I wouldn't have thought that it was possible to rid a home of hazardous chemicals and strong smelling cleaners, yet I have all but done it! One part vinegar, two parts water in a spray bottle creates a handy cleaner for just about anything! It cleans and leaves mirrors sparkling, with no streaks! Vinegar is also a disinfectant, so no need to worry about bacteria on kitchen counters while cooking. You may think the smell would be too strong and lingering, but the truth is the smell is not overbearing, and when it fades it will take with it all the nasty odors that were lurking on your bathroom sink or your refrigerator shelf.
Baking Soda is a great option for scrubbing sinks and toilets, helping your laundry detergent to leave clothes fresh smelling and whiter, and wonderful for removing pet odors from furniture and carpets. You can also leave it in your freezer and refrigerator to eat up those not-so-fresh smells that tend to build up.
Both vinegar and baking soda can be purchased very inexpensively and in large quantities so you can store it and not give it a thought for months. I wish someone had told me ten years ago as I set up housekeeping how much these two natural ingredients could realistically replace.
Give them a try!
Comment from a reader (had trouble posting):
ReplyDeleteHey, I was reading your blog you posted today. Great tips. One other one, I thought I'd tell you about that has to do with the vinegar idea you talked about. I've been doing this for about 2 years now and it works great. Put about 1/2-1 cup of white vinegar in your washing machine with clothes instead of using fabric softener or needing to use dryer sheets. It takes out the remaining soap and makes it so you don't get that "crunchy" feeling in your clothes if you don't use dryer sheets. It works great.
(For HE machines as well - just put it where the fabric softener would go)