Cleaning With Vinegar

I don't buy store bought cleaners (with the exception of dish soap), I prefer to use homemade cleaners instead of harsh chemicals. My favorite way to clean is my vinegar "multi-purpose solution". I use it on my counter tops, the the bathroom & everywhere in between!


I just measure equal parts water & distilled vinegar into a spray bottle. Tada! You have a multi-purpose solution.

Worried about the smell? Don't worry once the vinegar evaporates the smell will be gone!


Here are a few things a read about cleaning with vinegar:



"White vinegar is often used as a household cleaning agent. Because it is acidic, it can dissolve mineral deposits from glass, coffee makers, and other smooth surfaces.^[46] For most uses dilution with water is recommended for safety and to avoid damaging the surfaces being cleaned.
Vinegar is an excellent solvent for cleaning epoxy resin and hardener, even after the epoxy has begun to harden. Malt vinegar sprinkled onto crumpled newspaper is a traditional, and still-popular, method of cleaning grease-smeared windows and mirrors in the UK.^[47] Vinegar can be used for polishing brass or bronze.
Vinegar has some antibacterial properties,^[48] though these are too weak or inconsistent for it to be used effectively as a disinfectant.^[49]
Recently, vinegar has been marketed as a green solution for many household cleaning problems. For example, vinegar has been cited recently as an eco-friendly urine cleaner for pets and as a weed killer.<sup>[50][51]"
- Wikipedia</sup> 


"A variety of commercial household disinfectants were highly effective against potential bacterial pathogens. The natural products were less effective than commercial household disinfectants. Only Clorox and Lysol disinfectant were effective against poliovirus." - Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology

Sustained transmission of polio only exist in four countries today (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, & Afghanistan). Just a little tid bit in case that last part had you scared.


ANYWHO! I like cleaning with vinegar, no harsh chemicals for my baby to breathe & it seems to get the job done. Plus its only like $1.22 for a gallon and it seems to last me about a month :)

Homemade Yogurt In The Crock Pot

This is a big time money saver especially if your family eats a lot of yogurt! It is actually very simple as well. 

What you need:

1/2 Gallon milk
1/2 Cup yogurt (plain & full fat)

Crockpot
Whisk 
Towel
Storage containers

Step 1 - Set crockpot on low & fill with milk. Cover & let set 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

Step 2 - Unplug crock pot & let sit 3 hours.

Step 3 - Whisk in yogurt. Put lid on & cover with towel. Let set 8 hours.

Step 4 - Pour yogurt into containers & store in fridge.


It will be a little more runny than store bought yogurt unless you strain it with cheese cloth.

Yogurt will keep up to two weeks past the milk's expiration date.

I like to sweeten mine with honey & add fresh fruit like strawberries. Enjoy!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

This is so cheap & easy its amazing! I spent around $7 on the stuff to make it (counting a bucket). I have made two batches already & I think I have enough for at least 1 or 2  more. Not to mention I've been using the borax to clean other stuff. The batches are big! They make about as much as a large jug of tide which I used to buy for about ($15).


Ingredients

1 bar of Ivory or zote soap
1/2 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
2 gallon bucket

Grate the soap and put it in a saucepan. Add 6 c. water and until soap melts. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 c. hot water into the bucket. Now add the soap mixture and stir. Next, add 1 gallon plus 6 c. of water and stir. Let the soap sit for 24 hours. It will turn into a gel-like substance. Use 1/2 c. per load.

Also this is baby safe! No need to buy special dye & scent free laundry detergent!

How I Plan My Grocery Trips

First off I went through this weeks circulars and highlighted the deals that stood out the most. This week Super 1 Foods & Albertson's caught my eye. So here is my list for those stores & guess - timated totals:

NOTE: CHX = Chicken CHZ = Cheese
 

SUPER 1 FOODS

4 John Morrel Smoked sausage - $4

CHX - $7

Ketchup - $1

Cheerios - $3

Buns  - $1

TOTAL - $16 + tax

ALBERTSON’S

2 Taco Bell Dinner Kits - $2

Eggs - $1

TP - $2

Cereal - $6

CHZ $4

Bananas (Free w/q)

$15 + tax

So then I looked at the items on sale and what I have in my pantry still and formed my menu for two weeks:

Chicken

-Tacos

-Afredo Pizza

-Alfredo

-Baked & Au Gratin Potatoes

-CHX & Dumplings

-CHX & Rice

Beef

-Sloppy Joes

-Spaghetti

-Shepard's Pie

-Tacos

Other

-Smoked Sausage & Au Gratin Potatoes

-Dirty Rice

-BBQ Smoked Sausage & Grilled Potatoes

-Jambalaya

Now I have a few odds and ends I need to pick up from Wal-Mart and here they are:

Onions

Milk

Spanish Rice x2

Broccoli & CHZ Rice

CHX Ramen

Bread

Spinach

Light Dressing

$20

This makes my total about $51 + tax. Not to mention I try to round up a little. Also I have some coupons figured into these prices. Hope this helps :)

 

Organizing Your Binder

I'm not going to lie, this has been an issue for me! It's still a little unorganized but this is how I have mine organized.

What you need:
3 ring binder
Page protectors (or baseball card holders) I have regular page protectors
Dividers

Note: The thing I don't like about the regular page protectors is that coupons can be hard to get out. A friend said she didn't like the base ball sized ones because you have to fold the coupons. Also it's difficult to find them around here. Some places to check are walmart, dollar stores, and office supply stores.

1. Organize coupons by category

-Food
-Personal Care
-Household
-Baby
-Pet

2.Organize by date received then expiration date

-It's really important to do these separately because you get new coupons in and they may expire before some of your old ones and its a big rearranging mess! Much easier this way (I know from experience!)

3. Coupon Polices In the back! 


Looking for the easy way out? You can buy coupon binders online also!


Don't forget when you're cleaning out your expired coupons you can mail them to overseas military! Just clip & separate food & non food items and mail to:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program
Amanda Brumbaugh
10960 W Bridgetower Dr
Boise, ID 83709


Click HERE for more info!