Believe it or not, we use only ONE cleaning solution for nearly everything we can’t wipe up with soap and water. Mirrors, windows, floors, sinks, even toilets. And it’s SUPER cheap. What is it? White vinegar and water.
Vinegar kills most germs, bacteria, and even mold due to its level of acidity. It’s environmentally friendly, safe for use while pregnant, and far less harsh on your home. Plus the obvious–very inexpensive!
We simply pour about half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle we picked up at Walmart, and clean away. The only thing you have to do slightly different is, when cleaning windows and mirrors, scrub horizontally first, then work your way across swiping from top to bottom only. If you use a circular motion, you’re bound to have streaks. Any other surface, you can clean in the normal way, though.
Want a nice air freshener? Get a 1-2oz bottle each of tea tree oil and lavender oil (or a couple other favorites), and an empty spray bottle. We just use a 3oz purchased from the travel section at the grocery store. Put one drop per ounce of each essential oil in the spray bottle, then fill to the top with clean water. Spritz around your house to freshen up as needed. These 1-2oz essential oil bottles will last you for YEARS. Furthermore, this spray makes a GREAT addition to your cleanup routine after kid and pet messes! We even use it for diaper spray, with cloth wipes, cause it cleans great and is friendly to little bums (the lavender and tea tree–though I know there are other recommended combinations for this purpose, as well).
What is one of the most expensive household cleaners you have to keep buying over and over? Laundry detergent. Did you know you can make your own? It uses 4 main ingredients (one of which is WATER!) and costs $1.76 for enough to wash 128 loads of laundry! The recipe we use only takes minutes to make, too. There are also recipes online for dishwasher detergent and other cleaners, just do a Google and see what you come up with!
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