Cleaning with vinegar

With my journey to find ways to live a greener life well on its way, I found myself at the grocery store investing in a few giant bottles of vinegar for cleaning.

From the look the clerk gave me, I think she had a few questions but was too afraid to ask.

I was hesitant to try the following vinegar uses because I was afraid someone would walk in my house and mistake it for a pickle-packing factory when hit in the face with a lingering vinegar aroma.

The good news is the vinegar smell disappears once it dries, though I can’t be responsible for any pickle cravings you encounter while cleaning with it.

White vinegar is a great disinfecting tool. It can be used for disinfecting, deodorizing, cutting grease and wax build-up, and removing stains on carpet, countertops, pots, pans, and coffee carafes. This acidic wonder can wipe out tarnish, soap scum, mineral deposits, and more.

Distilled white vinegar creates an environment that inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, says Jeffrey Hollender, author of Naturally Clean.

Vinegar is cheap

I purchased a gallon of the store brand vinegar for $2.79 at the grocery store. You can find it even cheaper at discount clubs if you are a member.

Use It to Clean Your…

Coffeemaker:

Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the machine’s water chamber; then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle; then run several cycles with clean water. – My favorite use!!

Dishwasher:

To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle, says Hunter. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.

Drains:

Clean drains―and the pipes they’re attached to―by pouring vinegar down them. After 30 minutes, flush with cold water. (Or use the vinegar/baking soda combination in this article.)

Floors:

Add 1/4 cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean almost any type of floor except marble (vinegar can scratch it) or wood (use more dilute mix – vinegar can strip wood).
Glassware: For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.

Laundry:

Instead of fabric softeners that are full of synthetic fragrances, try adding a small amount of white vinegar to your machine’s rinse cycle. This will help to rinse out the detergent completely and leave your clothes feeling soft.

Moldy walls:

Spray vinegar on the affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse and let dry thoroughly.

Showerheads:

To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic grocery bag and knot the handles over the neck of the showerhead, securing with rubber bands. Let soak overnight. Rinse with water in the morning.

Steam iron:

To get rid of mineral deposits, fill the iron with equal parts vinegar and water; press the steam button. Turn off, let cool, empty, and rinse.

Windows:

Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.

All-purpose:

Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap.

WARNING:

• Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout.
• Never use vinegar on marble surfaces.

Special thanks to Marianne B. for providing information for this article.

Have other cleaning uses for vinegar to share?

Take a moment and travel back to your childhood. Remember the fun of the volcano science experiment?

You carefully poured a box of baking soda into your paper mache volcano and impatiently anticipated the moment the vinegar would be poured in to trigger the “greatest eruption in the history of all elementary school science fairs.”

Guess what? The baking soda and vinegar combination can clean, too! Now you have an excuse to relive the fun of your childhood in your kitchen and bathroom. Who said cleaning has to be boring?

If your mom didn’t let you do the volcano experiment because “everyone was doing it” and she made you grow beans instead, now is your chance!

Use the baking soda/vinegar combination to clean…

Garbage Disposal and Drains:

Sprinkle some baking soda into the sink or shower drain and add vinegar. Let it sit 15-30 minutes before running water to rinse. The reaction will clean and dissolve muck in the pipes.

Does your drain have a lot of build-up? It is a good idea to use a very inexpensive tool first to clean out the big stuff first. This tool is a Zip-It and costs about a dollar at a hardware store. It goes down the drain, and when you pull it back up, little “teeth” detach the muck. Simply toss it in the trash. If you use the Zip-it without running the water, you will prevent the majority of the build-up from going down the drain.

After clearing the drain with the Zip-It, use the soda and vinegar on a regular basis to keep it clean and avoid a smelly drain. Put the soda and vinegar in the drain and leave it overnight or all day after using the shower for maximum effectiveness.

Toilet:

To clean your toilet, pour one part baking soda to four parts vinegar into the toilet basin. Let it sit 15-30 minutes before scrubbing and flushing thoroughly.

Who knew cleaning the toilet could be such fun and make you giddy with childhood memories? It’s ok. No one is looking. Feel free to jump up and down and clap with delight at all the fizzing.

If you haven’t been using baking soda/washing soda for cleaning, give it a try. It makes cleaning so many items easier.

Baking soda is effective at removing stains and absorbing odors, all the while being a chemical-free choice for cleaning.

Washing soda does a great job on tough jobs, but unlike baking soda, it is slightly stronger and can’t be ingested. Wear rubber gloves when handling it.

Know how expensive it is to stock up on all those cleaners? Restocking cleaning supplies can add $30-40 to a grocery bill. Baking soda is cheap! It costs about $1 per pound. Soda and vinegar are available at your local grocery store or in huge quantities at local club warehouses.

Use baking soda to clean…

Can opener:

Dip an old toothbrush in a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and use it to dislodge gunk. After that, wipe your can opener blade clean after each use.

Carpets:

If your carpet is holding onto pet or other odors, sprinkle with baking soda before you vacuum.

Casserole dishes:

Soda will safely clean off the baked-on food.

Countertops, sinks, & tubs:

Mix a small amount of baking soda with liquid castile soap. For a “fresh smell” try adding a few drops of rosemary, orange or lavender essential oils.

Even more simple, just sprinkle some baking soda and use water to scrub these clean, too. The abrasiveness of the baking soda will take off stubborn stains. It helps to get hard water build-up off faucets, too.

Stained teacups and coffee mugs:

Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight; rub with a sponge and rinse.

Upholstered furniture:

To remove odors, sprinkle baking soda on the fabric, then vacuum.

Scuffed walls:

Erase crayon marks by applying a baking-soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls (baking soda may dull colored walls). Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.

Microwave:

Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water in a microwave safe cup. Boil in the microwave for a few minutes. The insides of the microwave will be damp and easy to clean with a paper towel or dishcloth. This has the added benefit of removing odors that may be clinging to your microwave oven.

Use washing soda to clean tougher greasier stains…

Garage floors (and other concrete surfaces):

Pour washing soda generously on oil and grease spots and sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The next day, scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe clean.

Garden tools:

Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry. (Don’t use washing soda on aluminum tools.)

Grills and barbecue utensils:

To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.

Stove burner grates: In a dishpan, soak them in 1 gallon warm water and 1/2 cup washing soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry.

Special thanks to Marianne B. and Jean B. for providing information for this article.