The Project: I love the idea of making my own inexpensive, natural cleaning supplies. I had read online that vinegar and water can be used on a variety of surfaces, so I made my own all-purpose cleaner. I used a very basic recipe: one part vinegar to one part water. I also added many, many drops of orange essential oil in an attempt to cover the vinegar smell.
The Verdict: The vinegar and water mix is doing a great job as my all-purpose cleaner. I have only used it on surfaces so far (no windows, etc.); it cleans surfaces well and does not leave a residue. The only drawback is that the vinegar smell can't be overpowered with essential oil, no matter how much I add. The mix still smells like vinegar, but the smell doesn't seem to linger.
What I have been most impressed with is the mixture's ability to clean stainless steel. My many attempts to clean the outside of my stainless appliances with store-bought natural cleaners have been very unsuccessful; they take off the dirt but leave residue streaks that show up as soon as the steel is completely dry. This homemade cleaner didn't leave streaks of its own, and it also took away the streaks left by all of the previous cleaners! I'm amazed at how much better the front of my stove looks.
