Vinegar

One thing I am trying my hardest at is to improve the household items that we use daily. By this I mean cleaners and sanitizers. Don't get me wrong I have used all the products out there on the shelves and liked them but......they are not the best for our health. 

This has come into play with our cleaner eating lifestyle we have incorporated, like I said in the previous post. So I have done some research and I am also involved in some online groups to become more educated on what works well and isn't harmful to myself or my family. In comes the VINEGAR!!

That's it folks. Plain old distilled white vinegar. This stuff is like magic. There are so many uses for it that you wouldn't even think of. And I love the price tag, cheap! I purchased this large jug at Costco for under $4. There is something about making your own products that makes me feel happy inside. Maybe it's the fact that I know exactly what I am using to clean with, especially since my girls are right behind me touching everything I have just wiped down. Now I know vinegar has a very strong scent that can be pretty unpleasant to some. And there is a solution for that!

So the first thing I used the vinegar for was an all purpose cleaner.  In the all purpose cleaner I use citrus fruits peels to help give the vinegar have a nicer smell to it. Here is what I do. I use a mason jar, one or two orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit (whichever is your favorite) depending on the size of your jar and vinegar. Place the peels in the mason jar and pour the vinegar over the peels until it reaches the top. Seal it tight and store it in a cool dark place for at least two weeks. I store mine in the pantry. 

 

After it has fermented pour the all purpose cleaner into a spray bottle and VOILA! 

(The mason jar pictured below has been in the pantry for about a month waiting to get used)

Not only is this cleaner very cost friendly but it is also toxin free and safe around your whole family.  Here are a few other ways I like to use vinegar around the house daily. 

- Add about half of a cup to your laundry. This works especially well for towels. They come out feeling plush and soft. The vinegar really helps to also cleanse the clothes of detergent buildup they may have. I don't use the vinegar in each load. It gets added based on what is being washed and need for it.  

- Add a few teaspoons to your floor steamer or about a quarter cup to your mop bucket. 

- Use it plain or the all purpose on your windows and sliding doors. They will be sparkling afterward. 

So go and make some for your house! I bet you will enjoy using this as much as I do!