When it comes to cleaning your house, the last thing you want to do is to use cleaning products full of chemicals which are dangerous to your health and can leave behind toxic residues; nevertheless that’s the only option stores seem to offer when you go shopping for cleaning products.
But what if I told you that there’s one single product which can solve all your cleaning problems, that it is not only cheap but also natural and biodegradable, and that you probably already have it in your pantry? Ladies and gents, meet the humble Vinegar!
In this post we’ll explore all the ways Vinegar can be used to gently and effectively clean and maintain your house, while saving money and protecting the environment.
The magic of Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar cleans more effectively and safely than store-bought cleaning products, which can be harsh on our skin and toxic when inhaled or ingested. It is also readily available and cheap to buy, making it the perfect natural solution for cleaning a lot of appliances and surfaces in your home.
But why distilled white vinegar is so effective in cleaning surfaces? It’s all down to the acetic acid it contains, which is a powerful natural ingredient which dissolves mineral deposits and kills germs and bacteria.
From windows to floors, to cooker tops, almost everything in your house can be cleaned with vinegar: for most surfaces, you can dilute it in water in a 1:1 ratio (one part vinegar to one part water), increasing it to 2:1 for more stubborn stains or to sanitize surfaces in the bathroom.
Let’s see how you can use distilled white vinegar in your house to help keeping it spick and span.
Vinegar is good for cleaning off LIMESCALE
If you have stainless steel appliances and a stainless steel sink in your kitchen, you will know how quickly they can become encrusted with limescale. Using products full of toxic chemicals is never a good idea, especially where you cook and eat your food; and if you use abrasive sponges to scrape the limescale off, you can easily scratch and damage the surfaces.
Try soaking your appliances in your homemade mix of vinegar and water for 20 minutes (a bit longer for tougher stains); to clean sink and faucets, soak an old cloth in vinegar, spread it on the sink surface / wrap it around the faucets, and let it sit; after 20 minutes the limescale will come off easily with a gentle scrub.
Vinegar helps removing GREASE and RUST
Submerge or spray your greased or rusted appliance, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then scrub using a brush (used toothbrush are perfect for this and other cleaning tasks).
Vinegar helps killing mould and mildew
Spray a solution made with half vinegar and half water on mouldy surfaces, such as walls, showers and grout: let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off – vinegar’s antibacterial properties will kill mould and mildew spores. Remember to always wear a mask over your mouth when tackling mould!
BUT REMEMBER, vinegar is not good on wood and stone
Cleaning surfaces like hardwood floors or marble countertops with vinegar can damage them in the long term. It is advisable to use a PH neutral solution on wood and stone surfaces.
Always do a spot check before cleaning a new surface if you are unsure.
BONUS TIP 1! If you do not like the smell of vinegar, save your lemon peels and let them soak in water for a week. After a week, remove the lemon peels from the water and add it to the vinegar…your cleaning solution will now have a nice smell. Alternatively you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to your DIY cleaning solution.
BONUS TIP 2! Add some bicarbonate of soda to harder-to-remove stains…it will act as an abrasive without damaging the surfaces. This works particularly well when cleaning the kitchen hob and the shower enclosures.
BONUS TIP 3! Place a bowl or a glass full of vinegar in your fridge to remove bad smells.