Y'know - as a longtime veteran of the green household-cleaner sites and publications, may I just say:

WHITE VINEGAR CLEANS EVERYTHING.

Seriously. White vinegar is an excellent cleaner for:

1. mirrors (spritz on, wipe off with newspaper -- streak free shine)

2. electronics (use paper towel to wipe, Q-tips to scrub in crevices, it evaporates quickly. Alcohol works too)

3. Coffeemaker - run a pot of white vinegar thru every couple months to take all the crunge out

4. Burnt-on goo in pots - boil a mix of white vinegar and baking soda. Burnt goo becomes loose and scrubbable

...I'm sure there are many more. but basically, you can clean the whole house with white vinegar, alcohol, and Murphy's Oil Soap for wood stuff.

[this is Miko, by the way, in case you were in awe of LT's cleaning prowess]

VINEGAR

I knew Jet Dry was a scam. I think theyŕe paying kickbacks to the dishwasher manufacturers to include that little Jet Dry door.

Vinegar cleans absolutely everything. And it kills bugs. Or what Miko/LT said.

And what's up with dishwashers having a built-in spot specifically designed for jet dry? That's a conspiracy there.

I'm currently in an unacknowledged tiff with the other member of my household because he doesn't like the smell of white vinegar, and therefore does not believe it should be used for cleaning.

He also does not trust Dr. Bronner's soap, which is my other cleaning staple, because it seems to be produced by a schizophrenic.

*I* think that, as far as household goods go, having a paranoid anti-chemical person creating products is a definite plus, and I'm all for using old wine for some purpose. But I am obviously living with a communist.

DR. BRONNER RULES! WE'RE ALL-ONE! ALL-ONE!

(Also, vinegar: good.)

Oh, I just read that vinegar does wonders for linoleum. Our linoleum gets super-dirty right after we clean it, but when we rinse with vinegar, it stays sparkly white for a long time.

I'm with the member of your household, occhi. I don't like the smell. I still clean with it occasionally. Last week I did the baking soda and white vinegar down the garbage disposal thing.

I don't know if I can handle white vinegar in the place of Jet Dry. (I cannot believe I buy the stuff either. Sometimes I go without.) I can imagine a hot steaming smell of white vinegar.

I have ran vinegar through one of the coffee makers at the hospital. I cleared it with my manager first. Brewing white vinegar is something you do not want to subject patients to. That and burning a bag of popcorn in the microwave on a 50 bed floor is something one should avoid.

I have never used a rinse aid in a dishwasher. If you need a rinse aid, doesn't that just mean your dishwasher isn't working properly?

(but yes, vinegar is awesome)

I have a housemate who insists on cleaning the bathroom floors with ammonia, so the bathroom always smells like the nastiest pissoir in the universe.

Carry on.

Haha. I sometimes clean my linoleum with ammonia. My sister is over here a lot. Every time I clean with ammonia she becomes distressed and exasperated. "Why? Why do you insist on cleaning with piss?" Because it cleans the grunge off the linoleum.

I will try rinsing the floor with white vinegar. That should be a very aromatic day. I'll make sure to do it when my sister is here.

I'm with gaspode. I've always been told that detergent residue only occurs when you're using too much.

Hm, a bit of an anti-vinegar backlash here...let's just hope this doesn't become as pronounced as the cilantrism/anti-cilantrism we all have to endure!

Ah, the power of vinegar.

I had a relative who didn't like the smell of vinegar - made cleaning fun.

Rinsing with vin after ammonia? Open the doors and windows. :)

Add some lemon essential oil to vinegar if the smell's offensive - lemony fresh goodness just like real cleaning products! I cleaned my house using only borax, baking soda, vinegar and lemon oil for years (until I got a cleaner, who took one look at my hippy-shit cleaning products and laughed. Sigh).

You had me going, Miko! :)