10 Tips and Tricks for Cleaning with Apple Cider Vinegar

February 20, 2019 By Ann Leave a Comment

Apple cider vinegar cleaning is a wonderful, natural way to clean grease and grime around the house. If you are not certain of the best uses for apple cider vinegar when cleaning, I have a handy list of tips and tricks you can use which will help leave your house sparkling clean and smelling great.

10 Tips and Tricks for Cleaning with Apple Cider Vinegar

Many people do not care for compound chemicals in their everyday cleaners. Some people think that harsher chemicals like bleach and ammonia may have a negative effect on their health over time, and prefer not to use cleaners with possible side effects.

Added to that, many of the cleaning products we use in our home are only good for a few items and we find ourselves using many different cleaning products in the house. How many people have a bucket full of different store bought cleaners – each for a specific use?

If you would like to go a little greener with your products while also using a product that can replace many of the things you are using in your home, consider apple cider vinegar. Not only is it cost effective and safe to use (note: never use vinegar on marble… it can cause damage over time… ask me how I know), but you can also use apple cider vinegar for a TON of different things.

There are hundreds of uses for apple cider vinegar, but to give you an idea of what is possible, here are ten ways you can use apple cider vinegar around the house!

1. Cooking in the kitchen can leave our surfaces greasy and sticky. Use apple cider vinegar as a degreaser to get the gunk off of your countertops, stove, and cabinets.

2. Stubborn drain clogs can leave you feeling frustrated. Instead of using liquid drain cleaner, you can make short work of a quick clog using apple cider vinegar and baking soda. (Note: sometimes a drain clog is just too forgone and a plumber call or DIY snake-job is necessary.)

3. Our houses can sometimes have nasty odors, and sprays can contain manmade chemicals. Diffusers can help to create a pleasant smell, but they are often not great for quick odor removal. When you smell an ugly odor, get it gone quickly by placing a bowl of apple cider vinegar in the room with the smell. The apple cider vinegar will work to make that stench a distant memory.

4. Instead of purchasing expensive screen wipes, use a soft microfiber cloth with a solution of water and vinegar to rub away stubborn spots on your electronics. (Note: always test in an inconspicuous spot, and damp, never wet!)

5. Weed killer can be an extremely toxic substance to use, especially in your kitchen garden with items you intend to eat. Instead of using poison, try to spray weeds down with apple cider vinegar. It will kill those weeds, and keep your garden toxin free.

6. Training young pets, or caring for old ones can take its toll on your carpets, leaving them a touch smelly and stained. Get your apple cider vinegar, and go to work on those stains. The use of apple cider vinegar with a touch of baking soda will neutralize those odors and give you a nice clean carpet again.

7. Cleaning fish and poultry can occasionally leave our kitchen drains with a nasty odor. Dump some undiluted apple cider vinegar down the drain. That should get rid of the odor and leave your kitchen smelling fresh again. (Note: run the garbage disposal beforehand to clean out any lingering food particles.)

8. Fruits and vegetables can come coated in dirt and pesticide. Instead of investing in expensive vegetable washes, make your own using apple cider vinegar and water. Your veggies will be fresh, clean, and ready to eat.

9. Get ready to grab your newspaper and your elbow grease. Clean your windows like grandma used to do with apple cider vinegar and old newspapers. Ok, you can skip the newspaper and use modern paper towels. Mix half vinegar and half water into a spray bottle and go!

10. A wonderful multi-purpose spray is everyone’s favorite. You can grab, spray, wipe, and move on. Apple cider vinegar will be able to do this job for you. Mix a mixture of half water and half apple cider vinegar to start disinfecting everything a spray can reach.

Apple cider vinegar is an amazing product. With it, you can clean, disinfect, deodorize, and even make a great salad when you are done tidying up the place. Using apple cider vinegar in your home can help reduce the number of store-bought cleaning products in your house without sacrificing cleaning power.

What do you use apple cider vinegar to clean in your home!?

Note: None of this is meant as medical advice. I am not a doctor, and do not play one on the internet. Please consult a physician if you have any questions about using apple cider vinegar so your doctor can better explain to you the benefits, possible side effects, and any warnings about apple cider vinegar.

