Monday 2 January 2012

Vinegar Use on Household Cleaning

Mix vinegar with lindseed oil and use it to clean your wood.

Vinegar is a popular household cleanser, effective for killing most mold, fungus, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Keeping a spray bottle of straight 5% vinegar is useful to clean and disinfect many things. You can sanitize your cutting board and spray hard to clean kitchen appliances that have many nooks and crannies that come in contact with bacteria. Also spray on door handles, and all the bathroom fixtures to disinfect. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Clean soap scum, mildew, and grime from bathtub, tile, and shower curtains. Simply wipe the surface with Vinegar and rinse with water.

Stubborn stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.

Unclog a shower head by unscrewing it, remove the rubber washer, place the head in a pot filled with equal parts Vinegar and water, bring to a boil, then simmer for five minutes.

Toothbrushes can be boiled for a minute in vinegar to kill germs.

Cleaning with vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical. To shine chrome sink fixtures that have a lime buildup, use a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

Make your own scouring cleanser by combining 1/4 cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon liquid detergent. Add just enough vinegar to give it a thick but creamy texture.

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.

To prevent good glassware from getting etched by minerals, wash then spray with full-strength vinegar. Give the glasses a hot water rinse before letting them dry or drying them with a towel.

For cloudy glassware, soak paper towels or a cloth in full-strength vinegar and wrap around the inside and outside of the glass. Let sit a while before rinsing clean.

Clean eyeglasses by wiping each lens with a drop of vinegar.

Apply full-strength vinegar directly to tough linoleum stains. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it up. If that doesn’t work, apply vinegar again and then sprinkle some baking soda over the vinegar. Scrub the area with a brush or sponge. Rinse clean with water.

Clean your grill by spritzing vinegar over wadded up aluminum foil and scrubbing the grill vigorously with it. If the grill is not very dirty, just spray a solution of half water and half vinegar on the cooking surface and wipe it up.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Avoid the bad smell when you heat up a newly cleaned oven by using a sponge soaked in diluted vinegar for the final rinse.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

Its odor dissipates fairly quickly.

Remove odors from a lunch box by placing inside a slice of bread that has been soaked in vinegar. Leave overnight.

Deodorize the toilet bowl by allowing 3 cups vinegar to sit in it for about a half hour before flushing.

Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.



Another way to deodorize and clean the garbage disposal is with vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.

Discourage ants by spraying undiluted vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in.

Get rid of fruit flies by setting out a small dish of undiluted vinegar.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and vinegar.

Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength vinegar.

Remove the smell of spoiled food from a refrigerator by first rinsing the area with soap and water. Spray surfaces with full-strength white distilled vinegar and wipe them down with a damp cloth or sponge. Fill some containers with baking soda and place inside. Close the door and leave for a few days.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

Get rid of lime deposits in a tea kettle by adding 1/2 cup vinegar to the water and letting it sit overnight. If more drastic action is needed, boil full-strength vinegar in the kettle a few minutes, let cool and rinse with plain water.

Remove mineral deposits from coffee makers with vinegar. Fill the water reservoir with 1 cup or more of vinegar and run it through a whole cycle. Run it once or twice more with plain water to rinse clean. (Check the coffee maker’s manual first.)

Wipe grease off exhaust fan grids, the inside of your oven, air-conditioner blades or anywhere grease gathers with a sponge soaked in vinegar.

Remove stains from coffee and teacups by scrubbing them gently with equal parts of salt (or baking soda) and vinegar. Rinse clean.

For stained and smelly plastic food containers, wipe them with a cloth dampened with vinegar.

Remove ugly film in narrow-necked glass jars, flower vases, and bottles by letting undiluted vinegar sit in them for a few hours. Add a little rice or sand and shake vigorously to loosen stubborn stains. Repeat if necessary.

Clean the wheel of a can opener using vinegar and an old toothbrush.

Remove mud and stains from plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum sports equipment by applying a paste of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts baking soda. Wipe off with soapy water and rinse with clear water.

Clean scissors that have become sticky (after cutting tape, for instance) with a cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.

Make a metal cleanser by adding enough vinegar to 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar to make a paste. Rub it on and let it dry on the surface. Wash it off and dry with a soft cloth.

Polish brass and copper with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of ketchup and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Rub it on with a clean cloth until dry and shiny.

Remove dark stains on an aluminum pot by boiling a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 1 cup hot water.

To clean tarnished brass, copper, and pewter, use a paste with equal amounts of vinegar and table salt.

Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.

Remove soap buildup from faucets by scrubbing them with a solution of 1 part salt to 4 parts vinegar.

Rid a faucet of lime deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.

Shine pennies by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted vinegar.

