The next time you need cleaning supplies take a trip to your pantry, not the store. You already have the basic household items needed to mix up any number of cleaners and keep your place sparkling clean and germ-free. Recipes? You need recipes? Well, this must be your lucky day because I've got recipes!

All-purpose cleaner. Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 cup plain household ammonia and 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 gallon warm water. Pour mixture into a spray bottle.

Window, glass and mirror cleaner. Mix 2 cups isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), 2 tablespoons liquid dishwashing detergent and 2 cups water in a spray bottle.

Floor cleaner for ceramic tile, vinyl and linoleum floors. Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 gallon hot water. Mop any ceramic tile, vinyl or linoleum floor with this solution. There's no need to rinse.

Heavy-duty floor cleaner. Mix 3/4 cup plain household ammonia and 1 gallon warm water. Use on heavily soiled floors — but not wooden floors. There's no need to rinse.

Wood-floor cleaner. Steep two regular tea bags in 2 quarts boiling water. Let the water cool to room temperature. Remove the tea bags. Wet a cloth mop or sponge mop with the cleaner. Wring it well; it should be barely damp. Mop the floor. The tannic acid in tea is great for the wood and leaves a beautiful shine.

Tub cleaner. Pour 1/2 cup blue Dawn dishwashing liquid into a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with vinegar. Spray cleaner on tub and enclosures. Scrub the surfaces. Rinse well. This cleans better than any commercial product and gets rid of the most challenging tub and shower stains.

Furniture polish. Combine 2 parts olive oil (or vegetable oil) and 1 part lemon juice (or white vinegar) in a glass jar. Seal tightly. Shake well. Use sparingly: Apply a thin coat with a soft cloth, and buff well.

Jewelry cleaner. Make a 50-50 mixture of household ammonia and water. Soak jewelry, brush the jewelry and rinse the mixture off completely. DO NOT use this on opals, pearls or any other soft stone.

Caution: While none of these formulas include liquid chlorine bleach, if you develop your own formulas, never mix chlorine bleach with any other product. You could create deadly chlorine gas. Always label the products you create, make sure the lids are tight and covered, and keep the products out of reach of children and pets.

And one more thing: Don't forget to keep track of all the money you're saving by not buying pricey commercial cleaning products. It will be a lot!

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.