Cleaning with vinegar
In your quest for a more environmentally conscious and sustainable lifestyle, exploring alternative cleaning methods can lead to surprising discoveries. Enter vinegar – a versatile and cost-effective household staple that can revolutionize your cleaning routine. While your initial foray into cleaning with vinegar might elicit curious glances, the rewards it offers are undeniable.
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
A gallon of store-brand vinegar costs a mere $2.79, making it a frugal and sustainable choice for your cleaning endeavors. Even greater savings await if you’re a member of discount clubs. This budget-friendly alternative stands in stark contrast to many commercial cleaning products.
Vinegar Aroma Myth
The apprehension of a lingering vinegar aroma is a common concern, but fear not. The distinct vinegar smell dissipates as surfaces dry, leaving your home refreshed and devoid of any pickle-making ambiance. So, rest assured, you won’t suddenly find yourself craving pickles mid-cleaning session.
Multi-Faceted Cleaning Power of White Vinegar
White vinegar emerges as an exceptional disinfectant, deodorizer, and grease-cutting agent, making it an indispensable cleaning ally. It’s your go-to solution for tackling an array of cleaning challenges, from carpet stains to kitchen countertops, pots, pans, and even coffee carafes. Impressively, its acidity can combat tarnish, soap scum, mineral deposits, and more, making it a superhero in your cleaning arsenal.
Distilled white vinegar’s magical properties extend to inhibiting the growth of mold, mildew, and certain bacteria, including notorious culprits like E. coli and salmonella. Jeffrey Hollender, author of Naturally Clean, vouches for its effectiveness in maintaining a healthier living environment.
Innovative Vinegar Applications for a Cleaner Home
Coffeemaker:
Revitalize your coffeemaker by mixing equal parts vinegar and water in the water chamber. Activate the brew cycle, pausing midway for a one-hour soak (optional). Complete the cycle and follow up with several clean water cycles. – My favorite use!!
Dishwasher:
Disinfect your dishwasher by either running an empty cycle with 1/2 cup of vinegar in the reservoir or placing a vinegar-filled bowl on the bottom rack during a cycle.
Drains:
Cleaning sink drains using vinegar is a simple and effective method. Start by pouring a half cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to fizz and work its way through the drain for about 15 minutes. Then, flush the drain with hot water to clear away the loosened debris and residue. This natural solution helps break down grease, grime, and odors, leaving your sink drain fresh and unclogged.
Floors:
Add 1/4 cup vinegar to warm water for a floor-cleaning solution that’s suitable for most surfaces, except for marble and wood. Check to make sure you can use it on your floors.
Glassware:
Enhance the sparkle of hand-washed glasses by adding 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse water.
Laundry:
Bid farewell to synthetic fabric softeners and opt for a small amount of white vinegar in your rinse cycle. This leaves your clothes both detergent-free and soft.
Mold:
Conquer moldy walls by spraying vinegar on affected areas, letting it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinsing thoroughly.
Showerheads:
Eliminate mineral deposits by securing a plastic bag filled with vinegar around the showerhead. Allow it to soak a bit before rinsing.
Steam iron:
Combat mineral buildup in your steam iron by filling it with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. Press the steam button, let it cool, empty, and rinse.
Windows:
Create a window-cleaning solution by mixing 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a dash of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Wipe windows clean with a newspaper.
All-purpose:
Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle for a versatile cleaning solution that’s both natural and cost-effective. Test it in an inconspicuous area before use and embrace its wide-ranging capabilities.
A Note of Caution
- Improperly diluted vinegar can damage tile grout due to its acidity.
- Avoid using vinegar on marble surfaces to prevent harm.
Special thanks to Marianne B. for her invaluable contributions to this comprehensive guide on harnessing the cleaning power of vinegar. Your insights have enriched the knowledge shared here.
Embrace the transformative potential of vinegar and usher in a new era of effective, environmentally friendly, and budget-conscious cleaning practices. Your home will thank you, and you’ll relish the satisfaction of making a positive impact on the planet.
Hi Melinda,
I’d heard about cleaning with vinegar before. I may have actually tried it once or twice. But now, I wouldn’t have a prayer of convincing my wife that it would work as well, or better than the big bottle of lysol spray sitting on our counter.
.-= Todd Morris´s last blog ..Big Playground on Fort Hood =-.
