A Little About Me and A Little About Vinegar

Hello everyone! My name is Stacy Q. and I’m one of the new writers here at Homemakers Who Work! I am very excited to be on board for this blog project! Let’s start off with a little bit about me – I’m a Marketing Manager/Freelance Designer from Indiana. I write for three other personal blogs including Squirrel Chatter (lifestyle blog), Confessions of a Design Junkie (design inspirations) and the Birds & the Bees (babyshower ideas, etc). When I’m not working, blogging or taking pictures -  I dabble in gardening,  do crafty things like knitting, crocheting, sewing and even a little baking and cooking if the inspiration strikes!

I look forward to getting to know all the writers and readers here on this blog! It’s going to be fun!

Now that the formal introductions are out of the way let’s get down to business! I’m sure you’ve about the wonders of vinegar for household cleaning, etc – but I am not sure if one can emphasize it enough. This stuff is amazing and can be used in so many ways. Here’s a list of the ways I use it most:

• I love our dishwasher, I do, it saves me so much time in the evenings but no matter what kind of detergent or rinsing agent we use our glasses always develop a hideous film over time (we have hard water). About every month or so, or when I notice the film building up – I simply use a part water, part vinegar rinse, let it set for a few minutes and wipe off to reveal gorgeously clear glasses once again!
• I keep a spray  in the shower to use as a daily shower cleaner to prevent build-up.
• A vinegar solution will also work wonders at busting up that nasty grim and soap build-up from about your faucets and sink handles.
• Have a smelly plastic container? Rinse with straight vinegar and let it set to dry.
• Vinegar is also great for cleaning out coffee pots and sanitizing counter tops!

Want more tips and tricks using this great natural, safe and low cost cleaner?
Visit http://www.vinegartips.com/ for 1001 Uses for Vinegar!

Cleaning with Vinegar and Herbs

Quick Tip:

Vinegar cuts through grease, mineral build up, and soap scum as well as inhibiting bacteria and mold.  Mix it with some antimicrobial, aromatic herbs and you’ve got yourself a cheap and easy way to disinfect and clean the house without the harsh chemicals of commercial cleaners.

Add a few tablespoons of Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Basil, Clove, or almost any other cooking spice to one cup of vinegar and let it sit for two weeks before straining out the herbs.  Pour it into a spray bottle and use your herbal vinegar to clean kitchen counters, oven tops, showers, mirrors, windows, glassware, coffeemakers, and so much more.  Add a small amount of baking soda and you’ve got a nice scrubbing cleanser.

Scrubbin

This past weekend we went to a costume party at Ronnie’s sister’s house.  Michelle and Lea are an inspiration to good housekeeping and decorating savvy.  Despite 8 cats and two kids, I have never walked into their home to find it dirty or cluttered.  Do not know how they do it; upon returning home the following afternoon, I was inspired to clean and organize.

My journey into natural cleaning (without commercial chemicals) began with Rhonda Jean’s blog, down–to–earth; this is not a review of her blog.  =)  She has some great, green, cleaning recipes and it is her liquid laundry soap that we use.  She also inspired me to knit dish clothes, repurposed old towels into cleaning clothes and use baking soda and vinegar to clean.  Ronnie does not mind the detergent and other natural cleaning, he does mind NOT having bleach in the house.  I have had no problems cleaning with baking soda & vinegar;  He believes he needs bleach to get rid of the stains that collect around the kitchen faucet – Mexican tile that has been sealed yet seems to collect stains none-the-less.

In the bathroom I use baking soda to clean the tub and sink, and vinegar and baking soda in the toilet bowl.  Laundry gets a 1/4c of the home detergent with vinegar in the downy ball; when these clothes dry, there is no after vinegar smell.  Clothes are either hung up outside or on inside drying racks – the exception to this are sheets; if it is not nice outside, into the dryer they go.

There are many, MANY bloggers out there that have different cleaning recipes – check ‘em out and find one that works for you.  Trying to use a regime that does not fit into your schedule  or comfort level results in frustration and stagnation.  Clean and be happy!

