Herbal Infused Cleaning Vinegar
It's that time of year when the flu and all other sorts of junk start being passed around. Do not reach for the Lysol! Make infused vinegar. It's all natural, and you can make whatever flavor you want. Read on to find out more!
The main excuse people have to justify not using vinegar to clean with is the smell, but do not fret! The vinegary smell doesn’t linger, and when you infuse it with herbs and fruit peels, it can take on a lovely smell with only a little bit of a vinegary bite. Vinegar is a stronger disinfectant than bleach, and you aren’t using harmful chemicals in the areas where you prepare food and bathe.
The video tutorial is first, and the written instructions are below that. I'm using pine needles because that's what I have. Use what you've got. Enjoy!
The video is silent. No, you aren’t missing anything. I figure that most people don’t want to listen to cartoons and a yelling kid in the background. You’re welcome.
I don’t generally wash herbs for cleaning vinegar unless they are actually dirty. Moisture in your vinegar can cause problems, so I also harvest after the dew has evaporated.
HOW-TO:
-Fill a clean glass jar with chopped herbs or citrus fruit peels, filling it 1/4 to 1/2 full.
NOTE: Chop or cut your plant material so there is more surface area coming into contact with the vinegar to get more out of your herbs/peels. Bigger chunks take longer to infuse into your vinegar.
-Pour white vinegar in, leaving about a half-inch head space.
NOTE: I only use 5% acidity because that's what is needed in canning food. I have seen more and more 4% acidity vinegars, though, so keep an eye out. You can use the 4% to clean, but if you are multi-purpose like me, get the 5%. I have also seen vinegar labeled for cleaning in the detergent aisle at the store. I have never tried it, but it should do the same in this instance. I always get the vinegar from the pickle aisle, for the same reason that I only get the 5% acidity.
NOTE: It’s your choice to add a barrier to prevent oxidation. I do sometimes, and sometimes I don’t. The oxidation can cause discoloration in your vinegar, so fair warning if that is important to you. It does not affect its cleaning power.
-Let sit for 4-8 weeks at room temperature, shaking occasionally.
-Strain and pour into a clean jar. You can add essential oils now if you want to give your vinegar extra oomph, but you don't have to. Not everyone is into essential oils.
-Use a new barrier if you are using one, and a cap with a clean lid.
Label and date everything.
You will forget what’s in that one jar you don’t have a label on.
I know.
I’ve done it.
New (left) and ready-to-use (right) batches. As you can see, the vinegar will turn yellow as the constituents of the pine needles are leeched out into the vinegar.
Different herbs will make different colors.
USES
There are many more uses than I have listed. I just wanted you to know how it can be used.
-Pour about a 1/4 cup into your mop water and add essential oils (if you want or didn't add any to the jar of vinegar itself). My oil choices differ every time, but I almost always add Pine Essential Oil (since that's what I typically infuse my vinegar with) to bring the scent out even more over the vinegar. Orange, Sage, Rosemary, and Lemon are good EO choices.
-In a spray bottle, I use 1-2 parts vinegar to 3 parts water and add essential oils (if you want or didn't add any to the jar of vinegar itself). I use this spray to clean off the counter before prepping food or making balms. I have also used it along with baking soda to clean the bathtub. Spritz around the tub and sprinkle with baking soda. Scrub and rinse. Voila!
I hope this helps you to weed out some of the chemicals in your cleaning closet! Drop a comment and let us know if you have tried infused cleaning vinegar with other things and what you use it for!