Vinegar Uses For Cleaning And Disinfecting
Vinegar is a powerful, natural and inexpensive material to use for cleaning various items and areas around the house. This fact may not be commonly known, yet history has it that vinegar has been used in many ways since the Roman times. The Romans used it for medical purposes, even to purify water. Vinegar has since been used for various purposes up to today.
It can be used as cleanser, disinfectant and deodorizer for bathrooms.
Tip: For ease in using vinegar as disinfectant and cleanser, it is best to use a spray bottle.
Spray on wall and floor tiles and toilet bowls and let it stand for about an hour. If a bathroom is heavily soiled, let the application stand all night. Complete the cleansing and disinfecting processes by brushing and rinsing the surfaces.
Vinegar is effective in cleaning and shining mirrors, sinks, counters and chrome. Just spray on surfaces and wipe using a smooth lint-free cloth.
Caution: Do not however use vinegar on travertine and marble surfaces.
Mildew, hard water lines and spots, soap froths in bath tubs, on shower curtains and ceramic tiles, may be removed by spraying undiluted vinegar on them. Finish by wiping off the surfaces.
Vinegar can also be used to unclog bathroom shower heads. Simply immerse the shower head in 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water. Boil the mixture for about 15 minutes. Then remove the shower head and rinse well before using. Cleaning the shower head this way every six months should prevent it from clogging.
Cleaning Microwave with vingenar – Microwave ovens may be cleaned and deodorized using white vinegar. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and ½ cup of vinegar. Heat the mixture inside the microwave oven under full power for 3-4 minutes. Let it stand inside without opening the oven. Then wipe the vapors inside the oven. Do not allow them to dry. Placing a mixture of equal parts of water and vinegar inside your refrigerator will also keep its interior clean and free from foul odor.
If there is a persistent unpleasant odor in your kitchen, boil ¾ cup of vinegar and 3 cups of water in a pan, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the odor vanishes. Odors in trash cans may also be minimized, if not totally removed, by spraying them with vinegar and wiping the trash can later.
If your coffee maker is slow, vinegar will also come in handy. See the post Cleaning a coffee maker with white vinegar.
Food and soap residues in dishwasher can be removed using vinegar too. Put two cups of vinegar in the dishwasher and run using normal cycle. If you use your dishwasher daily, do this cleaning process every three months. Otherwise, do it every six months only.
Just as it is used for cleaning the bathroom, vinegar may be used in cleaning counters, back-splashes and appliances. Just spray on the surfaces to be cleaned, and wipe with a soft lint-free cloth.
Vinegar has a fabric softening and unclogging utility in laundry. A ½ cup of vinegar added to the water during a rinse cycle will soften laundries. Clogging caused by lint from clothes and soap not completely dissolved may be unclogged using vinegar. To do this, pour two cups of vinegar in the water softener dispenser and have the machine run a normal wash cycle. Do this process once every three months.
Stains in clothes caused by fruit, wine, jam, ink, makeup, mustard, tea or coffee maybe removed by simply rubbing the affected area with vinegar; then wash.
Caution: Do not however use vinegar on fabrics containing cellulose acetate because vinegar may cause the fibers to melt.
Vinegar is also useful in treating fabric colors. If you are concerned about a fabric possibility to bleed, immerse it first in vinegar before washing.
Vinegar may be used to unclog the steam hole of flat irons. Fill iron water container with equal amounts of water and vinegar. Switch on iron to steam for five minutes. Then iron-steam on old fabric or rag. Repeat the process using clean water. Finally, rinse the iron water dispenser.
Caution: Do not clean a new iron because vinegar acidity may damage it.
Baby toys can be cleaned and disinfected by just spraying them with vinegar and wiping with a damp cloth.
Spray-clean vinegar on painted furniture and painted walls, and wipe with a soft cloth or sponge. If a larger area is to be cleaned, mix 1 part of vinegar with 4 parts of water. Wash areas with a cloth and this vinegar cleaning solution.
Caution: Do not, however, use vinegar to remove spots on unpainted wooden furniture.
Paint or smoking odors inside the house may be removed by placing a bowl of vinegar in the room that needs deodorization. Cut flowers can be made to last longer if put in water mixed with vinegar and sugar. Mixture is 2 cups of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 quart of water.
The use of vinegar to clean windows is very popular.
It is safe, cheap and ecological. If you find these tips useful, please share them with your friends and relatives. If you know of other practical cleaning uses for vinegar, please do add them in the comments.
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