I'm really starting to buy into the idea that regular household cleaners are not good for your health but I have no idea how to switch to using non-toxic cleaners. I'm admittedly very lazy so I need something quick and easy to make that I can store for future use or it's not gonna happen! Right now I use Lysol for cleaning everything -- wiping down the table after a meal, cleaning the grease off of the stovetop, disinfecting the bathroom sink, toilet, etc. Is there an easy recipe using vinegar that I can make in advance that would do all of these things? Again, I'm very lazy so ideally, I would just have one cleaning solution that does everything. Thanks!
PS. How strong is the vinegar smell while cleaning and how long does the smell linger??
Thanks everyone! My husband isn't too keen on this idea cuz he's scared of the vinegar smell so it was great to hear that it really does work and the smell doesn't linger! Am going to make the switch this week. Thanks everyone :)
Vinegar/water can clean anything!! I do the same as Eliza F. Just half and half in a spray bottle. You can go less on the vinegar if you like. My favorite thing to clean with vinegar/water is mirrors and windows. It leaves them streak free in one cleaning. You don't have to redo them like you would with most window cleaners. As for the smell, it goes away quickly after cleaning. I am definitely going to try adding some lemon juice to mine now.
My home is 90% chemical cleaner free. I use things lemon, vinegar, baking soda, soap and water. Vinegar is my primary cleaner. It is inexpensive and very effective. Depending on the situation, you can dilute vinegar in water in a spray bottle. Just google Healthy Cleaning and you will get a multitude of answers.
http://www.natural-healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com is one of my FAV sites!
PLEASE think of our children and our environment when taking care of your home. You will be glad you did.
B.
Family Success Coach
I get a large spray bottle from the plant care section of the store or an industrial cleaning supply store. Then just fill it with half water half vinegar (and 2 tbs of lemon juice if the vinegar is too strong). I love Vinegar! I use it for every thing! (I wouldn't use it on polished wood surfaces though unless you really really really dilute it.) it is great for soap scum and hard water too. It is non toxic and the smell fades as soon as it drys:) I actually have one spray bottle in each bathroom and one in the kitchen (cause I am lazy too). Vinegar is a great choice!
Good luck
E.
Good for you for wanting to get rid of the cleaners with the harsh ingredients. Chlorine bleach and ammonia are two ingredients which show up time and time again in cleaning products. Both of these are very hard on the body, simply because you absorb them through your skin and also inhale them. There are some recipes on the web for using with vinegar, but I have found that I am not one for mixing cleaners from scratch. However, I have found a great line of natural based products that are biodegradable, which work wonderfully. Ingredients used are vinegar, citric acid(from lemons), thyme(just like what you cook with). There is even a botanical disinfectant which has EPA approval for H1N1 virus.
Also, cleaning products are not the only items in your home you need to be concerned with. There are some harsh ingredients found in bath & body products. Formaldehyde is used a a preservative to prolong the shelf life of many products.
If you are interested in learning more, I would be glad to share with you.
L.
Other people have given you good advice, so I'll just add that the smell is strong while cleaning, but it doesn't really linger.
Vinegar is great. I always just eyeball a vinegar/water mixture depending on the project. I use it for dusting primarily so I would say maybe a half cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. I add a little more vinegar if I’m using it for cleaning the bathroom or pet odor removal.
Also, I found a company that makes safe and natural cleaning products for your home. You can easily order on line or by phone through a catalog. Let me know if you want more information and I can help you sign up!
I use half and half vinegar and water like you would lysol and the smell doesn't linger very long at all - goes away as soon as it dries. If it bothers you you can use a few drops of an essential oil you like to make it smell nicer. My friend uses peppermint but my husband hates peppermint so I stick with plain vinegar. I tried using grapefruit but it didn't smell very strong at all. Bummer, I like grapefruit. I use baking soda on anything that's greasy and/or needs scrubbing and I swear it works better than the commercial cleaners I've tried and I've tried A LOT. I love cleaners, or I did until I realized that vinegar, water and baking soda worked WAY better, are way cheaper and if you turn your back for a moment and find your kid sucking on the spray bottle for cleaning, well you just offer him some fish and chips to go with it.
(By the by my husband wasn't crazy about the idea of the smell either but is a total convert.)
I personally only use Vinegar for getting the musty smell out of clothing.
Wikipedia has some good information about its use in both the medicinal and housecleaning categories:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar
Because it's an acid, I'd always be cautious when using it and diluting it. There may be surfaces for which it's not appropriate, so I'd so some research.
I remember seeing Kirstie Alley on Oprah talking about using cheap vodka as a sanitizing cleaner as well in the bathroom, in particular.
I'd caution you about a lot of "all natural" cleaners. Most don't require any regulation before promotion into the market. So, I'd really recommend researching products thoroughly before using them to make sure they're safe and effective. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov) is likely a good source of finding out the legitimacy of a product.
Hi There! I use vinegar for cleaning my whole house! The smell is gone almost instantly.
I would like to know which natural products, specifically, don't require regulation....as one poster mentioned.
Many people think that all natural means that a bunch of roots, herbs, and other detritus are just thrown in a vat, stirred up and served up to the public. It's not the case at all. I would much rather have a natural choice than be inundated with government sanctioned toxic cleaners.
I use essential oils and baking soda in my cleaning too. All perfectly safe and effective.
I have been using an incredible line of products which are natural for right at a year. What a difference. No more coughing, eyes burning or queaziness when cleaning. I always thought, welll it must be working if it is doing this to my nose and eyes. Never did I think about what it was doing to me!!! I found this great reference about the everyday products I was using in my home (The Safe Shopper's Bible) and boy was it an eye opener. I switched to the Melaleuca line and I recommend their products to anyone. And they are safe for the children!!!
