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Cleaning Up:  Why did I wait so long?  |
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neeter302
True Blue Farmgirl
257 Posts
Anita
Hanover
Indiana
USA
257 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 07:28:07 AM
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| In reading MaryJanes Ideabook and wanting to earn some merit badges, I decided to try the more natural methods of general cleaning around my house. To say the least I'm amazed (and disappointed in myself for not trying it sooner). You know what they say, old habits... Anyhoo, I just finished cleaning my entire bathrooms with baking soda and vinegar, everything is bright, clean, and fresh. To my dismay when I rinsed my tub I found the drain to be clogged. I started to reach for the draino, but thought..no there must be a better way, I dumped a cup of baking soda in the drain followed by vinegar, let it set for 30 min and poured boiling water into the drain, it is now draining freely. I'm convinced, thanks MaryJane, now off to more cleaning ! |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 09:55:54 AM
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Very cool, Anita! Great job! It's amazing what we can do naturally!!! I'm so torn because I have some chemical products here at home that I haven't used since discovering the wonders of vinegar, I just can't bring myself to use them anymore!!! I'd give them away, but have been so busy telling everyone I know about my findings, nobody else wants them, either! :)
Alee - I am wondering... When we get sick, it has always been my family's and friends' habit to spray Lysol like it's going out of style to kill germs. Do you know of a safe substitute? Cold and flu season has already hit hard and I'd really like to find a healthier alternative!
Thanks so much!
Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 1:16:42 PM
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Nini- Vinegar is a great substitute! That or rubbing alcohol. Or you could combine them to give the vinegar a quicker drying time. I am taking a biology course in college right now and we just got done studying molecular bonds. The vinegar with it's denaturing power and the alcohol with it's sanitzing power should knock out pretty much anything. Besides- did you know to sanitize with Lysol you have to keep the surface wet for minutes? Like 10 minutes? Yeah- that would take a whole can of the spray to keep my toilet wet for 10 minutes. And the fumes! ICK!
Also did you know vinegar is actually an alcohol too? Vinegar is made the same way wine is made-just processed more. Or at least that is how it started. Now there are "mothers of vinegar" which are basically starts and they produce vinegar. Then they just have to let the vat sit and and harvet the vinegar at the end.
See: http://www.versatilevinegar.org/faqs.html
What is Vinegar?
The dictionary defines vinegar as “sour wine” or “a sour liquid obtained by acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative.”
How is Vinegar Made?
Vinegar is made by two distinct biological processes, both the result of the action of harmless microorganisms (yeast and “Acetobacter”) that turn sugars (carbohydrates) into acetic acid. Many of our favorite foods involve some type of bacteria in their production – from cheese and yogurt to wine, pickles and chocolate. The first process is called alcoholic fermentation and occurs when yeasts change natural sugars to alcohol under controlled conditions. In the second process, a group of bacteria (called “Acetobacter”) converts the alcohol portion to acid. This is the acetic, or acid fermentation, that forms vinegar. Proper bacteria cultures are important; timing is important; and fermentation should be carefully controlled.
Although acetic acid is the primary constituent of vinegar aside from water, acetic acid is not vinegar. Vinegar contains many vitamins and other compounds not found in acetic acid such as riboflavin, Vitamin B-1 and mineral salts from the starting material that impart vinegar with its distinct flavor.
What is Vinegar Made From?
Vinegar can be made from any fruit, or from any material containing sugar.
What Are the Different Types of Vinegar?
Since vinegar can be made from anything with sugar, there are probably too many different types to count made in countries throughout the world. Each country may use starting materials native to their area and tailored to the specific tastes of the region.
Typical retail varieties of vinegar include white distilled, cider, wine (white and red), rice, balsamic, malt and sugar cane. Other, more specialized types include banana, pineapple, raspberry, flavored and seasoned (e.g., garlic, tarragon).
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2010 : 4:55:19 PM
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I've started using peroxide sprayed on the surface after cleaning it with the vinegar. It was suggested in my "green cleaning" book. You just spray it on and let it dry. Anti-bacterial!
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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neeter302
True Blue Farmgirl
257 Posts
Anita
Hanover
Indiana
USA
257 Posts |
Posted - Sep 19 2010 : 12:54:56 PM
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| I'm trying daily to break old bad habits, be conscious about what I do, how I do it, and what I use. Baby steps, but over time it adds up and makes a difference. Today I needed to clean the kitchen floor, always used swiffer sheets, which end up in the trash & I don't believe biodegradable, I got an idea to use hubby's old tube socks, cut a centered 4-5" slit lengthwise, slid it right over my swiffer sweeper! Turned it inside out to the terry cloth side and it worked even better than the swiffers, wash and reuse over & over,no more swiffer sheets going into landfill, I have stopped using dryer sheets, using fab softener & recycling the bottles now, and am cutting way down on electric drying, more air drying, etc. Hoping to give up on dryer altogether eventually. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1143 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1143 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2010 : 10:54:59 AM
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Anita, I have been using microfiber cloths (found in stores which carry car cleaning and detailing items) on my Swiffer for several years now. For a quick mop job, just take your (homemade) cleaner, spray the floor lightly, and use your Swiffer/cloth combo to wipe up! It works great. My DH just came home the other day with a sack of about 25 cloths for me. I am going to put elastic around the edge of some so that they slip onto the Swiffer head.
I don't use fabric softener anymore...just vinegar in the wash. I do use my clothesline as much as possible. I let my towels dry out about 1/2way in the sun, and then throw them in the dryer, as I do not like crunchy towels.
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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prairie_princess
True Blue Farmgirl
613 Posts
Elizabeth
Carpenter
WY
USA
613 Posts |
Posted - Sep 28 2010 : 09:03:07 AM
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I'm going to try your drain clog remedy today! I can't wait to see how it works!
"Only two things that money can't buy, that's true love and homegrown tomatoes."
- Guy Clark
"The man who has planted a garden feels he has done something for the good of the world."
- Charles Dudley Warner |
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Cleaning Up: Why did I wait so long? |
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Why did I wait so long?
