Cleaning With Vinegar
White vinegar is a staple cleaning product in my household, with so many different ways to use it. As opposed to the hundreds of toxic chemical cleaners out there, vinegar is inexpensive, safe, and easy to use.
Antibacterial Cleaning Spray
A great way to clean and disinfect things like counter tops, toilet bowls, sinks, cutting boards, etc. is to spray them with vinegar, and then hydrogen peroxide. The two work together to form a safe disinfectant that is equal in power to toxic and harmful bleach. I buy the peroxide in the taller bottle, and I found a spray mechanism from another product that fits the bottle. I keep this and a spray bottle of vinegar under my kitchen sink, and spray one, then the other, on the surface, and wait a minute or two while I do something else, then just wipe clean or rinse. Don’t combine the two together in one bottle—they will react to each other and not be effective over time. You want that reaction to take place on the surface that you are cleaning. Also, you must keep the peroxide in its original dark brown bottle, or put it in another bottle that will not let light pass through, because peroxide breaks down when exposed to light. This two part spray cleaner is amazingly effective. I also use it to clean my shower stall and bathtub, and it takes off soap residue and water spots with ease. If you need extra cleaning power on tough jobs, just wipe with a sponge sprinkled with baking soda for a non-scratch abrasive.
Laundry Uses
Vinegar works wonders in the laundry, too, as a fabric softener and odor remover. If I have new clothing that has chemical sizing and smells in it, or if I buy used clothing that has conventional laundry detergent residue on it, I can soak that item in a basin of warm water with a generous splash of vinegar for a few hours prior to washing, and that usually does the trick. For fabric softening, just fill your dispenser with white vinegar.
Cleaning Floors
For mopping any type of flooring– finished hardwood, laminate, ceramic or other tile, you can use a solution of vinegar and water. Your floors will shine like they are new!
Miscellaneous Uses
Soak your dirty hairbrushes and combs in a vinegar and water solution, and then scrub clean with an old toothbrush. Soak your grungy soap dishes in vinegar and water. Wipe down your dirty windowsills and woodwork with it. Just about anything your would use a spray cleaner on can be safely cleaned with diluted vinegar.
So You Don’t Like The Smell?
I don’t either. But I recently learned something about vinegar that I never knew. When I cleaned with vinegar many years ago, I didn’t mind the smell, but in more recent years it has been bothering me, and I just thought that it was me. Then I learned that cheap store brands of vinegar have been made from petroleum for years. Whaaat?! Boy was I angry to hear that. I have been using store brand vinegar for decades to avoid toxic petroleum products, and then I find out that I have been duped. Why on earth would they make a food product out of petroleum? I learned that only Heinz vinegar is still made from fermented grain, like it has been for eons. There may be some store brands that are actually made by Heinz, and you can find out by reading the label. If the label states that the vinegar is made from grain, it is safe. If it just states that it is vinegar, than it is made from petroleum, and best left on the shelf. Well, all I can do now is vow to never buy any vinegar except Heinz again. I bought a gallon, and smelled my old vinegar, and smelled the Heinz, and it is obvious why I was reacting to the smell of the cheap stuff. The Heinz vinegar smells like vinegar should, like the food product that it is.
I also recently learned of a great way to make the vinegar smell better. I now make citrus-infused vinegar to use for cleaning, and I love it. Just take a lemon (or orange, or grapefruit, whatever strikes your fancy) and with a small paring knife, cut off the colored part of the rind. It is OK if you get some of the white part underneath, just don’t dig deeply into the white part. Coarsely chop the rind, and put it in a jar with 2 to 3 cups of white vinegar. Put on the lid, and let it sit for 2 to 3 days. Strain it into another jar or bottle, and you’ll have vinegar with a much more pleasant smell. The citrus oils also boost its cleaning power, too. My sinks and shower are coming clean with much less effort with the power of lemon oil in the vinegar.
Wishing you well,
Amanda
