Help! Substitution for vinegar???

[NHMamma]

My dh is threatening Formula 409 on me if I don't find another natural way to clean our house...he hates the smell of vinegar! Any suggestions???

Thanks!






bfs

[ASusan]

I don't have any suggestions, but I"m right there with you. My DH also hates the smell of vinegar. I try to wash things when he's not around. I also use Simple Green - and I have it available in places where he's likely to use it. (So he doesn't have to encounter vinegar when cleaning himself. I want to encourage his cleaning behavior as much as possible.)


Some women here might tell you to put in a few drops of essential oil, but I haven't done that yet myself.

[Spastica]

In instances that you can use white vinegar, you can use lemon juice. Avoid putting straight acidic stuff on marble and special stones (and grout).

You can use lemon juice in the kitchen to sanitize. Vinegar is great for cleaning mirrors and windows - add some essential oils to cut the smell.

I like using OxiClean and/or baking soda around the bathroom and laundry.

[wytchywoman]

You can also use club soda to clean windows, rather than vinegar. Just put it in a spray bottle and squirt away.
EO's really do make a difference when it comes to eliminating the odor of vinegar. Orange oil works really well, or you can add a good strong dash of lemon juice to your bottle too. Citrusy type smells seem to work better and a lot of people associate that scent with a clean house too as so many cleaners use orange oil or lemon scent to mask the harsh smell of the cleaner.

Namaste,

Michelle

[JBaxter]

Windows I use club soda. I find Heinz white vinegar has the least smell I also add some lavender oil, pine oil, peppermint oil or lemon oil to sent it ( in the jug)

[the_anti_grrrl]

well, if you can splurge for 409 - try some seventh generation or if you have a local trader joes they have very affordable natural cleaning products that work well. I used the multi purpose cleaner...smelled like cedar? Kinda weird...but not as offensive as vinegar (i don't mind vinegar though!)

[NHMamma]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try to water down the vinegar with club soda and add more eos--I had added lavender--maybe not enough! And I'll use baking soda and lemon as much as possible too! Just gripping about dh--really don't know what i'd do w/o him...he does most of the cleaning!!! Thanks for the advice!

Peace
NHMamma