In a previous article, I mentioned that I had given up my beloved water bottles purchased from the grocery store, and have started to use reusable plastic bottles which I fill with filtered water from my Brita water pitcher. I did a bit of research on reusing the bottles that water comes in, and there is no evidence that reusing a purchased water bottle once emptied is unsafe…as long as it is sufficiently washed with soap and water and rinsed thoroughly. When I lived in a stix and brix house, I did reuse these bottles after running them through the dishwasher on the upper shelf. If I remember correctly, it was a real challenge to keep the bottles upright and I had to dump nasty dishwater out of several bottles that flipped over during the wash cycle. Oh the trials of having a dishwasher!

I have noticed more and more products on the store shelves that are labeled “green”. I think of green cleaners as using a product that doesn’t hurt me, my family including the fur kids or the planet. My kid sister Kathy has been using green cleaners for years…she buys them at her favorite whole foods type markets. Kathy is lucky, she lives in the Chicago metropolitan area and there are many natural and whole foods markets. I don’t have that luxury when we are on the road. If it is not sold at Wal Mart, I don’t buy it. So, what I have been doing over the years is using more natural products for cleaning the rig. Great-grandma Mamie taught all of us girls how to use vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice, things she had in her farmhouse kitchen, to clean and were inexpensive to buy at the local grocery store. These kitchen products keep the rig clean and fresh smelling without chemicals and artificial scents, and I save money by using them. I buy the 5lb bag of baking soda in a resalable bag, and vinegar by the gallon. Cheap dollar store lemon juice does the trick as well as the more expensive brand. I store the larger sized items in the rig basement and keep refillable containers in the rig for cleaning jobs. I made my own baking soda “shaker” out of a jar by drilling some holes in the lid…this way I can sprinkle the soda where I want it. The vinegar is kept in a plastic spray bottles…I have a full strength bottle; and a diluted water/vinegar combo in another. I keep a homemade shaker and full strength spray bottle in the commode area so I can just reach up and get the stuff cleaning the toilet as needed. I like the foaming action the vinegar and baking soda makes…all natural scrubbing bubbles as far as I am concerned. The water/vinegar bottle sits on the kitchen counter and is there to use for quick cleanups…just like I used to use window cleaner in the stix & brix. You can even add some rubbing alcohol to the vinegar water mix to make a superb window cleaner if you have the inkling. (1 cup (isopropyl) rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water and one tablespoon white vinegar was Granny’s recipe)

I use diluted vinegar or my homemade window mix to clean the countertops, range and backsplash. In the bathroom I use it for the mirrors, sink, and countertop and yes, it is great to get soap scum off the shower walls. Just like the pricy shower spays to help keep the showers clean after using, the vinegar water solution is great after each shower. I always spriz the shower head to keep it clean from mineral buildup and you can soak the thing in vinegar if it seems to be clogged. Baking soda dumped into the drains and followed up with pot of boiling water keeps the drains flowing and helps reduce odors. Remember, you can’t use drain cleaner on plastic pipes… a weekly baking soda hot water dump keeps the clogs at bay. Baking soda with some lemon juice or water made into a paste is great for cleaning a grimy sink…just let it sit and then scrub away the gunk. I have also used baking soda and water in a burnt pan…add water and throw in some soda, put the burnt pot on a low heat and let the boiling water and soda loosen up the mess for an easy clean up.

Up next week: RV specific “green “products and a couple more of Granny’s homemade cleaners including heavy duty floor cleaner and furniture “polish”.