If there is something many people are finnicky about, it’s about the cleanliness of their homes. That’s probably why you are looking at alternative ways of doing it. We like to think of this as the natural way of doing things, it’s just that we’ve been taught using chemicals should be the way to do it.
Well, there are many natural substances that are good at cleaning. Water and soap don’t seem to be too far away, but very few can have the antibacterial properties that vinegar has. And that’s why people who have discovered cleaning with vinegar want to use it everywhere; well, except on marble.
Thing is though, the versatility of vinegar has come to mean that whenever we get a whiff of it, we immediately think of pickles. No one would want their home smelling like the inside of a pickle jar, would they?
Things you will need
Of course, vinegar is your first and most important ingredient, but, what of the smell? Turns out there’s another strong smell that we immediately associate with freshness; lemons. Yes. You can infuse lemons and other herbs and essential oils such as lavender or tea tree into this cleaning solution to stop it smelling like pickles.
Here are the things you will need;
• Two cups of distilled white vinegar.
• 3 lemons, for their peels.
• 35 to 40 drops of essential oils (You can use lemon or another one of your choice.)
• One teaspoon of detergent or castile soap.
• Several sprigs of rosemary or thyme.
• A peeler or knife.
• A large jar with a tight closing lid.
• Measuring cups.
• Spray bottles.
Getting Things Done
This cleaner is best prepared in bulk as it takes quite some time for it to be perfectly ready. If you are one who loves cleaning regularly, this ensures that you won’t run out of this wonderful homemade product.
It is time to get down to business. The first thing to do is to get the peels off of the lemon by the use of the peelers or knife. Ensure that you use a thin layer of the skin. If you do it normally, ensure that you remove as much of the white inner lining as possible. Place the peels and the herbs into a jar.
Next, pour the vinegar into the jar, add in the essential oils and swirl. Close the top of the jar tightly. At this point, you will need to exercise the patience of a cat stalking a butterfly. This infusion is best left in a location where the sun can easily reach it. This infusion requires a period of at least two weeks before it can be deemed ready for use.
After the two weeks are through, it’s time to make it available for you to use whenever you wish. Prepare the spray bottles that you are going to use and use a strainer to separate the infused liquid from the solids. If there is still some left, you can leave it in the jar until you need it.
At this point, you can dilute the infusion with 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of detergent or castile soap. If the aroma of the essential oils isn’t to the level of your liking, you could add some more.
You are now ready to use the vinegar cleaner.