Easy Ways to Save Money: Clean With Vinegar!

This seems like a 'no brainer' to me. Cleaning with vinegar (and baking soda) is the cheapest, most effective way to clean anything! Boy, will it save you money over commercial cleaning products!

I use vinegar to clean all over my house.  Get some spray bottles at the big box store (label them so you know what is in it) and store it just as you would any commercial cleaner. Mine live under my kitchen sink. Here are some of the ways you can use vinegar and eliminate the cost of commercial cleaning products:

Windows, counter tops, kitchen table, and other general cleaning needs: one part vinegar and one part water. Spray and wipe.

Kitchen sink: sprinkle baking soda (just as you would commercial cleaner) and then spray a few squirts of vinegar and water. Scrub with a sponge.

Shower stall, bathtub, toilet and other bathroom surfaces: Mix vinegar with some dish washing soap, spray and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe clean. (You can see more details on how to make this cleaner and clean your bathroom with it here.)

Laundry: Use vinegar (full strength) in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener.

Dish washing rinse aid: Let your rinse aid dispenser completely empty and then fill it with vinegar (full strength).

Garbage disposal: Freeze some vinegar in ice cube trays, put a couple of cubes in the garbage disposal and turn it on.

Round Up replacement: OK, this isn't really a cleaning product, but it is a chemical you don't have to purchase! Spray the weed with vinegar (full strength). Works great for weeds that crop up between sections of concrete or in your landscaping.

When you run out of a cleaning product, instead of purchasing a new bottle, replace it with vinegar! You will get a safe, chemical free, effective cleaner that will save you money!

Home Made Chicken Stock

I know when most people need chicken stock or chicken broth, they reach for a can or carton that they purchased at the store. What I don't understand is why. It is so incredibly easy to make! And superior (in both taste and nutrition) to what you can find in the store.

Let me show you how to make it!

I started with a small chicken. I was cooking it for Molly. It was a beautiful sunny day so I put it in the Sun Oven.  

Once the chicken was cooked and used in the recipe I have for her, all I had left was the chicken carcass. This is what you use to make the stock. Don't just use the bones though, use everything that you have left over: skin, leftover meat, neck, gizzards, everything! Put it in a pot and cover with water. Only add enough water to cover the bones. If it is a small chicken, you can freeze the bones until you have another and then cook them both together. Sometimes I do that when I am busy. 

You can also add any leftover vegetables you may have. I use carrot tops, the ends of green beans, peas (if I have them), and parsley. You can add any spices or other herbs you would like as well. Next time you chop up some vegetables for dinner, save the discards and put them in the freezer. When you go to make a batch of chicken stock, use all the discards you have saved. To help get all the nutrients out of the bones, add a couple tablespoons of vinegar as well.

This is where I differ with some other directions you may find on the Internet. I have read that you should bring the pot to a boil and then turn down the heat and simmer. I don't like my chicken stock to boil, it turns cloudy and you get this icky foam that you need to skim off. To keep the chicken stock clear (like the store bought stuff), simmer it on low. A crock pot works really well here. You can simmer it all night while you sleep!

You can also put it in the Sun Oven. In my opinion, the Sun Oven slow cooks better than a crock pot (and it doesn't use electricity!) I use the inside piece of my crock pot and the cover and put it in the Sun Oven. This doesn't even need me to turn the oven every 30 minutes to redirect it at the sun. Slow cook means I can turn the oven every 2 hours or so. In the summer, I can point the oven where the mid-day sun will be and leave it there all day.  I let mine stay in the Sun Oven for a total of about 8 hours. 

When it is done, use a colander to separate the bones, vegetables and anything else you added to the pot. You can discard them now. What you have left is the best chicken stock you have ever tasted! This stuff doesn't last long at my house! 

You can freeze it or can it if you would like. Next time you cook, reach for the homemade stock instead of store bought. Not only will you notice the taste difference in your meal, but you also won't be getting any artificial ingredients in your food - just good wholesome nutrition.

What a cool idea it is to make something so good tasting (and good for you) from things that would have gone into the trash!

 Now that is being frugal!

Homemade Laundry Detergent Boosters

I love OxiClean. I use it every time I wash clothes. I have been buying it on sale and stocking up so I always have it.  Well, lately it hasn't been on sale and I am noticing the price keeps going up. (Is it just me or is the price of everything going up faster and faster?) Well, I finally put my foot down and said "No more!" I will no longer purchase OxiClean. I am going to have to use something else or make my own. 

That started my search for a homemade version. I have read about a few and decided to try the ones that sounded like they would work. I really wanted to use regular household items so I don't have to purchase any new ingredients and store a year's worth of something else. I have all these ingredients listed below in my food storage program now. 

