Cleaning Thyme All Purpose Spray
Sometimes certain "natural" things just make me gag. One of those is vinegar. The smell of any type of vinegar. The taste of apple cider vinegar. And cleaning with vinegar?? You have got to be joking. And I just love how everyone states that the smell will dissipate quickly. Yea. No it doesn't. Maybe after a half hour. That is not quick. But I digress. Because vinegar is truly amazing and I use it for all sorts of things. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll grow to love the smell of vinegar!
With that being said, I bring you an all purpose cleaner that does include vinegar, but the smell is somewhat masked by the thyme. Still doesn't mean I want to rub it all over my body or bathe in it by any means!
Cleaning Thyme All Purpose Spray
Ingredients
Quart jar with plastic lid (see below)
1 cup of dried thyme
White vinegar
(See variations below for more add-ins)
Directions
Dump the thyme into the jar and cover with the vinegar. Stir to incorporate and moisten all of the thyme. Add more vinegar if needed. Screw the lid on and let it steep for 24 hours. You can let it go longer if you don't have time and/or forget about it.
After the 24 hours, strain off the herbs using a fine mesh strainer or a towel and rubberband. Squeeze out all the vinegar, discard the herbs.
Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and you are ready to go clean! I do not dilute mine, but I suppose you could if you would like to stretch it further. One batch of this lasts me roughly a month.
Variations:
Along with the thyme, add some lavender flowers for additional cleaning power and scent. Anywhere from 1/2 cup to 1 cup would be fine.
For crazy amazing cleaning power add about 30-50 drops of Thieves essential oil blend to the finished product. (This is my favorite variation especially during cold and flu season.)
Feel free to experiment with other essential oils to change up the cleaning power and scent.
Please note
The purpose for the plastic lid is because vinegar can easily rust metal objects. Rust in a cleaning spray=not good. Also bear that in mind for where you spray the cleaner. Or just make sure to wipe if off right away! If you don't have a plastic lid, simply use a plastic bag to screw in between the jar and the lid.
Cleaning benefits
Thyme
Powerful antiseptic
Kills bacteria and fungi
Antimicrobial
Antiviral
Disinfectant
Repels insects
White vinegar
Degreaser
Neutralizes odors (because it’s acidic and acidity breaks down odor molecules)
Dissolves calcium deposits and other hard mineral deposits
Antiseptic
Antifungal
Antiparisitic
Where to use this cleaner
As an all purpose bathroom cleaner (toilet rims, floors, shower, bathtub, sink, mirror)
Kitchen cleaner for counters, cupboards, etc.
Window cleaner
To kill mold and mildew (like in showers)
On greasy stoves
To disinfect cutting boards
Where not to use
Vinegar is not okay to use on marble, limestone, grout, or varnished surfaces because of its acidity. It will ruin these surfaces. Trust me—I learned the hard way! My husband told me NOT to use it in our shower, and of course I didn’t understand why so I tried it anyway…and…when I went to wipe down the shower the grout started disintegrating. Pretty sure I had to ‘fess up to that one. *Slaps forehead. Thankfully James had a sense of humor about it.
Also-don’t mix vinegar with castile soap. It will curdle and lose its cleaning power.
And there you have it! Cheers to healthy cleaning solutions!