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Monday, March 7, 2011

Vinegar: How sweet it is!

Yeah, we all know you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, 'cause vinegar stinks! Pretty sweet savings though every time I use the smelly stuff to refill my "all purpose cleaner" spray bottle. At less than $2 bucks a gallon, I save $ using vinegar instead of a commercial all purpose cleaner for the kitchen.
   The straight white vinegar acts as a disinfectant, and I don't bother to add an essential oil to sweeten the scent, because the vinegar soon evaporates leaving no smell a'tall.
   Because my spray bottle formerly housed a green-tinged cleaner, I do add one drop of green food coloring to the vinegar. I do this so as not to confuse anyone who might reach under the kitchen sink looking for a cleaner. A green liquid makes sense in this container with a cucumber on it.
   Because my cleaner is straight vinegar, I have no worries about harsh chemicals on my kitchen counters and wooden cutting board contaminating foods that might soon follow.
   For more ways to use vinegar in cleaning, visit VinegarTips.com. Anyone else with more $ in their pockets because of plain ole vinegar??

11 comments:

Practical Parsimony said...

I cannot find vinegar for less than $2. I spend $2.72/gal. I use 2 gals/mth.

Lindy Mint said...

I've only recently started using vinegar more. It's good to know you can use it straight up to replace commercial cleaners.

I used diluted vinegar this weekend to clean off my front door before I repainted it. DIY websites suggested using TSP, but I don't like the idea of rubbing a super-flammable chemical all over my front door. Then I kept the bowl of vinegar water around as a rinsing agent for the paint brushes.

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

That's a great idea. I always spend too much on cleaning supplies, I think I may need to go the vinegar route soon. I can't stand the smell at all so I may have to add something but it'd still be better than what I use now!

Tightwad Mom said...

I love vinegar, I use it for everything. I use it to remove hard water. I spray it on my shower walls after each use to keep soap scum and mildew at bay. I use it to stretch liquid fabric softener(mixed half and half). I also use it to make my own "windex" and all purpose cleaner.

singlemama said...

I always use vinegar to clean the refigerator and the microwave. and to wash the floor in every room. I like it pure or I add (just to strengthen the antibacterial effect) some thymus essential oil drops.

but I love your link! thanks!!!!

Susan said...

Great post Dmarie. A very wise hint about adding food colouring so as not to confuse about the contents.

Thanks for another great link too.
Cheers :D

secret agent woman said...

I use it also to clean lime off glasses (we live in an area riddled with limestone) and to clean out my coffee maker and shower head.

Pure Ella said...

So glad this whole no-chemical movement is in place - I think there was a gap there that people forgot how effective vinegar is for cleaning. I'm sure that's the only thing that was used ages ago ;)
I also couldn't stand the smell at first - but now I try to remind myself that it's the price I pay for going cheap and chemical free ;)
Thanks for reminding me to clean up the place again!
xo

Anonymous said...

I use vinegar to clean just about everything. I love the smell - it means it is clean!!

Unknown said...

I`ve been cleaning with vinegar for years. Unfortunately, british shops have now woken up to the fact that white vinegar is used for household cleaning, and they have taken it off their shop shelves. I have to hunt for it in special health food shops now. And, there it`s more expensive than it was in supermarkets.

Mary said...

I LOVE vinegar. Between that and baking soda, they could be two of my best friends... if they were people, that is.

Many cleaning chemicals would make it so hard for me to breathe, even with good ventilation. I didn't realize there was another option until, in my frugal way, I began searching online for money-saving strategies for cleaning.

Vinegar may smell bad, but it sure beats running back and forth between rooms to breath and then clean! :) (Yes, I really did used to do this).

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