Anyone trying to save money, use less chemicals in their homes and minimize the amount of trash their family puts in the landfills every year, might already be making homemade cleaning solutions---for everything from the kitchen to the bathroom and everything in between. In fact, if you have a bottle of white vinegar and a box of baking soda, you can get just about anything clean. One of the easiest cleaners to make is by mixing white vinegar and water----you can play around with the measurements and
make it stronger or weaker according to your needs. I like to put it in a plastic spray bottle and use the solution to clean my sticky counter-tops, spills and splatters off the hardwood floor, the grime on the stove top, and the fingerprints off of door frames. It's so gentle I even use it to wipe down the leather couch. Vinegar doesn't smell after it dries and due to it's high acidity, it kills germs and bacteria. It's also environmentally friendly and very inexpensive. We have a stainless steel sink and the best way to get it clean? With the mild abrasive properties of baking soda. I make a thick paste by mixing baking soda and water (or you can add a few drops of dish soap) and scrub it around with my hands. It rinses off easily and leaves the sink sparkly clean. It does the same for the stubborn ring of kid-grime left in the tub after numerous weekly baths. It's abrasive enough to clean but gentle enough that it won't scratch (most) surfaces. Baking soda also makes a great a natural deodorizer--it absorbs smells instead of masking them. Sprinkle it on your rugs and let it sit before vacuuming, sprinkle the bottom of your cloth diaper pail with it--you can even sprinkle baking soda on your dog before your brush him to help get rid of the "doggy smell!" There are dozens and dozens of more ways to use both baking soda and vinegar in your home and not just for cleaning the house---but that's another blog altogether. Do you make any of your own cleaning products and if so, which ones? Do you do it to save money or to use less chemicals or because it's better for the environment?
I use lots of vinegar. I also use orange halves and kosher salt to scrub my shower. I then use the peels from the orange and vinegar I use to clean the coffee maker (once a month) to make orange vinegar. Orange vinegar is my cleaning go to. I use it on everything from counters to floors to the barbecue grill to kid toys. I refuse to use cancer causing and planet killing chemicals around my children. The cost is just a bonus.
We use white vinager for cleaning and santitizing floors and counters, my landlord actually asked we use vinager on the floors with water becuase harsher chemicals would take the finishing off. And i use it in the washer now and then…just a cup of vinager and then a normal wash with nothing in it.
The only downside is my husband HATES the smell, it makes him sick…so i usually wait till he is out of the house or i am able to clear out any trace of smell.
Awesome post! My hubby got a squirt bottle of vinegar and water to train the dogs from running out of the front gate. (just spray up into air not at them and it breaks their attention).. well i’ve been nesting and using it to clean (he wonders why its always half empty when he gets home from work).. and i can say I truly love it and i feel totally safe using it pregnant or my kids touching it. WIN!
-I use baking soda to clean my sinks and tub as well. It does kill germs, after 10 minutes, but needs to be sprayed on full strength.
-I also use 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar to routinely clean my drains.
-To take the itch and pain out of insect bites, make a paste of baking soda and water and spread on the bite.
-You can dilute 2 tblsp. cider vinegar in 1/2 gallon water as a hair rinse, for shine and lift.
-Use 1/2 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle for natural fiber cloth diapers or inserts.
:)
I also use vinegar in a spray bottle around doors and windows to keep ants out!! No pesty chemicals… works GREAT!!!
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