Frugal Cleaning

[CFOontheGo]

I have done away with all commercial cleaning products! I now clean my house with white vinigar and baking soda. I can get a gallon of white vinigar for around $3, and then I dilute it! Plus it is totally non-toxic and it works almost as good as commercial cleaners.

[Will]

Nice to see another vinegar fan here.

Our very own Paul Michael did a story about 254 uses for Vinegar.

Used as a hair rinse, vinegar neutralizes the alkali left by shampoos.

A quarter cup in a quart of water makes a good window cleaner. A reader adds: When you use vinegar in your water to wash windows, dry with newspapers. Your windows will sparkle!

Fabric softener and static cling reducer - use as you would liquid fabric softener.

Air freshener, used with baking soda - use 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 cups of water. After it stops foaming, mix well, and use in a (recycled) spray bottle into the air.

Chewing gum dissolver - saturate the area with vinegar. If the vinegar is heated, it will work faster.

Stain remover - for stains caused by grass, coffee, tea, fruits and berries. Soak clothing in full strength vinegar....

Personally, I rinse my hair with vinegar every other week to get all the gunk out. I do a 1:10 solution of vinegar and water. It keeps my hair pretty shiny (though not smelling too great right afterwards).

[Greg]

Originally Posted by Will

Personally, I rinse my hair with vinegar every other week to get all the gunk out. I do a 1:10 solution of vinegar and water. It keeps my hair pretty shiny (though not smelling too great right afterwards).

Hmm, that's interesting. Would it be bad to wash your hair again w/ shampoo right after? Maybe get the best of both worlds out there.

[CFOontheGo]

I also will rinse my hair with vinegar occasionally. I find that by the time my hair dries, the vinegar smell is mostly gone.

[Sophie]

One thing that I finally got around to doing was to purchase a cheap toolbelt from the hardware shop to hold cleaning supplies ie. rags, cloths, duster, spray bottles etc. This beats carting items around the house when I'm cleaning, besides, it looks impressive, and I'm more likely to get more work done.

I'll have to give vinegar for cleaning a try. Also I'm wondering, I may be incorrect (as I so often am!) but don't baking soda and vinegar mixed together cancel each other out?

[CFOontheGo]

Originally Posted by Sophie

...

I'll have to give vinegar for cleaning a try. Also I'm wondering, I may be incorrect (as I so often am!) but don't baking soda and vinegar mixed together cancel each other out?

Technically, yes they do. Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. However, when you sprinkle your tub with baking soda, and then use a sponge soaked in vinegar to scrub with, the chemical reaction between the two creates your own non-toxic "scrubbing bubbles". Plus is kind of fun!

[arcadian]

that sounds like fun. now i have to try it!

[kav122]

I started using vinegar and baking soda for cleaning everything after my son was born because I didn't want all of those chemicals in the house...they work great. I also put a cup full of (apple cider, not white for cleaning) vinegar in a glass of water and drink that when I have a sore throat. It goes away very quickly!

[davoscat]

My gosh that's an adorable avatar picture.

Welcome to the board kav122!

[kav122]

Originally Posted by davoscat

My gosh that's an adorable avatar picture.

Welcome to the board kav122!

Aw! Thanks! I've been a wisebread reader for a long time, but only occasionally commented. I love this new forum, though!