Vinegar is the unheralded hero of the house, as useful for flavoring our sauces as it is for cleaning countertops or killing weeds and bacteria. It’s safe, powerful, affordable, and always available for quick cleaning during your weekly cleaning schedule. We can use our favorite branded cleaners for certain tasks, but nothing is more reliable […]
Vinegar is the unheralded hero of the house, as useful for flavoring our sauces as it is for cleaning countertops or killing weeds and bacteria. It’s safe, powerful, affordable, and always available for quick cleaning during your weekly cleaning schedule. We can use our favorite branded cleaners for certain tasks, but nothing is more reliable than vinegar in a pinch.
The possibilities seem endless, but it’s important to understand that vinegar is not usable for all household surfaces. We examine how to clean with vinegar so you understand when and where it is best to use a vinegar cleaning solution and when you need to find an alternative.
There are many types of vinegar, but the multifunctional savior of eco-friendly home cleaning is distilled white vinegar cleaning solution. With a combination of 5% acetic acid and 95% water, distilled vinegar is safe to consume and strong enough to clean. Its acids act on dirt and grime, dissolving dirt so it can be easily wiped away.
You can make a vinegar spray for anything by mixing one together one part vinegar with one part water and adding a few drops of essential oils for a more pleasant aroma.
A vinegar cleaning solution can be used to clean countertops, mirrors, polish fixtures and more. Let’s look at different areas of the house to see how it fits into your cleaning routine.
Vinegar is an excellent kitchen cleaner because it is powerful and non-toxic. You don’t have to worry about food coming into contact with hazardous chemicals, giving you peace of mind to tidy up your floors, countertops, and appliances.
Here are some of the best ways you can use a vinegar cleaner in the kitchen:
You can also use vinegar cleaning solution for windows and hard dishes with water stains. It is effective in removing stains and dirt from many kitchen items. Leave on plastic containers or kitchen utensils for a few minutes to remove grease and water stains.
Vinegar’s power to eliminate odors is a great help in the bathroom. Just like the kitchen, there are plenty of non-porous bathroom surfaces that can use your vinegar cleaner.
Try cleaning your bathroom with these tips:
Vinegar can bleach soap scum, remove mold, and break down minerals in hard water, three essentials when trying to tackle the cleaning job between maid service. Try combining vinegar and baking soda for an extra powerful cleaning and deodorizing kitchen and bathroom.
You can use vinegar in any room and not just on hard surfaces. Add ½ cup to the washing machine to give your detergent a color protection boost. Along with baking soda, it can remove stains and odors from carpets or refresh a mattress.
Vinegar probably sounds like the universal answer to any cleaning problem. but there are many places where it would be advisable not to use it. There are also many products that you should never mix with vinegar.
For example, while they make an amazing cleaning duo when used back-to-back, mixing vinegar and baking soda is completely useless.
For safety reasons, never mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide or bleach. When combined with vinegar, these cleaning chemicals produce dangerous fumes that are irritating to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
Your trusty vinegar cleaning solution can also damage certain household materials. Below are some of the critical spots to avoid cleaning with vinegar:
Vinegar is effective on stainless steel and enameled cast iron surfaces but can be corrosive to most metals. Even some types of stainless steel, such as stain-resistant stainless steel, can be attacked by vinegar. Be cautious when using vinegar on metal cookware, countertops, and appliance surfaces.
The acidity of the vinegar is problematic for natural stone surfaces. It will etch your countertops, puncture the protective seal and remove most of the shine. Do not use vinegar on these materials:
Instead of vinegar, use water and a cloth to remove dirt. Abrasives are a quick way to damage most stone accessories, so basic approaches are often the best way to protect your investment.
Vinegar might be a great window cleaner, but it can not be used to clean electronic screens like an average window. For a safer formula, use a mixture of one part distilled water and one part isopropyl alcohol. Mix them together in a spray bottle and wipe dust and dirt off the screen with a microfiber cloth.
Like stone surfaces, wooden floors can also be damaged by vinegar. The acid will dissolve the finish and leave the floor looking dull and worn. Consult recommendations from your floor covering manufacturer for suitable floor cleaners.
Among the many benefits of vinegar as a cleaning agent, perhaps the most notable is its safe use as a disinfectant. Vinegar has been shown to have antimicrobial benefits that are effective in killing various foodborne pathogens such as:
Vinegar can reduce many of these germs throughout the home, making it a great choice for kitchen surfaces. Still, vinegar shouldn’t be your first choice for killing germs because it’s not an EPA-registered disinfectant. If you are concerned about certain illnesses in the home, consider choosing a certified disinfectant or outsourcing a cleaning service that specializes in disinfection and sanitation.
Vinegar is a must-have in every household, a convenient tool for countless cleaning tasks, but not many people know about its use. Follow these tips on vinegar cleaning solutions and you’ll have easy and worry-free cleaning every time.
Vinegar can do almost everything, but sometimes you can not do all the cleaning, especially after a long day at work and taking care of the family. Another solution is hiring a local cleaning service that fits your needs, budget, and schedule. Request a reservation today and see how easy it is to find the perfect cleaning solution.
Above is all you need to know about what you should do and not do with vinegar when cleaning. If you are planning to refresh your own living space, you might want to hire a professional cleaning team!
You can count on sparklingandbeyond.com to complete your plan easier! We provide you with affordable and reliable cleaning services and a lot of helpful tips.
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