To remove a label, decal, or price tag, cover with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Leave the cloth on overnight and the label should slide off.

Renew sponges and dishrags by placing them in just enough water to cover them. Then add 1/4 cup vinegar. Let them soak overnight. This will remove dirt and slime. Rinse several times with cold water and let air dry (in the sun if possible).

Rinse away soapy film on countertops with a solution of  vinegar and water.

Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted vinegar.

Shine colored porcelain sinks by scouring them with undiluted vinegar.

Never use vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.

Clean grout by letting full-strength vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.

To remove grime, mildew, and scum from the tub, tile, shower curtain or door, wipe with undiluted vinegar. Rinse with water.

Mix up an inexpensive tile cleaner by adding 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 cup white distilled vinegar, and 1 cup ammonia to a gallon of warm water.

Get a shining finish on a no-wax vinyl or linoleum floor by cleaning it with a solution of one cup vinegar for every gallon of water.



For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.

Get rid of stubborn bathtub film by wiping it with vinegar and then scouring with baking soda.

Clean shower door tracks by filling them with vinegar and letting it sit for a few hours. Pour hot water into the tracks and wash and scrub away the scum with a toothbrush. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.

To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.

To make the toilet bowl sparkle, pour in a cup or more of diluted vinegar and let it sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with the toilet brush and flush.

Freshen air in the bathroom by spraying into the air a solution of 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and 1 cup water.

Clean up pet accidents by first blotting up the area and then adding a vinegar-and-water solution. Blot until it is almost dry. Then sprinkle baking soda over the area and let it dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day.

Remove the smell of a dead mouse or other rodent (after removing all animal remnants) by wiping down the area with either vinegar or bleach. Then place a fabric softener sheet in the area to remove any lingering odors.



Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).

Bring out the color in carpet by brushing it with a solution of 1 cup vinegar for every gallon of water. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet beforehand).

A mixture of one teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of distilled vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water will remove non-oily stains from carpets. Apply it to the stain with a soft brush or towel and rub gently. Rinse with a towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. Then dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer. This should be done as soon as the stain is discovered.

To reduce soap bubbles in a steam cleaner add about 1/4 cup vinegar. Use the same amount in the rinse water to remove detergent residue and make carpets stay fresh longer.

Wash indoor/outdoor carpet with a solution of 1 cup vinegar in 1 bucket of warm water. Scrub using a brush or a broom and then hose off.

Create your own window cleaning solution by combining 1/2 cup non-sudsy ammonia, 1 cup vinegar, and 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water.

Cleaning windows by using undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle. Dry offwith newspaper.

Plastic can be cleaned and made anti-static by wiping down with a solution of 1 tablespoon of distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of water. This will cut down on the plastics' tendency to attract dust.

Remove the wax residue left by commercial window cleaners with a solution of 2 cups water, 1 cup and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent.

To remove paint from windows try using undiluted hot vinegar. Give the solution time to soften the paint before removing with a razor edge tool.

To remove paint splatters from windows apply full-strength vinegar with a clean paintbrush.

Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.

Clean woodwork and walls with a mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup ammonia and 1 gallon warm water. Wipe on with a sponge or damp—not wet—towel.

To loosen old glue around rungs and joints of tables and chairs under repair, apply distilled vinegar with a small oil can.

Varnished wood often takes on a cloudy appearance. If the cloudiness hasn't gone through to the wood, the cloudiness can be removed by rubbing the wood with a soft lintless cloth wrung out from a solution of 1 tablespoon of distilled vinegar in a quart of luke-warm water. Complete the job by wiping the surface with a soft dry cloth.

Clean wood paneling with a solution of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 2 cups warm water. Wipe on with a soft cloth.

Remove wallpaper easily by using a paint roller to wet the surface very thoroughly with a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water. Or spray on until saturated.

Get decals off walls or doors by letting undiluted vinegar soak into them for several minutes before trying to peel them off. Repeat if necessary.

Remove white water rings from wood with a solution of equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil. Rub with the grain.

Remove fireplace soot and grime with undiluted vinegar. Use a brush to scrub and a towel to blot up the wetness and dirt.

Clean fireplace glass doors with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Spray or wipe on, then wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Before painting old concrete, clean with full-strength vinegar. Let it air dry.

Clean hardened paint brushes by simmering them in a pot with vinegar. Soak them first for an hour before bringing the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.

To remove film in glass baby bottles, fill with equal parts hot water and vinegar. Let sit for at least an hour. Scrub with a bottle brush.

To clean and disinfect baby toys add a good-sized splash of white distilled vinegar to soapy water.

Clean vinyl baby books or board books by wiping with vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp sponge or cloth.

Clean and deodorize urine on a mattress with a 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.

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