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.