Green Cleaning—Using Vinegar for Cleaning

Frugal Friday

So many cleaning products on the market are full of dangerous chemicals that can harm both the environment and your health.  They are also expensive.  So why not look to the past for both inexpensive and healthier alternatives?  Over the next few weeks, we're going to look at ways to use common household products to clean your home.  This week, we'll look at using vinegar around the house.

·         Mix 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water and brush it on your carpets to brighten the color.

·         Mix 4 tbsp. vinegar to 1 gallon water in your carpet cleaner to rinse after shampooing.

·         Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle—spritz your shower curtain every day to prevent mildew.

·         Spray bathroom surfaces with vinegar mixture to disinfect.

·         Mix 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water for soaking brassware. 

·         Mix equal parts vinegar and water, drop in your shower head, and boil for five minutes to remove build-up.  (Remove rubber gasket before boiling.)  Or soak in same mixture overnight without boiling.

·         Pour one gallon of vinegar to your whirlpool tub and run.  Do this once a year to keep pipes free of residue.

·         Pour vinegar down your drains when they seem sluggish.

·         Put vinegar on newspaper to clean windows and glass fireplace screens.

·         Add 2/3 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water to wash vinyl floors.

·         Mix equal parts water and vinegar to remove lime deposits on tile and grouting.

·         Rub a cloth dipped in a vinegar/water solution on water stains to remove them from leather.

·         Spray vinegar on a cloth and wipe leather furniture to revive its shine.