Friday, April 24, 2009

Vinegar - the almighty green cleaner

Lately, I've been using more natural products to clean my home instead of buying pre-made cleaning products. I've been astounded by the power and versatility of vinegar. A little vinegar in the rinse cycle is a great natural fabric softener. Some vinegar on the cutting board is a natural antibacterial agent. Mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and you have your own glass cleaner. Vinegar is also great at removing coffee and tea stains and hardwater spots.

While vinegar doesn't have toxic fumes, you'll probably want to open a window because it does have a strong smell if you use it undiluted.

So far, the only caution I've found is that vinegar can strip the sealant off of marble or granite, so don't use it on natural stone counters. Also be careful with it on vinyl floors with a wax finish. (Remember, spot testing is always your friend when you're trying any new cleaning method.)

The best part of using vinegar - you can buy a gallon bottle of store-brand vinegar for a few bucks. Much cheaper than pre-made cleaning supplies.
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