Kristin

I can wear white clothes again!

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

Oh, laundry day…it feels like every day is laundry day. I’ve got to wash the towels I clean my customers house with, plus my clothes, plus the dog’s bedding, plus my bedding. It never ends! I don’t even want to think what it would be like if I had children! (Big props to you Mommies out there!)

I know this may sound silly, but my pup is actually responsible for me being so picky as to what products I use to treat those stains that pop up. Capone is 7 years old. I’ve had him since I bought my house and I’ve also had his allergy issues, his surgery issues, and everything else that comes along with being a pet owner.

When he was a puppy, he had to have extensive (and costly) surgery due to a rope dog toy in which he chewed the pieces of rope off, swallowed them, and they somehow got wrapped around his stomach.

Ever since that day, I have to monitor EVERYTHING this cute booger does. He is on a strict dog food diet, he cannot have any rawhide bones (the vet is afraid the rawhide will prick his tummy), and on top of all that, he has very bad allergies, so I have to wash his bedding regularly.

His skin is so sensitive that if I use an off-the-shelf brand of detergent, he will be scratching all night, which means no sleep for either of us.

I debated making my own laundry detergent, but who has the time?! Sitting there shredding soap bars was not how I wanted to spend my weekend.

Then, I found it. MelaPower, an all-natural laundry detergent with no formaldehyde, no petroleum distillates, and no bleach! Could it be true? (Of course, because it is made by the awesome scientists at Melaleuca, an all-natural, wellness company that has been around for 28 years!) Ok, back to the point.

I have very sensitive skin, but my sensitivities are not as bad as Capone.

“Ok, so let’s try it,” I thought.

Wow! I cannot believe how well this detergent works! Just one or two pumps and I can do entire loads of laundry. That’s ½ a fluid ounce per load. Such a money saver! And, it leaves my clothes so soft with no strong scents. So, I decided to expand my laundry experience.

I bought the stain remover, fabric softener and dryer sheets! (Sidenote: did you know a University of Washington researcher found that scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals? Researchers examined the air vented from dryer vents and found 25 volatile organic compounds, including seven hazardous air pollutants! It is no wonder we look for alternative products to use in our laundry!) All those air pollutants are being released in our homes! No wonder my pup was breaking out in rashes when I used the off-the-shelf stuff.

Now, we are a happy, healthy, itch-free family. He has a blanket that I call his girlfriend. He totes her all over the house and I have to wash her at least once every week. He snuggles with his blanket, puts it in his mouth, sleeps with it and we’ve had no problem.

My clothes are soft, they smell great and they don’t make me itch, either! Stains come out so much easier using the PreSpot than when I was using chemically-manufactured products. I found that with the other stuff I was spraying, letting it sit, re-spraying, scrubbing with a toothbrush, blotting with a towel, etc.

This PreSpot is amazing! All I do is spray the stain one time and you can already see it working!

Check out my little boo-boo I had during my fantasy draft party this year. I got a little barbecue sauce stain on the front of my white Cam Newton jersey (go, Panthers!), I got a lot of red wine spilled on the side and I even found a pen mark on the shoulder. (Seriously, why do I wear white?!)

But, I didn’t fear it. I came home after a five-hour draft party at a friends’ house, sprayed down my stained jersey, threw it in the dirty white clothes hamper, and forgot about it. This morning, as I’m cycling my laundry, I found the jersey and the stains were so faded you could barely tell they were there! I knew where to look, so they still visible to me. (My boyfriend said I was crazy because he couldn’t tell…silly boys!)

So here is it. The before and after. The stains were treated with PreSpot and washed with MelaPower. Amazing results, right? Especially since I waited one week to wash the dang jersey!

You can have these results too! I’m telling you first-hand these products have changed my life and made my cleanings so much better! I use the cleaning products, the laundry products, the hair care line, and next week I am ordering the tooth polish and mouthwash.

I only order a few items at a time, as I know I’m getting low on something. Last week, it was shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, so I ordered from Melaleuca, my products were here in two days and BAM I’ve got all-natural new products. I noticed I was getting low on deodorant, toothpaste, and mouthwash, so that is what I will be ordering next week and I cannot wait! It makes me feel so good knowing that I am taking a conscious stand on what I’m putting into my body and bringing into my home.

