does anyone use white vinegar for cleaning?

Sofka

We have 2 ladies who come and clean every other week. As soon as I get home, I am overpowered w/ the smell of chemicals.  I give them a green product for kitchen counters and the kids' bathroom. But it still stinks. I am thinking of asking them to clean exclusively with vinegar.

does the smell dissipate fast? can they wash hardwood floors with it?

other advice?

they use regular products so if I want something different, I have to provide it.

 

SecretServiceWife

I do.  I just use 1/2 vinegar 1/2 water in a spray bottle.

I also will occasionally put some vinegar in my steam mop - but if you put too much it'll burn your nostrils... lol

I dissipates fast.  Whenever I clean, DH will come in and say "it smells so clean!" I don't know what that means - but it's not a vinegary smell, if that makes sense.

I use it on everything - windows, floors, counters, sinks, baseboards, etc.  The only place I have to use chemicals is in our shower - it's not properly vented and it's a scientists dream in there, so I have to break out the bleach and comet for that job.

cheekywife

I have just done white vinegar in a spray bottle and the smell definitely goes away quickly. i believe you can add a drop or two of an essential oil (like lemon) if you want a specific smell.

i would definitely request that the use the green products you have or white vinegar. 

veruca5839

Yes, I use it mixed with water in a spray bottle.  I usually use it on counter tops and stuff in the kitchen and bathroom.  I haven't used it on my hardwood though; I just use a steam mop.

kastle

We use 50/50 vinegar/water mix with a few drops of castille soap in the kitchen.  Works great. 

I don't use the vinegar on our hardwood floors mostly out of paranoia, so I use Method products there (and they have a minimal smell that goes away after 30min or so)

tomandcourt

I've also seen on Pinterest where people put citrus peels in their vinegar spray to make it smell nicer.

I'm not sure you can use it on floors, but Method makes a very nice smelling "green" wood floor cleaner. 

alliapistor

I have basically lost my sense of smell, so can't answer the smell questions.

Our old cleaning lady used to a vinegar/water solution on our hardwoods.  It really makes them shine, but if used consistently over time can wear down the polyurethane coating.  So I would not use it for every cleaning.  I use just a small amount of the Murphy's oil or the Bona floor spray.

I also use vinegar and baking soda to clean out my drains.  To soak things to get the hard water residue off and to clean my humidifier.  And I have used it in my laundry for really tough stains.

hollace

I use mix of vinegar, water, dish soap and borax in a spray bottle and I use it as a multipurpose cleaner.  Counters, floors, everything really.  It works really nicely and is easy to make.  No real vinegar smell either mainly because you can use whatever scented soap you want.