Cleaning with vinegar, advice, tips and general cleaning ideas

Suggestions for using vinegar to clean around the kitchen

For most households, cleaning with vinegar in the kitchen is the smartest option thanks to its relative safety when compared to commercial cleaners that pack a heavy dose of chemical substances. Furthermore, vinegar offers great flexibility in its manner of use.

A paste comprising of 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar with 2 tablespoons of salt can help restore the shine to any chrome-plated sink fixtures that are affected by ugly limescale residues.

Mix 1 tablespoon of any liquid detergent to a quarter cup of baking soda before adding white vinegar. Combine the mixture until you reach a thick creamy consistency. Theresulting paste forms an ideal scouring cleanser.

Use a cloth dipped in 100% white vinegar to wipe kitchen tops. Not only is this an effective cleanser but it also adds a fresh smell to your kitchen.

100% White vinegar is one of the best natural drain cleaners you will find in your kitchen. Pour 1 cup of bicarbonate of soda down the drain before adding a cup of hot distilled vinegar. Wait for 5 minutes before pouring hot water down the drain. This is a simple andeffective cleaning as well as deodorizing solution to take care of your kitchen drains.

You can also use a similar method to deodorize and sanitize your home garbage disposal. Pour out half a cup of baking soda and a similar quantity of hot vinegar. Allow this mixture to rest for 5 minutes before clearing the disposal with hot water.

Keeping your garbage disposal clean and free from odors with the aid of frozen vinegar cubes is also highly effective. Mix a full cup of pure white vinegar with a small quantity of water and allow it to set in an ice tray in your freezer. Allow these vinegar cubes to pass through the disposal while adding cold water for about a minute.

It is also advisable to use 100% White vinegar on a weekly basis to prevent build ups of unpleasant smells in your kitchen drains. Pour a cup of vinegar down the drain before washing away with clean water after 30 minutes.

Cleaning your household appliances with vinegar

There are many ways of using vinegar to clean your household appliances that are illustrated below.

The use of distilled white vinegar is particularly useful in dispelling any hard mineral deposits that may have formed within your automatic coffee maker. Run a full brewing cycle after filling the reservoir with vinegar. The mild acids from the vinegar will help dissolve these mineral deposits. Make sure to thoroughly wash out the coffee maker with clean water after this process or run another cycle with clean water. (Consult the productmanual before using this process)

Fill a microwave-safe dish with a quarter cup of 100% white vinegar and one cup of water. Place this mixture in your microwave oven and allow it to reach its boiling point.The vapors from the mix will help loosen any charred food residues and removes any odors. Wipe the interiors of the oven with a clean cloth. If you are dealing with stubborn stain use a mix with equal parts of vinegar and water (1/2 cup each).

Take advantage of the cleansing and deodorizing action of white distilled vinegar to clean the interior surfaces and shelves of your refrigerator. Utilize a mix consisting 50%vinegar and 50% water to execute this cleaning process.

Use a paper towel/clean cloth soaked with 100% White vinegar to get rid of any dirt thatmay have accumulated on the refrigerator top.

If you are dealing with an oven window/door that has been heavily stained with grease marks, you should soak the window with 100% white vinegar. Allow this to rest for 10-15 minutes, while the oven door is open. Use a sponge to wipe off any traces of excess vinegar. In case your oven emits unpleasant smells while it is running at heat you will need to clean its interiors. Soak a sponge in dilute vinegar and then wipe down the insides of your oven.

100% White distilled vinegar can prove to be extremely useful in maintaining the peak functional capacity of your dishwasher with its ability to deodorize your machine and dissolve any solid soap residues. It is recommended that you run a monthly empty washwith just 1 cup of white vinegar in the machine. Run it through a complete cycle for the maximum effect.

A common issue in areas with a hard water supply is the prevalence of hard water etching that can ruin the appearance of fine glassware. You can counteract this by washing or spraying them with 100% distilled vinegar. Follow up by rinsing in hot waterand drying as quickly as possible.

If your glassware acquires a permanently cloudy appearance, try wrapping the interior and exterior surfaces of the glass in a paper napkin/cloth that has been soaked in pure distilled vinegar. Allow them to rest for 10-15 minutes before washing away the vinegar.

Hard water may also leave deep set lime residues on the insides of your tea kettle. You may try and dissolve these deposits by allowing half a cup of 100% white vinegar to rest overnight in the kettle. If this does not fully clean your kettle, you can try boiling pure vinegar in your kettle for a short period. Allow it to cool, before washing out with clean water.

Hard set stains on the insides of tea or coffee cups can be eliminated by gentle scrubbing using a 50% distilled vinegar and 50% baking soda (or salt) mix. Make sure to rinse with water after use.

Plastic containers used to store food can get stained or develop odors after a period of time. For effective cleaning and odor control, clean them with a sponge or cloth that has been soaked with pure white vinegar. (Leaving a bread slice saturated with vinegar overnight eliminates almost any type of smell.)

