I have to admit that I have had a favorite cleaning solution of bleach and water as my staple when cleaning up those gross things you really don't want to have to clean. A little while ago we had a minor/major disaster(depending on who you talk to) involving a cleaning bucket full of bleach infused water. Needless to say, something was discolored by the above mentioned bleach water. I was reprimanded and have now realized that bleach may not be the best cleaning solution out there. After having done some research and stumbling upon some information on a blog I frequent, I have been enlightened to the cleaning powers of VINEGAR. Yes, that's right folks common, ordinary, white distilled vinegar. I'm guessing many of you already know of this little acidic solutions cleaning powers, but this is news to me, so I am going to share what I learned with you anyway.
White vinegar can be used to disinfect, clean and shine nearly every surface in and around your home without a lingering vinegar smell. It can clean as well as most chemical products without giving off dangerous toxins. It is highly competent and costs far less than name brand cleaners. It is possible to do nearly every household cleaning chore by simply using white vinegar and water.
Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.
LAUNDRY
Clean the washing machine: Ever notice how there sometimes gets to be a film on the inside of the machine? Or it might just smell a little? Well, fill the washer with hot water, pour in about 3/4 c. vinegar and let agitate for several minutes. Then let sit overnight. In the morning, let agitate again for several minutes, then rinse well.
To remove soap residue that makes black clothes look dull: use white distilled vinegar in your final rinse.
Get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again: Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring it to a rolling boil and drop in the articles. Let soak overnight.
Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing: as well as those left by deodorants, by spraying full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.
Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.
Keep the steam iron clean and in good working order by getting rid of mineral deposits in steam vents and spray nozzles. Fill the water chamber with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and distilled water. Set it in an upright position and let it steam for about 5 minutes. When the iron is cool, rinse the tank with water, refill and shake water through the vents onto an old cloth. Test before using.
Remove scorch marks from an iron by rubbing it with a warmed-up solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt. If that doesn’t work, use a cloth dampened with full-strength white distilled vinegar.
Bring out bright colors by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Fluff up wool or acrylic sweaters (hand- or machine-washed) and rid them of soap smell, with 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar in the last rinse water.
When you launder your shower curtain add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water. Do not spin dry or wash out. Just hang immediately to dry.
BATHROOMS
To clean the shower, use a mixture of vinegar and water after you shower and it keeps the mildew away. Also, spraying full strength vinegar on your shower doors and letting it sit before spraying it off will help get off water deposits.
To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water.
To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
Toilet Stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.
Freshen air in the bathroom by spraying into the air a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup water.
KITCHEN
Kitchen: Full strength vinegar will cut grease and de scale coffee makers. To disinfect wood cutting boards, use one- third water to two-thirds vinegar and wipe with the grain. Clean and shine appliances using a spray bottle of half vinegar and half water.
Clean and deodorize a dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.
No-wax floors can be cleaned with a solution of 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water for a shinier surface.
Persistent room odors: place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
Smelly hands: Wipe your hands with vinegar after chopping. It will remove strong scents like onion and garlic
Clean the microwave: get a bowl of water, mix in a few Tbl of vinegar and put in the microwave for about 1 minute on high. The hot water will steam up the caked-on food, and wipe up will be a breeze...not to mention having a fresher smelling microwave!
Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so then run hot water down the drain.
Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.
Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.
Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted white distilled vinegar.
MISCELLANEOUS
Discourage ants by spraying vinegar along doorways, windowsills, countertops - anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly), clean it with vinegar.
To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.
Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a white distilled vinegar and water solution. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda and let dry. Brush or vacuum the residue after it is dry to the touch.
Cooking fish: Try soaking fish in vinegar and water before cooking it. It will be sweeter, tenderer and hold its shape better. When boiling or poaching fish, a tablespoon of vinegar added to the water will keep it from crumbling so easily.
Flavor booster: Perk up a can of soup, gravy or sauce with a teaspoon of your favorite specialty vinegar. It adds flavor and taster fresher.
Fruit and vegetable wash: Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables
Soothe a sore throat: Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, and then swallow. For another great gargle: 1 cup hot water, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vinegar, gargle then drink.
