what prevents streaking. If you're getting streaks, you may have hard water — try distilled water instead of tap.
Shower, Tile & Grout Paste
Yield: ~6 oz paste (one treatment)
Ingredients
- · ½ cup baking soda
- · ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide (3%)
Instructions
- 1.Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste.
- 2.Apply directly to tile, grout, or shower surfaces.
- 3.Let sit 10-15 minutes, then scrub and rinse.
Note: Make fresh each time — this one doesn't store well once mixed. The hydrogen peroxide activates against the baking soda on contact.
Dish Soap
Yield: ~20 fl oz
Ingredients
- · ½ cup liquid Castile soap
- · 1 tbsp washing soda
- · 10 drops lemon essential oil
- · 5 drops orange essential oil
- · 1-2 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional — adds thickness)
- · Distilled water to fill
Instructions
- 1.Add washing soda to a small amount of warm water and stir to dissolve.
- 2.Combine with Castile soap in a 20oz bottle.
- 3.Add essential oils and glycerin if using.
- 4.Fill remaining space with distilled water. Shake gently.
Note: Castile soap doesn't lather the way commercial dish soap does — that's normal. It still cleans effectively. If you want more lather, increase the Castile soap ratio slightly.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
Yield: ~25 oz / ~35 loads
Ingredients
- · 1 cup borax
- · 1 cup washing soda
- · ½ cup baking soda
- · 1 bar Zote or Fels-Naptha soap, grated
Instructions
- 1.Grate the Zote or Fels-Naptha bar using a cheese grater. Smaller shreds dissolve better.
- 2.Combine all dry ingredients in an airtight container.
- 3.Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed.
- 4.Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.
Note: Use 1 tbsp for regular loads, 2 tbsp for heavily soiled. This is a low-suds formula — safe for HE machines. Zote is the better budget pick; Fels-Naptha is slightly more aggressive on grease stains.
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Yield: ~5 gallons / ~200 loads
Ingredients
- · 1 bar Zote or Fels-Naptha soap, grated
- · 1 cup borax
- · 1 cup washing soda
- · ½ cup baking soda
- · 5 gallons hot water (divided)
Instructions
- 1.Melt grated soap in 4 cups of hot water on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring until fully dissolved.
- 2.Fill a 5-gallon bucket halfway with hot water.
- 3.Add melted soap mixture, borax, washing soda, and baking soda. Stir well.
- 4.Fill bucket to the top with hot water and stir again.
- 5.Cover and let cool overnight — it will gel. Stir before each use.
- 6.Use ¼ to ½ cup per load.
Note: The gel consistency after cooling is normal. If it's too thick, add more water and stir. The cost-per-load here is genuinely remarkable — a batch this size costs about $6-7 total.
Garden & Outdoor
Pest Control That Doesn't Cost the Earth — Literally
Chemical pesticides work. I'm not going to pretend they don't. But they also kill beneficial insects alongside the pests, leave residue on food you're planning to eat, and cost money on an ongoing basis. The DIY alternatives below are effective against most common garden pests when applied correctly — and "applied correctly" is doing a lot of work in that sentence, so read the application notes before you spray anything.
Natural Weed Killer
Yield: 1 gallon
Ingredients
- · ½ gallon 45% horticultural vinegar
- · ¼ cup borax
- · ½ gallon water
- · 3-4 drops dish soap (surfactant to help it stick)
Instructions
- 1.Combine all ingredients in a 1-gallon sprayer.
- 2.Shake to mix.
- 3.Spray directly on weeds during the hottest part of the day for maximum effectiveness.
- 4.Avoid spraying on windy days — this will kill any plant it contacts.
Note: The 45% vinegar is critical — standard 5% white vinegar from the grocery store is not strong enough. This is non-selective, meaning it kills everything it touches. Keep it off your garden plants.
Essential Oil Pest Sprays
Essential oils work as pest deterrents because of the aromatic compounds they contain — the same compounds that make them smell good to us are genuinely irritating or disorienting to many insects. Different oils target different pests, so knowing which one to reach for matters.
| Essential Oil | Targets |
|---|---|
| Peppermint | Ants, Aphids, Whiteflies, Beetles, Spiders |
| Cedarwood | Slugs, Snails, Ants |
| Lemongrass | Mosquitoes, Ticks |
| Lavender | Moths, Fleas, Flies |
| Tea Tree | Fungus, Mites, Mildew |
⚠️ Three Things to Know Before You Spray
The burn factor: Essential oils are highly concentrated. Use too much and you'll burn your plant's leaves — the oil will break down the cell walls. Never exceed 1-2% dilution, which works out to about 20-40 drops per quart of water. When in doubt, use less.
