How long do you leave vinegar on a surface to disinfect it?

I'm trying to use more "green" products. I have been using vinegar and peroxide for disinfecting surfaces. How long do I leave either of them on a surface? Also– if any of you are using vinegar– how do you clean with it and not have a house that smells of vinegar? (It's cold so I can't leave windows open.) Since I'm trying to have a home with less toxic chemicals I don't want to spray deodorizers — since it kinda defeats the purpose.

Way to go on the GREEN cleaning. I also do that alot to help the enviroment. Leave on surface 20 to 30 minutes.. Good luck to you.

cAN ANYONE GIVE ME ANY GOOD TIPS ON CLEANING A HOUSE THAT HAS AND OUT OF CONTROL MESS?

Where to start? In what areas? In what order?

The house has 4 plp, 2 cats and lrg dog, ie. pet hair dust. Dirty dishes, laundry, dirty winds, frid needs to be done. Dust the whole house. Toys everywhere.

Please help feel really over welhelmed

Finally, you are coming to my house!!!

Might I suggest a website I learned about here: www.flylady.com

It's for people who live in out of control messes. In their product line they have a calendar which gives you a chore each day………or the website will mention a chore each day. They are simple so you don't get discouraged.

First start with the "fling." This is where you go through your clutter (a little each day….no more than 15 minutes at a time–bless you if you can do more) and decide on each item: throw away, recycle or put away in it's proper location. If you don't absolutely love an item, it leaves the house one way or another. (toys are a real bugaboo….get a big box and put them there until you and the kids (or just you) can to through and do the fling) See the Reily section for getting kids involved in Flylady.

Granted we can't declutter all in one day, so pushing aside stuff to clean is permitted. For example this week is wipe out the refrigerator…….don't clean it out, just move stuff aside and wipe. Cleaning out those jars, etc can be another day…or do a little today and more tomorrow. Cleaning the top of the fridge another day, cleaning kitchen counter–pushing aside the coffee pot—clean and shine–put coffee pot back, etc.

Daily dust your house for 15 minutes. Vacuum for a short time…cant to it all at once, etc. Break you cleaning sessions up into smaller jobs…..just remember to repeat the next day. This way you don't get bogged down in just one job that takes the whole day.

Look at the site……it will help you set up a routine for your house and for you.

what is the fastest time you can clean the house top to bottom?

practise and test yourself

It usually takes me 2hrs and 1 minute. 5 minutes to get to the pub, 1hr and 50mins for lunch and a drink, 5mins to get back….. and 1 minute to pay the cleaner!

What is a home remedy and cheap enough to clean my carpets of pet smell?

I have a dog that is home during the day in the house and i need something that will make my house smell new again. I know i can rent a steam cleaner but i need something fast and easy and not to expensive that will work wonders.

If it's urine smell, you'll need a cleaner with enzymes to break up the proteins in the urine. I haven't heard of any home remedies that work for pet urine. I recommend Nature's Miracle. It can be found at a pet store. It has a white bottle, red lettering. It's safe for use with kids and pets around and can even be used in laundry.