Green Cleaning With Vinegar

I was with my Mumzy the other day and she made the comment, "You know, vinegar has a lot of uses." So me being the researcher type that I am this prompted me to do a little research into the cleaning power of vinegar.
As you may or may not be aware, the is fact that ordinary white vinegar is excellent for cleaning many things. Not only does it do the job really well, but it is really cheap, and natural! So there aren’t the potential toxicity issues of chemical-based cleaners. Vinegar has been used as a cleaning agent – and for many other purposes besides culinary use – since very old times.

White vinegar is also known as distilled vinegar – something of a misnomer because it is not produced by the distillation of vinegar, but by the fermentation of distilled alcohol to give acetic acid, which is then diluted. It is used for medicinal, laboratory, and cleaning purposes – as well as in cooking, baking, meat preservation, and pickling.

Heinz cleaning vinegar is 6% acidic where as regular vinegar is only 5% acidic.  This makes it even BETTER for cleaning then the regular white distilled vinegar products.

I have listed 25 tips for green cleaning with vinegar.

1. Counter tops – clean with a rag and vinegar.
2. Drain or garbage disposal – pour in 1 cup baking soda then one cup hot vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes.  Run hot water down the drain.  (Note: some garbage disposals do not react well to this cleaning method check all manufacturer instructions first.)
3. Microwave -  mixing equal parts vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a boil inside the microwave. Wipe clean.
4. Refrigerator – clean with a half-and-half solution of water and vinegar.
5. Dishwasher -  pour a cup of vinegar inside an empty machine and run through cycle.
6. Plastic food containers -  wipe them with a cloth dampened with vinegar to remove stains and smells.
7. Lunch Box – place inside a slice of bread that has been soaked in vinegar and leave overnight to remove odors.
8. Glass – remove film from the inside by letting vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains. Repeat if necessary.
9. Mini Blinds -  Dip gloved fingers into a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm tap water.  Run your fingers across both sides of each blind.
10. Tarnished Metal -  make a paste with equal amounts of vinegar and table salt.
11. Grease – use a sponge soaked in  vinegar.
12. Grill – spray a solution of half water and half vinegar on the cooking surface.
13. Sponges – placing in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup vinegar. Let soak overnight.
14. Grout – let full-strength vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrub it with an old toothbrush.
15. Germs – spray with full-strength vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
16. Mildew and soap scum – wipe with undiluted vinegar then rinse.
17. Toilets – pour in a cup or more of vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.
18. Stale odors -  wiping down with undiluted vinegar on a rag.
19. Wood – remove water rings with a solution of equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.
20. Scissors – clean off sticky residue with a cloth dipped in vinegar.
21. Odors – place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
22. Hands – Wipe your hands with vinegar to remove strong scents like onion and garlic, as well as stains from fruit juices.
23. Cutting boards – wipe wooden boards with vinegar.
24. Dusting – use spray bottle filled with half vinegar, half water and lightly spray a rag to dust all surfaces.
25. Mildew – spray shower walls and shower curtain with half vinegar and half water to help prevent mildew.

A few precautions when working with vinegar:

• Do not add vinegar directly to materials containing ammonia as this could produce harmful vapors.
• Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.

*As always please test your surfaces in an inconspicuous area before cleaning. 

Yours in good health,

 Ev