Vinegar Cleaning Gel (Great for Showers and Tubs)

Here are the ingredients that I used:

• 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)

After researching, I found that there are 2-3 ingredients that are perfect for thickening vinegar to make it into a gel:

• Cornstarch
• Tapioca powder
• Xanthan gum

While you are probably familiar with cornstarch, tapioca powder and xanthan gum are not as well known. They are predominantly used in gluten-free recipes. So I chose not to use those two ingredients because they cost more than cornstarch, and they are likely not to be in your pantry.

1. Add the vinegar and cornstarch to a saucepan and stir together.
2. Using medium low heat, constantly whisk the ingredients in the pan for about 7-10 minutes.
3. When the mixture suddenly starts to thicken and cling to the whisk, remove from heat and let cool.
4. Stir in essential oils a minute or two after bringing it off the heat.
5. Store in an air-tight container. I chose a small canning jar, but you could use a squeeze bottle for short term storage.

I love spraying vinegar cleaners throughout my home just like anyone else who loves homemade cleaning recipes.

(Especially using this  DIY Sage Spray or  All Purpose Kitchen Cleaner.) However, there are times when a liquid solution doesn't work so well.

Often you have soap scum, grime and maybe even mildew or mold on places that need a cleaner to stick and soak. Such as surfaces like:

• Shower walls
• Shower doors
• Faucets
• Any vertical surfaces

Sure, you can spray liquid on these surfaces. But it will start to drip down immediately. Which means you don't get the long lasting cleaning benefit of having a product stay on the surface and dissolve soap scum and grime.

• Do not add cornstarch to hot vinegar. It just clumps and becomes messy. It's similar to adding cornstarch to pan drippings for Thanksgiving dinner to make a gravy. You need to add the thickener to water (or in this case, vinegar) before adding it to something hot, otherwise it doesn't dissolve.
• This cleaner does leave a bit of a residue. Which is no worries in the shower or tub when you are rinsing well anyway. But if you use it on a countertop or in place of any other liquid cleaner, you might be surprised at the need to wipe it up more.
• When storing in a glass jar, my vinegar cleaning gel stayed decently moist and usable for at least a week. It was much more soft, though, right after making it. So you can store it and it will work well, I just wouldn't make a big batch in order to store for long.

For even more helpful tips on creating this easy green cleaner that cost only .25 cents to make, visit my blog post linked below!