Cleaning with Everclear

Although cleaning with liquor may sound a little strange, I know a number of people who clean with it and love it. I was recently reminded of this while staying at a friend’s house, as she was cleaning her kitchen and pulled out a spray bottle with Everclear and water to clean her counters.

So why would you want to use Everclear to clean? Well it’s widely available. It is relatively inexpensive. It is obviously less toxic than many cleaning products on the market. It is also pretty versatile. It can be used to clean counters, toilets, windows, metal fixtures and more. Everclear is an excellent polish for stainless steel and you’ll be surprised at how it makes your faucets shine. It dries quickly and after it dries the smell dissipates quickly as well.

Other uses for Everclear / Vodka
Keep clothes smelling fresh.-Put vodka in a spray bottle, put the item on a clothes hanger and lightly spritz your clothes. Vodka kills odor causing bacteria, but leaves no scent when dry.

Keep fresh cut flowers longer-Add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar to the water in your flower vase. Change mixture daily, you’ll be amazed at how long your flowers last.

Clean a way mold-Fill a spray bottle with straight vodka, spritz on area and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub away with an old toothbrush. Remember if you have mold issues, someone else should be doing this, or you should wear a mask and gloves.

Treat poison ivy-To avoid the discomfort of a reaction to poison ivy, immediately pour vodka on the area of skin that came in contact with the plant. The alcohol washes away the urushiol oil. The vodka needs to be at least 100 proof to work.

Kill and prevent unwanted household pests-A diluted vodka spray can be used to kill ants and other common household insects.

Clean houseplants-Use a soft, damp cloth and then wipe with diluted vodka to prevent aphid infestations.

Kill weeds-Combine 1 oz. of vodka, 2 cups of water and a bit of dish soap. Spray on weeds.

-Use vodka on your laundry– High-proof alcohol has a solvent effect and can work very well for removing some types of stains, including grass and vomit stains. Simply blot the stain with a clean cloth soaked in vodka.

Clean your eyeglasses-Simply spray a soft cloth with vodka. It is also ideal for cleaning your eyeglasses without leaving streaks.

Clean prisms and glass-If you own a chandelier or lamps decorated with glass prisms, vodka will make them sparkle. Apply Vodka to a soft cloth and gently wipe each prism or dilute and spray, then wipe.

 

Some Basic Recipes:

Glass Cleaner
1 cup high proof clear grain alcohol (such as Everclear)
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap
Water to fill 32 oz. bottle

 

Counter Cleaner
1-2 ounces Everclear Vodka
Fill remaining bottle with water
32 ounce spray bottle
Add water and vodka to a 32 ounce bottle. Be sure to label.

Spray and wipe.

NOTE: Always remember to label your bottles with their use, ingredients or both.

References:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4556886_cleaning-vodka.html

http://www.diynetwork.com/decorating/tips-for-cleaning-using-vodka/index.html

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-12-best-household-uses-for-1-43876

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

Written By

My Health Maven offers information on a wholistic approach to healthy lifestyle choices.