If you would like more cleaning tips and tricks, read these great articles:

• How To Care For Wood Furniture – Simple and easy step-by-step instructions on how to care for your wood furniture so it might last a lifetime! These expert tips will help keep your wood furniture looking beautiful.

• Twice a Year Cleaning Secret For Sparkling Shower Doors – Only clean your shower doors twice a year and have them sparkling clean all year long!? What’s the secret? Well let me tell you…

• 15 DIY Cleaning Formulas to Make and Use at Home – Homemade cleaning formulas are some of the easiest “recipes” you will ever make! Many DIY cleaning formulas work as well, or better than, commercially made cleaning products. Here are some homemade cleaning products for the kitchen, bath – the entire home!

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Library Reading posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• For more Household Tips posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

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Filed Under: Household Tips, Library Reading

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Recipe

February 18, 2019 By Ann Leave a Comment

Tired of cereal for breakfast? This delicious creamy avocado breakfast toasties is a quick, delicious breakfast that will fill you up! Served open-faced or topped with a second slice of bread, this simple little breakfast toastie is loaded with flavor.

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Recipe

Toasties are so darned easy to make. Usually topped with a second piece of bread, there is no reason you can’t eat your toasties open-faced!

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Notes:

• You could substitute bacon for the pancetta if you like. This is a wonderful write up on the difference between Bacon and Pancetta (hint: it is all in curing process)

• Aim for a rustic, whole wheat bread that is seedy and flavorful. You can, of course, use any type of bread you and your family prefer.

• In a pinch, you could substitute small curd cottage cheese for the ricotta cheese, although it will not be as sweet nor as creamy – although it will be lower in fat.

• This recipe serves one person. You can easily double, triple, quadruple, etc the recipe to make breakfast for your entire family.

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Ingredients:

• 2 slices Pancetta
• 1 slice Whole Wheat Bread
• 3 slices Avocado
• ¼ cup Ricotta Cheese
• dash Italian seasoning
• to taste, Salt
• to taste, Black Pepper

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Mise en Place:

• Frying Pan
• Toaster (or toast your bread in the fry pan)
• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Spreading Knife
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cup

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Directions:

• Fry the pancetta until crispy.
• Toast the whole wheat bread lightly.
• Slice the avocado.
• Mix together ¼ cup of ricotta cheese, a dash of Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.

• Spread the ricotta mixture top of the toast.
• Top the cheese mixture with three avocado slices
• Top the avocado slices with two slices of pancetta.

• Season again with salt and pepper if preferred.
• Top with a second piece of toasted bread, or leave open faced.

Yield: 1

Creamy Avocado Breakfast Toasties Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 slices Pancetta
1 slice Whole Wheat Bread
3 slices Avocado
¼ cup Ricotta Cheese
dash Italian seasoning
to taste, Salt
to taste, Black Pepper

Instructions

Fry the pancetta until crispy.
Toast the whole wheat bread lightly.
Slice the avocado.
Mix together ¼ cup of ricotta cheese, a dash of Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.
Spread the ricotta mixture top of the toast.
Top the cheese mixture with three avocado slices.
Top the avocado slices with two slices of pancetta.
Season again with salt and pepper if preferred.
Top with a second piece of toasted bread, or leave open faced.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1147 Total Fat: 99g Saturated Fat: 23g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 67g Cholesterol: 60mg Sodium: 839mg Carbohydrates: 54g Fiber: 30g Sugar: 3g Protein: 25g

If you like easy breakfast recipes, try one of these delcious recipes to break your moring fast:

• Artichoke and Cheese Frittata Recipe – This fabulous Artichoke and Cheese Frittata is a wonderful breakfast. Made with leftover vegetables this cheesy-good frittata is one the whole family will enjoy!

• Crispy Parmesan Potato Cakes Recipe – Have leftover cooked potatoes? Try this easy, tasty leftover mashed potato recipe! These Crispy Parmesan Potato Cakes are delicious for breakfast and make good use of leftover mashed potatoes.