Reapply regularly: Unlike chemical pesticides that leave a residue, essential oils evaporate. You need to reapply every 3-5 days and after every rain. If you're not doing that, don't expect results.
Protect your pollinators: Even though these are natural, they can still irritate bees and other beneficial insects. Spray in the early morning or evening when pollinators aren't active, and avoid spraying directly on flowers.
Neem Oil Spray (Broad Spectrum)
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients
- · 1 quart warm water (warm helps the oil emulsify)
- · 1-2 tsp pure cold-pressed neem oil
- · ½ tsp liquid Castile soap (essential — acts as the emulsifier)
Instructions
- 1.Mix warm water and Castile soap first.
- 2.Slowly stir in the neem oil until fully combined.
- 3.Transfer to a spray bottle and apply immediately.
- 4.Spray the entire plant thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves.
Note: Use within 8 hours of mixing — neem loses potency quickly once mixed with water. This is one of the most effective broad-spectrum natural pest controls available. Works on aphids, mites, whiteflies, and many fungal issues.
Castile Soap Insecticidal Spray (Soft-Bodied Pests)
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients
- · 1 quart water
- · 1 tsp liquid Castile soap (Dr. Bronner's Peppermint works great — the mint adds natural repellent)
- · 1 tsp vegetable oil (optional — helps it stick to leaves)
Instructions
- 1.Mix soap and water in a spray bottle. Shake gently — avoid creating too many suds.
- 2.Add vegetable oil if using and shake again.
- 3.Spray directly onto the pests. Target the undersides of leaves where most insects hide.
Note: This is a contact killer — you have to actually hit the bugs for it to work. It's particularly effective on aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Not a preventative spray.
Garlic & Cayenne Spray (Larger Pests)
Yield: 1 quart
Ingredients
- · 2 bulbs garlic
- · 2 tbsp cayenne pepper (or 4-5 hot peppers, chopped)
- · 1 quart water
- · ½ tsp liquid soap (to help it stick)
Instructions
- 1.Blend garlic and peppers with the water until smooth.
- 2.Let the mixture steep overnight — at least 12 hours — to maximize potency.
- 3.Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a spray bottle.
- 4.Spray on the foliage of plants being targeted. Reapply after rain.
Note: This one targets larger pests — grasshoppers, beetles, and even browsing animals like rabbits and deer. It makes your plants taste and smell offensive. Not harmful to the plant, just deeply unpleasant for whatever is trying to eat it.
Personal Care
What You're Putting on Your Body Matters Too
Personal care is where a lot of people draw a line at DIY — and I get it. Cleaning your counters with homemade spray feels low-stakes. Washing your hair with something you made yourself feels different. But the reality is that the personal care industry is full of products with long ingredient lists that mostly exist to justify a price point, and the functional core of most of them is pretty simple.
Shampoo Base
Yield: ~8 fl oz
Ingredients
- · ¼ cup liquid Castile soap
- · ¼ cup distilled water
- · ½-1 tsp carrier oil (castor oil for thickness, coconut for moisture, grapeseed for lightweight)
- · 10-15 drops essential oil of choice (lavender, peppermint, or rosemary are all good)
Instructions
- 1.Combine all ingredients in a squeeze bottle or small pump bottle.
- 2.Shake gently before each use.
- 3.Apply a small amount — this doesn't lather like commercial shampoo, so use less than you think you need.
Note: There's a 2-4 week adjustment period when switching from commercial shampoo. Your scalp has been trained to overproduce oil to compensate for the stripping effect of commercial formulas. Stick with it — it levels out.
Body Wash
Yield: ~12 fl oz
Ingredients
- · ¾ cup liquid Castile soap
- · ¼-⅓ cup raw honey (natural humectant — draws moisture to skin)
- · ¼ cup carrier oil (coconut, olive, or sweet almond)
- · ~40 drops essential oil of choice
Instructions
- 1.Combine Castile soap and honey first and stir gently.
- 2.Add carrier oil and essential oils.
- 3.Transfer to a pump bottle. Shake before each use.
