Penny-Pinching Pantry Products

In the interest of getting more bang for my buck, as well as reducing toxins that come into my home, I have discovered the long forgotten world of pantry cleaners. Frugal, safe to use, what's not to like?

Why buy expensive, chemical-laden cleaners when you can find everything you need in your pantry?


Vinegar::

Streak-Free Shining Windows and Surfaces:
1 cup of vinegar to 5 cups of water. Use a crumpled up piece of newspaper to wipe down the window. Works every time! If using this cleaner for kitchen or bathroom countertops or surfaces, follow up with rubbing alcohol for disinfection.

Lustrous Lineoleum:
1/4 cup vinegar to one gallon of water. Take the frugality one step further and use your broom as a mop by tying a dishtowel around the head! Voila! Instant reusable mop!

Grease Be Gone:
Use vinegar/ water solution for getting rid of greasy messes on your stovetop, microwave, or oven.

For more little-known uses for vinegar check out this site.


Baking Soda::

Rug Refresher:
Before you vacuum, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then vacuum it up. It will make your home smell fresh and crisp. Adding a pinch of cinnamon will give your house a relaxing fragrance as well.

Does Everything Deodorizer:
Does any more need to be said? Probably the most well-known of its uses :) Try using it on a mattress before you put down that fitted sheet. Leave a box of baking soda open in a fridge to absorb odors. I even like to keep a box in my van to soak up those nasty "Mom-I-left-my-apple-juice-cup-in-here-to-rot-for-two-weeks" odors. (In all fairness, I do clean my van, but sometimes they hide the cup and I don't discover it until the "aroma" assails my nose.)

For more baking soda benefits, check out the Arm&Hammer site!


Come back to explore beauty aides you just might have collecting dust on your pantry shelves!