• Easy Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Donuts Recipe – Easy, delicious, fresh and tasty homemade donuts! What could possibly be better? Now you can make your own donuts with this easy 4-ingredient step-by-step tutorial. They taste like the old-fashioned donuts Grandma used to make, only these are prepped and ready in no time flat!

• Disclosure the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Recipes on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Luck o’ the Irish Wreath

February 13, 2019 By Ann 2 Comments

Dress up your front door for St Patty’s day with this easy to make St. Patrick’s Day wreath door decoration. This is a fast, inexpensive wreath decoration that just might bring a bit of the luck o’ the Irish your way.

St. Patrick’s Day Luck o’ the Irish Wreath

Find your pot o’ gold on this charming St. Patrick’s Day door décor wreath! This wreath is meant to be abundant, but not complete around the straw wreath. You, of course, can do what you like. If you do not want any exposed straw, I’d suggest making the balls come up both sides of the wreath (duplicating each side), and then placing the shamrocks and coins at the top.

Like so many crafts this is simply an idea for you to begin with and expand upon to make your own. You can follow my steps exactly, or go off in your own direction.

Notes:

• Nearly all the materials necessary to make this easy St. Patrick’s Day Luck o’ the Irish Wreath craft can be purchased at at JoAnn, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby

• Take the straw wreath outside to unwrap it, and then give it a good shake outdoors! This will remove the loose straw, and keep your house tidy.

• Christmas bulbs were used on this craft – because I am cheap. Different textures, and various shades make for wonderful depth and juxposition of colors and textures. You can use craft balls in different shades of gold and green, but adhering them to the wreath may be a bit tricky.

• Quilter t-pins + hot glue were used to attach the bulbs. You could also use the floral picks with the wire at the end, or you could try and use only hot glue, but it may be a bit difficult.

• Instead of felt shamrocks, you could cut out paper ones – providing your wreath is not expoded to the elements.

• You could also use pot o’ gold felt cutouts.

• You can purchase the “gold coins” at the dollar store for a buck, or your favorite craft store for more.

St. Patrick’s Day Luck o’ the Irish Wreath Materials:

• 14″ Straw Wreath
• 12 Bulbs, assorted size and color
• Gold Coins
• Felt Shamrocks
• Ribbon for Wreath Wrap
• Ribbon for Bow (or buy a premade bow)
• Quilter Pins
• Assorted Glitter Fill (leaves were used)
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Hot Glue
• Wire Cutters

St. Patrick’s Day Luck o’ the Irish Wreath Directions:

• Unwrap the straw wreath and shake for loose straw. This is best done outside so as to keep your house and work area clean.
• Wrap the wreath with green ribbon (a narrow ribbon was used). Hot glue the ribbon in place on the wreath.

• Layer the baubles (balls):
• Insert a quilting pin into the hanger portion of your bulb (at the top of the ornament cap).
• Insert the pin into the straw wreath, then, dab a dot of hot glue under the ball to more firmly affix it in place.
• Note: the pin is going to anchor across the ball wire hanger and you want to push that quiting pin in sideways to hide the ornament cap (hanger and pin) in the wreath and away from the exterior of the finished wreath product.
• Proceed to attach more bulbs in the same manner. Pay attention to size, texture, and holes. If you want to place some smaller bulbs on top of the larger wreath-adhered bulbs, you can hot glue them to the existing bulbs, and hide those holes. 12 bulbs were used in total on this wreath. You can use more or less according to your personal taste and preferences.
• Once you are finished with your bulbs, take a step back and make certain they are as complete as you would like, and firmly adhered to the wreath.

• Hot glue felt shamrocks to the other side of the wreath. Insert a quilter pin to hold in place.
• Place another set of shamrocks on top of the first set to hide the quilter pins. Hot glue in place.
• Note: 7 shamrocks, two different colors, two different textures (4,3) were used in this configuration. You can use the same or different shamrocks according to your personal preference and taste.

