Top 12 Ways to Use White Vinegar That Will Make Your Home Sparkle
Vinegar is one of the best organic, non-toxic cleaners you can use safely in your home. Since it doesn't contain harmful cleaning chemicals, white vinegar for cleaning can make almost everything in your home pristine without causing damage.
Top 12 Household Items You Can Clean With Vinegar
Here are some of the top household items you can clean using this all-natural cleaning solution:
1. Plastic Cutting Boards
Your plastic cutting board is a large petri dish. Even if you scour it clean with hot water, it may still have leftover bacteria from raw meat and blood. A 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water can eliminate most of that. Spray the mixture on the board after you clean it with dish soap.
2. The Kitchen Sink
Make your kitchen sink sparkle and look good as new by wiping it down with a vinegar cleaning solution. It will also do a great job of disinfecting it and is safer than bleach. Use soapy water to rinse the sink once you are done wiping it down with the cleaner.
3. Floors
Rather than using expensive and toxic floor cleaners, use white vinegar for cleaning and mopping floors. The mixture will be diluted, so you don't have to worry about the acid ruining your tiles. It will also lift stubborn grease and dirt easily.
4. A Crusty Stovetop
Vinegar is highly acidic, so it cuts through grease like butter. Spray some over a crusty stovetop, allow it to sit for 10 to 20 minutes, and scrub the spot with soapy water. The stubborn stain should wipe off easily without leaving a mark.
5. Clogged Pipes
A backed-up drain can flood your kitchen and do some serious water damage. Even if the drain drains slowly, it can be quite frustrating. Remove greasy clogs and trash using a mixture of vinegar and water. It cuts through soapy scum and grease that coats pipes easily and can also remove unpleasant odors from the garbage disposal.
First, pour three cups of scalding water down the drain to loosen the sludge. Then, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup of cleaning vinegar after it. Cover the drain with a stopper when you notice bubbles and fizzing, so the cleaning solution remains in the pipes. Pour hot water down the drain once it stops fizzing.
6. A Microwave
Most of us forget to clean our microwaves, so they get dirty and stinky quickly. Cleaning it with vinegar is easy. Add equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl, place it in the microwave, and set it for five minutes. The steam will loosen stuck food and stains from the walls so you can easily wipe them clean.
7. Pots and Pans
Pots and pans can get stained with time and use. If you use yours heavily daily, chances are they also have several burn marks. That is nothing that a vinegar and water cleaning solution cannot fix.
Allow it to boil in the pan and let it be for five minutes. Once it cools, tip out the contents and use a suitable sponge to remove the marks. If that doesn’t do the trick, repeat the steps. The stains will soften eventually. You can also use vinegar to clean cast iron without damaging it. Soak it in the cleaning solution to remove rust.
8. Shower Curtains
Shower curtains can get mouldy with time, especially in a bathroom with no ventilation. Prevent that from happening by pre-treating with white vinegar. Add 1/4 cup of the cleaning solution in the washing machine and run a cold or warm cycle. Hotter than that, and your curtains may melt. Spray down the curtains weekly with water and vinegar after the wash, including the liner, to prevent mildew growth.
9. Towels
If you want to make your old towels fluffy and pristine again, wash them with vinegar. Add ½ a cup in the washing machine with the towels but don't add detergent. Set to the highest temperature to ensure the vinegar draws out all of the scum and gunk in the fibres. It will also restore the colour, remove door, and soften your towels.
10. Sheet Pans
Whether you are a professional baker or love to bake as a hobby, your sheet pans are probably crusty. You can remove those stubborn marks using vinegar. Plug the sink drain and add ½ a cup of white vinegar with hot water and ½ a cup of baking soda.
Don't worry when you see it bubbling; that's just a chemical reaction. Submerge the sheet pans completely in the sink and leave them for half an hour. Use a scouring pad or steel wool to remove the stains easily.
11. Carpet Stains
With time, carpet stains can penetrate fibres and become a permanent part of your rugs. Prevent that from happening by cleaning them with a vinegar solution.
Mix a tablespoon of dish detergent with equal parts white vinegar in two cups of warm water. Apply the mixture to the stain using a blotting motion till it lifts clean. Do not rub! You may leave smears which will only increase your workload.
12. Tupperware
Plastic containers or Tupperware can get stained and discoloured with time. You don't throw them out. Fix them using vinegar. Soak all your containers in white vinegar for a few minutes or an hour, depending on the stains, and wash them as you normally would. The acid will break down the stains, which you can wipe off easily.
Final Words
Vinegar is a cleaning solution that should be in every household. Safer and easier to use than toxic cleaning agents, this condiment can also help you save money. Use it to make your home sparkle from the inside out. Make sure to wear rubber gloves while using the tips in this guide!
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