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Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Power of Vinegar


Oh, the power of distilled white vinegar. If you have white vinegar on hand there really is no other cleaning product you need. It is so acidic that it takes care of most bacteria and mold. Using vinegar eliminates all of the harsh chemicals other cleaners have making it green and safe to use in homes with children. There are so many uses but here are a few of my favorite.



  • Remove hard water deposits in your dishwasher and washing machine by running them every once in a while with a cup of distilled vinegar.

  • If you get lime build up around chrome sink fixtures you can remove it with a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.

  • To rid your microwave of hard baked on food, place 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl inside your microwave and bring it to a rolling boil. You can now wipe it clean and odors will be gone.

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

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

  • Rid a faucet of lime and Calcium deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled 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.

  • To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled 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.

  • Get cleaner laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalis in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.

You can find these tips and a thousand more thanks to the folks at Vinegar Tips
Please leave a comment with your favorite vinegar tip. When you use one of these tips please be sure to let us know how it turned out.

2 comments:

  1. Having pets and children make this little wonder invaluable. I haven't yet found a spill or accident that didn't meet it's match in a 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water solution. Just spray to saturate the fibers (sofa/carpet) then press an absorbent cloth to remove the stain. As long as it is fresh, it works every time!
    I've also used it to clean my garage floor. It eats away the dirt and grime and leaves a clean and fresh concrete surface again!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Who knew you could eat and clean with the same product?

    I like to make vinegar ice cubes and put them down the disposal.

    I'm definetely going to try some of the other tips here. Thanks!

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