How-To's Day: Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

Vinegar is an amazing natural cleaner! It is one item you can have on hand to tackle all kinds of cleaning needs. This project is super simple and easy and the result is a wonderful citrus infused vinegar that you can swap in for your household cleaners. White distilled vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity and adding citrus only makes the vinegar even more potent.

I really like this DIY because it is kinda like making citrus compost. If you eat a lot of citrus fruit or have a citrus tree in your yard this is the perfect project for you! You'll need a large glass jug or jar that has an opening large enough to accommodate the citrus peels, and it has a lid that seals tightly. You don't need the whole peels in one large piece but it does make it easier to fish out the peels if they are bigger than a quarter.  When you have your first peels ready, drop them into the jar and add at least white distilled vinegar to cover the citrus peels.  I like to add the whole bottle of white distilled vinegar to the jar even if there is just a small amount of citrus and then you can continue to drop in more citrus peels as you accumulate them. The key is that you have the citrus marinade in the vinegar for at least 10 days to get all the citrus essence infused in the vinegar. Set aside a container you can put the infused vinegar back into once finished.

After your mix has set for at least 10 days you are ready to separate the citrus peels from the vinegar juice. This is one time I'll advocate paper towels - you can use them as a filter to catch the pulp from the liquid.  Double Bonus: you can use the paper towel after straining as a cleaning pad to clean your kitchen surfaces :)

It IS Vinegar!

Once you strain off the citrus here is our citrus vinegar in an upcycled salsa jar which happens to have a wonderful yellow top. This citrus infused vinegar can be used  by itself or mixed in over 101 different ways for all your cleaning needs.
Spring Cleaning Eco Style!

XOXO, KC

Eco Spring Cleaning

Cleaning to me is not just about getting everything organized or dusting hard to reach places. It is taking the time to regroup, cleanup, and re-prioritize life's clutter.  It is amazing how much mental clarity comes from a good purge and deep cleaning. If you haven't been able to work in some natural cleaning products into your routine I strongly encourage trying some out when you start your spring cleaning.  Check out the above items from Etsy sellers if you'd like some sources for handmade cleaning products without making everything yourself.

Aaaaacccckkkkk!!! Help- time to clean.

Yesterday we posted some quick tips for getting rid of unwanted things while you do that deep clean. Plus, some way to find new uses for things you never use clogging up your house. Check it out if you want to here.

Helpful Cleaners & Products Round-Up:

DIY Laundry Detergent

If your laundry detergent is low, this time skip picking it up at the store and make some for your self. It is super easy to do and each load costs pennies in relation to the stuff in stores.

Here's how to make it yourself :)

Thinking of making the switch to eco dryer sheets to go with your new detergent? Here are my thoughts on my favorite dryer sheets.

Let's real talk for a moment - Pinterest is pretty much 75%  food and DIY cleaners depending on who's boards you look at. Right!?!  I know I post them too! Check out Our Tips and Hints @ Home board for the proof. I love "planning projects" on Pinterest. The promise of projects being awesome is so exciting!!! 

The rare outcome is you get all excited about a project and its a total bust. Don't waste your time trying out some cleaning that may leave you with a not-so-exciting feeling. Here are some thoughts in our section Pinned: Success or Fail? 

Alvin Corn Cleaner Pin and May for Water Rings on Wood Pin

If you just want to get to work cleaning with the most basic household items that are amazing green cleaners, check out tips on cleaning with just vinegar and also with baking & washing soda here on a previous blog post. 

Best wishes on your cleaning endeavor! XOXO, KC

Greener Swiffer Cover

Today my post will be a quasi how-to.  I am entertaining this week some, and I haven't tended to the floors since we have moved in...

So, they aren't horrendous- but still time for a good scrub.  Now like most Americans at one point in college a Swiffer "Mop" came into my life.  I am not sure if it is the complete embodyment of our throw-away culture or if there are worse things. BUT, they are wasteful, costly, and they just plain don't clean as good as 'ol fashioned scrubbing or mopping.  

So, I wanted to try an alternative with re-purposing an old towel into a re-usable cover that can be washed and used with whatever cleaner on an existing Swiffer mop pole.

 Here shows the dimensions and  construction elements of the cloth.  I made a covered elastic strip to give texture in scrubbing and to secure the sides from flapping.  This was just a simple strip with reinforced edges folded over and stitched onto the main towel. 

I will be posting before and after shots tomorrow with some further thoughts-  Mopping the floor was all the chore I can handle for the day and will have to leave this To Be Continued...

Natural Cleaners

We have been phasing out old cleaning products and swapping them out for better green products.  Sometimes you have to try tons of products until you find what you like, and we are going to keep track as we go of pro's and con's of each new item we try out. BUT, it got me thinking why on earth am I not trying out the plain 'ol natural remedies in the sampling! Here are some ways we are going to test out some easy cleaning solution with pantry items.

VINEGAR (Distilled White Vinegar)

Inhibits mold growth, bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella.

Clean With Vinegar where??? 

Coffee Maker: Pour equal parts water and vinegar into the water chamber.  Put the coffee maker on "clean" or "regular" if there is no clean cycle- they do the same thing.  Halfway threw the cycle turn it off and let it sit for ~1hour and then continue the cycle.  Run the coffee maker with plain water a couple of times after to make sure no residue surprises you in the AM.

Dishwasher: Just like the coffee maker except you place 1/2 cup of vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle.  No need to re-run the cycles afterward.  Wanna get sparkling glasses?  When washing stemware in the sink add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse water.

Drains: Do you know how bad drano is for our pipes and water supply???? Hmmm, Let's think about how there is nothing but forums about poisoning yourself by drinking it... BUT it must disappear by putting it down the drain right? WRONG!  All you need is some

distilled white vinegar to pour generously down the drain. Wait about 30 minutes, then flush down with cold water.

Floors: As long as you don't use it on wood or marble pour 1/4 cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean floors.

Window Spray: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid castile soap in a spray bottle.  Best results if you spritz and wipe with newsprint.   Dr. Bronner's Soap is my favorite when choosing a liquid castile soap.  I have fond memories of camping along the Appalachian Trail and using it for every use under the sun!

OTHER TIPS: Pour Vinegar into a plastic bag/ sandwich bag and secure to the shower head with a rubber band overnight to combat mineral deposits.  Mineral deposits on your Iron?  Fill iron with equal parts water and vinegar into the iron and run it for a bit pressing the steam button.  Once cooled empty the iron and rinse before pressing garments. Moldy walls no more with a direct spritz and wiping + thorough cleaning after 15minutes.

Baking and Washing Soda

Cuts through grease and grime

*Make sure if you are using Washing Soda to wear rubber gloves*

 Where???

Stained Tea Cups and Coffee Mugs:  Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight; rub down and and rinse. An alternative is sprinkling salt (the coarser the better) to the outside of a lemon peel and rub until clean.

Grill /BBQ Utensils and Garden tools: Dip a stiff bristled brush into water then into washing soda and scrub everything away effortlessly.  ***Make sure to not use washing soda on aluminum however*** This above technique can be used on your garden tool. Scrub with the paste, rinse, then set your tools out in the sun to dry.  If your tools are rusty you can brew a huge batch of strong black tea to cool, and soak your tools in.  Wipe with gloved hands and a cloth after letting them sit for a few hours.