Come join me for a webinar or message me if you would like to try these products. Everything is backed by a 100% empty bottle satisfaction guarantee! There’s no risk. Get your home toxic-free with these all-natural products. Don’t forget, Melaleuca even has a men’s line, kids line, and vitamin and supplement line!

Oh, and who is a coupon clipper? You will love this! You receive Loyalty Points on every purchase that you can redeem for FREE products! New members will also receive $100 in FREE products! (Btw, I bought my deodorant with my Loyalty Points! If it’s free, it’s for me!)

What are your thoughts? Let us know at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

There is NO time!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

You are one person. How are you supposed to keep up with your job, being a wife, being a mom, laundry, and housekeeping?!

The easiest way…put it on a schedule. Get it in your calendar and get it done.

I’ve got my house on a rotation schedule. Sundays are my cleaning day. One week I will wipe down countertops in the kitchen and bathroom, clean the toilet and dust the living room. The next week is for bathtubs, floors, and vacuuming.

While I’m cleaning, I’m also doing laundry. It’s easy to keep everything moving once you get started. Are your weekends busy? Break up the chores. Try loading the dishwasher at night and unloading it in the morning. Throw a load of laundry in the washer in the morning. When you come home from work or running errands, move it to the dryer.

Another idea when dealing with kids and laundry is to assign each child their own laundry basket and their own day to wash clothes. Once the clothes are finished in the dryer have them fold and put away their laundry.

Need a cleaning schedule? Check out a few ideas we found to help you:

Share your tips and tricks on www.facebook.com/Miraclean

My favorite cleaning product

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

Do you ever get something new and try it on everything? Maybe it’s a new tool or maybe, if you’re like me, it’s a new cleaning product. Being the skeptic I am, maybe I want to see if it can really do everything!

As most of you know, I buy all of my all-natural cleaning supplies from a wonderful wellness company that use scientifically-proven natural ingredients to keep your home safe and clean. I recently decided to get the Value Pack, a gift basket of sorts with various top selling products.

One of those products was a heavy duty cleaner called Melamagic and a degreaser called Sol-U-Mel. Both products are made using tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant, deodorizer, and essential oil.

I googled a few recipes to get me started and I was on a roll. I decided to try a capful, yes a small capful, in a load of laundry. My towels came out smelling so fresh! I mixed up an all-purpose mixture of the two, again using a couple of capfuls each and filling the rest of the spray bottle with water.

I sprayed everything in the bathroom and wrapped the showerhead in a mixture I poured in a plastic sandwich bag and tied to the showerhead with a hairbow. I sprayed my countertops in the kitchen, then I got to my stovetop. A degreaser. Let’s try it.

So, I went a little crazy. I started with the top, then I opened it (my mistake there!), then I took the coils off and soaked the drip pans in a mixture I made, again with just a couple capfuls of each.

And it worked! With very little elbow grease, I might add. I couldn’t believe it. The stove is older than I am, so there are a few spots where you can tell I need to go back, but for the most part I sprayed, let it sit, and wiped it up with no problem. It even worked on the control panel, leaving this beautiful shine!

Want to play with all-natural products? Sign up with this fabulous company that produces over 300 products including a men’s line, kid’s line, gluten-free foods, laundry and more! Think of it as an all-natural Sam’s Club or Costco. Join me and millions of others who have made the switch!

Want to join in on a short 30-minute webinar to learn more about the products? Click here!

The easiest way to DETOX your home

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

I’m so excited that my hands are literally shaking as I type this! As many of you know, I love posting all-natural tips and recipes you can use around your home for safe and effective cleanings. Well, have I got a treat for you!

The wellness company that I purchase my all-natural cleaning products from is running a promotion that I think all my green Moms are going to love!

First, let me give you some background information. This wellness company has been around for 28 years! They’ve received hundreds of awards and have patents and scientists testing new products every day.

We are talking over 300 products all made naturally, with no chlorine bleach, no ammonia and no formaldehyde. How is this possible?

Have you ever heard of tea tree oil? (If you are a regular customer of mine, this should sound familiar.) Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves grown on the melaleuca tree in Australia. This oil kills bacteria and fungus, and helps reduce skin reactions. Tea tree oil has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties.

What does that mean for you?

Because of its antiseptic properties, tea tree oil can help treat skin blemishes. In fact, face and body washing products containing 5 percent of tea tree oil is more effective than products that contain 5 percent benzoyl peroxide.

