Grandma Wasn't Thrifty, She Was An Environmentalist!

My grandma grew up during the depression and was noticeably thrifty when it came to her housekeeping. If, for example, she found a stray sewing stick pin while cleaning, instead of tossing it away, she would pin it to her shirt and deposit it back into the pin cushion later in the day when she cleaned her sewing area. 

Grandma used Grandpa's old undershirts and yes she made me dust with old flower-print underpants (clean of course). She was a fan of vinegar for a variety of physical ailments  cooking and of course cleaning. She could in fact clean most of her house using vinegar and water. I am proud to say I am following Grandma's example and use very few chemicals to clean my house, instead my go-to cleaners are vinegar, lemons and hot water.

Here is a great article by Earth 911 that gives examples on how to use common household items such as vinegar and baking soda to reduce chemical use while you clean your house. 

Clean Your Whole House with Vinegar, Baking Soda and Lemon

Grandma worked hard, didn't live in a world filled with chemicals, and managed to live to be 99 years old. She is still teaching me how to live as an Ordinary Environmentalist!