Let me also add that I don't use commercial laundry detergent. I make my own. You can too! Here is the recipe:

Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar Fels Napa soap, grated (I use my own homemade soap. You can see that recipe as part of the series Make Your Own Soap. Here is the link to Part I: Make Your Own Soap, Part I   . The recipe for the laundry soap is listed in Part IV.
2 cups Washing Soda
2 cups Borax

I melt the soap in a few cups of boiling water and then add the washing soda and borax so it will dissolve. Place it all in an old liquid detergent laundry bottle and add warm water.  Use the biggest bottle/tub you can find. I use one of the super big bottles that sits on its side and has the spout.  If you don't have one of these, divide the concentrated recipe up among a couple of bottles, then add water. This makes a nice gel that dissolves well when you add the clothes.

Back to the stain removers, here's my research, results and comments:

Homemade OxiClean Recipe #1 (Overall Detergent Booster):
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup washing soda

Results:
I read that this recipe works best if the clothes are left to soak for a few hours. I decided to try it both ways: soaking and non-soaking. I used 2 loads of white clothes so I could compare to see if the soaking did any good. I only soaked for 30 minutes. The non-soaked clothes came out good, similar to when I add a scoop of OxiClean. The soaked clothes came out very bright! All I can say is WOW! I am impressed. I really didn't expect 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a full tub of water to do it, but it did! I also did a cost comparison on an ounce for ounce basis and the liquid hydrogen peroxide with washing soda is much, much cheaper than OxiClean. 

I also want to mention that I have, and use on occasion, Mrs. Stewart's Liquid Bluing. This stuff has been around since 1883. It works great if you have a stain on whites that is set and won't come out. (Hanging the item in the sun to dry will also help to remove a set stain.) I don't use the bluing that often. My bottle is a few years old and I haven't even used half of it yet. I did not use it in the test washes.

Homemade OxiClean Recipe #2 (Pre-Treat Specific Stains):
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup vinegar

Results:
I use OxiClean gel to pre-treat oily stains on our clothes. I get lots of them on the t-shirts I wear around the house.  (Teaspoons of fish oil are part of Molly's daily diet for her allergies and I usually end up squirting some on my shirts.) To make sure I was doing what I considered a 'fair' test, I treated one shirt with OxiClean gel, one shirt with Resolve spray and three shirts with the lemon/vinegar combo. Then I washed them together in the same load. These were fresh stains, I actually squirted the oil on the shirts so I could test this. I let the stain sit about 5 minutes. It took about 5 minutes to pull a new bottle of vinegar out of the storage closet, then I made the lemon/vinegar mix. So I guess all the stains sat about 10 minutes total before treating. I did not try this with 'old oil' stains because I didn't have any dirty t-shirts that were stained waiting to go into the wash. All the shirts came out clean.  All of them! I rubbed the lemon/vinegar mix in a bit. I didn't use any other laundry booster, nor did I use a scoop of OxiClean powder. Just my homemade detergent and the pre-treated clothes. This is another surprise for me. I honestly didn't expect the oily stains to come out.  I will no longer purchase OxiClean gel nor Resolve Pre-Treat! You can't find a cheaper stain fighter than lemon juice and vinegar! 

I am very pleased with my results. And thrilled that I found a cheaper way to get my clothes clean!

Here are some other laundry ideas I found while researching.  I haven't tried these yet:

• Sponging stains with peroxide will remove many simple stains. Peroxide will not injure wool or silk and is not dangerous to use. It may affect the color of the material so test on the fabric first.
• To remove coffee stains, mix the yolk of an egg with a little warm water. Rub on the stain with a sponge. For stains that have been set in, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to the egg and water.
• To remove candle wax, apply ice to the wax so it freezes (you can also put the item outside in a dry area in the winter). Chip off all the frozen wax you can. Lay brown paper over the wax and press with a medium hot iron. Move the paper as it absorbs the wax. Take care not to redeposit the wax in another area of the fabric. Continue as long as any wax shows up on the brown paper.
• Perspiration stains are removed with a mix of vinegar and baking soda. Apply the vinegar, then sprinkle the baking soda on. While it is fizzing, scrub in gently with a brush.
• Grass stains will dissolve with an application of rubbing alcohol.
• For extra-dirty work clothes, add a cup of ammonia to the wash (do NOT add ammonia to any wash water that has bleach in it).
• Vinegar and water will remove salt stains from shoes and boots.

What an easy way to go frugal!

April 2013 Update: I have discovered that the spot remover of lemon juice and vinegar is not as effective on old 'set in' grease stains as it is on fresh stains. I have been doing some more experimenting. I have found the lemon juice and vinegar stain remover is more effective when the item is washed in very hot water, when you use fresh lemon juice, and when allowed to soak into to the clothes overnight. Still, I am somewhat frustrated with it's performance. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The search for a frugal stain remover continues...