Did you know tea tree oil is proven to treat athlete’s foot, mites, scabies and head lice? In a 2008 study, tea tree oil was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy. In fact, shampoo with 5 percent tea tree oil is effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of dandruff.

There are safe, effective, all-natural ways to keep you family safe. Think of this wellness company as an all-natural version of Sam’s Club or Costco.

We’ve got a cleaning “aisle” and every product is made from safe, natural ingredients. How many times have you had itchy, watery eyes, or began coughing because of the fumes in most cleaners? Not with these products!

Oh and did I mention that everything comes in concentrated bottles. That’s right! One bottle of concentrate gives you SIX bottles of product! We’re talking $5.60 for one bottle of concentrated bathroom cleaner. That’s six bottles of product for $5.60. How much would you pay for six bottles of Tilex? A lot more than $5.60!

Another “aisle” in this store is bath and body. Tea tree oil, when used in beauty supplies, gives you soothing, penetrated and antiseptic properties. In fact, the number 1 selling product in this company is hand cream that is 7 times more effective than Eucerin! The toothpaste contains xylitol, a natural sweetener that is proven to help people suffering with gum disease. The mouthwash contains no alcohol, so there is no burning sensation. The company has a men’s product line with body wash, shaving cream, bar soaps, etc. and they have a kids line, too!

They even have an organic food “aisle” that contains cereal, popcorn, granola bars, vitamins, meal replacement shakes and more! Did I mention that all these products are gluten-free?!!!

Want to check out this company for yourself? Join the next 30-minute webinar to learn more. There are four webinars held every day this month! Visit the calendar and pick the day and time that best suits you.

So, how much? All these “aisles” of over 300 products that are all-natural and safe can be yours for $1! That’s your membership fee. $1! You will have access to every product. You will receive $100 in free product. You will have peace of mind knowing everything you buy is guaranteed with a full money back refund from the company.

But, you’ve got to hurry! They are only offering the $1 membership fee until August 20. So, click here to see the webinar schedule and if you would like to make a conscience decision to start using these products, let me know and I can sign you up!

Do you have any questions or concerns? My phone is always open at 803-366-1766 or my cell at 803-984-9383. If you prefer email, mine is kristin@miracleanonline.com or if you’d like to join us on Facebook, ‘Like’ www.facebook.com/Miraclean.

Three tricks to keeping your home dust free!

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Does it feel like your house is always dusty? Even after you JUST cleaned?

It takes dust particles, on average, 10 minutes to settle. Check out this picture. The picture to the left was taken immediately after I finished sweeping a set of stairs in a customer’s home. The picture to the right is exactly ten minutes later. All that dust had to land somewhere.

So, how do you keep your home cleaner, longer?

Try using a dryer sheet on baseboards, blinds and furniture. Since the dryer sheet banishes static, the dust will attach itself to the sheet, making dusting a breeze. The dryer sheet will also coat the surface as it cleans, forming a cleaning shield against dust. Not all dryer sheet brands are a natural way to clean, but they all can be used to make cleaning a breeze! You could use new or used dryer sheets. (Get another use out of it before throwing them away.)

After you’ve given your home a good dusting, try to keep it that way. Remember to change your air filters accordingly. Studies show that single occupants should change their air filters once or twice every year; family of two or more without pets should change their filters every 90 days; add a cat or dog and you should change them every 60 days; add more than one pet or allergies and you should change them every 30 days.

While dusting, flip your air conditioning unit/thermostat to fan.

After you’re finished cleaning, find new ways to keep your home dust-free. For example, paper causes a lot of dust, so keep files and papers in one central location. Pets cause a lot of dust, hair and dander. If you have pets, make sure you are vacuuming at least once every week. If you live on a dirt road or if there is a lot of construction around your house, keep your doors and windows closed.

What tricks do you use to keep up with the dust at your house? Tell us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

Eliminate that ‘boy smell’ in the bathroom

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Last week, I posted a blog about how to keep your tile and grout clean. (Check it out here if you missed it!)

That stemmed a lot of bathroom questions from you, so I decided to answer those questions this week.

The most popular question was how to keep the ‘boy smell’ out of the bathroom. You know what I mean, right? It’s probably the main reason you avoid going into the kids’ bathroom. 😉 Well, let’s help solve that problem.

