Cleaning with Vinegar

Environmentally friendly and economical, white distilled vinegar is an effective household cleanser. Due its acidity, it is an effective antibacterial agent, killing the majority of food-borne bacteria. It also has antifungal and antiviral properties. Generally, the stronger the concentrations of acetic acid and sodium chloride in the vinegar, the more effective it is as a cleaning agent. It’s also more effective when heated.

Neat vinegar. Undiluted white distilled vinegar is all you need for several cleaning tasks. Add it to a cloth or sponge to clean worktops. Iced vinegar cubes left to melt in the sink or garbage disposal will deodorize and prevent greasy buildup. Neat vinegar on a paper towel will cut through the dust and grime that accumulates on the top of cupboards and appliances, as well as inside oven doors. Add a cup of white vinegar to the detergent drawer of your washing machine or dishwasher, and run a hot wash program once a month to prevent lime scale buildup.

Neat vinegar is also good for glassware. After cleaning, spray or wipe with vinegar, rinse and dry. Wrap clouded glasses in paper towels soaked in vinegar, and leave to stand for a while before rinsing. This method also works for removing limescale and soap scum buildup from faucets.

Diluted vinegar. For lighter grime, vinegar diluted with water will often do the trick. A cup filled half and half with vinegar and water and boiled in the microwave will loosen baked-on food. The walls of the microwave and refrigerator can then be wiped down with the cooled liquid on a cloth. Clean flower vases with a half and half solution of vinegar and water allowed to stand for several hours, with a few grains of rice in the bottom. Empty out most of the water, leaving the rice behind, cover the neck of the vase and shake vigorously to gently polish the inside of the vase.

Vinegar and baking soda. For stubborn stains, try a scrubbing paste of hot white vinegar and baking soda. Salt can be added to this mixture to help remove baked-on dirt. It’s also good for getting rid of tea or coffee stains from cups, as well as engine oil and other grime from hardworking hands. Start with a tablespoon of baking soda to a teaspoon of vinegar, and add salt as necessary. These solutions are best made up on the spot for each job, as the acid in the vinegar is neutralized by the alkaline baking soda, and once the fizzing action stops, the solution is ineffective for cleaning. You can also clean drains and garbage disposals by pouring a cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of hot distilled vinegar, down them.

Vinegar is an acid. Always remember that vinegar is an acid. As such, you should never mix it with bleach, as this will produce chlorine gas, which is highly toxic and can cause lung damage. Also avoid using vinegar on stone surfaces. Marble is particularly soft and porous, and the acid will damage it. Even granite, a much tougher stone, may be dulled and etched by vinegar.