Vinegar Cleaning Ideas

Vinegar Cleaning. . .It might sound a bit weird, but if you are interested in using more natural cleaning products in your home, then it's time to find out a little more about that bottle of vinegar in your pantry.

White vinegar is a great nontoxic cleaner you can use to replace those chemically-laden products you typically use.

Many people have used a splash of vinegar to liven up a salad or as a tenderizer for meat. However, are you aware of the many ways vinegar cleaning can be incorporated into your daily household routine?

Not only is vinegar versatile for cooking, but it is also a versatile cleaning product that can be used in any room of your house. Here are just a few of the ways that white vinegar can be used to clean around your home:

Coffeepot

Freshen and clean your automatic coffee maker by filling the reservoir with vinegar and then running it through a brewing cycle. Follow this up by running a rinse cycle of water. (Please check the owner's manual for instructions for your particular maker.)

Microwave

Boiling a solution of one-fourth cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water and inside the microwave will help clean and deodorize your microwave. The moisture from the boiling solution will loosen the splattered food and make it much easier to remove with a soft cloth or sponge.

Brass, Copper and Pewter

Clean brass, copper, and pewter by creating a paste. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of plain salt in a 1 cup of vinegar. Stir in enough flour to make a paste. Then use the paste on any metal surface and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Make sure you rinse with clean warm water and then polish until it's dry.

Windows

Forget about using the window cleaners from the stores. The cheapest and most effective way to clean windows is to combine half water and half vinegar. Put it in a mister, and spray it on the windows. Dry the window with a soft, lint-free cloth. Your windows will sparkle and be streak-free.

Toiletbowls

Remove stubborn toilet bowl stains by spraying them with vinegar. Use a little elbow grease and the stains will come off. You can also add 3 cups of vinegar to your bowl to help deodorize it. Let it sit for one-half hour and flush for a fresh-smelling bowl.

Glassware

Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water and use to remove soap scum from glassware and make them shine.

Chrome

Moisten a cloth with vinegar and use it to polish chrome and stainless steel.

Laundry

• Do you have baby clothes that aren't as clean and soft as they used to be? Add one cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of the load the next time you wash. The vinegar will help break down uric acid and soapy residue. Clothes will come out soft and fresh.
• You can also add a cup of vinegar to the last rinse cycle of your normal load of clothes to help dissolve the alkaline base of soaps and detergents.
• How many of us hate the deodorant and antiperspirant stains on our clothes? Before laundering, lightly rub white distilled vinegar onto the areas where the stain would be. Toss it in the wash as usual.
• Soak clothes that have never been washed before in white distilled vinegar to help set the colors.

Reducing the chemicals we use in our homes has never been easier. And, it doesn't require buying multiple products to clean your home, and keep it chemical-free. Vinegar cleaning can take you a long way.

Click to learn more about natural cleaners you can use in your home.

From Vinegar Cleaning to Home Page