Monday, January 28, 2013

Cheap, Thrifty, Penny Pinching Awesomeness


I've gotten some pretty positive feedback about recent posts of practicality. So I decided to devote this weeks posts to being cheap. I've already addressed couponing, so I thought I would back up the frugal train to cleaning products. I currently, make my own Febreeze for about 70 cents a bottle. I don't miss paying $5.00 to buy it at the grocery store, and it has better staying power than real Febreeze. Using the Internet, I discovered ways to make cleaning products on the cheap. I will be sharing these later this week. Today, I want to share a cheap and versatile product no woman should be without....


                                   VINEGAR 

On my quest to clean, I thought I should showcase vinegar which is quickly becoming one of my favorite things! I know some people detest the smell, but its cheap and can be used for so many things its insane. You can buy a gallon jug. which I recommend, for about $4.00 at Walmart. It literally pays for its self with one use! I scoured Pinterst and the interwebs to bring you the best list of all the things you can do with it. I have highlighted the items I have tried and used with success in Pink. I highlighted items in Green that I have heard friends have used and been successful with. If you have any questions, or have tips that weren't showcased on the list, please share them! I would love to hear about them. Prepare to be amazed at the power ( and cheapness) of all things Vinegar.



* Clean Scissors

When your Scissors get grimy, use some vinegar to clean the blades. Unlike, soap and other cleaners, vinegar wont harm or tarnish your blades! Win.


* De Sticker new items

Wipe the sticker with vinegar. Leave on for 5 minutes. It will break down the residue in the sticker, and save you from breaking your nails trying to scrape it off.

*Clean the dishwasher, kettle & coffee pot

Give all of your large and small appliances a cleaning by using vinegar to deodorize, break down and descale.  Simply add a cup of vinegar to the appliance (which uses water), let it sit, and then run a full cycle through.  Dump the vinegar and smile because you have clean and fully functioning appliances! 

*Steam clean your microwave

Easy, quick and painfully effective, microwave cleaning will never be the same.  Simply add equal parts water and vinegar and microwave for 4 minutes.  Carefully remove the bowl with oven gloves and wipe the insides with a clean microfiber cloth. ( The bowl will be hot!!) The steam created will literally melt off any microwave mess. Use a little elbow grease and clean out said microwave. It will be as good as new. This one works, and will save you time as well as sanity.

*Naturally refresh fabrics and upholstery

All you need to do is add plain white vinegar to a spray bottle, Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and use this to mist your fabrics instead of a 6 dollar bottle of Febreeze.  It quickly neutralizes odours and the vinegar smell disappears in minutes. ( I prefer to use what I term Jackie's Bootleg Febreeze, look for the recipe in an upcoming blog!)

*Rejuvenate your bathroom tools


Your bathroom tools like loofas, pumice stones and razor blades need a cleaning too.  To do this, simply fill your sink with equal parts of vinegar and water, soak the items for an hour and then rinse and dry.  Soap residue, body oils and smells will be gone. These items will be cleaned with literally no effort on your part!

*Defrost car windows


Before the storm hits, wash a solution of 3 parts vinegar to one part water over the windows.  Since the acidity of the vinegar prevents ice, you won’t have frosty glass after the storm hits.  ** I haven't used this, but my friend Lauren has, and it works! Give it a whirl!

*Replace dryer sheets & fabric softener

If you are ready to do away with fabric softener and dryer sheets, try this instead.  During the wash cycle, add in a half cup of white distilled vinegar.  Believe it or not, the acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes. Further to that, it can also help brighten, soften and deodorize the clothing.  It’s a no-brainer!

* Stinky Hands

If you like to cook but hate the smell of onions, garlic, meat, fish and spices on your hands, this trick is for you. Clean your hands with soap and water, and then rinse well with vinegar.  The vinegar will remove those strong odours and leave your hands looking and smelling clean afterward. Easy!

*Clean your wood cutting board

I don’t cut any meat on my wood cutting board, but I cut everything else on here.  So, to keep it clean simply wash it with a vinegar-soaked cloth after each use and you’ll remove the bacteria.  

Freshen up the fridge

Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.


