Housework is one of those things you do that nobody notices until you don’t do it.  The truth is I don’t mind it all that much.  However, keeping up with my mischievous 2-year-old on cleaning day (or any day, for that matter) can be a downright rat race.

Usually, by the time the dishes are done in the kitchen, my toddler has relocated the contents of the medicine cabinet to the bathroom floor.  Once that is back in order, I hear giggling in the wash room.  I rush in to discover dirty laundry littering the expanse of the floor and my sweet girl hiding in the hamper.  As I toss the last sock into the washer… more giggling.  Not good.  My adorable little rugrat has just emptied an entire bottle of Italian dressing onto the floor.  And we are back in the kitchen.  Right where I started.  *sigh*  What’s a girl to do?  (Coffee comes to mind… strong coffee…)

Most days, I find myself wishing for a red cape, sparkly tights, and the ability to freeze time.  And since that doesn’t seem to be very likely, I settle for the next best thing:  My All-Purpose Vinegar Cleaning Solution, also known as my super secret weapon.

Mix 8 oz. warm water with 8 oz. white vinegar into a spray bottle.

It’s truly a triple threat:

1.  Absurdly cheap.  (A gallon of white vinegar is less than $2.)
2.  Completely safe and all-natural.  (One thing I don’t have to worry about my precocious toddler ingesting.)
3.  Works like heck.  (Even my mom was impressed at how well it removed stubborn, cooked-on food from my stove top.)

The vinegar has disinfecting properties and makes odors disappear.  Once the cleaning solution dries, there is no trace of a vinegar smell.

I use this solution for everything, especially in the kitchen and the bathroom.  I keep a bottle in both places for convenience.  For tough jobs, let the spray work for a few minutes first and then the dirt will usually wipe clean.

For extra cleaning power, you can sprinkle a little baking soda to scour surfaces, too.  Works like Comet… only better!

Attention dirt and grime everywhere: Prepare to be annihilated.  Consider yourself warned.

Everybody should believe in something. I believe I’ll have another coffee…

  This post is also a part of Simple Lives Thursday.

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