Chest congestion: To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
I got all this information from the websites found below. Believe me, there is a lot more information. If you are interested, click below.
http://www.versatilevinegar.org/
http://www.vinegartips.com/
http://www.gomestic.com/Homemaking/Cleaning-With-Vinegar.11881
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/vinegar
White vinegar can be used to disinfect, clean and shine nearly every surface in and around your home without a lingering vinegar smell. It can clean as well as most chemical products without giving off dangerous toxins. It is highly competent and costs far less than name brand cleaners. It is possible to do nearly every household cleaning chore by simply using white vinegar and water.
Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.
LAUNDRY
Clean the washing machine: Ever notice how there sometimes gets to be a film on the inside of the machine? Or it might just smell a little? Well, fill the washer with hot water, pour in about 3/4 c. vinegar and let agitate for several minutes. Then let sit overnight. In the morning, let agitate again for several minutes, then rinse well.
To remove soap residue that makes black clothes look dull: use white distilled vinegar in your final rinse.
Get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again: Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring it to a rolling boil and drop in the articles. Let soak overnight.
Remove perspiration odor and stains on clothing: as well as those left by deodorants, by spraying full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.
Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle.
Keep the steam iron clean and in good working order by getting rid of mineral deposits in steam vents and spray nozzles. Fill the water chamber with a solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and distilled water. Set it in an upright position and let it steam for about 5 minutes. When the iron is cool, rinse the tank with water, refill and shake water through the vents onto an old cloth. Test before using.
Remove scorch marks from an iron by rubbing it with a warmed-up solution of equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt. If that doesn’t work, use a cloth dampened with full-strength white distilled vinegar.
Bring out bright colors by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Fluff up wool or acrylic sweaters (hand- or machine-washed) and rid them of soap smell, with 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar in the last rinse water.
When you launder your shower curtain add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water. Do not spin dry or wash out. Just hang immediately to dry.
BATHROOMS
To clean the shower, use a mixture of vinegar and water after you shower and it keeps the mildew away. Also, spraying full strength vinegar on your shower doors and letting it sit before spraying it off will help get off water deposits.
To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse with water.
To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.
Toilet Stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.
Freshen air in the bathroom by spraying into the air a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup water.
KITCHEN
Kitchen: Full strength vinegar will cut grease and de scale coffee makers. To disinfect wood cutting boards, use one- third water to two-thirds vinegar and wipe with the grain. Clean and shine appliances using a spray bottle of half vinegar and half water.
Clean and deodorize a dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.
No-wax floors can be cleaned with a solution of 1 cup vinegar per gallon of water for a shinier surface.
Persistent room odors: place a bowl of vinegar in the room overnight.
Smelly hands: Wipe your hands with vinegar after chopping. It will remove strong scents like onion and garlic
Clean the microwave: get a bowl of water, mix in a few Tbl of vinegar and put in the microwave for about 1 minute on high. The hot water will steam up the caked-on food, and wipe up will be a breeze...not to mention having a fresher smelling microwave!
Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so then run hot water down the drain.
Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.
Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.
For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with white distilled vinegar.
Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted white distilled vinegar.
MISCELLANEOUS
Discourage ants by spraying vinegar along doorways, windowsills, countertops - anywhere that ants are likely to appear. If you find an ant trail (path that ants use repeatedly), clean it with vinegar.
To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in white distilled vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.
Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a white distilled vinegar and water solution. Then sprinkle the area with baking soda and let dry. Brush or vacuum the residue after it is dry to the touch.
Cooking fish: Try soaking fish in vinegar and water before cooking it. It will be sweeter, tenderer and hold its shape better. When boiling or poaching fish, a tablespoon of vinegar added to the water will keep it from crumbling so easily.
Flavor booster: Perk up a can of soup, gravy or sauce with a teaspoon of your favorite specialty vinegar. It adds flavor and taster fresher.
Fruit and vegetable wash: Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables
Soothe a sore throat: Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, and then swallow. For another great gargle: 1 cup hot water, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vinegar, gargle then drink.
Chest congestion: To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.
I got all this information from the websites found below. Believe me, there is a lot more information. If you are interested, click below.
http://www.versatilevinegar.org/
http://www.vinegartips.com/
http://www.gomestic.com/Homemaking/Cleaning-With-Vinegar.11881
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/vinegar
1 comment:
Hey, I recently started using vinegar for my daily clean up stuff as well as to deodorize my washing machine, and it's all good! The good news is that it doesn't smell when it dries. Thanks for all the other tips as well!
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