Save Money with Do-It-Yourself Home Products

As rising fuel costs force most of us to stretch our shopping budgets, you can save some cash on health care and cleaning products by using these home-made alternatives.

Sometimes it's as simple as reading the ingredient labels on the products you regularly buy. Whitening mouthwashes can cost a dollar more than standard antiseptic oral rinses, and the only additional ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, which is cheaper than the mouthwash itself. You can get the same results by mixing a 50/50 solution of mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide when you rinse, whether before or after brushing.

You shouldn't mix more solution than you will use in advance, as hydrogen peroxide degrades very quickly. Some sources warn that extended use of peroxide products for tooth whitening can soften tooth enamel, but most studies showing such effects are based on the much higher concentrations of peroxide associated with professional or in-home whitening kits. Using the standard 3% hydrogen peroxide preparation available in drugstores should have no adverse effects.

Menthol-eucalyptus rubs like Mentholatum and Vicks Vapor Rub can be pricey, and both are petroleum-based products, which many health professionals advise avoiding. The active ingredients are essential oils that can also be expensive, but you can make an affordable all-natural alternative with the right source of oils.

These commercial products have a high concentration of camphor, which I don't recommend using in home blends for safety reasons. You can get similar benefits from using peppermint and eucalyptus oils alone. Start with a base of "un-petroleum" jelly, available in health-food stores. To one ounce, add 40 drops each of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils and mix thoroughly.

This is a concentrated blend that should be used only on small areas, and not on children under two or women who are pregnant. For larger applications, use half the concentration of essential oils.

If you enjoy scented bath salts or soaps, you can use a mixture of one-third baking soda and two-thirds Epsom salts to make your own. Simply add your preference of essential oils to the mixture and mix thoroughly for a much-cheaper alternative.

Lemon essential oil added to mineral oil makes an inexpensive wood polish. Add twenty drops of lemon oil per cup of oil. This is an excellent polish for unfinished wood, which will absorb the oil. Avoid using on highly finished wood or veneer, as it will only attract dust.

Of course, essential oils can be expensive, so if saving money is your goal, it's important to find an economic source. Camden-Grey Essential Oils is a Florida-based online retailer of essential oils and other natural health care products, including un-petroleum jelly. I've found a dramatic price difference between their products those available in brick-and-mortar retail outlets, and the quality has always proven superior to brands sold in chain health-food stores. Using essential oils for health, beauty, and cleaning applications does require an investment up front, but since these oils are highly concentrated, you will save money in the long run.

Making your own health care and cleaning products takes some effort, but in our current economy, who isn't willing to take a few extra steps to get the most for our money? With just a little research and label-reading, you can often find cheaper alternatives to the most costly products on your shopping list.