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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

User post: Be eco-friendly--Clean your home with vinegar

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It may sound strange, but plain old white vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaner.  There's no reason to waste money with expensive bottled cleaners full of chemicals that are harmful to your family and the environment.  A bottle of white vinegar will take you a long way in your house cleaning.

Here are some ways to use vinegar to clean your home:

-Mix 3 parts water to 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean windows, mirrors, and hard surfaces like counter tops.

-Run vinegar through your coffee maker to clean out any mineral deposits for better tasting coffee.

-Pour vinegar into a zip top bag and use a rubber band to attach it to your shower head for better water flow.

-Put vinegar in your dishwasher's rinse aid compartment.  Run it through the regular cycle for sparkling glasses and dishes.

-Pour a bottle of vinegar into an empty washing machine that you run on the hot cycle.  The vinegar will help clean out deposits that have gathered inside the machine.

-Fill a slow drain with baking soda and then pour in 1 cup of vinegar to help remove the clog.

Check out other cool home ideas at www.InMyNewHome.com

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Related: house and home, go green, eco-friendly, daily life, cleaning tips

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Comments 1-10 of 47
  • JollyGreenMidget's Avatar
    Posted by JollyGreenMidget Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:18am PDT

    I clean wih vinegar all the time. Not only is it effective and eco-friendly, but it's only about $1-2 for a gallon of it. You can also make a scrubbing paste by adding vinegar to a bowl of baking soda (add it slowly of course, because it will fizz for a few minutes) and you can add a few drops of an essential oil like lemon or lavender for a natural, lingering fragrance. I clean my sinks and bathtub with a paste like this all the time. Why buy expensive, harsh, toxic cleansers?

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  • katie's Avatar
    Posted by katie Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:27am PDT

    I use vinegar to clean my coffee maker, but that's about it. I still haven't gotten over my fear that things that are "eco-friendly" clean as well as chemical products.

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  • Maryliz's Avatar
    Posted by Maryliz Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:59am PDT

    I use vinegar and water to clean almost everything in the house! I love the way it makes my windows and mirrors shine with out the chemical smell...and the vinegar smell evaporates as it dries! I haven't tried the paste idea...but I sure will! It cleans just as well as any other chemical cleaner. Only, it doesn't fry the skin on my hands and give me a headache!

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  • Leah's Avatar
    Posted by Leah Wed Oct 7, 2009 8:29am PDT

    It's great for getting pet smells out of the carpet...and the vinegar smell goes away as well. It is also great as a spot cleaner on carpets and rugs. Also use as a fabric softner for toewls, blankets and quilts...it reduces lint in the dryer.

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  • GirlyGirl©'s Avatar
    Posted by GirlyGirl© Wed Oct 7, 2009 9:52am PDT

    Vinegar is fine, just leave my vodka in the freezer!

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  • superkate's Avatar
    Posted by superkate Wed Oct 7, 2009 11:34am PDT

    What is the mixture for the vinegar to clean carpet? Does it work for other stains besides pet smells? Mixture? My mom always used it when we were kids because it was so cheap and easy. I just didn't understand her madness until now

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  • Robyn's Avatar
    Posted by Robyn Wed Oct 7, 2009 7:01pm PDT

    does it work as well as bleach? i want to use inthe daycare but the state is very BLEACH FOR EVERYTHING these poor little bodies...

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  • Lobster's Avatar
    Posted by Lobster Wed Oct 7, 2009 8:47pm PDT

    Would using vinegar leave a stench? I just want to check in case.

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  • Leah's Avatar
    Posted by Leah Thu Oct 8, 2009 6:14am PDT

    For cleaning carpet, mix vinegar and water half and half. Spray on the spot and rub it in, let it sit for a couple min, then blot with a dry towel.

    The vinegar smell goes away, and ironically you can set a small bowl of vinegar out and it will absorb odors in the area.

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Comments 1-10 of 47

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