* Eliminate odors 

Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

* Kill bathroom germs 
Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. ** I use this trick with a simple brush wand. You know the ones for dishes where you can add in the soap and then wash? Just add a drop of dish soap, fill the rest with vinegar and then leave i the shower! Scrub down the shower walls after each use, while you are still in the shower. Trust me, this is a time saver and it works like a charm! My shower has never been cleaner!!! DO IT!
* Save stained clothes
 To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on deodorant stains.
* Clean your toilet
Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.
*Get out carpet stains.
 Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)
** I have tried something similar that works on new and old stains. Spray stain with vinegar and water solution. Cover with a damp washcloth. Use white if you can. Use the iron on a steam setting to iron over the stain. Watch in amazement as the stain is lifted into the washcloth! BINGO! NO MORE STAIN!!!!**
Renew paint brushes 
To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
* Wipe off a dirty faucet.
 To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.
* Make old socks look new 
Get the stains out of old socks and sweaty gym clothes by soaking them in a vinegar solution. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring to a boil and drop in the stained clothes. Let them soak overnight, and in the morning stained clothes are fresh and bright.
* Restore handbags and shoes 
Wipe white distilled vinegar on scuffed leather bags and shoes. It will restore their shine and help hide the marks.
* Banish weeds.
 Pour white distilled vinegar on the weeds growing in the cracks of your walkway and driveway. Saturate the plant so the vinegar reaches the roots. ** My good friend April's dad taught my mom this trick years ago. It works and its cheap! WINNING!
* Liven droopy flowers. 
Don’t throw out cut flowers once they start to wilt. Instead, add two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of sugar to a quart of water. Pour the solution into your vase, and the flowers will perk up.
* Put an end to itching. 
Dab a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar on mosquito bites and insect stings. It will stop them from itching and help disinfect the area so they heal faster.
* Whiten your teeth. 
Brush your teeth once a week with white distilled vinegar. Dip your toothbrush into the vinegar and brush thoroughly. It will help prevent bad breath, too.
* Make nail polish last longer.
 Before you apply your favorite polish, wipe your nails with a cotton ball soaked in white distilled vinegar. The clean surface will help your manicure last.
* Let your dog shine 
Spray your dog with one cup white distilled vinegar mixed with one quart water. The solution is a cheap alternative to expensive pet-care products, plus the vinegar will help repel pests like fleas and ticks.
*Battle litter-box odor 
Cat litter can leave behind an unwelcome smell. Eliminate it by pouring a half-inch of white distilled vinegar into the empty litter box. Let stand for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
*Kill bacteria in meat 
Marinating in vinegar knocks out bacteria and tenderizes the meat. Create a marinade by adding ¼ cup balsamic vinegar for every 2 pounds of meat to your own blend of herbs and spices. Let the meat sit anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours, depending on how strong you want the flavor, then cook it in the morning without rinsing.
* Prevent cracked eggs
Prevent eggs from cracking as they hard-boil by adding two tablespoons of white vinegar to the water. The eggs will stay intact, and the shells will peel off more easily when you’re ready to eat them.
* Steam away a microwave mess 
Fill a small bowl with equal parts hot water and vinegar, and place it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes. As the steam fills the microwave, it loosens the mess, making clean up a breeze.
* Repair DVDs 
If you have a worn DVD that skips or freezes, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Make sure the DVD is completely dry before reinserting it into the player.
* Get those last drops of condiments
 If you can’t get that final bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, dribble in a few drops of vinegar. Put the cap on tightly and shake. The remaining condiments will slide out.
* Rinse fruits and vegetables 
Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to one pint water. Use the mixture to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. The solution kills more pesticide residue than does pure water. **Works well and if you are lucky enough, you will see scummy reminates in the water :)
* Brighter Easter eggs 
Before you dye Easter eggs, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. The vinegar keeps the dye bright and prevents the color from streaking.
* Loosen a rusted screw 
Pour vinegar onto the screw, and it will easily unstick.
* Remove gum 
To remove gum from fabric or hair, heat a small bowl of vinegar in the microwave. Pour the warm vinegar over the gum, saturating the area. The gum will dissolve.
* Keep cheese from molding
Wrap cheese in a vinegar-soaked cloth, then place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

* Remove wax

If you get melted candle wax on your wood furniture or floors, gently wipe it away with a cloth soaked in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.

*  Take a relaxing bath
Add ½ cup of vinegar to warm bath water for a cheap spa session at home. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving you feeling soft and smooth.
* Brighten your hair 
Remove hair product buildup by rinsing a tablespoon of vinegar through your hair once a month.
* Erase crayon 
If your kids get crayon marks on the walls or floor, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and gently scrub. The vinegar breaks down the wax, making for an inexpensive, nontoxic way to clean up after children.
* Sanitize pet accidents. 
You can remove the stain―and smell―of your pet’s accident by mixing ¼ cup vinegar with a quart of water and blotting the mixture onto the mess with a washcloth. Continue dabbing until the spot is gone.
* Prep for summer grilling. 
To remove charcoal buildup from your grill, spray white distilled vinegar on balled up aluminum foil and scrub the grate thoroughly.
* Restore shower head pressure. 
If your showerhead gets clogged with mineral deposits, soak it for 15 minutes in a mixture of ½ cup vinegar and 1 quart water.
* Unclog drains 
For a natural, nontoxic way to clean clogged pipes, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar, down the drain. Let the products bubble and foam, then flush the pipes with a pot of boiling water.
* Eliminate dandruff 
If your scalp is feeling dry or flaky, vinegar can be a simple at-home remedy. Once a week, pour one cup of apple cider vinegar over your scalp, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.
* Soften your feet 
Summer sandals leaving you with cracked heals and calluses? Soak your feet for 20 minutes a day in one part vinegar to two parts warm water. The vinegar removes dead skin, leaving your feet soft and smooth.



A couple of quick notes

  • Don’t mix vinegar with Ammonia, unless you want to end up in the emergency room.
  • Never use white distilled vinegar on stone surfaces including limestone, travertine, granite or marble. The acid can damage the surface.
  • White vinegar, distilled white vinegar and full-strength vinegar (a stronger version of white vinegar specifically for cleaning) are the only kinds you should be using when cleaning.  Any other kind is for cooking, so don’t mix them up.



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