green {clean}ing

since moving into our house, there have been many things that have needed to be tended to that I had no idea how to do. from a stinky dishwasher to keeping the weeds from growing, there were just not things that I ever had to deal with or think about when we lived in the condo. each time I would go out to the internet, and search for a solution to my issue, and in most cases, the solution involved vinegar.

i had never given this stinky substance a thought before. why would I ever want to use it for anything, except making a salad dressing?! who would have thought that vinegar could serve so many purposes, and at the same time save you so much money. a gallon of vinegar costs only a couple of bucks as opposed to the costly cleaning products that it can replace. even better, it's better for you, you children & pets, and the environment.

the first time I faced a dilemma involving a vinegar solution was when we installed our bamboo floors. i was worried about using any products on the floor because i didn't want to ruin the finish, or create any films. i had tried to read about the floors and realized quickly that there were a lot of don'ts vs dos, which scared me. i discussed it with my mom, and she suggested the vinegar solution. she said my grandmother had sworn by it, and with that i was intrigued. the vendor that we used to purchase the flooring actually had suggested to use it with warm water.

Vinegar Floor Cleaner

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

i have found many great cleaning tips & tricks to using vinegar. here are a few that i like. i have modified some of these, but the base of the "recipes" will get you started.

learn how to remove oil based stains from carpet using vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda



this blog post give you a summary of the best cleaning secrets: cleaning your microwave, cleaning your fridge, cleaning/deodorizing your dishwasher. enjoy!

using water, vinegar and baby shampoo, your brushes will feel like new!

add 3/4 cup vinegar to your rinse cycle and your towels will feel like new. vinegar also battles mildew for an added bonus!

use this approach to cleaning any hard water deposits or limescale that is built up on water fixtures.

how to clean burnt pots and pans

using vinegar & dawn dish soap,  you can easily clean your shower & tub. put the solution in a handled sponge to make it easier to apply

vinegar mixed with olive oil can be a great wood polisher. use vinegar alone and it can easily disinfect any wood surface!

vinegar can be used outside too! here are just a few examples of how you can take your new best friend outdoors for the summer!

if you don't feel like you have enough examples of things you can use vinegar for, check out this list of 150+ uses. the possibilities seem endless