There are many varieties of vinegar. This post will discuss distilled white vinegar and cleaning with vinegar.
Are you spending a lot of money on cleaning products for your home? If so, I would like to share why you should use vinegar in your cleaning routine. Vinegar is an excellent option for keeping your home free of harsh chemicals while effectively tackling cleaning tasks.
This post is all about Cleaning With Vinegar and 5 ways to use it!
Recipe Included!
Vinegar is a powerful, safe, cost-effective cleaning solution for various grimy jobs. It has been used for centuries for culinary and medicinal purposes.
Vinegar should be named the King of versatility. It can be ingested as well as used for many other tasks. In my research on vinegar, I discovered numerous articles discussing its pros and cons for cleaning with it. Given its highly acidic nature, I understand the concerns regarding its use. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a few things in mind. First, let’s explore what vinegar is and how it is made.
What is Vinegar?
White distilled vinegar is the purest form of vinegar available. It is produced by fermenting grain alcohol, creating a high acetic acid concentration. The typical composition is about 90% water and 10% acetic acid, giving distilled white vinegar.
You can find cleaning vinegar in the cleaning products aisle of most supermarkets. The main differences between cleaning and regular distilled vinegar are the price and the acetic acid level, which is usually 1% higher in the cleaning version. However, since you will likely dilute it anyway, I recommend choosing the most economical option.
The Cost Savings of Using Vinegar
A gallon jug of vinegar lasts me a few months at approximately $6.00 per jug, stretching your dollar for a very long time. Traditional floor cleaners and products can start at $10 and won’t last as long.
Deodorize and Degrease
Vinegar can simultaneously deodorise and degrease. Because of its acetic acid composition, vinegar cuts through grease and effectively lifts and dissolves grim from surfaces. It is not abrasive and can be used on refrigerators, stainless steel sinks, other stainless items, ovens, microwaves, and bathroom basins. Vinegar’s pungent smell will take over any stinky areas and neutralise the air simultaneously. It’s a win-win situation!
Get Fancy!
You can get fancy with your vinegar solution. I often fill a jar with leftover lemon, orange, or lime peels, add distilled white vinegar, and let it sit under the counter for 3-4 weeks, or longer if you like.
In the photo below, I snipped some of my Christmas Tree branches before we tossed it out, and after about 5 weeks of letting it sit in vinegar, I was left with a delicious pine & citrus-scented vinegar! You could do this with a ton of natural items such as;
Cinnamon Sticks
Other types of Balsam or Pine Tree
Eucalyptus Tree
Rosemary Sprigs
Thyme
Basil
All citrus peels… grapefruit would be incredible to try!
This list is endless!
Cleaning with Vinegar: 5 ways to use it in your home!
1. Cleaning Windows and Sill Around!
As a child, I recall my mom cleaning windows with vinegar and newspaper. She would splash some vinegar on the paper and get to work. Though this option is practical, I opt for a spray bottle and the good old Bounty quicker picker-upper! Spray your window and wipe it down with your paper towel for squeaky-clean windows. For a deeper clean, you can also wipe down your faux wood blinds, window sills, and all around the window area to cut any dust or mildew lingering around.
2. Dusting your surfaces!
Get out a dry cloth and lightly spray it with the vinegar solution (recipe below). This method will remove dust, mites, spills, and stuck-on gooey stuff from kids and neutralise the air in your space.
3. Cleaning the Floors!
Please remember that depending on the material on your floor, you may want to use it cautiously or mix a high water-to-vinegar dilution rate. I have tiles on my floor and have officially stopped buying floor cleaner products off the shelf! I use the spray weekly on my floors; it removes spills, stuck food, and pet accidents and gives the house an overall deodorised freshness that can’t be duplicated.
4. Wipe out the sink basins in the kitchen and bathroom and remove the limescale from the faucets and shower heads.
My shower head was clogged in so many places. I have hard water where I live, so this happens often. I contemplated purchasing a new showerhead but decided to give vinegar and baking soda a chance first. I removed all shower heads from every bathroom and soaked them in a vinegar/water solution at 1:1. After about 20 minutes, I removed them, rinsed them, and sprinkled baking soda on the shower heads. I let that sit for another 20 minutes and repeated this process several times. Purchasing new shower heads wasn’t necessary! They just needed a good cleaning.
5. Descaling your Coffee maker or Glass Carafe
This is an excellent option for cleaning your glass coffee carafe. Add vinegar, some super-hot water, and a dash of dish soap. Scrub the carafe and let it soak for about 20 minutes. Vinegar effortlessly removes scale buildup from the glass.
Go to All Purpose Recipe
Use a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water
Add 1 tablespoon of dawn dish liquid
and a few drops of fragrance or essential oils if desired
Mix this solution in an industrial-grade spray bottle! Give it a good shake before using it, and you won’t be disappointed.
Next time you’re in the supermarket, pick up a jug and start incorporating this super product into your home. It is practical, superior, and gives results, and your wallet will thank you!
Things to Avoid while Cleaning with Vinegar!
While researching vinegar, I found several articles listing things you should NOT clean with vinegar. You should be careful on certain surfaces, and you could also heavily dilute the solution. Use your common sense, and Google is your friend when in doubt.
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- Wood surfaces (it is the lacquer finish on the material that the vinegar affects)
- Granite countertops or other natural stone. The finish on these stone countertops will break down when heavy amounts of vinegar are applied over time.
- Rubber—A good example of this would be the dishwasher. Excess vinegar cleaning could break down the rubber parts in the machine, affecting the integrity of the materials.
- Electronics – The protective screening on electronics could be damaged if overused.
- Never mix with bleach or any other heavy cleaning agent. This will create a chemical reaction and cause gases to form.
The key to cleaning with vinegar is to remember that it is acidic, which may break down some materials over time. Exercise caution with specific items and surfaces; this recipe will be one you keep in your home for life!!
This post was all about Cleaning with Vinegar and 5 Ways to Use it in Your Home!