First, you guessed it; it starts with a deep cleaning.

Step 1: Mix a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. If you don’t have lemon juice you can use water but lemon juice is a great disinfectant and great for removing odors. The consistency of the paste should be about that of pancake mix.

Step 2: Spread the paste all along the bottom of the toilet {where it meets the floor}, the toilet seat, and any other area that gets a lot of over spray.

Let it set for about 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: When the timer expires spray the dried paste with white vinegar and let it fizzle. Once it is done fizzing wipe it up with a damp cloth.

It’s very important that you don’t forget about the walls and/or cupboards on either side of the toilet. It’s easy to remember to wipe the floor and the toilet but the walls and cupboards will also get sprayed and they will need to be wiped down regularly too. Spray them down with vinegar, let it for a few minutes and wipe them down.

Cleaning the toilet, floor and walls at least once a week, with these steps, will keep the smell at bay.

Another trick is making mini air fresheners and discreetly placing them in the bathroom cabinets, behind the toilet bowl, or on the top lip of the shower.

Use old baby food jars or small canning jars. Pour baking soda into jar until 1/4 to 1/2 full. Add 8 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil(s). Poke holes in jar lid with an awl or ice pick. Decorate the jars with ribbon, fabric, or however you like. If you’ve lost the lid, cover top with several layers of nylon net, tie with ribbon, and voila! You’ve got DIY room freshener! (Add more essential oil as needed). Shake or stir it every now and then to freshen.

Another freshener trick is to place a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the toilet paper roll, as seen here. Your bathroom will smell pleasant with every roll.

As mentioned in last week’s article, keep antibacterial wipes under your bathroom sink for easy access when messes arrive. These are perfect for quickly wiping the toilet seat, cleaning globs of toothpaste, or a quick countertop wipe down before guests arrive.

Here’s a great recipe for making your own antibacterial wipes!

Use any type of old towel, rag, tshirt, etc. to cut into rags and finish the edges to make them wipe sized.

Next, fold the wipes and placed them in an old wipes container.

Mix:

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Finally, just pour the water/vinegar/essential oil mixture into the tub, completely saturating the wipes. It might help to flip the pile over one time so that the wipes on the bottom get completely soaked.

There you have it. A few tricks to getting rid of that ‘boy smell’. Did we forget something? What’s your trick? Talk to us about it on Facebook www.facebook.com/Miraclean

Natural ways to get rid of bugs

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

With all the rain we’ve been getting, I’m noticing some unwanted critters around my house. I blame it on the rain because I am not a dirty person, but it is embarrassing when company is over and in comes one of those little critters scurrying across the floor.

Whether your problem is ants, roaches, or anything in between, here are a couple of natural ideas to keep your home bug free.

My biggest problem is the water bugs, also known as palmetto bugs. They are big and gross and on the hunt for food and water. I usually find these ugly guys in the kitchen hiding under appliances or under the kitchen sink because I have a leaky faucet.

One way to get rid of water bugs is to use bay leaves, whole or crushed, around your windowsills, entry ways and other problem areas. They hate the smell. Another solution is to use catnip. You can either place the catnip in the entry ways, the same as the bay leaves or use it in little pouches and place them in your cupboards and behind appliances. Equal parts of sugar and baking soda can be mixed and spread throughout your kitchen. Be careful not to put too much in one area as they stay away from piles of powder. Boric acid powder works well, too. The powder and the acid will be ingested through their legs and antennae.

For smaller bug issues, try mixing essential oils with dish soap and water in a spray bottle. A few drops of peppermint, orange, lemon or tea tree oil mixed with a few drops of dish soap, then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Now you’ve got your own type of natural Raid bug spray. Another version of bug spray can be used by combining orange, peppermint or citronella essential oils and vinegar in a spray bottle.

Ants despise the smell of cucumbers, mint leaves, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, lemon juice and coffee grounds. Try placing these ingredients where you notice gathering points for ants throughout your home.

One last tip, if you are having problems with any of these natural deterrents, try using diatomaceous earth. This is a safe and effective way to control any insect in your home. Diatomaceous earth is mostly used as an insecticide because the dust has razor-sharp edges that are lethal to insects. Since it has many uses, it can be found at Home Depot, Lowes and Wal-Mart in the gardening center. Be sure not to buy the type sold in pool filtration aisles, as it is too fine and usually contains various toxic chemicals. Make sure it is food grade, as farmers use this to protect crops and store food.

