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I like the idea that this is Something Good that will just continually happen over time. I'll probably play around with formulas and solutions and all, but I've already proven to myself that it works. I hope you decide to try it, too!
I am about to admit to a weakness: I love the way bleach cleans. I love the way my whites smell when they come out of the laundry, and I love the way my tub looks when I’ve scrubbed it down with Comet. Unfortunately, I keep hearing that bleach isn’t so great for the environment. Of course, Clorox feels differently about that than many of the folks I know who work for organizations that promote “green” living. Whether or not it’s actually toxic, which may be debatable, I do really like the idea of using something that is a little more “natural” for my cleaning needs. This can really hit home if you have children or pets, and folks with allergies often find that using less chemicals around the house makes them feel better. Since I’m making admissions, I might as well go ahead and confess that bleach is not the only chemical cleanser in my cupboards, and I’ll bet the others are not so great for the earth, either.
So, in an attempt to do Something Good, I’ve decided to clean up my act – naturally! I went ahead and tried a little test using vinegar as a household cleaner. I’ve used it as a window cleaner in the past and have always been pretty happy with the results. Using a water-vinegar solution and drying the glass with crumpled newspapers, I’ve managed some perfectly respectable window cleaning. I’ve heard that many people have given up this effort because the windows streaked so terribly. Supposedly that is because of the residue of cleansers used previously, and it may take a couple of times for the vinegar to clean that off along with the dirt.
I bought a bottle of 409 glass cleaner a really, really long time ago, and I told myself that once it was all used up, I would give vinegar a reasonable chance to show its stuff as a replacement. This week saw the end of the 409, and the beginning of the Great Vinegar Experiment. Luckily, I had about 1/3 of a bottle of white vinegar in the cupboard, so I thoroughly rinsed out the 409 bottle and refilled it with the pungent fluid. (Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?) I tried it out on three surfaces, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the results.
First of all, I used the vinegar to clean the glass coffee table in the living room.
Before:  
After:  
Secondly, I cleaned the bathroom mirror. That was also a roaring success, although I wasn’t able to photograph it well. Then came the big test. Boy, I am really letting it all hang out today. First I admit to a love-affair with chemical cleansers, then I let you all see how dirty my shower door got. Oh well, it’s for the greater good, right? I used the straight vinegar and a washcloth on the soap scum and was again pleased with what I saw. Before: 
After: 
I also took this picture to show how you could really see a difference as I was cleaning. There is an actual, visible line delineating where I had cleaned with the vinegar and where I hadn't: 
Really, the worst part of it all was the smell. I suppose it didn’t actually smell any worse than some of those nasty chemical cleansers; but it definitely made my nose wrinkle and concerned me when I had company coming over that night. I asked the ladies, and everyone agreed that they didn’t smell a thing. Still, I think I’d like to experiment with adding lemon juice or even a mild liquid detergent. Seeds of Knowledge also suggests that you can use citrus peels. In addition, I used the vinegar at full strength, and just cutting it with water would have made a huge difference. In reality, vinegar does a great job of absorbing other odors, and its smell dissipates when it dries. So, the long and short of it is that putting a few less harsh chemicals down the drain probably isn’t a bad idea. In fact, it's Something Good that each of us can do really easily. Vinegar is pretty inexpensive, too, so you can do something nice for your budget, as well. Speaking of things going down the drain, a few weeks ago I used vinegar and baking soda to unclog my kitchen sink! I don’t care what anybody says, that’s got to be better than pouring Drain-O down the pipes. For a little more in-depth information, check out: |
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