It's amazing what you can clean all over the house with vinegar. It's white vinegar that can help keep everything clean and sanitized; The key is to dilute it with water and other natural extracts or essential oils to add a nice scent.
"Vinegar is made from acetic acid," says Lucy Searle, global editor for Homes & Gardens . "That makes it a natural disinfectant for so many germs, including Salmonella and E. Coli. It can be ideal for specific surfaces and appliances in the kitchen as well as the bathroom. It's an amazing product to have in your pantry and avoids the use of abrasive store-bought cleaning products. A word of warning: undiluted vinegar can damage natural stone and wood, so always check or dilute very well before using vinegar for cleaning.
Here are our top cleaning tips for using vinegar to get your home sparkling again.
clean with vinegar
If you're using store-bought household cleaners, chances are you're already cleaning with vinegar, since it's made with acetic acid, a component of some cleaning products. Vinegar is very effective at cleaning precisely because of the acid that easily breaks down grease, dirt and grime. Be careful though, it can damage some surfaces, so always check or test before using vinegar, especially straight vinegar, to clean.
1. Clean windows with vinegar
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Our windows can get dirty real quick, but all they need is a homemade solution of vinegar and water to get them sparkling clean in no time.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water and add a squirt of liquid soap to remove the streaks. Martha Stewart says the best time of day to clean is when the sun isn't shining directly on the windows:
"Sponge (but don't soak) the window with the DIY glass cleaner solution and rub off any dirt. Make sure the solution doesn't touch the window frames," she advises. Then wet the squeegee and pull it down in one straight motion, starting at the top corner. Return to the top and repeat, slightly overlapping the first stroke. After each pass, clean the rubber edge of the squeegee with a lint-free sponge or cloth. Finally, pull the squeegee out of the bottom of the window and wipe the edge dry with a sponge or cloth.
2. Clean a microwave with vinegar
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Are you looking for tips on how to clean the kitchen ? Many of us forget to clean the microwave from time to time and it can be easy to smell something if we don't. Mix equal parts water and vinegar again, this time in a large microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and let it sit for about five minutes. The resulting steam dissolves leftover food that you can simply wipe away.
3. Clean floors with vinegar
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Floor cleaning products can be expensive and have a strong odor. Instead, take an equal parts vinegar and water solution and wipe it off. Not only does it remove grease and dirt, but the diluted solution prevents the acid in the vinegar from damaging the floor. For her must-have kitchen cleaner, TV presenter Denise Wild fills a spray bottle with about 50% vinegar, 30% water, and 20% lemon juice. "Then I add eucalyptus oil (for the smell) and tea tree oil (because it's antibacterial)," she says.
4. Clean a stove with vinegar
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These can get very greasy and sticky, especially when cooked for the family once or twice a day. Vinegar is ideal for this because its acidity cuts through fat in no time. Simply spray your vinegar and water mixture onto the stovetop, let sit for about 10 minutes, then scrub with soapy water using a non-abrasive scouring pad.
5. Clean the kitchen sink with vinegar
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Its 1:1 diluted vinegar-water solution is also ideal for the kitchen sink. Simply spray it on all areas of the sink and then rinse with soapy water.
6. Clean kettles and coffee pots with vinegar
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To get rid of that horrible scale in your kettle or coffee maker, pour the vinegar and water solution directly into the appliance or water tank. Bring the kettle to a boil or run it through the coffee maker, followed by a few splashes of water to remove taste and odor.
A word of warning: Before using vinegar to clean a coffee maker , check the manufacturer's instructions; You can advise against it, in which case be careful.
7. Clean pots and pans with vinegar
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To get rid of that horrible limescale in your kettle or coffee maker, pour the vinegar and water solution directly into the appliance or water container. Bring the kettle to a boil or run it through the coffee maker, followed by a few splashes of water to remove taste and odor.
8. Clean food processors and blenders with vinegar
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Do you want to clean a blender ? Combine your diluted vinegar and water solution in the food processor or blender, then wash as usual.
A word of warning: Before cleaning a food processor or blender with vinegar, check the manufacturer's instructions; You can advise against it, in which case be careful.
9. Clean plastic cutting boards with vinegar.
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This is an area where you really need to be extremely hygienic to avoid cross-contamination from raw meat. When you're done preparing dinner, sanitize it in your vinegar and water solution, then wash it in hot, soapy water.
10. Clean wine glasses with vinegar
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It's so annoying when the glasses get cloudy. This is often caused by hard water. To counter this, soak them in undiluted white vinegar in the sink for a few minutes, then wash as usual.
11. Clean a dishwasher with vinegar
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A good cleaning tip is to pour a cup of vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher in the main cavity and then run an empty cycle with no dishes or detergent to loosen mineral buildup.
12. Clean a fridge and freezer with vinegar
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Sort through any food that is nearing its sell-by date and give the fridge and freezer a thorough clean with your diluted vinegar and water solution.
13. Clean your shower head with vinegar.
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Vinegar can also be used as a cleaner in the bathroom. Pour white vinegar into a plastic bag and secure it around the shower head with a rubber band. Let the night pass and wake up with a sparkling shower!
14. Cleaning a bathtub with vinegar
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To clean your bathtub with vinegar, simply mix it with warm water and start scrubbing the surface of the problem area. If the stain persists, mix vinegar and baking soda and let sit for a few minutes before rubbing vigorously.
15. Clean the toilet with vinegar
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No one likes cleaning toilet bowls, but for best results, pour a cup of undiluted vinegar into the bowl and let sit overnight. Sprinkle with baking soda and rub in the next day. Lastly, flush the toilet and voila.
What should never be cleaned with vinegar?
Natural stone, especially granite and marble, should never be cleaned with vinegar. This means you have to be very careful around kitchen countertops and stone tiles. Also, be careful with wood, be it countertops or floors - undiluted vinegar can damage anything.
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