A Less Expensive Way To Clean: White Vinegar
You will find that it can be used in just about any room in your home to assist you in ways that you may never have even considered. I use it most in my kitchen, laundry and bathrooms but they are not the only areas where white vinegar can be your cleaning buddy.
In The Laundry Room:
Do you ever encounter new clothes that have colors that "bleed" or run into the other colors? Fabrics sometimes do not hold the dye properly and when we wash our clothes that pretty red blouse just might make our white shirt become pink. There is an inexpensive way to stop that from occurring! The first time you wash an article that you think might not hold the dye well, wash it in cold water and use 1 cup of white vinegar in the load. The vinegar sets the dye into the fabric and it will not bleed or run onto your other clothes in the future. I recommend washing that article by itself that first time or at least with like colored items.
Many Uses In The Kitchen:
I use white vinegar in my kitchen for more than just adding to a recipe from time to time. In fact, I probably use it more for cleaning tasks than I do for cooking. There is always a 1 gallon jug under my sink for cleaning purposes.
We are plagued with extremely hard water in my area and the lime deposits are always an issue. When I boil water for any recipe there is often a residue left in my pans. It does not wash out easily with simple soap and water. So, I pour about 1/2 cup of white vinegar into the pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes. That dissolves any lime residue and then I can successfully wash the pan as usual.
Got a faucet that isn't giving you the pressure it once did? Or worse it has started to spray water out the side instead of streaming downwards! If you unscrew the tip of the faucet and soak it into white vinegar for about an hour, you will get rid of those little rocky minerals that have clogged the faucet tip. Rinse it off and screw back on...your pressure is back and there is no more spraying where it isn't supposed to be.
I also like to make a solution of 1 part vinegar and 1 part warm water to use to clean my counter tops and range about once per week. They get wiped down with soapy water after every use but once a week, I like to clean them with the vinegar solution to help get a deeper clean.
I also use that same 1 to 1 ratio for my windows around the house. I just put it into a spray bottle and spray the glass and wipe it all off with old newspaper. There are no streaks and the windows are sparkling clean. It is also good to wipe off chrome and metal fixtures in your kitchen and bathrooms.
Clogged drains:
Got a drain that is running slow or is just plain clogged? You can use those products made for unclogging but a lot of those are toxic to breath and can harm your drains and pipes. Try this instead. Pour baking soda down the drain, then pour vinegar on top of that. Let it bubble and sit for an hour or two and then rinse it down with boiling hot water. Voila! Your drain has now been unclogged. If it is a really bad clog, you may have to repeat the process. This method is much less toxic to you and better for your drains.
In The Bathroom:
I use the vinegar solution that I mentioned about to clean my sinks, showers and tubs on a regular basis. It helps to get rid of any soap scum that has built up and it helps with any lime scale that is starting to build up.
I also use white vinegar in my toilets about once a month. Before I go to bed, I pour the vinegar into the bowl and let it sit overnight. In the morning I brush the bowl and flush. It helps break up any lime that may be forming and disinfects the bowl.
Stains:
I use vinegar and baking soda to work on stains, also. I form a paste with the baking soda and a little vinegar. I apply the paste to the stain, let it dry and then wipe off. If it is clothing, I just wash the article and the stain is gone. I have used it on fabric on my furniture, too. In the case of furniture I just vacuum the dried paste up. It also works on carpets. Obviously with carpet or furniture you should probably test it first to make sure you don't remove the dye in the fabric. Honestly, I have never had a problem with discoloration when I use the vinegar paste method.
These are just a few ways that I use vinegar around my home. How about you? Do you have a cleaning tip using white vinegar?
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