Look, there's a superstar cleaner in your pantry!

There is nothing better than a sparkling, freshly cleaned shower.  The only downside is how quickly said shower gets dirty again!  We also get this odd orange film on the grout after a few days from minerals in the water.  It can feel like fighting a losing battle against that orange film and soap scum.  Imagine how thrilled I was to find  a product made specifically to spray after a shower to diminish the buildup of soap scum, etc.  Sadly, that spray had to go when we went green because non toxic it wasn't.

Then, Method appeared on the scene.  I'm a big fan of their products and their company.  If you haven't tried any of their products, definitely check them out.  They created a post-shower spray and I was all over it.  It was $2.99 a bottle and it kept soap scum at bay.  It wasn't as strong a match for the orange film, but we weren't loading up on toxic chemicals every time we sprayed it.  What could be better than that?

It turns out there was something better hanging out in my pantry all along.  I recently read that plain, old vinegar could be used as a spray to kill mildew and mold.  I figured, what the hell?  If it can kill 82% of mold, maybe it can do some damage to soap buildup and mineral deposits.  I filled a bottle with white vinegar and sprayed away.  I was AMAZED.  The vinegar definitely breaks down the soap.  Oh, and my nemesis, the orange film?  It hasn't reared its ugly head since my new friend, vinegar came to town.  I swear that our shower sparkles.  At $2.99/GALLON, I'm in love.   I get to clean the shower a little less often because vinegar is doing all the work for me!

As you can imagine, your bathroom will smell slightly like salad dressing for a while, but the aroma fades quickly.  The trick is to spray the shower right before you leave the bathroom.  If you really don't like the smell, take a deep breath BEFORE you spray and close the door behind you.  Trust me, it is well worth it!

Here are a few links to Real Simple magazine.  They have a list of other interesting uses for this fantastic little workhorse.  Who knew?

10 New Uses for Vinegar
Cleaning with Vinegar

This one seems particularly well-timed with all of this snow!
Clean Salt-Stained Shoes