Cleaning with Vinegar?

[mykidsmom]

Does anyone clean their floor with a vinegar/water solution. Now that dd is crawling, I read that cleaning with vinegar is a non-chemical way to clean the floors and even has antibacterial properties in it. If you do this, can you tell me the ration of viengar/water you use. I looked on the internet and found all sorts of ratios. I have a hard wood floor in my kitchen and ceramic tile in my entry way.
Thanks!

[mudder17]

Yup, I definitely do. I got my recipe (and others) from Clean House, Clean Planet, by Karen Logan I have hardwood floor throughout most of the house, and tile in our kitchen. For a general cleaner, I use 50:50 distilled vinegar and water and 15-20 drops of pure peppermint oil. This is in a 16 oz squirt or spray bottle.

There are a bunch of other really useful recipes in there as well, so you might want to check out the book.


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 17 months & counting


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[mykidsmom]

What is the purpose of the peperment oil?
Thanks!!

[searchdog]

We clean our tile and laminate floor with vinegar and water. We do one gallon of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar.

[mudder17]

The peppermint oil is just to make it smell nice. :) It's amazing how much better the vinegar smells afterwards.

I also use pine needle, lime, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil on a regular basis. When I need some disinfecting, I'll make up a Dr. Bronner's solution with a little tea tree oil (the exact proportions are in the book) as a substitute for 409. The disinfectant is gentle enough that I use it directly on Kaya's hands, as well as on her high chair, the toilet, etc. Pretty handy. :)

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 17 months & counting


http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png

[almostamom]

Eileen, where do you purchase your oils from? I had always used vinegar/water to clean my floors in my apartment when I was single, but was afraid to do it on the tile & grout we now have. Glad to know you've done it and it smells okay.

Thanks,
~Linda~
DS 11/04

[mudder17]

I get all my oils (and herbs) from Iherb.com. Some of the things I get from them are identical to what I can get at Wholefoods, but at half the price! Some are only 30% lower, but you get the picture. :) When you check out, there are codes you can use that will give you discounts depending on how much you get. There is also free shipping for $20 or more orders.

HTH!


Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 17 months & counting


http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/catcatcvi20040222_4_Kaya+is.png