Cleaning supplies today are the latest product of decades of marketing research. Companies selling these cleaners have figured out what fragrances, colors, logos, and packaging of their product will draw consumers for as cheaply as possible. Many use ingredients that are even considered hazardous waste material. There are more and more products becoming available that promote less toxic material content, which is good, but there are simple ways to clean with just a bottle of apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar is a food staple thats been around over 10,000 years. It is created by fermented fruits that have turned to alcohol (like any wine, beer, etc.) then, it is fermented again to acetic acid and clarified so it remains in this state of vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar can be used to clean practically any surface: sinks, toilets, bathtubs, stoves, and windows.
Dishwashers can be cleaned by using the vinegar instead of soap in a cycle.
Microwaves can be cleaned by cooking a bowl of apple cider vinegar in it for about a minute or a minute and a half. Use a cloth to wipe the walls and bottom down with the warmed vinegar to remove the splatter. (Wait for the vinegar to cool.
Mixing one part vinegar to 4 parts water is a good way to wash floors. The scent of the vinegar might seem pungent at first, but once the vinegar dries, there's no residual odor like the chemical cleaners leave. Which means, all that is being inhaled after using those cleaners is the chemicals themselves. Vinegar will actually destroy foul odors, but if people are sensitive to the smell of vinegar, adding an oil to mask it, like lavender, will help.
Vinegar is also good for shampoo in a mixture with water, but this will make the hair smell like vinegar for as long as it is wet. So, completely dry hair before heading out the door because other people will be more sensitive to the odor.
For things like laundry or white flooring and carpet, apple cider vinegar will stain these over time. White vinegar may be the better alternative.
Many people use a combination of vinegar, baking soda, and/or lemon in cleaning different surfaces. All of these are good and finding the right combination just takes a few test runs. Switching to homemade cleaning supplies makes cleaning a more fulfilling task than the chore it has been in the past.
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