Homemade cleaning products made from vinegar and herbs
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When you open your laundry or cleaning supplies cabinet at home, it's often full of colorful bottles with labels promising amazing cleaning results. But few people think about the chemical footprint these products leave behind – on our air, our skin, and the surfaces we live on every day. In fact, your home can be effectively cleaned with very simple and natural products that our grandmothers used. The most powerful ally among them is vinegar, which can be enriched with local herbs.
Why does vinegar work?
Vinegar is a natural acid that can break down dirt and grease, remove limescale, and neutralize unpleasant odors. It also has mild antibacterial properties, making it an ideal all-purpose cleaner. Unlike conventional chemical-based products, vinegar leaves no harmful residue or air pollution.
All-purpose cleaner from your kitchen
The simplest mixture you can use to clean most surfaces at home is vinegar and water. If you add herbs to it, you will not only get a more effective remedy, but also a pleasant smell. Put lavender, rosemary or lemon peels in a jar, pour vinegar over them and let them steep for a few weeks. Then strain the mixture and mix with water. The result is a cleaning agent that is suitable for kitchen surfaces, bathrooms and even glass surfaces.
Laundry rinse without chemicals
Vinegar is a great alternative to store-bought fabric softeners. Adding half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine will keep your clothes soft and your colors bright. Vinegar also helps keep your washing machine drum free of limescale and soap scum. If you want, you can also add dried lavender or peppermint to the vinegar, which will leave your laundry with a light, natural scent.
Make glasses and mirrors shine
Regular glass cleaners are full of synthetic fragrances and surfactants. Vinegar diluted with water does the same job – leaving your windows streak-free and shiny. Adding a dash of lemon juice to the mixture will give it an extra fresh scent and extra power against grease stains.
Where is vinegar not suitable?
Although vinegar is a wonderful helper, it is not omnipotent. It is not recommended to use vinegar on natural marble, limestone or granite, as the acid can damage the surface. Vinegar is also not suitable for aluminum surfaces. However, it is a safe and effective companion for everything else.
Why herbs?
By adding homegrown herbs like lavender, rosemary, peppermint, or even nettle to vinegar, you can create a cleaning solution that is not only practical but also creates a pleasant mood. Lavender soothes, rosemary invigorates, and peppermint refreshes. Cleaning becomes a ritual, not a tedious chore.
Final word
A clean home doesn't have to mean a closet full of chemicals. Vinegar, herbs, and natural remedies are just as effective, yet healthier and more environmentally friendly. Once you get used to cleaning with vinegar, buying complex and toxic cleaning products becomes unnecessary. Your home will be clean without burdening you or the planet.
In the next post, we'll move on to store shelves and look at how to read food labels without being misled by marketing slogans. You can find the post here.
