When you start talking green cleaning 3 little words come up all the time: Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemons.
When I was younger I remember my grandmother placing caps of vinegar around the house (specifically behind pictures so they would not be seen). She told me that the vinegar soaked up odors (I didn’t believe her).
I also remember my grandmother adding vinegar to the water when she washed drapes. She said that it not only removed smells but it also whitened the drapes (I didn’t believe her).
A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of sites listing hundreds of ways to use the natural magical ingredients; Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemons (oh my) including removing odors from your room and clothes.
It turns out my grandma knew what she was talking about!
Since I am a girl who likes to know why, I preferred the howstuffworks articles about Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemons.
I have not used lemons for anything but I have used vinegar and baking soda and I can tell you, they work! (Not only do they work, they are inexpensive)
Instead of fabric softener and bleach, I use white vinegar. I pour a cap full in the fabric softener dispenser of the washing machine and let the natural magical cleaner do its thing. It works wonders and doesn’t leave a smell. What surprised me the most though was how well it worked on controlling static cling. Who knew? (I bet my grandma did)
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Add some vinegar to the wash to soften your clothes. Click HERE to read how.
I have also used vinegar to kill the clover in our yard. I poured it straight on clumps of clover and within days the clover was dead.
I poured vinegar around the toilet bowl and scrubbed it with baking soda. This did not work as well as I had hoped but I might not have left the vinegar on long enough. I will have to try this one again.
I have used vinegar and baking soda to clean out the drain, the sinks, the tubs, and the shower. And have been amazed at the results.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Vinegar can improve the smell of the bathroom. Click HERE to read how.
Another thing I remember my grandmother doing was sprinkling baking soda on the carpets before she vacuumed. She told me that it helped get rid of smells (do you think I believed her?).
Can you guess what I do now?
Yup. I sprinkle baking soda on the carpets before I vacuum (Only occasionally though).
One of the suggestions that I read that I haven't tried, yet, is, “After emptying the garbage, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom of the garbage can; this will neutralize the food odors.”
Judging from everything that I have read, learned, and tried, Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemons truly are natural magical ingredients.
- Good for the environment.
- Good for the pocket book.
- Good for multiple uses.
And to think, my Grandma knew all this long before Google did.
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Vinegar and baking soda didn't work too well on my toilets either.
But a really great use for vinegar was removing/reducing the smell on my hair from a brand new conditioner. I bought a new brand of conditioner to try on my daughter and myself. The fragrance was REALLY strong though and we both started to get headaches. So I jumped in the shower and put a quick apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair for a minute. Thankfully it killed the smell so I did the same to my daughter and within a half an hour our headaches were gone.
What a great tip! Thanks for sharing.
Lemons are a great way to clean a garbage disposal! You can cut one into thick slices and run it through the disposal – the acid removes gunk and kills odors!
You can add lemon juice to 1 cup of water and microwave for 2-3 minutes. It steams up the microwave and loosens greasy, stuck-on foods. (I have microwaved for up to 5 minutes for a gross microwave).
I love using baking soda and vinegar in the areas you mentioned. Vinegar is my favorite laundry product! =)
I use vinegar and baking soda a lot to clean my house. With two little ones in the house, I hate using products with chemicals and vinegar has so many uses that I am constantly finding new uses for it. I even use hot water and vinegar to wash my laminate floors. It's also good for killing ants.