by Michelle Hozey

Created on: September 21, 2010

Walk down any grocery store cleaning aisle and you will see cleaning products designed for every use imaginable. This one wipes up stains, this one wipes them and prevents them. Another deodorizes and disinfects while leaving behind a fresh lemony scent. For around $5 a bottle, you can add a slew of cleaning products to the overflowing cupboard under your kitchen sink and then later waste precious minutes searching for that one particular product to wipe up the grease on the stove.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could simplify your cleaning routine by mixing your own cleaning product that will cut grease, disinfect and deodorize all in one convenient spray bottle? This homemade cleaner is easy, it’s cheap and it’s environmentally friendly.  

Go to the nearest dollar store and purchase a $1 spray bottle. Head to the grocery store and pick up a gallon of white distilled vinegar.

Fill the spray bottle halfway with vinegar. Fill the rest with water. Start cleaning.

Vinegar is safe to use on countertops and stove tops, floors and appliances. While the smell may take some getting used to at first, eventually you will come to love the fresh, clean scent that fades into the background after a couple hours. Use the vinegar mixture and a couple of old newspapers to clean your kitchen windows for a streak-free shine.

Wipe grease splatters off painted walls with the vinegar mixture. Test a small area of the kitchen wall for paint discoloration, first. This mixture works well to break down grease and set-in coffee or tea stains. For extra tough grease stains, add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture. 

Spray the cleaner onto the sink fixtures and wipe with a microfiber cloth to make the faucet gleam like new.

Before or after you wash dishes, spray the sink with vinegar and let it sit for about five minutes. Take a scrubber or sponge to the sink to wipe out all the encrusted food and liquid stains for a shiny, clean sink.

The best part about cleaning with vinegar, aside from all the money you save by not purchasing expensive cleaners, is that it’s completely non-toxic. While the fumes from vinegar may be a little much to bear in a tight enclosed area, you are not damaging your lungs or hands by using it like you would if you were using bleach or other harsh cleaners. If you have pets, they won’t care for the smell, but they will not be harmed by breathing it in.  

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