Try these various recipes for a bug free summer! Did I miss something? Let me know at www.facebook.com/Miraclean.

The number one question our customers ask us

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Scrub less. Organize more.

Answering your questions about keeping hard to clean areas cleaner, longer.

The number one question we are asked is how to keep a tile and grout shower clean in between cleanings.

Today I will share with you our top three recipes for keeping that pain in the butt tile clean.

First, let’s start with some tips. The best tool you can invest in is a squeegee. It only takes a matter of seconds and, trust me, it’s worth it in the long run. Squeegee the glass shower door and your tile and the shower will stay cleaner longer.

Second, leave the light and fan running for as long as possible. Mold and mildew love a wet, humid, dark environment. By leaving the light and fan on for a few extra minutes, you are giving your bathroom time to dry. Don’t forget to pick up wet floor towels and hang them to dry.

Lastly, keep the bathroom clean by not letting it get dirty in the first place. Put things away. Do you leave your curling irons and straighteners on the counter to cool on your way to work? Install a hook and hang them so you have more space. After work, wrap them up and stick them under the sink. Store all your make-up in one location. Get a basket to capture easy to reach items you use on a regular basis. Keep wipes under the sink for a quick countertop clean-up. By having all these items easily accessible, you’ll have no problem keeping everything in its place.

I am not saying you will never have to clean your bathroom ever again. I’d be out of a job! However, by keeping up with the mess, the globs of toothpaste in the sink, the pinkish colored grout that you were pretty sure was white when you moved in, your bathroom will stay cleaner longer.

When it gets time to do a heavy scrub down cleaning, here are three of our favorite, all-natural, homemade recipes.

1.) Mix ½ cup baking soda, 1/3 cup lemon juice, ¼ cup vinegar in a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Mix well. Spray throughout shower and let it sit for one hour. Respray, then use an old toothbrush or grout brush to scrub. Rinse shower with water and dry shower with a clean towel.

2.) Mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons lemon juice in a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Be careful when spraying as hydrogen peroxide is a natural alternative to bleach and will stain fabrics. Spray mixture throughout shower. Scrub grout with an old toothbrush or grout brush. Rinse shower with water and dry shower with a clean towel.

3.) Mix 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Sprinkle your favorite abrasive (baking soda, Bon Ami) on your discolored areas. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Respray and you will notice a paste forming. Use this paste to scrub the grout clean with a brush. As with the other recipes, rinse shower with water and dry with a clean towel.

Another option to cleaning bathrooms is by cleaning with steam. Steam mops and accessories are becoming more popular as a natural bathroom cleaner. Water is heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; hot enough to kill germs and bacteria. Not only will your surfaces be cleaner, they will be disinfected and sanitized, too! This method is perfect for bathrooms, changing areas, fitness equipment, daycares, kitchens, and more.

To learn more about steam vapor cleaning, call us at 803-366-1766 to schedule a free estimate in your home or office.

Check out these before and after shower pictures. We used our steam vapor cleaner to get this shower looking good as new!

We can use the steam vapor cleaner on linoleum floors, too. Check it out!

Look at this fridge! There is nothing we can’t clean! Not only is it clean, but it is also sanitized and disinfected!

Call Kristin for your free estimate at 803-366-1766 or email us your questions at Kristin@miracleanonline.com . Don’t forget to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

12 uses for hydrogen peroxide around your home

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Hydrogen peroxide is a wonderful ingredient for cleaning because it is naturally antibacterial. It is non-toxic to people, plants, household animals and the Earth. Basically, hydrogen peroxide is water with an extra oxygen molecule. It is inexpensive to buy and simplifies the number of different cleaning products you need to keep handy.

Remember, hydrogen peroxide is a natural alternative to bleach.

When mixing your own cleaning products, make sure you store any peroxide mixtures in a dark bottle. The light will breakdown the molecules, causing the peroxide to be ineffective.

Here are some great cleaning tips to use hydrogen peroxide as a natural cleaner in your home:

1.) When washing a load of whites, add one cup hydrogen peroxide to brighten your threads.

2.) Make a 50/50 solution using peroxide and water to use around your house. Spray it on countertops and cutting boards to disinfect. Use it as a bathroom cleaner to create a germ-free area. Hydrogen peroxide can also eliminate that “boy” smell from bathrooms.