Note: Raw honey is the most expensive ingredient here — it's what keeps this recipe closest to commercial pricing per ounce. You can reduce the honey if you want to bring the cost down, though you'll lose some of the moisturizing quality.
DIY Toothpaste
Commercial toothpaste is mostly water, abrasive, and flavoring — with fluoride added for cavity prevention. This recipe covers the cleaning and whitening side well. Worth noting: this does not contain fluoride. If that's a consideration for your household, especially for children, keep that in mind.
Ingredients
- · 2 tbsp bentonite clay (detoxifies and polishes)
- · ¼ cup softened coconut oil (antibacterial binder)
- · 2 tsp baking soda (neutralizes acids, whitening)
- · ½ tsp xylitol (improves taste, inhibits cavity bacteria)
- · 15-20 drops peppermint essential oil
- · Optional: ¼ cup filtered water for creamier texture
Instructions
- 1.Combine clay, baking soda, and xylitol in a glass bowl.
- 2.Add softened coconut oil and mix to a paste.
- 3.Stir in peppermint oil. Add water if you prefer a softer texture.
- 4.Store in a small glass jar. Use a small spoon or toothpick to dispense — avoid putting a wet toothbrush directly in the jar.
Note: Don't use metal utensils with bentonite clay — it can reduce the clay's effectiveness. Glass or wood only.
DIY Deodorant (Two Versions)
One thing to know upfront: this is deodorant, not antiperspirant. It controls odor — it doesn't stop you from sweating, because sweating is something your body is supposed to do. If you're switching from an aluminum-based antiperspirant, expect a 1-2 week adjustment period where you may sweat more than usual while your body recalibrates. It levels out.
Standard Formula
Ingredients
- · ¼ cup baking soda
- · ¼ cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- · 4-6 tbsp virgin coconut oil
- · 10-15 drops essential oil (tea tree + lavender is the powerhouse combo)
Instructions
- 1.Whisk baking soda and arrowroot until no clumps remain.
- 2.Cut in coconut oil like pie crust if solid, or stir in if liquid.
- 3.Mix to a smooth paste. Add essential oils and stir vigorously.
- 4.Store in a small glass jar. Apply a pea-sized amount with fingertips.
Sensitive Skin Formula
For those who find baking soda irritating — some people do, especially with frequent use.
Ingredients
- · 2 tbsp shea butter
- · 3 tbsp coconut oil
- · 2 tbsp magnesium hydroxide powder or kaolin clay
- · 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
- · 1 tsp beeswax pellets (optional — for firmer stick consistency)
- · 10 drops cedarwood or bergamot essential oil
Instructions
- 1.Melt shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a double boiler.
- 2.Remove from heat. Whisk in magnesium and arrowroot until smooth.
- 3.Cool slightly, then stir in essential oils.
- 4.Pour into a deodorant tube or tin. Refrigerate 1 hour to set.
First Aid
Two Kits Every Household Should Have Built
Most people have a first aid kit that amounts to a box of old Band-Aids and a bottle of expired Tylenol shoved in a bathroom cabinet. That's not a first aid kit. A real first aid kit is something you've thought about in advance, assembled intentionally, and know how to use. And I'd argue that a homesteader specifically needs two of them — one for people and one for the house.
Neither of these needs to cost a lot. Most of what's on the list you either already have or can pick up for a few dollars. The point is having it before you need it, not scrambling for it when something goes wrong.
🩺 Human First Aid Kit
Rubbing Alcohol (70%)
Wound cleaning, surface disinfection. The 70% concentration is more effective than 91% for killing bacteria — counterintuitive but true.
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)
Wound cleaning, especially for deeper punctures. Don't use on healing wounds — it damages new tissue. Use once for initial cleaning.
Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment
Standard wound care. Apply after cleaning and before bandaging.
Witch Hazel
Natural astringent. Good for minor cuts, insect bites, bruising, and skin irritation. Lasts indefinitely.
Calamine Lotion
Poison ivy, poison oak, insect bites, chicken pox. If you're homesteading outdoors, this earns its spot.
Castor Oil
Draws out splinters and minor infections when applied and covered overnight. Old remedy that works.
Activated Charcoal
For suspected poisoning or stomach upset from bad food. Keep this in the kit and know when to use it vs. when to call 911.
Arnica Cream or Gel
Bruising, muscle soreness, swelling from impact injuries. One of the more effective natural topicals.
Epsom Salt
Drawing out splinters and deep infections, reducing inflammation. Soak affected area in warm Epsom salt water.
Medical Grade / Manuka Honey
Antimicrobial wound dressing for burns and difficult-to-heal wounds. Keeps the wound moist, fights infection, and doesn't stick when you remove the dressing.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Antiseptic, antifungal. Dilute before applying to skin — a few drops in a carrier oil for topical use.
Lavender Essential Oil
Burn relief, minor wound care, calming. One of the few essential oils gentle enough to apply without dilution in small amounts.
Gauze Pads (assorted sizes)
Wound coverage and dressing.
Medical Tape and Wrap
Securing gauze, wrapping sprains. Cohesive bandage wrap (like Coban) sticks to itself without adhesive.
Lamb's Ear Plant (Stachys byzantina)
Grow this one. The leaves are soft, naturally antibacterial, and have been used as emergency bandages for centuries. If you've got it in your garden, you've got a natural wound covering that actually works.
Aloe Vera Plant (live)
Burns, sunburn, minor skin irritation. The gel from a fresh-cut leaf is superior to anything in a bottle. Keep one growing on your windowsill.
The lamb's ear and aloe vera are worth growing specifically for first aid purposes — both are low-maintenance, both are genuinely useful, and having a live plant means you always have a fresh supply without worrying about expiration dates. They also tie directly into the herb and food production sections of this guide.
🔧 Household Temporary Fix Kit
Things break. Sometimes at midnight. This kit means you can stop the bleeding until you can fix it properly.
Duct Tape
The universal fix. Holds things together temporarily longer than it has any right to.
Flex Seal Spray
Rubberized spray coating that seals cracks, gaps, and small leaks on roofs, gutters, pipes, and more. The red can. Dries waterproof.
Flex Tape
Heavy-duty waterproof tape. Patches leaks and holes that need something physical to hold — where Flex Seal spray isn't enough.
Silicone Tape (Self-Fusing)
Wraps around pipe joints and fittings to stop leaks. Fuses to itself with no adhesive, so it's waterproof and removable.
Plumber's Teflon Tape
Wrap threaded pipe connections to stop slow leaks at joints. Every homeowner needs this.
Electrical Tape
Temporary wire insulation, splices, and minor electrical fixes. Not a permanent solution but buys you time.
Wire Nuts (assorted)
Connecting or capping electrical wires safely. Keep a variety pack — different sizes for different wire gauges.
Expanding Foam Spray (Right Stuff or Great Stuff)
Seals gaps, cracks, and drafts around windows, pipes, and foundations. Expands to fill irregular shapes.
Silicone Caulk
Waterproof sealing around sinks, tubs, windows, and exterior gaps. Paintable versions available.
Silicone Adhesive
Bonds almost anything — glass, metal, ceramic, rubber. Waterproof. Stays flexible after curing.
JB Weld
Two-part epoxy that bonds metal to metal with remarkable strength. For repairs where you need structural hold, not just sealing.
Screen Patches or Roll of Screen
Window and door screens tear. Having a roll of screen mesh and some patch adhesive means a 5-minute fix instead of a replacement.
Wire (assorted gauge)
Temporary structural fixes, lashing things together, holding things in place. Galvanized fence wire is endlessly useful.
Rope
Keep at least 50ft of quality rope on hand. Paracord for light duty, manila or braided nylon for real work.
Chain (short length)
Towing, securing, hanging weight. A few feet of medium-gauge chain covers most situations.
Assorted Common Nails
Keep a small assortment — 16d framing nails, 8d common, and a box of finish nails cover 90% of what comes up.
Assorted Common Screws
1¼-inch and 3-inch coarse-thread deck screws handle most structural needs. Add a box of fine-thread drywall screws.
Shims (assorted wood)
Leveling appliances, shimming doors and windows, filling gaps. Cedar shims are cheap and widely available.
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The Ingredient Sourcing Advantage
The biggest cost savings in homemade supplies come from buying key ingredients in bulk — washing soda, baking soda, Castile soap, borax, and essential oils are all dramatically cheaper per ounce when purchased in larger quantities. The affiliate links throughout this section are curated for the best price-per-ounce we've found, from sources that are consistent in quality. Once you have the base ingredients, most of these recipes cost pennies per batch.