More Praises for Vinegar

I have said many times how much I love to clean with vinegar. Add some baking soda and you can clean anything!  I am not the only one who thinks this way! It amazes me how many articles you can find on the Internet about the uses for vinegar. You can see how I use vinegar around my house here, here and here.

Lately, I have been collecting some additional websites that offer even more uses for vinegar. Some of the new ways I learned about are listed below. I have not tried any of these ideas yet.

• Clean rust from tools, bolts and spigots
• Remove chewing gum from fabric
• Make splinters easier to remove
• Soak new propane lantern wicks in vinegar for several hours and let dry. They will burn longer and brighter.
• Prevent ice from forming on a car windshield overnight
• Clean a bumper sticker off your car
• Remove wall paper

There are loads of other ideas on these sites. While some uses of vinegar are common knowledge and repeated on these sites, many are different:

75 Benefits of Vinegar

131 Uses for Vinegar

150+ Household Uses for Vinegar

Vinegar is so inexpensive, it only makes sense to stock up. You can even try your hand at making your own! There are many different ways to make vinegar. You can see one way I made vinegar here. 

Consider throwing out all those chemical cleaning supplies in your cabinet and replace them with vinegar!

Even More Uses for Vinegar

 

If you looked in my shopping cart at the grocery store you would think I was strange.  I always have vinegar in the cart.  Not just a bottle or two, I usually buy it six gallons at a time. I have vinegar stored in every closet in the house too.  And I say, "Why not?" It is inexpensive and can be used for thousands of different things!  I have mentioned some in earlier posts, here are a few more.

• Freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and use them to clean your garbage disposal.  You can even pour a little baking soda down the drain first.  Add a few vinegar ice cubes, turn on the water and whirl away.
• Mix vinegar with some salt and use it to clean brass, copper, chrome or bronze. Rinse well. Use some in pots and pans to remove greasy food stuff and make them shine. Rinse well and dry.
• When cooking rice, add 1 tsp of vinegar to the water.  It will make the rice fluffier.
• Instead of buying lye or chemicals to unclog a drain, try using some vinegar mixed with boiling water.
• Mix a few tablespoons of vinegar in a cup of warm water and use as a rinse for your hair, then rinse with water. Your hair will will be squeaky clean and soft!
• To keep cut flowers longer, add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the vase water.
• Need buttermilk for a recipe but don't have any?  You can make it!  Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk.  Wait 5 - 10 minutes and use in place of the buttermilk. 
• You can deter ants from coming into your home by spraying the doorways, windows or anywhere else the ants are getting in. This is only temporary, but it will solve the problem until you have time to make a more permanent fix. (Diatomaceous earth is a safe, easy and effective way to permanently keep the ants out.)

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• 5 More Uses for Vinegar
• 5 Uses for Vinegar That Your Great-Grandmother Would Approve Of

Five More Uses for Vinegar

As I have mentioned before, I use vinegar to clean just about everything.  Even so, sometimes you have to add elbow grease to get things really clean. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I tested a new way to use vinegar for cleaning.  It worked really well and no scrubbing!  This one is first on today’s list.

1. Heat 1 cup of vinegar in the microwave for 1 minute.  Pour into a spray bottle.  Add 1 cup of Dawn dishwashing liquid.  Shake to mix well.  Spray your shower and/or tub.  Let sit for at least two hours.  The more soap scum and hard water spots you have, the longer you should let it sit.  You can even let it sit overnight if necessary. Wipe down with a wet sponge and rinse.  That’s it!  Soap build up, dirt, grime, EVERYTHING disappears.  You are left with a clean shine.  It even smells pleasant – not like vinegar at all.  I saw this recipe on Pinterest.  I modified it a bit for half the tub to see if it made a difference.  First, I turned on the water to wet down everything.  Then, I sprinkled baking soda on half the tub. Then I sprayed the entire tub.  The half with the baking soda fizzled and foamed up and stayed put a bit better (good if using on vertical surfaces).  Go easy with the spray.  If you use a lot, it will take a long time to rinse because of the bubbles made by Dawn. On Pinterest, it specifically stated to use the blue Dawn, so that is what I did. It worked so well, I tried it on my grout.  My bathrooms are white.  White everything - to include the grout.  So as you can guess, it is really hard to keep the grout clean.  No more!  This mix did a great job on the grout as well.  I sprayed it on and after letting it sit for 2 hours, I lightly scrubbed with a stiff brush and then wiped it up with a damp sponge.  I will no longer use any harsh chemicals to clean my grout!
2. My kitchen sink gets dirty, really dirty.  In addition to normal household chores, I use my sink sprayer to water plants. I also repot small plants in my sink. As a result, I wash my sink a lot.  Long ago and far away I used to use an abrasive powder cleanser with bleach.  Then I switched to my own dishwashing soap.  Now, I use vinegar.  Here’s how it works. Wet the sink and lightly sprinkle baking soda over the entire surface.  Pour about ¼ cup vinegar in the sink and let it foam.  Use a scrub sponge to lightly scrub and/or wipe out the sink. Then rinse.  I have been amazed that this seems to actually repel the dirt.  My sink stays cleaner, brighter and shiner longer and it is easier to wipe clean in between the vinegar cleanings.
3. When washing fresh produce, add vinegar to the rinse water and you will remove any tiny bugs you may not be able to see.  This works great for garden vegetables such as carrots, green beans, squash, or broccoli.
4. Wipe down your cutting boards with vinegar before washing them. It cuts down on grease and makes them easier to clean. Use it full strength, then wash as usual.
5. Here is an idea women may find helpful! Nail polish will go on smoother and stay on longer if you wipe your nails down with vinegar. Saturate a cotton ball with vinegar and wipe each nail. Let dry. Then apply your favorite nail polish.

