April 21st, 2005 - Cleaner cleaning
A few months ago (6 maybe?), I started using vinegar and water for washing windows and mirrors. This is a weekly chore around here–most people probably rarely do it, but we have 2 dogs! They make quite a mess on the TV and the French doors. So every single week (most of the time), I wash the bathroom mirrors, the TV and computer screens, and the French doors. Now that it’s Spring, I’ll probably do windows more often as well. (They get even messier…I just don’t see it much in winter as I’m not home much during daylight hours.)
I used to use purchase window cleaners. I always had to keep the pets away when doing it, for I’m sure the chemicals aren’t good for them. At least one cat would always try to sniff the container, and at least one dog would nose up to whatever I’d just cleaned. I had to be careful about spraying to make sure they weren’t in the line of fire. I really didn’t like it. (Nor did I personally like the smells of these chemicals.) Vinegar and water to the rescue! I no longer worry about the pets getting in the way. And they seem to stay away anyway. (The dogs get vinegar on their food, so I’m surprised Emma hasn’t tried to lick the French doors just after I clean them. ::shrug:: I don’t have to worry! Except that I’d have to clean it again!)
It’s also a lot cheaper than the chemicals. A gallon of vinegar costs about $1.29. And I use less than 1/8th cup to make 1.5-2 cups of cleaner. It certainly works just as good as the chemicals did!
I’m looking forward to incorporating more natural cleaners and other products. I’ve twice ILLed Better Basics for the Home. The first time was just before Maggie came home; the second was just the other week. I’ve now purchased it. It contains hundreds of recipes for everything from hand lotion to wood cleaner to weed killer to play-dough made from natural ingredients. Many of them call for things I’ve never purchased (essential oils and such), but I’m willing to give them a shot! Can’t wait to make the play-dough and paints for Maggie. I know many of these recipes can be found online, but I like having a book to refer to. It will make it easier to actually make the products if I can tote around the book. And see it around the house to remind me to get going on them! (The wood cleaner I’ve been meaning to make for the last month. And the piece of paper with the recipe is around here somewhere….)
April 22nd, 2005 at 4:09 am EDT
I use vinegar and water to wash just about every surface in my house now; floors, counters, microwave, windows. I love how simple and efficient it is, I’ll have to look up that book!
April 25th, 2005 at 3:11 pm EDT
Sounds like a great book. I want to make a vinegar water solution but might need to buy a spray bottle, or wait until we run out of our regular cleaning solution.
April 26th, 2005 at 6:27 am EDT
Karne–yes, I use a little spray bottle for this. I found it for about $1 in the health/beauty supply area. (We actually bought them to use on our new cats to teach them were they were allowed. Now we just have to reach for the bottle by the back door and Sith goes running. Unfortunately, it didn’t work so well anywhere else, but we pretty much allow them everywhere except on the dining table. And we *knew* they go up there when we aren’t around. Oh well! The bottles have now come in handy for other things!)
January 24th, 2006 at 11:02 am EST
hey, we GREW UP cleaning windows with vinegar and water! Mom & Dad only had spray-window cleaner around for use in the studio to remove gunky flux deposits, &c.