All of the makers of commercial cleaners like to convince us that we need 20 different products to keep our houses clean. Many of those products are bad for our bodies, children, pets, the environment, and even our septic tank! In the spirit of minimalism, using less plastic, saving money, and using fewer chemicals, lets take a look at two alternatives; vinegar and castile soap spray.
Vinegar
Inexpensive, biodegradable, antibacterial and antifungal, vinegar really is a useful cleaning ingredient. It can be used, at various dilutions, on most surfaces, however, it is not considered a disinfectant.  For most household tasks disinfectant is overkill. (The obsession with antibacterial EVERYTHING is another important topic.) The vinegar smell dissipates once it has dried, with the added advantage of taking many other household and pet odors with it.
Bonus: vinegar usually comes in opaque #2 (High-density polyethylene, or HDPE) which is one of the ‘better’ plastics. HDPE is more widely recycled than the others, and carries a lower risk of leaching. Re-use your food grade vinegar bottles as watering cans, or re-purposed them as plant pots. Â
Ways to use:
Magic all-purpose spray: Mix one part water with one part vinegar in a spray bottle. If you would like, you can add a few drops of essential oil (Like Lavender, Thyme, Tea Tree Oil, or Grapefruit Seed Extract) to your spray to improve the scent and possibly even boost the antibacterial and anti-fungal power. Keep in mind that not all essential oils are safe to use around kids or pets, so always check with a reliable resource before you add anything!
Use on table tops, windows, most furniture, and toys. Fisher-price even recommends it. Wipe down books and toys with a cloth dampened with the spray.
Mop Solution: Mix 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to one gallon of warm water. There is no need to rinse. It keeps no-wax floors shiny, clean, and odor free.
Mold/Mildew Removal: Neat (fully concentrated) vinegar does a fantastic job of cleaning mold and mildew and preventing re-growth, although it does not always remove the stains. Bigger infestations probably require the help of a professional, especially if you need to address the water source causing the problem in the first place.
Appliances:
Rinse Cycle:  With our soft desalinated water, we don’t suffer from the mineral buildup that many countries with groundwater suffer from. However, we do sometimes get a buildup of detergent.  This is often exacerbated by the fact that soft water usually needs less detergent to accomplish the same goal, but often comes in pods with more detergent than we need.
Dishwashers:Â Place one mug of vinegar upright on the top rack and run a full cycle.
Washing machine: Rinse detergent dispenser tray under the tap to remove soap residue. Wipe down door seals and rubber gaskets. Clean drains of any hair or lint. Fill the detergent dispenser with a cup of vinegar and run a full cycle.
*Use caution with granite and marble – vinegar can etch or dull the surface.
*Never mix vinegar and bleach, it creates a toxic chlorine gas.
*Not all essential oils are safe around kids or pets!
*Always check appliance manuals for recommended maintenance/cleaning methods.
Castile Soap:
While vinegar all-purpose spray is great for wiping and deodorizing small messes, you sometimes need soap and a little elbow grease for bigger messes. Liquid castile soap * is widely available and usually highly concentrated so a little goes a long way. Castile soap is olive oil based and biodegradable.
Castile Spray Solution: Mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and add a squirt of castile soap. At this dilution most surfaces don’t need a rinse. Only mix as much as you will need for a few weeks as this does not have an indefinite shelf life.
Castile Soap Scrub: Mix 1 part castile soap to 2 parts water. Either apply to a cotton rag and scrub, or make a paste with some baking soda to double your scrubbing power. (This works great in the bathtub or sink!) Rinse thoroughly.
Bar Soap:  Bar soap is an underrated way to wash your hands at home. There are many natural options available, all made with different natural oil bases. Savon de Marseille, Aleppo Soap, and Castile soap are my favorites, and many come wrapped in paper to help reduce your waste. The fear of bacteria has led to liquid soaps being popular in public places. However, in the home, we generally share many microorganisms with our family members anyway. Just remember to use a well drained soap dish, and rinse the bar, and your hands, thoroughly after each use.
St Maarten / Sint Martin Resources:
*Most hardware stores and supermarkets sell spray bottles and vinegar by the gallon.
*Top Carrot and Nature’s Discount (both in Simpson Bay) have liquid castile soap.
*Pharmacie de Bellevue (on the way to Marigot) has a good selection of essential oils.
*St Maarten Nectar (Simpson Bay & Marigot) sells natural soaps handmade in St Maarten!
* Always test your vinegar and castile soap spray somewhere inconspicuous when using it on new fabrics and furniture.
* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. We may be compensated (at no cost to you) should you decide to buy online. However, for our St Maarten / St Martin visitors we encourage you to shop local, and every effort has been made to provide a local source. Please let us know if you want to be included! Â
