"If you spend one more dollar than you earn, you WILL eventually go bankrupt!"
~Rick Anderson, CEO of Citizen's Credit Bureau~

No matter the situation, knowing how to save can help you stretch the only dollar you have.




Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Alternative Cleaner

There are multiple, different cleaners for every item in your home: oven, stove top, toilet bowl, bathtub, wood, tile, rust, calcium deposits to just name a few of the individual jobs they may accomplish. I tried sticking to multipurpose cleaners to avoid having a closet full and still wound up with a good sized inventory. It wasn't until I was pregnant and choking on the fumes of everyday household cleaners that I became determined to find an alternative.

Vinegar and baking soda. Vinegar disinfects while baking soda is abrasive. NEVER MIX VINEGAR WITH BLEACH (creates toxic fumes).
  • Kitchen- Dilute vinegar, half water, to clean sinks, counter tops, and stove tops. Sprinkle with baking soda for tough messes and use undiluted vinegar.
  • Bathroom- Clean almost everything in the bathroom with undiluted vinegar. Clean by wiping down fixtures with vinegar. For built up scum wipe/spray area with vinegar, sprinkle with baking soda and scrub; or sprinkle the baking soda directly onto your sponge and scrub. Let vinegar sit in your toilet bowl and scrub. For stubborn toilet bowl rings combine vinegar and baking soda.
  • Windows/Mirrors- Dilute vinegar, half water, in a spray bottle. Once the window or mirror is dry use a clean dry cloth (preferably microfiber) to rub off water spots.
  • Bare Floors- Add vinegar to a bucket of water to mop. For an extra thorough clean, sprinkle a small area with baking soda, drizzle vinegar, and scrub. Use a wet rag to wipe up baking soda as if cleaning a counter covered in crumbs; a mop will leave a gritty texture as it just pushes the baking soda around. Dry with a towel to prevent streaking.
  • Drains- For slow running drains pour baking soda down and then vinegar. If the drain is completely clogged this may create more build up.
  • Fabrics and Carpets- Use diluted vinegar to clean carpets or furniture of spills and smells. Great way to get rid of pet urine. Always test on small area before using. Although I have not encountered a problem yet, all my furniture is second hand.
Pros of using Vinegar and Baking Soda
-They are just another ingredient in numerous recipes that we eat frequently; in other words, non lethal if accidentally swallowed by our little ones or inhaled ourselves.
-They just replaced your kitchen, bathroom, floor, and drain cleaners.

Tips- Have a spray bottle filled with equal parts vinegar and water for more convenient cleaning. Vinegar and baking soda works on removing rust as well.