A word of warning when using vinegar with baking soda (or any other ingredient that makes it foam).  It is perfectly fine to use these ingredients together when in an open container, sink or bathtub.  Do not try to put foaming vinegar in a closed container.  It will not stay closed for long and you will have a big mess on your hands!

Vinegar is such a useful and natural product.  I love to find creative ways to use it.  If you have a creative use for vinegar, let me know.  I will include it in the next ‘Five More Uses for Vinegar” post!

Five Uses for Vinegar Your Great-Grandmother Would Approve

Most commercial products we have access to are loaded with chemicals that are bad for your health. Have you ever looked at the warning labels on cleaning products? What about lawn care products? There are organic alternatives, but they can be pricey and just as lethal. I propose a different alternative: vinegar!

I am sure you all have heard about the many uses of vinegar. You can find them all over the web. Here are five such uses that you can easily put into practice now. They will save you money and eliminate the need to purchase commercial products. These are all jobs your great-grandmother would have accomplished using good ole vinegar.

1.   Do you use liquid fabric softener in the washing machine?  All those chemicals that make your clothes smell fresh and feel soft are not needed.  You can make you clothes incredibly soft, smell fresh and reduce the lint in the dryer with vinegar.  Fill up the liquid fabric softener dispenser with vinegar every time you wash clothes.  I promise your clothes won’t smell like vinegar and they will last longer too.

2.   Do you use a rinse agent in the dishwasher?  Most new dishwashers use a reduced amount of water. They require a rinse agent to help keep the food particles off the dishes.  What are the ingredients in a rinse agent anyway?  I personally have no idea but I am sure you can’t eat them.  Let your rinse agent dispenser completely empty and then refill it with vinegar.  Your dishes will shine and you won’t have spots on the glasses either.  Word of caution, don’t add vinegar if your dispenser has rinse agent in it, wait until it is empty then refill it with vinegar.

3.   Do you have unwanted weeds on your patio or in the driveway?  What about in your landscaping beds?  Grass killer is expensive and full of harmful chemicals that you shouldn’t get on your skin.  Vinegar works just as well. I keep mine in a sprayer bottle – buy a plastic sprayer bottle at a big box store and label it with a permanent marker.  When you see a weed pop up, use the sprayer bottle to zap it.  Cover the weed completely; 2 or 3 squirts will work.  The weed will be gone in a few days at the most.  If you are spraying near plants you want to keep, wait until evening or spray on a non-windy day. You don’t want to get the vinegar on the desirable plants.

4.     How many different kitchen cleaners do you have?  They really are not necessary.  Vinegar is an excellent alternative.  For the kitchen counter tops, add a mix of 50/50 water and vinegar to a spray bottle.    Just spray and wipe as you normally do.    This mixture works on the weeds too if you only want to keep one spray bottle.  However, with a mixture of water and vinegar, you may have to spray the weed more than once. 

5.     How many different bathroom cleaners do you have?  One for the toilet, one for the shower, and something different for the sinks and counter tops?  Strong chemical cleaners are not needed in the bathroom either.  To clean the toilet, try ½ cup of vinegar in the bowl with a few drops of liquid dish washing liquid.  Swish with the toilet brush and flush.  For the bathroom sink and counter tops you can use the 50/50 water and vinegar mix same as in the kitchen.  I just read about a new ‘recipe’ using vinegar for the shower. It says the new recipe will take off dirt, hard water stains as well as mold and mildew without scrubbing.  I will try it in the next few weeks and let you know the results!

I buy a lot of vinegar and use it to clean all kinds of things.  Try it!  I bet you will find it does a better job, and it’s cheaper to use too.   The best part of all is that it doesn’t come with a warning label!