Pet Peeve!!!!

[ScottyG]

I dilute the vinegar with some water to make sure it doesn't corrode any grout or anything, and then usually add a tiny bit of detergent and/or some nice-smelling (or antibacterial) essential oils, like tea tree and grapefruit seed extract. But it works wonderfully, just as good as regular "all purpose cleaner." And it smells a bit bad when you use it, but the smell goes away pretty darn quick.

And all this antibacterial hoo-hah is just ridiculous. Nobody needs that, and it's a breeding ground for resistant strains, and it's kind of a toxic chemical anyway.

 

[miss_thenorth]

does vinegar work very well?

What ScottyG said--I have a bottle of 1/2 & 1/2 vinegar /water that I use for windows, showers, counter tops, cutting boards etc. For floors, about 1/4 vinegar 3/4 water, and a dash of dish soap--you can add oil for hardwood floors, but I don't. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. Afte the vinegar evaporates, you don't smell it or anythng else (ie onions on cutting board etc). I have used this for years--since my kids were young and I was concerned about them crawling on floors that were cleaned with stuff that has aflammable and caustic symbol on it.

As a side note--we are hardly ever sick. So, it works for me.

Also, I find it works well to remove the soap scum buildup on shower walls and tubs.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Oh, and as for the smell-- I would much rather smell that than pine sol or other cleaners. Not to mention that even after you use those cleaners--you can still smell them an hour later. How can that be good? Doesn't that mean that a residue is still left on what you have just cleaned?? vinegar is easier on your sinuses too than the other cleaners.

 

[2dream]

Vinegar poured in a bowl or cup and set out overnight will take smells out of your house. That is my only air freshner. My step son works for an irrigation company. Sometimes the mud on his clothes smells terrible and leaves a terrible smell in the bathroom. I just set out a cup of vinegar overnight - remove the vinegar the next morning. No more sour mud smell and no vinegar smell either. I also pour about a 1/4 cup in the wash water with his clothes. Like the homemade detergent, vinegar does not leave that residue smell. And as I am constantly telling my DH, clean does not smell good or bad. Thats how you know its clean. NO SMELL
And like most of you, a trip to the garden does require an unwashed snack to get you back to the house. My favorite unwashed snaks are plums and blackberries.
Ya'll don't kill me, I do use a swiffer wet jet. With the dog and stepson, mopping the kitchen is a every day after work happening and a bucket and mop are way to time consuming.

 

[Beekissed]

Vinegar poured in a bowl or cup and set out overnight will take smells out of your house. That is my only air freshner. My step son works for an irrigation company. Sometimes the mud on his clothes smells terrible and leaves a terrible smell in the bathroom. I just set out a cup of vinegar overnight - remove the vinegar the next morning. No more sour mud smell and no vinegar smell either. I also pour about a 1/4 cup in the wash water with his clothes. Like the homemade detergent, vinegar does not leave that residue smell. And as I am constantly telling my DH, clean does not smell good or bad. Thats how you know its clean. NO SMELL
And like most of you, a trip to the garden does require an unwashed snack to get you back to the house. My favorite unwashed snaks are plums and blackberries.
Ya'll don't kill me, I do use a swiffer wet jet. With the dog and stepson, mopping the kitchen is a every day after work happening and a bucket and mop are way to time consuming.

I would have to agree with you on the clean smell and the vinegar. I've used the Swiffer mops and it really disappointed me that you cannot take off the caps and fill it with another solution...their way of forcing you to buy more! I'm wondering if a small hole, big enough for a funnel end could be introduced through the top(bottom) of those bottles and then a piece of duck tape to keep the contents from sloshing out? Then, one could fill it with vinegar water for the cleaning.

Don't feel bad, I had a floor, not too long ago, that actually attracted dust and hair like a magnet....sort of like a TV! It was some kind of weird plastic tiles of some kind and hatefully resistant to a regular broom or mop....only the Swiffers would do the trick. Now my Swiffer sits idly in my broom closet. Thank goodness!

 

[FarmerChick]

Swiffers are great for knocking down tons of spider webs that are created overnight in the barn!

 

[pioneergirl]

Speaking of Swiffers...I have the part you attach the cloth to, but use an old wash rag as the "mop".....I have one that I dry mop with, and one that I wet mop with. Rinse them out and use them again, no more throwing out those darn expensive paper things that are supposed to work like 'magic'...pft!

 

[Beekissed]

Speaking of Swiffers...I have the part you attach the cloth to, but use an old wash rag as the "mop".....I have one that I dry mop with, and one that I wet mop with. Rinse them out and use them again, no more throwing out those darn expensive paper things that are supposed to work like 'magic'...pft!

I have found that pieces of fleece work wonders when used in the dry Swiffer...have the same texture and dust absorbing ability and can be rewashed!

 

[pioneergirl]

oooo, I have lots of fleece scraps around here from various projects...good idea!! *sneaks off to steal Beekissed's idea*

 

[miss_thenorth]

I have waht is called a Vileda mop. It is the same concept of a swiffer--but you refill your own container with whatever you want, and you can buy disposable pads for it, but I used rags that I just toss in the laundry when I'm done. I hate disposable anything!!

ETA except toilet paper