Vinegar - A Natural Cleaning Agent
Vinegar is definitely a versatile item you should keep around the house. What's so great about it? Besides being effective, vinegar is cheap and widely available. It is non-toxic, lasts for a long time without losing strength, and is much safer to have under your sink than bleach, ammonia, or other toxic cleaning products. Although vinegar is not registered as a disinfectant with the EPA, it will kill both salmonella and E.coli [1], two bacteria you'll want to avoid. Consequently, white vinegar can be used to clean loads of things around your home. Here are just a few suggestions for what you can clean with vinegar:
Tap into the many uses:
1. Clean Windows
Instead of spending money on window cleaning chemicals — especially ones that include toxic or potentially toxic chemicals — make your own! Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.
2. Get Fresher Laundry
Got grass stains? No problem. Make a mixture of one-third cup white vinegar and two-thirds cup water. Apply the solution to the stain and blot with a clean cloth. Repeat this process until you've removed as much green as possible, and then launder as usual.
When your big washing day comes around, toss in a capful of white vinegar. Your colors will come out bolder and your whites whiter.
3. Clean Carpets
Battle some carpet stains, like wine, with a mix of vinegar and warm water.
4. Wash Produce
Vinegar may help remove bacteria and pesticide residues from fruits and veggies. Mix three parts water to one part white vinegar, and dispense in a spray bottle. Then rinse with water. Or even just allow produce to soak in a bowl of the same mixture for 15 minutes and then rinse with water.
5. Dissolve Stubborn Glue
Having trouble getting that annoying sticky label residue off a product? Or accidentally glue something together? Try using vinegar as a solvent to dissolve many common adhesives. Vinegar is also good at cutting grease.
6. Fight Hiccups
Some people claim they were able to cure pesky hiccups instantly by swallowing a teaspoon of vinegar. If your other hiccup tricks don't work, it won't hurt to try a dash of the stuff.
7. Clean your coffeemaker
Run the machine with equal parts water and vinegar. Halfway through the cycle, turn it off and let it sit for an hour. Then complete the cycle.
8. Clean your microwave
Put one cup vinegar and one cup water in a bowl and microwave on high for about 10 minutes. Afterward, stains and dried food should be easy to wipe away.
9. Make glasses sparkle
Put one cup of vinegar in the bottom of your dishwasher before you run the cycle. After you run the dishwasher, your glassware shouldn't be cloudy.
10. Remove mineral deposits from a showerhead
Put vinegar in a plastic bag and tie the bag around the showerhead. Let the bag sit overnight, and rinse the showerhead with water in the morning.
11. Prevent mildew in the shower
Spray vinegar on shower walls and curtains to prevent mildew from building up.
12. Remove those annoying stickers
Rub labels with vinegar, let sit for 10 minutes, then remove.
Adding baking soda to your vinegar can pack a powerful cleaning punch too:
13.Unclog a drain
Pour 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Rinse with water.
References:
[1] Earth 911-http://www.earth911.com/living-well-being/health/cleaning-vinegar-baking-soda-lemon/2/
