Cleaning w/ vinegar

[kwg]

nak-w/an acrobat


So dh just recently told me that he hates the smell of vinegar. I was searching around trying to find out what to add to our spray bottles \and it seems people use lavender and tree oil so i googled that and found

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/prod...erteatree.htm\


no idea if that is true or what and am not saying it is...
any other ideas on what to use?

[rebeccalynn]

From the little reading that I have done, the issue is that they have found TTO & lavender oil can alter hormone levels (estrogen) and high enough levels can cause breast enlargement in boys. However, after gathering a little more information, there are many things that we use everyday that contain petrochemicals (lotions and shampoos - even baby products) that our bodies recognize/treat like estrogen. I just have a hunch that small amounts of TTO and lavender oil alone are not responsible these high hormone levels but it is the layering effect of all of the chemical additives that we expose our bodies to everyday in things that we would not suspect.

I personally have been trying to pick one thing at a time to try to change over to a non or less toxic version. My DH also does not like the smell of vinegar. However, we talked and discussed the fact that cleaners really do not smell any better, we are just used to them and accept it. He is giving vinegar and hydrogen peroxide a try.

You might want to give H2O2 a try (hydrogen peroxide). I actually came across a study done at Virgina Tech 10 or so years that showed that when both were used to clean surfaces, etc. that they killed more bacteria then bleach. It is a little more trouble because you are supposed to keep vinegar in one spray bottle and H2O2 in another bottle - the H2O2 needs to be in a non-clear/see thru bottle, but you just spray with vinegar and then spray with H2O2 and then wipe/clean as normal.

Hope you find something that works!

[Magella]

For an all-purpose cleaner (not for glass) I mix water, vinegar, peppermint Dr. Bronner's castille soap, and peppermint essential oil. No noticeable vinegary smell, and the peppermint is a nice, refreshing scent.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by Magella

For an all-purpose cleaner (not for glass) I mix water, vinegar, peppermint Dr. Bronner's castille soap, and peppermint essential oil. No noticeable vinegary smell, and the peppermint is a nice, refreshing scent.

I do something very similar, just with no Dr. Bronner's (I use that for other applications).

50% vinegar
50% water
peppermint extract (something like 2 drops per cup of liquid, nothing scientific though).

Smells heavenly. We even sometimes spray it just into the air as a freshener in the bathroom.

DH hated the smell of vinegar when I used it to clean - undiluted. With it diluted and with the peppermint, DH not only stopped complaining but likes to use it when he sprays off the counters or whatever.

He also uses a similar solution for mopping (just way more water).

[sunnysandiegan]

My DH didn't like the vinegar smell, either. I'm not particularly fond of it, either, for that matter. We both got over it.

Unlike all the chemical cleaners, vinegar/water (50/50) dries quickly and the smell disappears as soon as it dries. Our house just smells fresh, no particular scents. We both like that a lot more than the "old way".

[GoddessKristie]

I have never put anything into my bottles and I don't think my house smells like vinegar when I'm done. I clean while DH is at work, so that may make a difference for you, but if it smells like vinegar still a half hour later perhaps you're using too strong a solution.

[Mosaic]

I just add some lemon juice.