Thursday, February 10, 2011

Cleaning my Bathroom with Vinegar and Baking Soda


I have changed my dish soap, my skin care products and laundry detergent to brands like Seventh Generation that use more conventional ingredients. But until recently we hadn't made alot of changes to our other household cleaning products. I have used Windex and Soft Scrub since back when I still lived with my mother.

A few weeks ago I tried something, for no reason other than I was curious. I sprinkled some baking soda into my bathtub, sink and toilet. Then I poured a little vinegar into each one in turn. I used the slurry with a sponge and scrubbed away. There were no harsh fumes, no chemicals to be worried about getting on my kids skins. There was no film or residue. In fact the mixture was so easy to use and clean away. And the vinegar made the chrome of my faucet shine like it never had!! Though I have a disclaimer about that. I have a new bathroom sink fixture, new like 2009. Some of the bathtub fixtures, like the overflow drain in the tub, are original from when the building was built in the fifties. The vinegar gets that drain nicely clean but the thing is 60 years old, it doesn't shine.

I have used the vinegar and baking soda combo for about a month and I don't think I am going back to Soft Scrub. The mix works on my tiles too which get so yucky from soap and shampoo. I thought I would always have to use that toxic smelling Dow Bathroom Cleaner. I am really happy with this. I don't have to be worried about what I am pouring down the drain as cleaner runoff can mingle with the water supply. And the ingredients are not antibacterial. Antibacterial ingredients, I believe, have contributed to the creation of super bugs. Because that .01% of the bacteria that are left in Lysol's wake are the strongest most aggressive bacteria. And it doesn't take a scientist to realize what happens next. These super strong bacteria now have no microscopic competition and can grow unchecked. Besides, their offspring can easily mutate into resistent varieties. If you have never heard of MRSA, read here. I love my friendly bacteria, and most of them are friendly. So I don't buy antibacterial anything, not even Purell. We just wash hands with water and soap. I figure our immune systems will be stronger for it.

If you are curious like me, try this cleaner. You might be surprised by the results and lack of filmy residue. And most likely you have got this stuff in your pantry already. WooHoo! I love cheap solutions that work!!

6 comments:

  1. I have been doing this for years...it's great! I also clean my windows with newspaper (the ink doesn't run off, I swear lol). Little things like that save a lot and are so much better for our earth.

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  2. I have been using baking soda on and off, but I haven't tried the combo. I'm excited. Thanks! Thats'a a huge cost savings considering how much the non toxic brands can be. Not to mention one less item to "forget" on a shopping list!

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  3. I use straight (diluted) vinegar to clean surfaces and add the baking soda for the toilet. I think the bubbles make it seem "cleaner" to me! But vinegar is a good disinfectant and you're right about the shine!

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  4. I am so happy that you guys are into this. I love not having to buy something different just to clean the bathroom. And not having the film is a huge thing to me! I always felt like I was washing away residue from the cleaning products!

    And @Jen @Dear Mommy Brain, I subscribed to your blog yesterday! It looks really cool!

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  5. Here are my recipes for bathroom scrub, surface cleaner, and laundry detergent (if you want to go nuts!):
    Scrub: http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/2010/08/simple-cheap-bathroom-scrub.html

    Spray: http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/2010/08/cheap-o-but-effective-surface-spray.html

    Laundry detergent:http://beingfrugalbychoice.blogspot.com/2010/08/homemade-laundry-soap-for-pennies-load.html

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  6. Definitely worth checking out. I read about this is several blogs already so I've been meaning to try any day now. Thanks for this article.

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