Twist on Fabric Softener

I have a confession. I bought Tide today. <Gasp> I know, I know, its soo much better, cheaper, etc to make my own.  But I just couldn’t do it this week and the hubby is working thirds now so I have to rearrange my schedule.  The food proccessor would wake him. I was shopping for fabric softner but didn’t like my choices and then the lady in the detergent section gave me a bit of advice and discovered a new tip for the laundry and I thought I would share it with you. 

Vinegar(you know she’s a good friend of mine) is a great fabric softener.  Im putting about 1/2 to 3/4 a cup into the fab softner compartment and then Im adding a few drops of essential oil to the mix.  I like how it turns out.  Right now Im using Lavender and Cedar mixed.  When I put it into the dryer there is a slight smell of vinegar still but when I get them out of the dryer its gone and only the smell of my oil is lingering.  Its not an overpowering scent like most fabric softeners which was something I always hated.  So this is a nice cheap solution for me.  Im not sure how well it works versus static but Fall and Winter are on approach and I will have to find out if all fails I guess I can get some Bounce sheets.  What do you like to use in the laundry?

Healthy Home Spritzer

Having a new baby around, I’m a little more cautious about germs getting in the house.  And being that Autumn begins in one month(!!) it seems like a good time to take a look at my cold and flu supplies.  One simple preventative that I’ve just run out of is my “Thieves Blend Spray”.

As the story goes four thieves were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying during the bubonic plague in the 1400’s.  While on trial, they were offered leniency if they told how they could rob the sick without getting sick themselves.  They explained that they were perfumers and spice traders and that they used certain herbs to keep themselves from contracting the plague.  Some stories say they carried the herbs in cloths held over their mouths.  Other versions say they rubbed their hands, ears, and temples with these herbs, or that they steeped the herbs in vinegar and rubbed their body down with it.  The stories also have different versions of which herbs were in these mixes… wormwood, clove, juniper berries, cinnamon, rosemary, camphor, sage,  lemon, eucalyptus… No matter how the herbs were applied, what they all have in common ais their antimicrobial properties.

I like to put together a nice spritzer to have on hand for when there are colds and flu about.  I can spray the house down, spritz over our pillows if we are feeling stuffy, spray and wipe down door knobs and handles.  Plus, I think the blend makes the house smell like holiday baking!!

Here’s what you need….

• 2 or 4 ounce glass spritzer bottle (blue or brown are best because they keep light from deteriorating the oils)
• Clove, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Cinnamon Essential Oils
• Vodka
• Water

• Fill the bottle 1/4 full with drinking alcohol (vodka works great)
• Add 10 drops of each essential oil to your 2 ounce bottle (20 drops each for a 4 ounce bottle)
• Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water
• Label it and shake well before each use!!

That’s it!!  You’ve got you yummy smelling, antimicrobial spritzer!

Mopping

by Kathie of Two Frog Home

Mopping isn’t one of my favorite chores.  I’ve tried every kind of mopping system out there and none in my experience do as good of a job as a good scrubbing on my hands and knees.  However, that’s just not practical on a regular basis in my life.  I went on a search for something that I did like and that did a good job during those times between a good scrubbings.

I was intrigued by those systems that came with the disposable pads and squirting cleaners on the handle.  However, I didn’t like the idea of buying special, cleaners made of chemicals or disposable expensive cleaning pads.  I figured that I could buy the starter kit and make it work in a way that was in harmony with my chemical-free and frugal values. 

I bought the starter kit and got started.  I traced one of the disposable pads onto to a piece of cardboard to make a pattern.  I use that pattern on sweatshirts that are ready for the rag pile.  Now, I have a stack of those re-usable and washable cloths that fit right into my mop system.  I re-filled the cleaner bottle with diluted vinegar.  Now I have a mopping system that’s easier on my knees and my wallet, not to mention my conscience.