• Make a bow (or use a premade one), and using quilter pins and hot glue, adhere it to the wreath between the balls and shamrocks.
• Cut down the sparkly fill leaves and insert a few behind the balls. You are trying to hide any holes, as well as give some texture and the appearance of flow (outward). Use quilter pins + hot glue to secure in place.

• Hot glue “gold coins” to the shamrocks and/or wreath and/or bulbs.

• Give the wreath a slight shake to make sure everything is well secured.

• Display door décor as you like!

Yield: 1 wreath

St. Patrick's Day Luck o' the Irish Wreath

Find your pot o' gold on this charming St. Patrick's Day door décor wreath! This wreath is meant to be abundant, but not complete around the straw wreath. You, of course, can do what you like. If you do not want any exposed straw, I'd suggest making the balls come up both sides of the wreath (duplicating each side), and then placing the shamrocks and coins at the top.

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty easy

Estimated Cost 10.00

Materials

14" Straw Wreath
12 Bulbs, assorted size, and color
Gold Coins
Felt Shamrocks
Ribbon for Wreath Wrap
Ribbon for Bow (or buy a premade bow)
Quilter T-Pins
Assorted Glitter Fill (leaves were used)

Tools

Scissors
Hot Glue
Glue Gun
Wire Cutters

Instructions

• Unwrap the straw wreath and shake for loose straw. This is best done outside so as to keep your house and work area clean.

• Wrap the wreath with green ribbon (a narrow ribbon was used). Hot glue the ribbon in place on the wreath.

• Layer the baubles (balls):

• Insert a quilting pin into the hanger portion of your bulb (at the top of the ornament cap).

• Insert the pin into the straw wreath, then, dab a dot of hot glue under the ball to more firmly affix it in place.

• Note: the pin is going to anchor across the ball wire hanger and you want to push that quiting pin in sideways to hide the ornament cap (hanger and pin) in the wreath and away from the exterior of the finished wreath product.

• Proceed to attach more bulbs in the same manner. Pay attention to size, texture, and holes. If you want to place some smaller bulbs on top of the larger wreath-adhered bulbs, you can hot glue them to the existing bulbs, and hide those holes. 12 bulbs were used in total on this wreath. You can use more or less according to your personal taste and preferences.

• Once you are finished with your bulbs, take a step back and make certain they are as complete as you would like, and firmly adhered to the wreath.

• Hot glue felt shamrocks to the other side of the wreath. Insert a quilter pin to hold in place.

• Place another set of shamrocks on top of the first set to hide the quilter pins. Hot glue in place.

• Note: 7 shamrocks, two different colors, two different textures (4,3) were used in this configuration. You can use the same or different shamrocks according to your personal preference and taste.

• Make a bow (or use a premade one), and using quilter pins and hot glue, adhere it to the wreath between the balls and shamrocks.

• Cut down the sparkly fill leaves and insert a few behind the balls. You are trying to hide any holes, as well as give some texture and the appearance of flow (outward). Use quilter pins + hot glue to secure in place.

• Hot glue "gold coins" to the shamrocks and/or wreath and/or bulbs.

• Give the wreath a slight shake to make sure everything is well secured.

• Display door décor as you like!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you would like more door décor nd wreath ideas, check out these crafts:

• St. Patrick’s Day Door Hanger DIY – Make your own St. Patty’s Day door décor! This leprechaun inspired, easy DIY tutorial comes together quickly when you follow these step by step craft instructions. This St. Patrick’s Day Door Hanger DIY project is simply adorable!

• Sunflower Knot Wreath – This DIY tutorial on how to make a sunflower knot wreath has easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. An hour or so of your time results in this lovely sunflower knot wreath, perfect for your front door!

• Easy Unicorn Wreath DIY – This simple to make sparkly unicorn rag wreath is an adorable and whimsical take on a unicorn wreath. From the multicolored mane, sparkly white coat, and fanciful ears and cone, this delightful unicorn wreath is a playful take on the great mythical creature.

• Disclosure: the links in this post may be affiliate links.

• For more Craft posts on Ann’s Entitled Life, click here.

• If you enjoyed this post, be sure to sign up for the Ann’s Entitled Life weekly newsletter, and never miss another article!