A Fresh Start-Day 3

Vinegar
One of my favorite household products. Powerful and economical, distilled white vinegar is one of nature's most versatile cleaners. Its odor can be overwhelming, but the smell dissipates as it dries. If you find the smell is too pungent, try adding lemon juice to neutralize it. I usually open some windows and the smell is gone pretty quickly.

All-Purpose
In a reusable spray bottle, mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for an effective all-purpose cleaner that disinfects and deodorizes. Use this solution to clean countertops, sinks, appliances and floors, but avoid granite or marble because vinegar's acid can damage them.

Bathroom
The all-purpose vinegar cleaning solution above can remove soap scum and hard water stains, and clean tile grout. To remove mildew, directly apply pure white vinegar and let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Conventional toilet bowl cleaners are among the most toxic cleaning products. To get a sparkling, odor free toilet, pour 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and let it sit for several hours to help deodorize and kill germs. Use a toilet brush to easily remove toilet rings, and flush.

Kitchen
The microwave often becomes a haven for strong smells and hard to remove food. Here's an easy trick: Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 1/2 cup water in microwave safe bowl and bring the solution to a rolling boil in the microwave. Odors will dissolve, and baked on food will loosen for easy removal with a damp cloth.
Finish off the kitchen with a sponge soaked in pure vinegar, which will remove grease from ovens and exhaust fan grids.

Laundry
Many people have heightened sensitivities to the perfumes and chemicals in fabric softeners. Remember the blog on fabric softner sheets? If not make sure to read it. Vinegars naturally breaks down laundry detergent, so adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle will give you softer sheets, towels and clothes.