Thanks for commenting 🙂
LOL good luck on convincing her. I don’t know if I will attempt the washing clothes with it, but I have used it for many things. Cleaning the coffee maker is my favorite use. I tell you…coffee tastes much better from a cleaned out coffee maker. 🙂 Next I’m trying it on the mold on the back of my house. FL humid weather encourages mold/mildew growth, and I want to see if it helps prevent it during the rainy season.
vinegar is great for cleaning and I have tried it for many of your mentions. I hate the smell when using it and always afraid everything will taste like vinegar afterwards, your coffee pot illustration is a perfect example of ‘ It won’t ‘ . Thanks Mel
.-= Lee´s last blog ..It’s not the size of the fingers but the balls ~ Bowling =-.
Thanks for the comment, Lee. I just cleaned my whole pantry with it this week and it smelled for awhile, but it does go away pretty quickly.
Hi Melinda, It used to be that everyone except me used vinegar to clean windows, but now that you gave me the tip about adding the liquid Castile soap I think I’ll give it another try. Where can I get the soap? Thanks for all of these tips.
@Ileane
.-= Ileane @ Ms. Ileane Speaks´s last blog ..Chrome Extension For Improved Readability =-.
You can get it at the grocery store. For windows I still like the little bit of hand dishing washing detergent in a bucket of water…drying with newspaper better. 😉 I haven’t tried the vinegar version for windows.
The water is so bad here in San Antonio vinegar has no chance against the crude in the tap water here. It’s scary because I was raised on the best water in America NYC water and when I make the kids some ramen or whatever there’s a white film in the pot after I pour the water out. My Mom had use doing the water vinegar newspaper deal as a kid 🙂
Glad I stopped by Nice work on your site 🙂
See some cool people stopping by also 🙂
Thanks for bringing a cool spirit to BloggerLuv I’m working on the spped issue but enjoyed your attitude and input where you been the last two years 🙂
Thanks
Thanks for the nice comments John. I love the BloggerLuv concept and I’m sure the speed factor is only temporary. I wish I had more time to spend on it but pop in when I can.
I have had to battle FL water with the heavy mineral content that causes that mineral build up on all the faucets and drives me crazy. Water softener and a water filter and it still leaves it. Gotta wonder what is built up in my stomach.
I discovered a new use for vinegar that will come as a surprise to many of people. I drink a lot of coffee and over the years my teeth began to resemble the color of butter on freshly made toast. I tried costly teeth whitening products but they all failed to deliver acceptable results. Two weeks ago it dawned on me…If vinegar can clean coffee stains from my coffee pot I wonder if it would remove them from my teeth. Guest what? It did! I brush my teeth with my usual cavity fighting toothpaste, then I add a small amount of vinegar in my mouth and swish it around like I would do ordinary mouth wash, I spit the vinegar out being careful to leave a very small amount in my mouth. Then I dip my toothbrush in a box of baking soda and brush my teeth a second. The baking soda serves as an abrasive and mixes with the very small amount of vinegar I left in my mouth and talk about clean teeth. It works like a miracle cure for brown stained teeth. I must warn you, if you leave too much vinegar in your mouth it will foam up like Alka-Seltzer. Don’t panic, just open your mouth to release some of the product. The foam fizzles out after a few seconds. Now, instead of hiding my smile, I take every opportunity to do so.
Thanks Shirley. I hadn’t thought about using it for that. I am going try. 🙂
It is also perfect against rust. Small rusty parts e.g. from an oldtimer I put in a cup of vinegar or acetic over night. The next morning you just have to clean it with water. Amazing results in my opinion!
That is a good use. I have a rust problem on one of my sinks..I should try that. Plug it up and let it sit.
Bookmarked and on Stumbleupon – for some reason I always have drain problems, and I never thought to try vinegar. I do appreciate the warning at the end. It is true vinegar is very acidic and should be used carefully if one doesn’t know exactly what one’s doing.
It does work great on drains. Especially if you let it sit in there awhile before running the water again.
Its like bleach. An all purpose cleaner but a lot less hazardous. Its a little more expensive than bleach but if it works that well Its worth it.
Melinda, what if used on granite counter-tops…
This is great info and it is always nice to hear that someone prefers natural solutions instead of using chemicals.I also use vinegar and I must admit it is excellent against rust and water stones.Also,if you have moisture and mold in the bathroom,you can spray the troubled spots with vinegar, leave it for an hour and then just wipe with wet cloth.
Wow, I had no idea Vinegar could be used to clean all those things. I’m going to try the shower head tip one one of the shower heads I had resigned to just replace. Thanks for the tips!
This is great! I’m always looking for cleaner and greener ways to clean! I love the comment about the teeth whitening! Wow! Never even thought of that! THanks for your posts! I enjoy them :0)
I never thought vinegar is very useful too aside from baking soda.But I’m curious why is it not okay to use vinegar in marble surface?
Judy Tracy