Typically, glass jars and vases with narrow necks are notoriously difficult to keep clean.Over a period of time they tend to develop a characteristic film that is caused by deposits of dirt or through glass oxidation. The best solution in such cases is fill them with 100% distilled vinegar and let them rest for at least a couple of hours. You can then introduce uncooked rice grains or sand. Shake the mix thoroughly to ensure that all stains are removed.

Learning how to clean with vinegar around the House

Stickers that are difficult to remove from furniture and appliances may be easily loosened with vinegar. Simply spray them with white distilled vinegar. You can remove them easily after about 10 minutes.

In case you spill a beverage on your carpet, try and absorb the excess liquid with adry cloth or sponge. Prepare a solution that comprises equal portions of 100% distilled vinegar and water. With the aid of a spray bottle apply to the stain and allow this mix torest for about 2 minutes. Blot using a dry sponge/towel, soaking up as much of the mixas possible. The process can be repeated if required.

If you are dealing with an extra stubborn carpet stain, dilute 1 teaspoon of liquid dishsoap with a cup of warm water. Add a teaspoon of pure distilled vinegar to this mixbefore spraying directly on the stain. After the cleaning process, you can dry out the areawith a hairdryer that is on its lowest heat setting.

A solution made with 50% white vinegar and 50% water is useful for restoring the shineto the windows of your home. Spray this mixture on the window surfaces and wipe away using a cloth or an old newspaper.

You can provide a shiny finish to non waxed floor by cleaning them with a solution ofdilute vinegar. (Add a cup of 100% white vinegar to 1 gallon of water.)

100% distilled white vinegar is also safe to use on any type of Wood paneling. Makea cleaning fluid that consists of a half cup each of vinegar and olive oil that has been mixed with 2 cups of warm water. Dip a soft cloth into this fluid and then clean the paneling. Always dry off all surfaces after application of this mix.

Cleaning any window blinds in your home can be simplified with a mixture that consists of 50% warm water and 50% distilled vinegar. Using cotton gloves dip your fingers in this solution before running them over the blind surfaces.

Venetian blinds, Painted walls, or any wooden furniture may also be safely cleaned using a solution consisting of half cup of 100% white distilled vinegar (cider vinegar is also effective), quarter cup baking soda, and 1 cup of ammonia that has been diluted with 1 gallon of warm water. This mix may be applied with the aid of a clean cloth or sponge. Follow up by rinsing away this solution with clean water. This mixture enhances the removal of deep set dirt without harming the paint or leaving behind any grimestreaks.

A common problem with wooden furniture is the formation of water/alcohol rings that arecaused when wet glasses are placed directly on these surfaces. Combining equal parts of olive oil and 100% white distilled vinegar can prove to be effective in getting rid of these persistent stains. Rub this mixture into the wooden surface by following the grainof the wood. Follow up by polishing your furniture.

Make a paste consisting of equal parts of common salt and 100% white vinegar toremove the layer of tarnish that affects metals and alloys such as silver, copper, pewter,or brass. As a modification of this method, you can also create a cleansing/polishingpaste utilizing 1 cup of pure distilled vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and quarter cup (ormore) flour. Cover any metal object with this paste and leave for 15 minutes. Wash awaythe paste with warm water before drying off the object with a clean, dry cloth.

Using vinegar to clean your Bathroom

Any visible stains on a toilet bowl can be effectively removed with vinegar. Simply fill a spray bottle with 100% distilled white vinegar and spray on the bowl surfaces. Allow thisto rest for 15 minutes before flushing away.

Shower heads that may be clogged with chemical residues or that are corroded may be restored by soaking them in pure distilled vinegar overnight.

It is also a good idea to spray 100% white vinegar over shower curtains and across shower walls. Vinegar is a strong anti bacterial agent that sanitizes these surfaces and also ensures that they are visibly cleaner.

Faucets may get blocked due to excessive build ups of soap residue. A powerful cleaning solution may be made by combining 4 parts of pure distilled white vinegar witha single part of table salt. The application of this mixture will help dissolve any soap deposits.

Removing Stains and Deodorizing Laundry with Vinegar

Simple tips that teach you how to clean with vinegar can help you add new life to yourlaundry and help restore their original shine and feel.

Removing stubborn stains from clothes can be vastly simplified with the use of 100% distilled white vinegar. Rubbing these stains gently with pure vinegar prior to a wash canprove to be a highly efficient solution. This method is great when you are dealing withcola, chocolate, coffee, wine, jam or ketchup stains.

As a sanitary and deodorizing solution, utilizing one cup of 100% distilled vinegar during the rinse cycle of cloth diapers is extremely effective. The vinegar helps remove anytraces of uric acid and dissipates any odors or stains. This leaves cloth diapers visiblycleaner and fresher after a wash.

Burn marks left on your clothes by your household iron can be removed by gently rubbing in a solution of salt dissolved in vinegar.