3.) Add ½ cup hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of water and use to wash fruit and veggies.

4.) Got a sickling in your home? Use peroxide to wipe light switches, door handles, toys, or any other surface they may touch.

5.) Soak your toothbrushes in a cup of peroxide to give them a good cleaning.

6.) Add an ounce of peroxide to one cup water and spray house plants daily to help prevent fungus growth.

7.) Gargle and rinse with peroxide as a mouthwash for brighter teeth and a breath freshener.

8.) Use it to scrub stained grout in the bathroom.

9.) Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater to stains. For example, it can be used to remove blood stains from clothes.

10.) Combine half cup of peroxide with one gallon of hot water and start mopping. Because it is so mild, it is safe for any floor type and there is no need to rinse. Great for brightening dingy floors.

11.) Use hydrogen peroxide to clean your mirrors for a streak-free shine, every time.

12.) Try soaking dentures in a 50/50 peroxide and water solution. I’m not there yet, but reports say it is better than using those tablets, and cheaper!

Most stores sell the 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide. Some health food stores and pharmacies sell a higher percentage, usually 35%. Keep in mind that this is an alternative for bleach, so the higher the concentrate, the more likely it will stain your fabrics. Be careful!

Did I forget something? Let me know at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

Easy tips to help you in the garden

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Last week, we discussed the chemistry of vinegar. We discussed how it can be used as a cleaning product because it naturally deodorizes, disinfects and cuts grease. Click here to check it out!

Vinegar is such a versatile ingredient. Not only can it be used in food and cleaning recipes, it can also be used around your garden. Since the weather is getting warmer, try using these vinegar tips outside.

1.) Remove berry stains from your hands by washing your hands with 1 cup vinegar.

Berry stains are organic. Organic stains, like blood and food, respond better to natural, acidic products like vinegar and lemon juice. It’s all about the chemical reaction between a base and an acid.

2.) Keep rabbits from eating your plants. Put cotton balls soaked in white distilled vinegar in a 35mm film container. Poke a hole in the top and place in the garden.
* Rabbits also dislike pepper, garlic, chili powder and mint. You could also plant some flowers and herbs that are natural deterrents like foxgloves, digitalis, aconitum, catnip plants, or lavender.

3.) Get rid of rust on spigots, tools, screws or bolts by soaking the items overnight or for several days in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
*Rust forms when moisture on metal begins to oxidize. Even a small amount of moisture, such as sweat, can cause rust to form. Over time, rust will eat away at the metal deteriorating it beyond repair. Vinegar is naturally acidic and will dissolve the rust from the metal without harsh chemicals.

4.) Clean a hummingbird feeder/bird bath with white distilled vinegar—soap or detergent can leave behind harmful residue.

Hummingbirds will starve themselves before eating spoiled food, so be sure to clean your feeders often. At least once a month, clean the feeder thoroughly with ¼ cup of vinegar to one gallon water. Soak for one hour, then clean with a bottle brush.

5.) Make your own mosquito and moth repellant by combining 2 cups vinegar and 1 cup molasses in a tin can and hang from a tree branch or place on a picnic table.

Mosquitoes are a food source for bats, frogs, and birds; but they are also pests when you are trying to enjoy the outdoors. If you’ve got clogged gutters, uncovered rain barrels, bird baths, etc., you’ve got a nesting ground for these blood-suckers. But there is a solution! Mosquitoes hate strong smells like lemon, vinegar, lavender, citronella or geranium. That’s why the recipe mentioned above works so well. Another way to naturally keep mosquitoes at bay is to plant marigolds, basil, tansy and rosemary in your garden. The herbs and flowers give off a smell that helps ward off bugs without using insecticides.

6.) Avoid skin problems after working in the garden by rinsing your hands with 1 cup vinegar.

* Harsh lotions can strip away your skin’s natural acidity. Vinegar can help restore the natural acidity, which can clear up skin problems like dryness, itching, flaking and acne. Vinegar is a natural antiseptic and antifungal, so it helps reduce and destroy harmful irritants and germs.

There you have it. A few ideas about how vinegar can help you outside. If you haven’t checked out our cleaning recipes posted last week, click here. Vinegar is such an amazing, versatile ingredient. Thank goodness they sell it cheap and by the gallon!

Do you have vinegar tips? Tell us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean