Cooking, cleaning — is there anything vinegar can’t do?
Many people mistakenly think that vinegar will disinfect, so there is one thing it won't do.
Long a staple in our favourite dishes, vinegar is still a recipe for success when looking for a natural alternative to chemical-based cleaning products.
So grab that bottle of vinegar lounging in the back of your cupboard, and put it to work around your home. We’ve tested all these tips, but you should always check your owner’s manuals before using any of the following techniques.
The kitchen represents the bread basket of our home. Introducing harmful cleaning chemicals, however, is like inviting an unwanted guest to the dinner table.
The good news is you don’t have to go too far for a natural alternative. From the pantry to the pan, vinegar is a Goldilocks solution to cleaning some of your kitchen’s most stubborn messes.
Start by tackling tenacious mineral deposits left over from hard water on small appliances such as kettles and coffee makers. Fill your kettle with a solution of one-part vinegar and one-part water. Let sit for two hours and then rinse with water. Boil clean water in the kettle and discard the water before using it again. For your coffee maker, soak the reservoir for an hour, run it through twice and then rinse thoroughly.
Vinegar is also a born natural leader when it comes to cleaning glassware that looks dull and cloudy, even after coming out of the dishwasher. Soak the glass in warm water for 15 minutes, and then scrub lightly with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
Speaking of dishwashers, vinegar is great at loosening leftover food, grease, detergent and soap scum. Every couple of weeks, place a half-full glass or mug with vinegar in the bottom rack and run the dishwasher through a rinse cycle. As an added bonus, it will also eliminate musty odours.
Start spreading the news! Vinegar offers a modern-day and more eco-friendly life hack to cleaning streaky mirrors. Mix equal parts water and vinegar into a bottle and spray evenly over the mirror. Use a mico-fibre cloth or squeegee to wipe down.
Vinegar can also be used to tackle dull-looking showers and stained toilet bowls. Mix with baking soda in a spray bottle to reduce soap scum and mildew from the shower. For hard water stains in the toilet, mix one cup of vinegar in the bowl. Add one cup of baking soda, followed by another cup of vinegar. Let sit for up to 30 minutes, occasionally mixing with a toilet bowl brush. Scrub and then flush.
When it comes to achieving a streak-free floor, vinegar offers a non-toxic alternative to traditional chemical-based cleaners. Mix one cup of vinegar to every three to four litres of hot water. Apply to linoleum or tile floors only. Avoid using on hardwood floors, where the acidity in vinegar can break down the finish over time.
If your favourite fur-baby has left an unpleasant surprise on your carpet, you know what to do. Grab the vinegar. Use an enzymatic carpet cleaner first, then mix one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of vinegar and two cups of hot water in a spray bottle. Apply to the stain, let sit for a couple minutes and blot out well. (Speaking of deodorizers, diluted vinegar can also be used to rinse out refrigerators and freezers.)
Lastly, vinegar can help descale several small appliances around the home, including humidifiers and steam irons. Use equal amounts of water and vinegar and allow to soak for an hour. Flush out with clean water.
With just a couple ingredients, you can safely bring your home from blah to bling in no time. Call one of our home care experts to get even more great tips on how to care for any area of your home.
